.450 Bushmaster Ammo

Why the .450 Bushmaster Exists: Straight-Walled Cartridge Hunting Laws

Several Midwestern states — Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa among them — restrict deer hunting in certain zones to straight-walled cartridges rather than bottlenecked rifle cartridges. This was originally intended to limit range in densely populated rural areas. The .450 Bushmaster was engineered to meet these regulations while delivering genuine deer-stopping power in a modern semi-automatic platform. It’s a genuinely effective cartridge independent of legal requirements: a 250-grain bullet at 2,200 fps produces over 2,600 ft-lbs of muzzle energy — more than adequate for deer, hogs, and black bear at typical hunting ranges.

.450 Bushmaster Ballistics and Effective Range

The .450 Bushmaster is a short-range cartridge by rifle standards. A 250-grain load drops roughly 6” at 200 yards and 20” at 300 yards from a 100-yard zero — trajectory is steep compared to bottlenecked cartridges. Practical hunting range is typically 150–200 yards, which is entirely appropriate for timber and mixed-terrain hunting. Within that range, the .450 Bushmaster hits hard, and modern soft-point and polymer-tip loads perform reliably on deer and hogs. It’s not a long-range cartridge, but inside 200 yards it’s a very effective one.

.450 Bushmaster vs. .458 SOCOM vs. .50 Beowulf: Big-Bore AR Comparison

These three cartridges occupy the same niche — big-bore AR-15 cartridges — but differ meaningfully. The .450 Bushmaster has the best ammunition availability and the lowest price per round of the three. The .458 SOCOM offers a wider bullet weight range (250–600 gr.) and was specifically designed for suppressed military use. The .50 Beowulf is the most powerful but has the least ammunition availability. For hunters who want to buy ammo at any sporting goods store, the .450 Bushmaster is the practical choice. The .458 SOCOM is the choice for shooters who want subsonic suppressed capability.

Building a .450 Bushmaster AR-15: What You Need

Converting a standard AR-15 lower to .450 Bushmaster requires three components: a .450 Bushmaster upper (barrel and bolt carrier group), a .450 Bushmaster magazine (standard AR-15 magazines will not work — dedicated single-stack mags are used), and .450 Bushmaster ammunition. The lower receiver, buffer, spring, and all controls remain standard. This makes the .450 Bushmaster one of the most cost-effective big-bore AR conversions. Complete .450 Bushmaster uppers are available from Ruger, CMMG, Bear Creek Arsenal, and others.

Best .450 Bushmaster Hunting Loads

Hornady’s 250-grain FTX (loaded in their LEVERevolution line adapted for the Bushmaster) is the benchmark hunting load — reliable expansion, good penetration, and widely available. Federal’s 300-grain Trophy Bonded Tip is an excellent option for larger game or when maximum penetration is needed. Remington offers a 260-grain Core-Lokt that is a proven deer load at a competitive price. For hog hunting where multiple shots may be needed, the Remington Core-Lokt or Winchester Power-Point are practical volume options.

Frequently Asked Questions: .450 Bushmaster

What is .450 Bushmaster designed for?
.450 Bushmaster was developed specifically for deer hunting in states that restrict rifles to straight-wall cartridges during firearms deer season — Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and several other Midwestern states. These regulations require a straight-wall cartridge rather than a bottlenecked rifle cartridge, and .450 Bushmaster delivers rifle-class energy from an AR-15 platform in a straight-wall configuration. The .450 Bushmaster fires a .452-inch bullet (the same diameter as .45 ACP) at approximately 2,200 fps from a 16-inch barrel — producing significant energy for deer at typical hunting distances.

How does .450 Bushmaster compare to .350 Legend?
Both are straight-wall AR-15 deer cartridges but with different approaches. .450 Bushmaster fires a heavier, larger-diameter bullet (250–300gr at .452-inch) producing more energy per shot but with significantly more recoil. .350 Legend fires a lighter bullet (145–180gr at .357-inch) with noticeably less recoil while still meeting straight-wall requirements. For larger deer at longer ranges, .450 Bushmaster has an energy advantage; for younger, recoil-sensitive, or high-volume hunters, .350 Legend is more comfortable to shoot. Both are effective straight-wall deer cartridges.

What AR-15s are available in .450 Bushmaster?
.450 Bushmaster uses a standard AR-15 lower with a modified upper — the larger case requires a wider magazine well insert and .450-specific BCG. Ruger, CMMG, and Radical Firearms produce complete .450 Bushmaster AR-15 rifles. The CVA Scout single-shot is also available in .450 Bushmaster for states that require break-action or bolt-action configurations.

See Also: .350 Legend Ammo • .360 Buckhammer Ammo • AR-15 Rifles • Hunting Rifles • All Ammunition