In a household blessed with four sons, chaos is a given. And out of that quartet, one stands out for his relentless passion for hunting. For years now, heโs had his sights set on one prize: the .450 Bushmaster. So, imagine his delightโand my smug sense of dad-coolnessโwhen I brought home the Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) .450 Bushmaster AR for a review. This wasnโt just any rifle review; this was the rifle heโd been pining for. After putting it through its paces, I kept the rifle but loaned it to him. The result? Two deer down in Indianaโs recent firearms season. And when I say โdown,โ I mean those deer looked like theyโd been hit by a runaway F-150. Absolutely obliterated.
Letโs get to the heart of it: What makes the .450 Bushmaster so lethal? Thereโs no shortage of online praise for this caliber. Scroll through the endless hunting forums, and youโll find countless photos of game animals taken down by it. Trust me, Iโd love to show you the pictures of my sonโs deer hanging in his barn, but hey, we donโt need photographic evidence. The proof is in the freezerโand the venison tastes even better when you know the .450 Bushmaster made it happen effortlessly.
But before we dive into its specs and performance, letโs take a walk down memory lane. How did the .450 Bushmaster come to be, and why does it hit like a freight train? It all started with gun legend Jeff Cooperโs “Thumper” concept. Cooper, unimpressed with the .223/5.56mmโs ability to bring down larger game, envisioned a .44-caliber-or-larger cartridge that could take big game with one shot from an AR-platform rifle. His dream? A round capable of ethically harvesting animals at 250 yards. Enter Tim LeGendre of LeMag Firearms. In 2007, he developed the .45 Professional cartridge, which used a 0.452-inch bullet. LeGendre built and delivered an AR-15 chambered for this new round to Cooper.
The story didnโt end there. Bushmaster Firearms caught wind of LeGendreโs work and licensed the cartridge. They collaborated with Hornady to refine it, shortening the case to 1.700 inches and the overall length to 2.260 inches. This modification allowed the cartridge to fit AR-15 platforms rather than the larger AR-10. The result was the birth of the .450 Bushmaster, named after its new owners. And boy, did it take off. Initially embraced by hunters in straight-wall cartridge states, its reputation quickly grew. With its 200-plus-yard range and hard-hitting .45-caliber bullet, the .450 Bushmaster became a favorite for deer, hog, and bear hunters alike. My son and I are now firm believers in its game-dropping prowess.
Specs of the Beast: Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 .450 Bushmaster
- Weight: 8 lbs.
- Barrel: 18-inch heavy barrel with a 1:24 twist, threaded 5/8×22
- Handguard: 15-inch M-LOK
- Upper Receiver: M4 billet
- Lower Receiver: BCA mil-spec, forged AR-15
- Bolt Carrier Group: BCA
- Finish: Parkerized (stainless available)
- Gas System: Mid-length
- Price: MSRP $420
Now, I know not everyone will fall head over heels for this caliber, but hear me out. If youโre in the market for an AR-platform rifle with some serious knockdown power, the .450 Bushmaster deserves a spot on your radar. And for the reloaders out there, youโll love its versatility. You can load it down with .45 pistol bullets for practice or crank it up for serious hunting. Think of it as the .38 Special to the .357 Magnumโa little something for every occasion. Fun fact: The .450 Bushmasterโs parent case is the rebated-rim .284 Winchester, but it uses small rifle primers instead of large ones. A small detail, sure, but worth noting for the reload-savvy among us.
Performance in the Field
For our testing, I set up targets at 50 yards. Before you scoff at the distance, let me explain. In our deer woods, 50 yards is a long shot. Both deer my son harvested were taken just beyond that mark. The rifleโs accuracy? Impeccable. And while I didnโt stretch its legs to 100 yards, the .450 Bushmasterโs energy and precision easily extend beyond that range. With its hallmark 250-grain bullet screaming downrange at 2,200 fps, itโs no surprise this caliber is a game-changer.
We used a couple of different loads, all of which performed flawlessly. The BCA rifle functioned without a hitch, and its trigger, while nothing to write home about, was more than serviceable. The beauty of the AR platform is its modularity. If youโre the tinkering type, swapping out components is a breeze. But honestly, the rifleโs out-of-the-box setup was more than adequate for our needs. The 15-inch M-LOK handguard made accessory mounting a cinch, and the long Picatinny rail accommodated our optic of choiceโan old Bushnell scope my son dug up. Not fancy, but effective.
Why Choose the BCA BC-15?
I own several Bear Creek Arsenal products, and they all share a common thread: affordability and reliability. They may not win beauty contests, but they get the job done. Plus, theyโre made right here in the USA, in Sanford, North Carolina. The .450 Bushmaster is no exception. Priced at just $420, this rifle is a steal. To put that into perspective, many AR uppers alone cost as much as this complete rifle. And while it may not come with a magazine, picking up a dedicated .450 Bushmaster mag is a small price to pay for the performance youโre getting.
One feature I particularly love is the right-side charging handle. Itโs a small detail but makes a big difference, especially when mounting a scope. No awkward hand gymnastics here. And for those who like to customize, Bear Creek Arsenalโs parts and optics pages are a great starting point.
Final Thoughts: A Keeper for the Cabinet
After spending time with the BCA .450 Bushmaster, itโs earned a permanent spot in my crowded gun cabinet. Whether youโre hunting deer, thinning out the hog population, or just punching paper at the range, this rifle delivers. Its power, accuracy, and affordability make it a standout option in the AR market. And letโs not forget the satisfaction of knowing itโs made on American soil.
For those still on the fence, take it from a dad whose sonโs hunting dreams came true with this rifle. The .450 Bushmaster isnโt just a caliber; itโs a statement. A statement that says, โIโm here to hunt, and I mean business.โ So, whether youโre a seasoned hunter or a newbie looking for your first big-bore AR, give the .450 Bushmaster a shot. Trust me, you wonโt be disappointed.
