Description
I was chasing hogs in the Missouri River bottoms last fall when I realized my standard 5.56 just wasn’t cutting it for the bigger, tougher game. I needed a thumper—a round with serious authority that still fit the familiar AR-15 platform. That’s exactly what I found in the Bushmaster 450 Rifle AR-15 450 Busmaster, 20″ Barrel, A3 Flat Top, Optic Ready, 5rd. This is a purpose-built hunting rifle chambered in the potent .450 Bushmaster cartridge, delivering hard-hitting performance in a reliable, optics-ready package. It’s a straightforward, no-fuss tool for hunters who need more punch.
Look, the .450 Bushmaster is a beast of a round. It’s designed to take down large game like whitetail, boar, and even bear with authority, all while remaining legal for straight-wall cartridge hunting zones. This Bushmaster rifle is the perfect host for it. The 20-inch barrel gives you excellent velocity and a smooth sight radius, while the A3 flat-top upper receiver means mounting your preferred optic or iron sights is a simple, drop-in ready process. I’ve put a few hundred rounds of Hornady Black through mine, and the reliability has been flawless. The rifle maintains the familiar controls and ergonomics of the AR-15, so if you’re already comfortable with that platform, you’ll feel right at home. The 5-round magazine capacity is practical for hunting and keeps things compliant in many states.
| Caliber | .450 Bushmaster |
|---|---|
| Barrel Length | 20 Inches |
| Receiver | A3 Flat Top, Optic Ready |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 Rounds |
| Action | Direct Impingement Semi-Auto |
| Stock | 6-Position Collapsible |
Here’s the thing—this isn’t a plinker. It’s a specialized tool. The pros are clear: massive stopping power in a familiar, customizable platform, excellent accuracy for a big-bore AR, and a ready-to-go setup that requires no gunsmithing to get started. The cons? Well, ammo is more expensive than .223, and the recoil is noticeably sharper, though very manageable. It’s also a single-caliber specialist; you’re not swapping uppers to shoot .223 here. The total weight comes in around 7.5 lbs unloaded, which is solid but not cumbersome for a hunting walk.
So who is this rifle for? It’s for the Missouri hunter who needs ethical, decisive power for deer in our dense woods or for putting down feral hogs on farmland. It’s for the shooter who values the AR-15’s modularity but has outgrown the 5.56 for their primary hunting needs. It’s also a fantastic choice for anyone in a state with straight-wall cartridge rifle laws for deer season. The rifle ships to Missouri and compliant US states, and at $1112.20, it sits in a competitive spot for a dedicated, factory-built .450 Bushmaster platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of optic should I put on this?
A: A low-power variable optic (LPVO) in the 1-6x or 1-8x range is ideal. It gives you a wide field of view for close shots in brush and the magnification for longer, ethical shots. I run a Vortex Strike Eagle on mine, and it’s a perfect match.
Q: Is it compatible with my existing AR-15 parts?
A: Mostly, yes. The lower receiver and most furniture are standard mil-spec AR-15. The key exceptions are the barrel, bolt carrier group, and magazine, which are specific to the .450 Bushmaster cartridge. The upper receiver is also built to handle the round’s larger diameter.
Q: How far can I effectively hunt with the .450 Bushmaster?
A: While it has plenty of energy, think of it as a 250-yard cartridge, max. Its real strength is within 200 yards, where it delivers devastating terminal performance. The 20-inch barrel helps maximize that effective range.
If you’re ready to step up to a hard-hitting, reliable hunting rifle that leverages the platform you already know, the Bushmaster 450 is waiting. See more details and check availability at firearms-missouri.com for Missouri residents and nationwide.
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