To understand what the best scope for the .450 Bushmaster is, you need to understand what it is and why it was made. Understanding the history of this cartridge is a great walk through the history of modern weaponry.
The .450 Bushmaster was introduced in late 2007 by Bushmaster and Hornady as an effort to enhance the ballistic performance of AR-15 rifles. Of course, a.45-caliber, 250-grain bullet leaving the barrel at 2,200 fps is a huge performance improvement over the 5.56 NATO’s comparatively small 55-grain bullet exiting the barrel at 3,200 fps. Few people hunted with an AR-style rifle when the.450 Bushmaster was launched.
Now .450 Bushmaster has become a staple of the gun industry and has become synomous with excellence, accuracy, and skill in all sorts of shooting conditions. Some of the best rifles in the world rely on the .450 Bushmaster.
What is a .450 Bushmaster?
When Bushmaster Firearms International needed a .45 caliber cartridge that would function through the short AR-15 action, Hornady Manufacturing Company produced the.450 Bushmaster. The.450 Bushmaster is the outcome of this partnership.
The Bushmaster is built around a .284 Winchester case that has been sawed off. It’s a rimless, straight wall case with a rebated.473-inch rim and a.500-inch diameter head. The length of the casing is 1.70 inches. It utilizes bullets with a diameter of.452 inches, similar to those used in.45 caliber pistols, rather than conventional bullets. Bullets with a diameter of 458 inches. The entire length of the loaded cartridge is 2.250 inches, and the casing accepts tiny rifle primers.
The MAP, or Manifold Absolute Pressure, of the.450 Bushmaster is 38,500 psi, which is much lower than that of the.223 Remington. The Bushmaster, on the other hand, has a significantly stronger back push against the bolt face, so don’t go over the SAAMI pressure limit.
In a industry filled with sleek, quick, slender cartridges vying to push the AR-15’s range and mechanical precision to new heights, the .450 Bushmaster may seem to be a bit different– after all, it’s a huge, slow-moving, straight-walled cartridge that excels inside 200 yards. However, those same characteristics make it ideal for hunters in the Midwest who can’t legally hunt with bottlenecked cartridges, as well as those searching for a drop-in upper that will allow them to bag wild boar, elk, moose, and even bears without breaking the budget.
If you’re seeking for a flexible cartridge that’s allowed for deer hunting in restricted weapon states while yet delivering enough deadly power to take down any and all North American large game, look no further than the.
The .450 Bushmaster is a tough competitor. It shoots flat and rips through thick undergrowth with ease, and you can be confident that anything you hit within of 200 yards will be put down. The 450 Bushmaster is a straightforward, inexpensive, and practical method to give yourself alternatives for almost every hunting situation.
Why to Use the 450 Bushmaster?
The.450 Bushmaster is a real huge bore hunting and defensive round for the AR15. The 450 Bushmaster round has over 2700 ft lb of force and was designed from the ground up to produce maximum kinetic energy downrange.
The.450 is most suitable to hunting under 250 yards. Beyond that distance, bullet drop is severe. You can comfortably place 260gr + rounds in a 4.5′′ circle if you sight your rifle in for 150. This results in a lethal hog, bear, or deer rifle with enough knockout force to stop them dead in their tracks.
The 5 Best Scopes for .450 Bushmaster
1. Leupold VX-Freedom 450 Bushmaster 3-9×40 Riflescope
The Leupold VX-Freedom 450 is one of a kind and is most known for its ultra-strong build but also its impressive ability to improve your view and accuracy.
The Twilight Light Management System is included on the Leupold sight for the.450 Bushmaster. For added convenience, this function adds up to 10 minutes of illumination. It also lowers glare, resulting in crisper pictures and improved target acquisition.
Because it is 100 percent shockproof, waterproof, and fog-proof, hunters may utilize the VX-Freddom in any hunting situation. Users may also look forward to a long-lasting sighting system. You can depend on its high-quality optics system whether you’re hunting at dawn or twilight.
Furthermore, the sighting tool is made of incredible, strong aircraft-grade aluminum, making it sturdy and long-lasting. It’s powerful, resilient, and perfect for any hunting situation. It contains scratch-resistant lenses, which means it meets military abrasion specifications. In other words, this is one strong scope that will be able to take a few hits and improve your Bushmaster’s power and accuracy. That feature is where a lot of the scope’s value comes from: it’s strong and its tough and it is can take pretty much anything you throw at it.
But it’s also just a very impressive scope that gives you great accuracy. If you need a variable magnification range, this 3-9x40mm scope is a great option. This model has three to nine settings, giving it a lot of flexibility for long-range shooting.
On the negative side, this VX-Freedom scope is a little hefty, which some users may not like.
Pros:
- Tough scratch resistent lenses
- Aircraft-quality aluminum keeps the body of this scope strong
- Patented, one of a kind twilight light management system allows you to use this weapon into the evening
Cons:
- Bulky build isn’t ideal for every shooter and can be uncomfortable for some
Conclusion:
This sighting tool for the.450 Bushmaster Bolt Action is more precise and long-lasting. Its amazing Twilight Light Management System provides an additional 10 minutes of illumination. This scope will last you a long time thanks to its sturdy design and scratch-resistant lenses.
2. Burris Fullfield II Ballistic Plex Scope
If you’ve heard of Bushmaster or scopes in general, you’ve heard of Burris. Their scopes are ideal for a broad variety of applications. The Fullfield II riflescopes have been popular alternatives for hunting all sorts of animals, large and small, throughout the years. The majority of individuals like the scopes’ total worth. They’re inexpensive but dependable, with all of the essential features you’d expect from a good riflescope.
The Burris Fullfield II rifle scope is still a popular option for hunting tiny varmints and larger animals. You receive a variety of lens selections to accommodate various distances, as well as a radically effective lens that will always get the job done.
A precision-ground lens with multi-coating reduces glare and increases brightness in this Burris scope. When compared to comparable scopes in the same price range, the scope has better light transmission.
The power ring of the Fullfield II scope is a knurled knob. This provides precision and ease for field modifications. The power ring and eyepiece, on the other hand, are still connected.
When it comes to lining up your shot, the scope’s fast-focus eyepiece can make all the difference. The eyepiece is integrated with the power ring to speed up target acquisition, but you can’t lock the eyepiece to keep it focused. Refocusing after changing the zoom becomes inconvenient for individuals who are used to a locking eyepiece.
All of these listed capabilities are merely another way of saying that the Burris Fullfield II has excellent durability features. The twin spring tension mechanism and robust one-inch tube keep the interior workings safe.
The scope features nitrogen-filled tubes, steel-on-steel adjustments, and a lifetime guarantee.
Finally, the Burris Fullfield 2 scopes provide an excellent balance of accuracy and high-quality design at an affordable price.
Pros:
- The price is is affordable even for newcomers
- Lifetime guarantee
- The lense is superior and comes with glare-reducing and light-creating technology
- Compact
Cons:
- The crossheirs are a little thick and cover a lot of the 1″ circle
Conclusion:
The Burris Fullfield II rifle sight is difficult to beat for the money. The ordinary shooter will discover a terrific value with robust construction, a superb warranty assurance, and the flexibility to pick the model that best suits their requirements.
3. Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane Riflescope
Vortex is a company known for creating afforadble, competive, and unbeatbale scopes for all sorts of rifles including the Bushmaster.
This is true of the Diamondback Second Focal Plane rifle scope as well. It may not have all of the bells and whistles you’d expect from a several hundred dollar scope, but it has all of the attributes you’d want from a respectable performance at a fraction of the price.
It includes completely multi-coated lenses for Vortex’s trademark flawlessly clear and anti-reflective picture clarity. Every time you set out, you’ll have durability, strength, and weatherproofing on your side thanks to a single-piece tube body. Remember that argon gas maintains your scope fogproof, which protects the picture quality and internal components.
Even in the most extreme situations, a fast-focus eyepiece and the precision glide erector system provide a smooth, immediate, and faultless visual experience.
The Diamondback rifle sight weights 14.6 ounces, which is a good and manageable weight for a 4-12X scope. Its aircraft-grade aluminum structure helps to keep it light and robust. It’s a little scope, measuring just 12 inches from the objective bell to the eyepiece.
The well-built structure and crystal clear glass are popular with Vortex consumers. There have been relatively few complaints, though, concerning minor flaws here and there. Thankfully, Vortex is a firm that has proved to respond quickly to any difficulties. Furthermore, the amount of concerns concerning its scope is significantly surpassed by almost unanimous appreciation.
When it comes to any customer concerns, Vortex has you covered with their VIP program. VIP stands for Vortex’s Very Important Promise to the customer. If your scope is broken or faulty, they will repair or replace it at no cost to you. This is a lifetime warranty that may be transferred to the next owner. You won’t need to save your receipt, and you won’t have to fill out any warranty or registration paperwork. It’s straightforward. You will be taken care of if you have a Vortex scope.
Pros:
- Dead-Hold BDC reticle
- Wind drift correction stadia lines on the crossheirs
- Precision-Glide Erector System
- Lightweight
- Fast-focus eyepiece
Cons:
- No natural zoom on this scope
- No sunshades available for the Diamondback Focal Plane
- Eye relief is relatively short: 3.1 inches
Conclusion:
The Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane scope is a solid performer at a reasonable price. There are not a lot of scopes that can compete with the quality of manufacture that you see in this one. When Vortex put the Diamondback scope together, all of the construction components were carefully examined. There are certain high-quality features that aren’t seen in scopes in the same price range.
Look no further if you want a high-quality scope that won’t let you down when it comes to the essential features. For any medium-range marksman, the Vortex Diamondback scope is an excellent option.
4. Monstrum G3 3-18×50 First Focal Plane FFP Rifle Scope with Illuminated MOA Reticle and Parallax Adjustment
The Monstrum G3 3-18×50 FFP Rifle Scope is a high-performance scope that may be utilized for long-range shooting up to 1000 yards. The MOA reticle in the first focus plane provides for precise aiming at various distances.
It features a magnification range of 6-24x and a 50mm objective lens diameter. The body of this model is sealed with an O-ring, making it waterproof and fog resistant. The Monstrum Tactical Rifle Scope can take the recoil of any large-caliber rifle, including a Bushmaster.
The objective lens of the Monstrum G3 may be adjusted. This allows you to concentrate on the target picture more precisely, removing any parallax or range estimate problems.
You can shoot properly day or night thanks to a dial-controlled reticle lighting. The G3’s optical system has completely multi-coated lenses for optimum light transmission and less glare, allowing you to detect your target even in low light.
The Monstrum G3 comes with an integrated sunshade and Picatinny rings, much like any other high-end tactical scope. Simply purchase it and you’re ready to start.
Pros:
- Mid-to-long range distances are capable, up to 1000+ yards
- Inline dial controlled reticle illumination with multiple brightness levels
- Incredible visibility at night or in low light environments
- Comes with parallax adjustment dial that allows shaper focus
Cons:
- Rings may be a bit too high for some shooters
Conclusion:
The Monstrum G3 is an adjustable scope that comes with multiple accessories and is able to nailing long distances with every shot. The brightness levels that come with the scope are a game-changer and allow you to see in any sort of condition, bright or dark, while visibility is always clear and crisp at all times too.
5. Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm FFP Rifle Scope – Illuminated ARC-2-MOA
Long-range targets will benefit from the magnification provided by this optic. The 14x zoom should be able to easily produce 700-yard shots, and with experience, up to 1000-yard shots. It isn’t intended to help with aiming at short or medium ranges, and the field of vision at 4x minimum magnification can’t be used comfortably at distances less than 100 yards.
At 14x and 100 yards, the view is barely 7.85 feet high and broad. The height and width of 7.85 feet is rather narrow.
This is, without a doubt, a long-range scope. The fact that a long-distance precise shot at various ranges has never been more available has stuck out the most.
Rather than spending a lot of money on a scope, a spotting sight, and a rangefinder, you can now start shooting great distances with only the scope.
It may be claimed that the Primary Arms 4-14x44mm FFP scope’s characteristics and specs teach you undesirable habits. It’s easy to get too dependent on the reticle instead of adjusting the turrets for wind hold and elevation at each range.
It enables a buddy to jump right in and gain confidence fast, but it also resets the learning curve when they switch to a sight with a simpler reticle.
This scope does a fantastic job at what it does. The picture is clear and crisp even at maximum magnification, and the light transmission is excellent. When compensating for wind, .1 mil adjustment rotation on the turrets passes the box test.
Pros:
- Reitcle is FFP, which means it remains true to size and gets smaller as you zoom out and larger as you zoom in
- FFP is typically not seen in budget scopes but it is available here
- Glass and light transmission at 14x
- .1 Mil turret adjustment clicks
Cons:
- Not as good at short ranges as it is at long ranges
- Only fog resistent but not fogprrof (there is a difference)
Conclusion
This is one heck of a long-range scope for your Bushmaster. It also includes many features that you would previously only gain from purchasing multiple accessories like a spotting sight, rangefinder, and more. Its zoom capabilities are truly top of the line and will also stay secure and stable no matter what you are shooting at.
