450Bushmaster.net

Am I really losing that much by using a 16" barrel vs an 18"/20"? This will be a southern MI whitetail gun where we really aren't reaching out that far. Anyone have recommendations on a good .450 16" barrel, whats optimal twist rate?

Thanks in advance.

rootacres wrote:Am I really losing that much by using a 16" barrel vs an 18"/20"? This will be a southern MI whitetail gun where we really aren't reaching out that far. Anyone have recommendations on a good .450 16" barrel, whats optimal twist rate?

Thanks in advance.

in my opinion, pick a 18" barrel from one of the suppliers on board here, Bartz, Gryphon, Tromix and have at it. Been good reports on all of them.

I really think 18" is a good balance between a 16" and 20" for speed (not that it's a huge amount) and the midlength gas system.

I second that opinion!

With regard to what is best for the 450 Bushmaster... I dont know. I'll get some velocity data on my 16" AR build soon.

Until then I share that for many years I have hunted southwestern michigan whitetail with handguns chambered in 44 magnum and 45 colt. All of my shots have been 78 yards or less with most coming in around 35-50 yards. I have never had to shoot more than one shot and my 44 load pushed a 200 grain bullet at 1600 fps and my 45 load pushed a 250 grain bullet around 1200 (ruger). Ive taken at least a dozen deer with the above and when you add muzzleloader kills using 250 grain .452 dia at 1700 fps and 200 grain .429 dia. bullets at 1900fps that number would go up at least another dozen. So I can definitely state with complete confidence that the bullet and velocity is more than enough to bring a deer down with efficiency.

As for where the major velocity lose occurs within the bushmaster barrel lengths, IDK, but on my own 16" AR I really don't care as long as it is cycling and feeding smoothly with 100% of my impacts on 8" steel plates at 200 yards I'll have complete confidence using it inside that range on our whitetail.

Using factory Hornady ammo, the measured velocity difference between our 16" and 20" 450 barrels is 75 fps. So it really doesn't matter which one you choose just go with the one that makes you feel the most confident and keep in mind that on a scoped rifle barrel length has no effect on accuracy.

-Barttman

16" works just fine for Southern Michigan, most shots are 100 yards or less anyway.

If carbine gas, I would stick with 16". If going to mid or rifle length gas, then you can benefit more from a longer barrel.