Looks like I will be getting to make a trip to Iowa this year. I am trying to decide if I should go with a bolt action or AR style. Does anyone have experience with either and would probably mount a Zeiss 3x9x40? Brands and/or builds would be helpful.
Guessing it will be used back home as well since most shots on our land are under 200 yards.
Thanks

I'm still tinkering with the 450 Bushmaster on an AR platform. Currently have a 16" Upper and recently picked up an 18" Shaw match barrel. Hope to have that upper ready to play with shortly. This caliber on an AR platform is intriguing. Short and lightweight. Recoil didn't seem that bad with the loads I've tinkered with so far.

Ruger American seems popular in 450 Bushmaster and quite a few folks have those. I went the Savage route and picked up a Haymaker a couple months ago. Only thing I did to it was put in a Timney vs. the stock accutrigger. Not that the accutrigger wasn't okay, just prefer less moving parts when it comes to trigger groups. The Haymaker shoots 1" MOA with Hornady 245gr over Lil Gun. Hope to get out shortly and work up a load for the 250 FTX.

Get you a lower and check out Bear Creek Arsenal for a 450 BM complete upper. Shots around 200 yards it ought to serve you well. The Ruger American Ranch would be a good one for a bolt gun. Can’t go wrong with the Savage.

Thanks

I went for easy when I got one a couple of year ago. Just bought the upper from bushmaster and put it on a lower I already had. Slapped a scope on it that came off another build, bought some hornady black and started shooting. Mild recoil. Accurate enough for my needs and it kills deer. Dropped a big old doe with it the last weekend of the season and it was like I switched her lights off. DRT.

What i did. I've had mine for probably 6 years or so and mine will shoot 1" groups at 100 yards which is purty dang good imo....

I have one in AR platform and I was really surprised at how well it grouped with the Hornady Black ammo. I bought it from a guy on this forum.

Just a reminder if you go the upper route, you'll need either a new bolt assembly or complete BCG. A new bolt assembly is around $45. A complete BCG can run $70 up to close to $200. I found a complete Nitride BCG for $89.

🤔

I got a complete upper from Bear Creek.. use AR stoner mags I got from midway. 16 inch barrel. Shoot Hornady black. Killed a buck with it a couple years ago. Have a 1-5x 24 30mm main tube minox on it but picked up a vortex viper 2.5-10x44 I'm going to put on it so I can hunt in the evening with it.

Also, if you weren’t already aware, Iowa changed the laws again recently. For shotgun season, I think it’s anything over .35 caliber and doesn’t have to be straight walled. I was thinking something like a .358 win would do real well if you could find gun or ammo.

I'd go on with a 35 Whelen ammo cheaper,

Oh wow, them boys are gonna start shooting 375 H&H mags out to 400 plus yards now.

alhawk...there's a 450BM in the classifieds right now
This has your name written all over it

Barrel looks long 🤷🏼‍♂️

That’s what she said

Interesting and thanks

I built an AR15 in the .450 bushmaster a few years ago. Considered the .50 Beowulf and the .458 socom. I was very happy with my choice. I used a fairly cheap upper from Midway USA. Put it in a quality lower and a NiBO BCG. Shoots great abs very accurate. You can get away with a 16” barrel without losing much. You will like it. But honestly if they have changed the rules, I would much rather have a .35 Whelen.