450 Bushmaster

[Joe S.]

So, Ruger has been pushing this caliber lately. I had about decided to give it a whirl until I read a rather unflattering review of the cartridge on Chuck Hawks’ site.

Is it really that bad? The author brought up some pretty solid cons. Are there equally solid pros?

Here is a link to the article:

https://www.chuckhawks.com/450_bushmaster.html

 

[Kevin]

He does end the article with the paragraph:

.The .450 is certainly a much better deer cartridge than the .223 Remington For use on Class 3 game, the .450 Bushmaster is probably about as good as any cartridge you can stuff into an AR-15 type rifle.

It sounds like most of the negatives were about reloading. I’ve tried reloading the 30 Carbine, which also headspaces off the case mouth like this .450 Bushmaster. I personally could never get the hang of it.

It does sound like there are a lot of different bullet weights and powders available to choose from. Do you reload?

 

[Joe S.]

I do.

But i don’t usually stress over sectional density and such. Only thing I hunt here is white tail and you can about kill those with anything as long as the shot is good.

 

[Mobuck]

I have no "need" for such a cartridge as the "big bore AR rounds". I watched some guys getting the snot kicked out of them by a "big bore AR" several years ago and decided it was nothing I had a use for. If I'm getting kicked that hard, I'm going to send a bullet a LOT further than something like the Bushmaster can manage.
"For use on Class 3 game, the .450 Bushmaster is probably about as good as any cartridge you can stuff into an AR-15 type rifle."
There's the problem, there are simply some things that really aren't logical. You can shoehorn a big block into an S-10 and it will pull a big trailer under very specific circumstances but it won't pull it far.

 

[toysoldier]

That's what happens when you take a rifle design that was developed for a specific purpose (kill people at reasonable distances, while being light enough to carry long distances) and try to adapt it to do a whole lot more. Sure, it can be done, but why? There are existing calibers and rifles that handles other duties with less fuss and bother.

 

[krw]

Without a doubt the 223 is the hands down pick in the small frame AR platform. I shoot the 6.5 Grendel for longer ranges and the 300 BlkOut in a 10” upper on a SBR’d lower fully suppressed. I feel these 3 cartridges do all I need to do out of a 15 platform. If I hog hunted then I might add another upper in a 45 cal. I see a 45 cal upper as a very specialized upper that I dont need or want

 

[Joe S.]

I just picked up the American Ranch that takes AR mags and was also looking at the 450 Ranch and GS Scout because i LOVE the blued and walnut Scout setup.

But I just can’t see a need for that cartridge. I wish they would make that Scout variant in 308. The closest we can get currently is stainless and walnut.

 

[volshooter]

I've recently built a 450 on a AR platform. For hogs I love the 45-70 TC Encore I have. Obliviously a singe shot. Been in situations where more shots were available but limited to a single shot. Ballistics indicate very close ballistics between 450 and 45-70. Gonna give it a try. Groups with Hornady 250gr FTX are very good at 100 yards. Recoil is entirely tolerable.

 

[thor's daddy]

...Ballistics indicate very close ballistics between 450 and 45-70...

Maybe if you cut the nuts off your 45-70. Even Trapdoor data shows a distinct advantage to the old Government round in both velocity with lighter bullets and the ability to utilize (significantly) heavier bullets (not that hogs need all that much killing).

Not knocking the round, but a guy has to be honest about what it is and what it isn't...

 

[375hh1973]

Buddy has one for shooting deer here in the southern part of Michigan. AR.

Does a number on deer, way more accurate than a shotgun.

His daughter used it during the youth hunt. I cant imagine anyone thinking the recoil is bad. Feels about like a 20ga

 

[Randyzzz]

I am pondering getting a 450BM upper for one of my AR’s. Not because I really want it, but because a 30 rd 5.56 mag is a 10rd Bushy mag. So if Oregon ever does its “10rd max” mag ban, I’ll probably get one. Other than that. I can see no reason.

 

[s4s4u]

I am pondering getting a 450BM upper for one of my AR's. Not because I really want it, but because a 30 rd 5.56 mag is a 10rd Bushy mag. So if Oregon ever does its "10rd max" mag ban, I'll probably get one. Other than that. I can see no reason.

I wouldn't do solely for that, but I did one for hunting straightwall zones. They can be a bit finicky so I wouldn't trade reliability of 5.56 even if round for round. The 450 wouldn't be any more effective than 5.56 on thin skinned targets that walk on two legs.

Think this post exhumation may qualify for a gravedigger award nomination

 

[Randyzzz]

There’s 2 reasons….first, if Oregon’s version of the mag ban passes, there’s no “Grandfather” clause. Only “affirmative defense” which involves proving, possibly in court, that you owned the magazines before Dec 2022. Who knows what this would actually involve- cost/time/having a charge removed from your record. I’m not trusting the legal system to make it work correctly and easily.

Secondly, I own around a hundred 20 and 30 rd magazines. I think this puts me in defending against felony charges if it ever went that far.

Now, do I want a .450 Bushy? No…although a 10.5” SBR or pistol would make a heck of a truck gun!

 

[s4s4u]

Now, do I want a .450 Bushy? No…although a 10.5" SBR or pistol would make a heck of a truck gun!

If you aren't bound by straightwall case requirements such as for hunting, the 458 Socom would be the preferable big bore AR, IMO.

 

[eveled]

There are lots of interesting cartridges that on paper make sense. They may be great, but the benefits of sticking with the .223 30/30 and .308 out weigh my interests to try any of them.

 

[Larryburford]

It would be cool on an AR. I have a 50 Beowulf AR. It's a slammer.

 

[volshooter]

Plenty of big bore uppers available for the platform. I chose the 450 due to cost, both upper and ammo. My old reloading manual has 3 sets of data for the 45-70 with smokeless powder. Sure the old 45-70 is a fantastic round with any loading, one of my favorites. However now I have a thumper with a 5 round mag that has big bore power and is scary accurate out to 125 yds. Will be a definite plus if a sounder gets in range. Not as handy as my TC encore in 45-70 but I believe will be just as effective within the normal under 100 yard range available here.