Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .450 Bushmaster with .452 | 150gr | CutEdge HGHP bullet and 6 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,257 psi | 85% | 2877 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,089 psi | 54% | 1808 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,374 psi | 88% | 2710 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,841 psi | 51% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,744 psi | 66% | 2503 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,024 psi | 82% | 2740 fps | 96.7% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,774 psi | 68% | 2707 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,953 psi | 38% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,532 psi | 83% | 2667 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,257 psi | 36% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 24,352 psi | 62% | 2461 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,355 psi | 72% | 2648 fps | 95.3% |
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 6 powders for .450 Bushmaster loaded with the .452 | 150gr | CutEdge HGHP. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,877 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,808 fps to 2,877 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 6 of the 6 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (270 MPa), the top charges use 51–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.