.450 Bushmaster

The .450 Bushmaster (parent cartridge is the 45 Professional) rifle/cartridge conversion, was developed by Tim LeGendre of LeMAG FIREARMS LLC., and licensed to Bushmaster Firearms International LLC., for production and distribution. LeGendre still retains ownership. The 450 Bushmaster is designed to be used in the standard M-16/AR-15 platform, using standard magazines.

Bushmaster asked Hornady to produce the 45 Professional ammunition for this project, Hornady agreed. Hornady wanted the 45 Professional shortened, to accommodate their Venerable 250gr., Pointed, SST bullet. Hornady asked Bushmaster for the change (1.771" to the now standard 1.700"), Bushmaster asked LeGendre to sign off on that change, and he did. Bushmaster eventually wanted a name change and LeGendre agreed, to what has now become the popular 450 BUSHMASTER.

Based on a concept by Col. Jeff Cooper (Thumper), the goal was to provide guaranteed one-shot kills on Big Game animals at 250 yards, with a large bore semi-auto (44 cal or larger). Col. Cooper upon being presented with the early 45 Professional stated…“this is Thumper Senior…I can now own an AR-15”. A 45 Pro was indeed built for Col. Cooper, by LeMAG, pretty good considering his disdain for the AR-15 in 5.56 NATO. Hornady, with its extreme expertise, busted the Cooper 250yd limit. The result is the 450 BUSHMASTER, a semi-auto rifle/cartridge combination that absolutely provides more than enough stopping power to adequately kill all Big Game in North America.