The .450 Bushmaster is a heavy-hitting, straight-walled cartridge engineered specifically for close to mid-range hunting. Because many states now require straight-walled cartridges for deer hunting, the .450 Bushmaster has surged in popularity. It fires massive projectiles out of an AR-15 platform or a standard bolt-action rifle, delivering incredible knockdown power on deer, hogs, and bear.
Hornady manufactures several excellent factory loads for this caliber. Below are the core ballistics charts for the most popular hunting rounds, followed by an in-depth breakdown of recoil, retained energy, and effective range.
Hornady 450 Bushmaster Ballistics Chart
1. Hornady 250 gr. FTX Custom (450 Bushmaster)
The 250-grain FTX (Flex Tip eXpanding) is the gold standard for the .450 Bushmaster. The polymer tip assists with aerodynamics and ensures reliable expansion upon impact. Tested with a 20-inch barrel.
| Range (Yards) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (inches) |
| Muzzle | 2200 | 2687 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 1835 | 1868 | +4.1 |
| 200 | 1515 | 1274 | -2.4 |
| 300 | 1255 | 874 | -19.3 |
2. Hornady 245 gr. InterLock American Whitetail
The 245-grain InterLock utilizes an exposed lead tip and a mechanical ring that locks the core and jacket together. This load provides excellent weight retention and deep penetration. This trajectory assumes a 200-yard zero.
| Range (Yards) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (inches) |
| Muzzle | 2200 | 2633 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 1742 | 1651 | +5.1 |
| 200 | 1364 | 1012 | 0.0 |
| 300 | 1103 | 662 | -24.0 |
3. Hornady 395 gr. Sub-X Subsonic
For shooters using a suppressor, Hornady offers a heavy 395-grain Sub-X load. It is designed to stay below the speed of sound while still expanding reliably.
| Range (Yards) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) |
| Muzzle | 1050 | 967 |
| 50 | 1010 | 895 |
| 100 | 975 | 834 |
Understanding the .450 Bushmaster
To get the most out of your rifle, you need to understand how this cartridge performs in the field. It behaves very differently than high-velocity bottlenecks like the 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Winchester.
The “Thumper” Concept
The .450 Bushmaster was born from the “Thumper” concept. The goal was to create a cartridge that could fit into a standard AR-15 platform but deliver one-shot stopping power on large targets at 200 yards. By using a .452-inch diameter bullet, the cartridge creates a massive wound channel.
Effective Hunting Range
While the cartridge hits with extreme force, it has a ballistic trajectory resembling a rainbow.
- Inside 150 Yards: The .450 Bushmaster is devastating. It shoots relatively flat out to 150 yards.
- 150 to 200 Yards: You will need to account for bullet drop. As seen in the FTX chart, a bullet zeroed for 150 yards will drop about 2.4 inches at 200 yards.
- Beyond 200 Yards: The bullet sheds velocity rapidly. By 300 yards, the FTX drops nearly 20 inches, and the InterLock drops 24 inches. Because of this steep drop and loss of energy, 200 to 250 yards is generally considered the maximum ethical hunting range for this cartridge.
Retained Kinetic Energy Comparison
For big game hunting, most experts recommend a minimum of 1,000 ft-lbs of energy to ensure a clean harvest. Let us look at how the two most popular Hornady loads hold their energy over distance.
| Range | 250 gr. FTX Energy | 245 gr. InterLock Energy | Lethality Benchmark |
| 100 Yards | 1868 ft-lbs | 1651 ft-lbs | More than enough for Elk/Bear |
| 200 Yards | 1274 ft-lbs | 1012 ft-lbs | Excellent for Deer/Hogs |
| 250 Yards | 1060 ft-lbs | 820 ft-lbs | Marginal for heavy game |
| 300 Yards | 874 ft-lbs | 662 ft-lbs | Below recommended thresholds |
This table clearly illustrates why the .450 Bushmaster is a 200-yard gun. At 200 yards, the 250-grain FTX is still carrying 1,274 ft-lbs of energy, which is plenty for North American big game. By 300 yards, it drops below the 1,000 ft-lbs threshold.
Managing .450 Bushmaster Recoil
You cannot launch a 250-grain bullet at 2,200 fps without feeling it on the back end. The recoil of the .450 Bushmaster is stout, often compared to a 20-gauge shotgun firing slugs. It is not ideal for highly recoil-sensitive shooters, but it is entirely manageable in a hunting scenario.
Here is how the .450 Bushmaster compares to other popular hunting calibers assuming standard rifle weights.
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight | Free Recoil Energy | Recoil Feel |
| .308 Winchester | 202 gr | 18.27 ft-lbs | Moderate |
| .450 Bushmaster | 268 gr | 22.22 ft-lbs | Heavy |
| .300 Win Mag | 205 gr | 29.99 ft-lbs | Very Heavy |
| .45-70 Govt | 331 gr | 30.81 ft-lbs | Punishing |
While it kicks harder than a standard .308 Winchester, it is significantly more comfortable to shoot than classic big-bore lever-action cartridges like the .45-70 Government. Adding a muzzle brake to a .450 Bushmaster rifle can also dramatically reduce the felt recoil, making it much more comfortable for sighting in at the range.