Best .450 Bushmaster Scopes – Various Styles Reviewed

| Last Updated:
October 4, 2024

If you’re interested in using the .450 Bushmaster, especially to hunt larger game, you’ll want an excellent scope. Without it, missed or fouled shots will lead to wasted ammo and the loss of your target. But there are many options available, so read on for the best types of scopes and which products top our list.

Comparison of the Best .450 Bushmaster Scopes

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Dot sight scope with red or green dot
  • Adjustable brightness with night vision compatibility
  • Great scope for short to medium-range shooting
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  • High magnifying power for long-range shooting
  • Large objective size for better brightness
  • Durable and covered by a lifetime guarantee
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  • Apt magnification for mid and long-range shooting
  • Duplex reticle to better assist with sight picture acquisiton
  • Low price tag with lifetime guarantee
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  • Available in a multitude of length and reticle options
  • Rear knob for adjusting parallax
  • Long eye relief and fast focus eyepiece
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  • Best .450 Bushmaster scope for hunting
  • BDC reticle for intuitive long-range shooting
  • Offers exceptional value for money at an affordable price
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What is the Best Scope Magnification for the .450 Bushmaster?

When it comes to scopes, magnification is often introduced. Hunters not used to magnification, or those who are new to hunting with the .450 Bushmaster will often have a hard time determining how much magnification is best.

There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer. For shorter ranges, less magnification is ideal—in fact, using zero magnification may sometimes be preferable, but generally, you will want to go to 2x magnification and no more than 4x at the absolute max.

For longer ranges, it depends more on your skill level and what weapon and upper receiver you’re using in combination with the .450 Bushmaster. You can certainly go up to 8x magnification, but you should remember that when shooting powerful rounds, your scope is only part of the equation, with your barrel and skills needing to be of a high level as well.

Our recommendation is to, whenever possible, use a flexible scope. You can always change magnification levels when you have options. That said, you know your own skills and experience. If you want to hunt long-range, you’ll want to look for higher magnification.

What Makes a Great .450 Bushmaster Scope?

Regardless of your shooting style, you’ll want to consider some basic factors behind what makes a great .450 Bushmaster scope, including:

Magnification

As we’ve pointed out, magnification levels make a key difference in whether you’ll accurately hit your target when it’s close range or long range. Those who don’t intend to shoot at longer ranges won’t need high magnification levels. Those who do, or want versatility, should seek scopes with high magnification levels.

Brightness Settings

Do you intend on shooting in various lighting situations? If so, you’ll want a scope that offers brightness settings. Some even automatically adjust so that you can focus on your target and not fumble with dials or buttons.

Battery Life

Most advanced scopes utilize some electronic components, meaning they require a battery. Very basic scopes can last hundreds of hours on a battery, whereas more advanced scopes can last a few hours. This doesn’t make one type better than the other, per se, but it means that you’ll need to be aware of what you’re getting into.

Durability

Scopes can be delicate pieces of equipment. Look for the highest-grade construction materials, and preferably warranties, although unfortunately, many companies do not offer them.

Review of the Best .450 Bushmaster Scopes

Now that you know what to look for when searching out the best scope, let’s take a look at some of the best products out there today. Your individual shooting style and tastes will dictate what the best product actually is, so keep those factors in mind.

Best Overall:
Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sights

Pros

  • Excellent Construction
  • Fog, Water and Shockproof
  • Available With a Green or Red Dot
  • Fully Dial-Adjustable Windage and Elevation
  • Ten Brightness Settings, Two of Which are Night Vision Compatible

Cons

  • No Magnification Levels Beyond 1x

The Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sights are ready to provide ample hunting at short to medium ranges, and longer, depending on your skill level. While it does not offer magnification, it has a wealth of excellent features to get an accurate picture of your target.

Day or night, you’ll enjoy ten brightness levels on a red dot reticle that is a crisp four MOA. The two lowest are fully compatible with night vision. To save battery life, you can quickly turn off the scope and it resumes its last setting automatically.

You will also enjoy unlimited eye relief, and easy, dial-based windage and elevation adjustments. You’ll get an audible click as you wind the dial, with each click corresponding to ½ MOA.

Additionally, you can choose from two models, one with a red dot only or a red and green dot model. Green dots are a superior choice for daytime vision while working just as well during the nighttime as a red dot.

Construction is also excellent, made from rugged aluminum. It is lightweight but protected against shocks, water, and fog to ensure that it will not only last a very long time with proper care but also will perform perfectly regardless of your environment.

For shooters who do not want to shoot at a long range and want just enough options to zero in on their target without being overwhelming, the Vortex Optics Strikefire II is a perfect match.

Due to its wealth of options and excellent price, we consider it to be the best option for most users.

Bottom Line

If you don’t shoot at long ranges and want a wealth of options aside from magnification, the Vortex Optics Strikefire II is an excellent option, coming in as our best overall scope for the Bushmaster.

Best Hunting Scope for .450 Bushmaster:
Bushnell Tactical 4.5-30X50 Rifle Scope

Pros

  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Magnification From 4.5x to 30x
  • Excellent Construction and Durability
  • Mil-Dot and MOA Turrets, With 1/4 Windage
  • The Best .450 Bushmaster Scope for Hunters

Cons

  • A High Price Tag May Dissuade More Casual Hunters

Serious hunters looking to maximize their shooting potential will want not only excellent features but heavy magnification options to utilize their skills at any range. For these hunters, we present the Bushnell Tactical 4.5-30X50 Rifle Scope.

Let’s start with the magnification: you’ll get 4.5 to 30x adjustable magnifications with a 50-millimeter fully objective lens. The optics are fully multi-coated to optimize light transmission and the clarity of your viewing image. All of this is funneled through a 30-millimeter tube with a three-inch sunshade.

Moving on to the reticle, you get a mil-dot along with MOA turrets. The reticle is exceptionally crisp and does not take up the size of your target even at ranges exceeding 400 yards. Clicking is approximately ¼ MOA.

You should expect a fine instrument such as this to be built solidly, and it surely is. The 30-millimeter tube is argon-purged and is shock, fog, water, and grease proof. The recessed lens resists dirt and debris.

At any rate, it is backed by a lifetime guarantee, as a scope of this cost absolutely should, so its rugged design can be trusted. Of course, that brings us to the downside: this is a professional, high-quality scope and you’re paying for what you get. If you’re a professional hunter or really respect your craft, however, it is a small price to pay.

Bottom Line

For hunters, there’s no beating the magnification options and excellent features on this durable scope. It carries a price tag that may seem high but is absolutely worth it.

Best Leupold Scope for .450 Bushmaster:
Leupold VX-Freedom 450 Bushmaster Riflescope 3-9x40

Pros

  • Fully Waterproof
  • 3x-9x Magnification
  • Lifetime-Guarantee
  • Excellent Construction
  • ¼ MOA Adjustable With Finger Clicks

Cons

  • Magnification Starts at 3x

For shooters who find the price tag of our best match for hunters too high, or need less intense magnification, we suggest the Leupold VX-Freedom 450 Bushmaster Riflescope 3-9x40. It offers an excellent suite of features and a much lower price tag, making it a great compromise for many hunters, as well as more casual shooters.

You’ll enjoy a 3:1 zoom ratio, with a practical range of 3x to 9x, which ideal for many ranges, while ¼ MOA is adjustable with finger clicks for both elevation and windage. It performs very well in all lighting conditions thanks to its Twilight Management System combined with a crisp lens system filtered through a one-inch tube. With an objective lens diameter of 40 mm and parallax fixed design, your optics are clear and clean.

Fully waterproof and backed by a lifetime guarantee, it is a rugged piece of equipment, too. Leopold is known for their high-quality products and each is made right in Oregon and tested before shipment. It is made from rugged aluminum and coated with a black anodized finish to resist reflections and keep you stealthy.

Ultimately, while the lowest 3x magnification might not be best for shorter ranges, it’s an excellent option for a variable distance scope. Many hunters will love its simplicity, small size, and excellent performance. A lifetime-guarantee and a low price tag make it an excellent option.

Bottom Line

For a wide range of shooters, including hunters looking for a quality bargain, the Leupold VX-Freedom 450 Bushmaster Riflescope 3-9x40 is an excellent option backed by a lifetime guarantee and comes with a great price tag.

Best Vortex Scope for .450 Bushmaster:
Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane

Pros

  • Lifetime Unconditional Warranty
  • Corrosion, Shock, Water, and Fog Proofed
  • Finger-Clickable Turrets With Resettable MOA
  • Durable Construction From Aircraft Aluminum
  • A Wide Variety of Options to Choose the Model That Has the Right Features for You

Cons

  • Choosing the Right Model to Suit Your Needs May be Difficult for Some Shooters

If you’re looking for a quality scope with lots of great options, the Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane is here to serve you. It offers a wealth of lengths, diameters,magnifications, and reticles. There are too many to list, but we encourage you to check out all the options for yourself.

Our recommendation would be the 3-9x40 V-Brite Illuminated MOA. The V-Brite is a type of reticle employing the V-Plex style with an illuminated dot and is perfect for low-light conditions. If you’re not familiar with V-Plex, it aims to incorporate the crosshair and dot design into a singular pattern for optimum precision. You also get reset turrets that are capped and finger-clickable, and their MOA is easily reset to zero once you sight in.

Additionally, it provides long eye relief and a highly comfortable and forgiving eye box so that you can get a sight picture immediately. A fast-focus eyepiece further enforces this ability. The lenses are multi-coated and fully non-reflective with bright, clear illumination.

It is also durable, constructed from high-grade, aircraft aluminum and coated with a black anodized finish. Vortex Optics further provides nitrogen purging, shockproof protection, and O-ring sealing. It is waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof.

All of this and you also get an excellent price tag and an unconditional warranty which is one of the best in the business.

Bottom Line

Offering a wealth of options to choose from and a rugged scope no matter your choice, Vortex Optics provides a great variety of solutions along with a low price tag and unconditional lifetime warranty.

Best Nikon Scope for .450 Bushmaster:
Nikon Buckmasters II, 4-12x40mm, BDC

Pros

  • Excellent Value
  • 4-12x Magnification
  • ¼ Click Adjustments
  • Very Well-Designed Reticle
  • Fog, Shock, and Waterproofing

Cons

  • Warranty Process Can be Somewhat Difficult

Those looking for a truly budget solution to a hunting scope are not out of luck thanks to Nikon. This manufacturer is best known for their cameras and other optics, but they’ve been building a name for themselves for quite some time in the gun accessory market and with good reason. Their components are high-quality and very affordable.

You’d expect Nikon to offer a good picture and they certainly do. You get multicoated lenses that offer an exceptionally bright picture along with very generous eye relief. There are 100 yards of parallax, ultimately making your picture completely flat and vivid in any condition.

Nikon’s BDC reticle has become highly regarded among hunters. We’d encourage you to take a look at the reticle for yourself to understand why it works. A combination of a crosshair for shorter ranges and see-through ballistic circles are perfectly married, allowing quick, precise focus whether at 4x or 12x magnification. It is truly an excellent design innovation.

Meanwhile, you get ¼ click adjustments that operate as smoothly as butter with very clear but quiet noise. Your setting is maintained regardless of the amount of recoil produced from the .450 Bushmaster.

In terms of durability, Nikon has provided waterproofing, fog proofing, and shockproofing in a strong aluminum construction with a full black anodized finish.

With this scope, you get all the features you want and a price tag you’ll love. Our downside is that while a great warranty program is offered, it’s a bit of a cumbersome process and many owners have reported difficulty in this area. That said, we’ll take a warranty where we can get it, and it’s better than none.

Bottom Line

For those on a budget, Nikon offers a reliable and full-featured solution that’s been tried and tested by countless hunters.

Aspects to Consider When Buying a .450 Bushmaster Scope

Before you jump into purchasing your scope for use with .450 Bushmaster, consider the following aspects so that you get the product that is right for you.

Durability

We believe everyone should get a durable product regardless of where they’re taking their scope, but that said, some do offer a bit more durability than others. It’s certainly possible to get away with less environmental protection if you’re only shooting for sport, for example. Most products on our list offer excellent proofing from water, shock, and other hazards.

Warranty

A good number of the scopes we’ve picked out offer a warranty. It may not be a make-it-or-break-it deal for you, but we always recommend a warranty when you can get it.

Your Shooting Distance

Do you want to stick to shorter ranges? If so, you’ll want a scope that operates very well without magnification or has lower magnification settings. If you’re shooting long range a lot, high-quality, long-range magnification is critical and you’ll likely want one with many more levels.

Battery

Some, but not all, of the scopes on our list require a battery. This bugs some hunters, so be aware of it.

Reticle

Our list has about every type of reticle imaginable, from your basic red dot to Nikon’s proprietary design.

Each has advantages, and each excels at different ranges, so be sure to pay attention to the reticle!

Conclusion

Taming the beast that is the .450 Bushmaster is possible with an excellent scope. Your needs will greatly determine what type of scope is best for you, so use our guide to help you get a picture for what matches your shooting style, and pick a great option from our list.

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