Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 450 Bushmaster-anybody have one?

Looking at other chamberings for new AR. I have a 6.8 spc, 300 blk and of coarse 5.56. Don't reload. Looking at a 450BM to shoot deer and pigs and other critters that happen by. Questions are, anything you would do or not do if you had to build or buy another one? I am not a wuss, but how bad is the recoil actually? Is there any recommendation to tame the recoil besides a brake? Thanks for your time...Joe

The recoil isn't hateful, it just moves you around a little more than other AR chamberings.

Thanks Tyrone.

More of a push and I use a slip on pad also. (Maybe a bit of a wuss. ;))

Recoil never improves shooting. That's one reason I went .350L instead.

My 45 pistol can is rated for it. I’ve been casually looking around for a bolt gun and studying up. Pretty impressive round and appealing for woods hunting.

Yes I think it would be a good “thumper” within 200 yards- as intended. Just need to get around to building one…Joe

I'm building one at the store I work for (yes theyve got the licensing) and we're just waiting on the last few parts to come in

Got a couple of them. I really like it for knocking over whitetails. A can would be nice, dang thing barks. The recoil never really bothered me, you do feel it though. Still messing with the BCA side charger, not quite sold on it yet. It was cheap so I figured I would try it out.

If you are not a reloader, I don't know what to recommend, maybe 350 Legend. I built a 450 BM because of the abundance of .451" bullets to choose from. I wanted a thumper for when I took the dogs out in the evening and morning (I live in griz country). This fills the bill with 330gr pills. With 250gr pills recoil is OK and not bothersome.
From a reloader's standpoint the 350 L is a basket case. Odd sized bullet and an odd sized case. I have a 357 AR, which uses cut down 223 or 223 basic brass and I spec'ed my barrel at .358" with a 14" twist. IMHO the 357 AR is very useful, while the 350 L is useless.
I don't know the availability of ammo, but Starline makes brass for the 50 Beowulf. About a year ago I picked up an upper, but sadly I have not shot it yet.

Thanks ,pard

LGS has Ruger ranch in 450 BM. Ammo is about $2 and up from what I see online. Got a can rated for it . Just need an adapter for the wonky size threads on the rifle. Tempting

Started out with a ranch in 450. Hell of alot quieter than my AR's. Of course the ruger had no brake. Perceived quieter at least, neighbors probably hated me

Joel,

How’d you like that magazine on the Ruger? This one is three rounds stacked vertically I believe.

Mine worked. Had a couple spare. Factory ruger. Sold the rifle to my brother in law and everything still works as advertised, except his buck fever and accuracy...on his end.

My mags were solid lock up and no feeding issues...unlike that side charger of mine

It's a thumper on whitetail. Pretty popular here in Ohio.

A friend of mine uses a 450BM in a Ruger bolt action. Full power loads are powerful enough to take our large deer. Even the factory subsonic loads work well on deer. He hasn’t tagged a large stag using subs yet, but the subs work well on juveniles and hinds. Noise and recoil are way down on full power loads.

I also use a 450BM in a Ruger American go wild version with a 22 inch braked barrel. A handload of 40grs of little gun the 250gr Hornady @2400 FPS It will be a solid 200 yard death stick. Plenty of horse power for the things I will be shooting.

I think ya'll have talked me into building one, til something else piques my interest. Thanks everyone for your input...Joe

A .450 BM stays near the top of my next acquisition list. I debate between a bolt (CA) or an AR. A buddy has the CA bolt with a can and it’s a sweet setup.