A fairly new cartridge on the market, but still a very formidable one.
The 450 Bushmaster has quickly gained up traction as a viable big game hunting cartridge. Mainly due to the fact that it was designed for the popular AR platform. Allowing a shooter to enjoy the customizability of an AR. While these cartridges can be fed from a regular 5.56 magazine.
The need for dedicated mags is still desirable for a few good reasons. Check out the best 450 bushmaster magazines in this review and learn some useful insights about the topic.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for 450 Bushmaster Magazines
Comparison of the Best .450 Bushmaster Magazines
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Factors to Consider Before Buying .450 Bushmaster Magazines
The 450 Bushmaster is a big fat cartridge that shoots 200+ grain bullets and is an effective big game medicine. Buying a magazine for this caliber will have to go through a few questions and considerations. Which you will become aware of in this section.
This Section Written By:
Ankit Kumar
Expert Author
Ankit Kumar is an engineer turned writer who specializes in topics related to firearms, gun safety and weapon tech. His passion towards enrolling in the Army drifted his interest towards light and heavy firearms. He’s a qualified competitive air rifle shooter and an avid nature lover. His other areas of expertise include survival, prepping and firearms/ammo storage. When he’s not writing, he’s either learning a new skill, trekking or enjoying a long drive.
Get Dedicated Mags
It is a well-known fact that 450 Bushmaster magazines can be fed from a regular 5.56 magazine. A normal 30 round 5.56 mag will hold 13 or so Bushmaster rounds. Whereas a ten-round mag will hold three.
This capability can be useful in situations where you want a kind of makeshift solution for non-dire situations. But remember, that the 450 Bushmaster is a fatter cartridge with a slightly different design. The 5.56 is a rimless tapered case whereas the 450 BM is a rebated rim, straight-walled case.
Hence, using it through a 5.56 mag can cause feeding issues. Which can be detrimentally consequential in some situations. So always use dedicated magazines for a caliber.
Photo credit: ammoland.com
What Material Should You Prefer?
Magazines are generally made from polymer, aluminum, or steel. Polymer is lightweight and cheap but can be prone to cracks or damage. Metal mags are comparatively heavy but more durable in the long run.
Each of these has its tradeoff. But what you should look out for is a tough and rust-proof spring, an anti-tilt follower, and shape-retaining feed lips for reliable cycling. A magazine that can be easily disassembled for cleaning is also a useful perk.
Capacity and Number of Mags
Due to its big size and heavy bullet weight, the 450 Bushmaster magazines do not come in high-capacity variants. Additionally, the caliber is more popularly used as a hunting cartridge where high-capacity mags aren’t quite viable.
A three or five-round mag is ideal for hunting. However, you can also find seven rounds of dedicated mags (included further in this review) for the caliber. For people who want even more capacity and live in a state with no mag capacity restrictions. The option to use a 30 round 5.56 is always available.
The next thing to consider is how many mags do you need. As a general rule of thumb, I hold at least five mags for each mag-fed weapon. However, it also depends upon factors like mag capacity, any medical issues (like finger arthritis), and budget.
Having multiple mags also ensures that you never run out of magazines (duh). Additionally, use different mags for range use and real shooting. Since range mags generally are abused and tossed around and may become more prone to misfeeds.
Review of the Best 450 Bushmaster Magazines
Now that you understand the benefits of having spare magazines, and what to look for when it comes to the .450 Bushmaster, let’s delve into the best products on the market today. Of course, we’ve singled each out as the best for a particular use case, so be sure to pay attention to each to get the magazine that’s right for you.
Best Overall:
Ruger American Rifle .450 Bushmaster 3-Round Magazine 90633
Pros
Cons
Let’s not gloss over the importance of having a great magazine follower for .450 Bushmaster. These are designed to match the original magazine followers included with the .450 caliber rifle when they first took hold, prior to the modern craze.
Sometimes, you need a smart, independent gunsmith to produce high-quality parts, and Mouse Gun has filled that important niche here. Finding a dearth of acceptable single-shot followers on the market, this follower was designed for slow fire stages of the NRA high-power matches and adopted for the .450 caliber follower. It functions just fine whether it’s used for a multi-round .450 magazine or single-shot magazines in a .223. Just like a standard magazine, it locks back the bolt.
Expect the durable design to last for many years. Construction is excellent, made to an exacting gun owner’s standard. You’ll get an injection-molded design created from Delrin plastic, which meshes beautifully with aluminum or steel magazines. As you might know by now, however, it is not compatible with plastic magazines like the Magpul.
You should also note that even some steel magazines feature feed lips spaced too widely for the .450 to be able to properly hold the magazine. Of course, you shouldn’t have this issue if you’ve picked a magazine from our list but do be careful if you’re using other magazines that we haven’t recommended.
While it might seem unimportant to some readers, having a great magazine follower is a simple investment, and this product is very well-priced. Ensuring a great feed is important and in the grand scheme of things this custom-made solution is peanuts compared to what so many components cost.
Sometimes having three rounds is ample if you’re looking to have spare magazines at a low cost. Often, stocking up on three-round magazines is a great way to increase your ability to quickly fire off rounds once you’re accustomed to the .450 Bushmaster setup that you’ve built. It’s a perfect solution to those who are just getting used to it, too, as having spare magazines to load after every third shot will quickly get you moving efficiently.
When searching for a value solution, however, it’s important to stick to factory standards like a hard polymer-molded construction and a black finish that blends with your build. The ability to get a firm hold on the extra girth provided at the bottom to extract the mag from the magwell is another feature you may not get with low-cost products.
Additionally, sticking to a factory standard is the baseline for ensuring you don’t have to be concerned about potential feeding problems, and the hard polymer body will last a long time for a budget solution. We’ve already recommended that you purchase as many as makes sense for your budget from Brownells, but on occasion, it is possible to get them at a great price elsewhere.
In this case, Nimrod’s Wares has acquired brand new Ruger American .450 Bushmaster Magazine 3rd models and is offering them at a great discount. It’s unclear exactly how many are available or for how long they’ll be on offer, however, so be sure to stock up while you can!
Bottom Line
Producing an efficient and flawless feed is worth the minimal investment that comes with this custom-made solution for the .450 Bushmaster and is a wise choice.
Stocking up on the Ruger American .450 Bushmaster Magazine 3rd makes a lot of sense, so take advantage of this great offer for quality factory mags while you can!
2. C Products Defense .450 Bushmaster 5-Round
Pros
Cons
C Products Defense uses some of the most advanced manufacturing processes available to produce their magazines. Their fully automated robotic welding stations give them the ability to control every single weld, ensuring that there are zero mistakes in weld dimensions.
Each CPD mag has a snap-on anti-tilt follower. The company uses a unique 0.02 gauge stainless steel to provide greater interior dimensional space. This gives you better stacking of the rounds and greatly reduces the potential for jamming. The 400 series heat-treated stainless steel is finished in an advanced proprietary matte black coating to reduce glare and visibility. The coating also bonds to the steel at the molecular level and greatly decreases the coefficient of friction, increasing smooth operation and service life.
One of CPD's design goals is to prevent the mags from jamming even when using dirty ammunition. In quality control testing, these mags outperform the mil-spec aluminum mags in every single test. Despite only a small increase in weight over aluminum mags, the durability of these mags can't be beaten.
Bottom Line
These are some of the most durable mags on the market. If you are allergic to polymer, these mags can't be beaten. The best features are all the little details that are designed to extend service life. The reliability of CPD mags is outstanding.
3. Bushmaster .450 Bushmaster 5-Round
Pros
Cons
Bushmaster was founded in 1973 in North Carolina. It is a classic name in the modern sporting rifle world. This is a five-round mag, which is a great option if you need a compact, lightweight option in contexts where you won't need to get off more than a couple of shots. This is especially relevant for hunting deer or most medium to large game.
When you're packing a rifle around the bush all day in search of a big buck, you'll be thankful for every weight-saving measure you have taken, including choosing a small magazine. The low capacity is also handy in anti-Second Amendment states with restrictive laws such as California or New York.
This mag has a classic USGI-style aesthetic. It is made of heavy-duty stainless steel with a standard black finish. This gives you absolute protection against corrosion and a non-glare, low visibility finish. If you have a modern sporting rifle from Bushmaster, this mag is a perfect match.
Bottom Line
It's always nice to use aftermarket mags from the same company that made your rifle. Even if you don't have a Bushmaster rifle, this is a great, durable mag for any modern sporting rifle both for hunting or use in restrictive states. The top feature is the blacked out stainless steel design.
4. D&H 450 Bushmaster Magazine - 4 Round
Pros
Cons
D&H is a manufacturer of high-grade precision aluminum and steel magazines operating out of Wisconsin. This particular mag is constructed of heat treated aircraft-grade aluminum similar to that used for most AR-15 receivers. The black Teflon hard coat anodization is also pretty standard in the modern sporting rifle component world.
D&H performs rigorous stress tests on the spot welding used to finish the mag body. This is a four-round mag, which may seem low, but it is great for most types of hunting. An ethical and skilled hunter shouldn't really require more than one shot for a kill, but four round mags are pretty standard for hunting rifles. This gives you more than enough follow-up shops without a cumbersome long appendage sticking out of your rifle.
The 17-7PH magazine spring is completely corrosion proof. The follower is a proprietary D&H model that is designed to function reliably with big bore cartridges.
Bottom Line
These are great mags with an aesthetic that seamlessly matches your aluminum upper and lower modern sporting rifle receivers. The top features of these mags are the choice of materials and rigorous testing. The perfect application for these mags is hunting, but they can be a handy compact option in situations where you just need to pop off a couple of shots.
5. ASC .450 Bushmaster 7 Round AR-15 Magazine
Pros
Cons
The .450 bushmaster is a pretty large bullet to fit into small maneuverable magazines. That’s the reason you don’t find high capacity magazines for the caliber. However, some manufacturers came with mid-sized magazine for the round.
This here is a 7 round magazine for holding .450 bushmaster magazines. The magazine has been made using .020 gauge 410 Stainless Steel alloy, which is heat treated to provide a more sturdy, durable and reliable body. The magazine has been chemically treated to resist corrosion which is a very common problem with metal magazines.
Additionally, the magazine features a proprietary marlube finish, which has self-lubricating properties. Thus ensuring that the finish won’t chip-off and all dents and scratches will be self repairable. So the finish of these magazines is not marred. The magazine is powered by sturdy and reliable chrome silicon springs, and an anti-tilt follower to ensure reliable and flawless feeding of ammunition in the chamber.
The floor plate is 300 stainless steel, which endures shocks and pressure and keeps the magazine intact. The magazine has a slightly curved structure along with longitudinal grooves on the surface, just like retro magazines. This provides you with a good grip over the magazine under all conditions.
Bottom Line
The .450 bushmaster is a large caliber and requires a sturdy magazine to withstand its weight and pressure. This 7 round magazine is a good piece for mounting on a rifle because of its capacity, anti-tilt mechanism and good finish. 7 round capacity is enough to prevent you from reloading your magazines every now and then.
Perks of Carrying Extra .450 Bushmaster Magazines
Spare magazines are always an excellent idea. In the case of the .450 Bushmaster, it’s even smarter to carry extra mags. Here’s why:
More Versatility
You don’t need to carry the same magazines. The .450 Bushmaster can be a bit unwieldy and so, having mags that perform differently is a great way to adapt to your situation.
More Rounds
Many states don’t allow it, but anytime you have an opportunity to increase your magazine size, you should seriously consider it. More shots with less reloading just make sense.
Ruger 450 Bushmaster Scout (Photo credit: downrange.tv)
Reliability
If something goes wrong with your existing magazine, you’ll lose the target if you can’t simply swap out the magazine.
Learning Curve
If like many hunters you’ve just recently upgraded to the .450 Bushmaster, you’ll have a bit of a learning curve. In other words, you’ll probably need extra shots at first, especially if you’re practicing. Save yourself the time with extra magazines.
They’re Cheap
When it comes to guns, having magazines is one of the most affordable ways to make your life easier. Take advantage of cheap upgrades whenever you can!
How to Choose .450 Bushmaster Magazines
Don’t purchase just any magazines. Get the product that’s right for you! In particular, you should pay attention to the following considerations:
Feed Performance
This is one type of magazine where reliability really matters. Far too many .450 Bushmaster magazines do not feed properly. Of course, we’ve gathered magazines that you can count on, but you should be aware that this is a major problem with this magazine type!
Design
This ties in directly with feed performance. The geometry of most ammo brands features a taper that does not feed well in certain rifles such as the AR. That’s not to say that those are bad brands, but the design must be compatible with your gun’s design for reliable performance. You’ll encounter no problems with a bolt action magazine or single-shot rifles but semiautomatics are another story altogether.
Ruger American Rifle .450 Bushmaster 3-Round Magazine 90633
Capacity
Whenever discussing magazines, capacity always enters into the equation. Be sure you’re getting the number of rounds in a magazine that you want.
Budget
Magazines are thankfully not very expensive, so be sure you’re not spending an arm and a leg for what should be a good value.
Conclusion
Choosing the right magazine for .450 Bushmaster ensures a smooth transition and efficient performance on the range or in the field. However, far too many will produce feeding problems. Use our guide and list to avoid headaches and frustration and ensure you get a powerful shot without common problems!
