Best .450 Bushmaster Muzzle Brakes

Even though you can never completely get rid of recoil out of a .450 Bushmaster, you can still reduce it by adding a muzzle brake. Also known as a recoil compensator. A muzzle brake is capable of reducing recoil by as much as 50%. It depends on the ammunition that you are using as well as the specific type of muzzle brake as well.

In this guide, we’ll go over the history and the merits of the .450 Bushmaster round, what a muzzle brake is and its pros and cons, a comparison of muzzle brakes to other muzzle devices, the top qualities to look for in a muzzle brake, and then our choices for the top three best muzzle brakes that you can get on the market this year.

Top Pick	GGD .450 Bushmaster Competition Muzzle Brake	Made from 4140 barrel steel Black oxide finish Rugged Mil-spec quality Not the most attractive design	$75 Shop NowClick to read my review
	Heavy Duty .450 Bushmaster Tanker Muzzle Brake 3/4x24	Made from strong aluminum material Black anodized finish Reduces recoil efficiently Heavy	$98 Shop NowClick to read my review
	Silencer ASR Muzzle Brake .450 Bushmaster	Excellent stainless steel construction Has a black oxide finish for excellent rust resistance Enables one handed attachment for a suppressor Higher priced for a muzzle brake	$87 Shop NowClick to read my review
	Next Level Armament Ruger American NLX-11 .450 Bushmaster Brake	American made Lightweight Built out of high quality stainless steel Will not fit an AR	$67 Shop NowClick to read my review

Why Go With The .450 Bushmaster Round?

The .450 Bushmaster was originally created for the AR-15 platform. However, it’s also available in other rifles. For example, the Ruger American bolt action rifle and the Ruger Gunsite Scout Model 77.

LeMag firearms originally designed the Bushmaster. In addition, LeMag added the name Bushmaster to the end of its name because LeMag designed the round while working with Bushmaster.

They designed the .450 Bushmaster for the AR-15 rather than the AR-10. As a result, it is fully compatible with a 5.56x45mm NATO caliber lower receiver. However, you will need to get a new .450 Bushmaster upper and barrel, and the associated components, including the muzzle brake.

LeMag Firearms also got the idea for the .450 Bushmaster from Jeff Cooper, the man who has arguably had more impact on modern tactics for firearms than any other person in history. Cooper argued that while the AR-15 was a superb platform, the 5.56 rounds were simply too light for dangerous game.

Cooper, therefore, envisioned a new chamber for the AR-15 that would deliver ballistics similar to the .45-70 Government. However, he also wanted to avoid creating a new cartridge so large that anyone can use it for the larger AR-10 platform. In addition, the AR-15 is more lightweight and compact than the AR-15, making it a handier weapon for walking around in the woods.

Shooters traditionally use the .45-70 Government as a defensive round against dangerous large game in North America. Hunting guides in Alaska and Canada, for instance, will often carry Marlin 1875 .45-70 Government rifles to stop grizzly bears and other aggressive large game. Furthermore, the .45-70 is hardly a long-range precision round, but it hits exceptionally hard within short distances.

The .450 Bushmaster delivers ballistics similar to the .45-70 Government. However, using it in a platform like the AR-15 can give you some advantages. For instance, you can have semi-automatic capabilities and faster reloading time compared to a lever-action rifle like the Marlin 1895.

A .450 Bushmaster will offer a flat trajectory out to around two hundred yards. It’s not a long-range precision round. However, it’s highly effective as a mid-range weapon. In addition, a standard 30 AR-15 5.56 magazine will hold 13 rounds of .450 Bushmaster. On the other hand, a 20-round 5.56 magazine will hold 9 rounds, while a 10 5.56 round magazine will hold 5. However, not all 5.56 AR-15 magazines are compatible with the .45 Bushmaster. Generally, the metal GI magazines will work better than the polymer mags.

Why Do You Need a Muzzle Brake?

First and foremost, a muzzle brake is not a necessary feature for your rifle. Most rifles don’t even have them.

The .450 Bushmaster delivers more recoil than the 5.56. Therefore, investing in a recoil can be a good idea, especially for making faster follow-up shots. It can also mitigate harsh recoil in other rifle platforms as well.

A muzzle brake is simply a recoil device you can add to the end of your barrel. Its purpose is to redirect the propellant gases away from the barrel and your rifle. This helps reduce recoil and muzzle rise at the same time, making it more fun and easier to shoot your rifle.

You can expect your muzzle brake to reduce recoil from anywhere from twenty to fifty percent, depending on the muzzle brake and the ammunition you use. In addition, you can thread most muzzle brakes on the end of the .450 Bushmaster barrel. However, other designs need to be pinned, clamped, or otherwise twisted on.

There are really only two negative downsides to using muzzle brakes on your rifle. The first is that they will add weight and length to the end. While you can mitigate this by choosing a smaller and lighter muzzle brake, the added weight and length are inevitable.

In addition, a muzzle brake will also add a lot of noise to your rifle as well. So, it’s best to invest in ear protection as well. Some people shooting at a range alongside you may not appreciate the louder noise, so take this into consideration.

In general, you’ll need to follow this process to install a muzzle brake onto the end of your rifle:

1. Confirm that your rifle is empty.
2. Place the upper receiver or the entire rifle into a vise.
3. Install the crush washer if needed.
4. Thread on the brake clockwise, until it is as tight as possible (apply a torque of fifteen to twenty pounds, but start low and then work your way up)
5. Make sure you properly align the brake with any visual indicators.

Also, take note that if your rifle’s barrel is less than 16 inches. You need to permanently fix the muzzle brake to make it legal, under United States Federal law.

Muzzle Brakes vs Other Kinds of Muzzle Devices

People often confuse muzzle brakes with other kinds of muzzle devices. As previously discussed, a muzzle brake redirects gas and pressure away from the barrel and the rifle, making it much easier to control. A muzzle brake helps reduce recoil and makes it easier to fire faster follow-up shots.

Some people confuse a muzzle brake with a compensator. The main difference is that a compensator redirects the gases from your rifle upwards. As a result, it stops your rifle from climbing upward when you are firing faster shots.

In other words, a compensator prevents higher muzzle rise, while a muzzle brake prevents harder recoil from being delivered into your shoulder. Contrary to what many people believe, a compensator does little to nothing in reducing felt recoil.

A flash suppressor helps reduce flash, which is an excellent feature to have when you are trying to conceal your position while firing in darker conditions. Flash suppressors also make it easy to shoot more accurately in darker environments, as the bright flash from firing a rifle can often be disorienting in dark conditions.

One kind of muzzle device exists as well as a muzzle brake and flash suppressor hybrid. This is a device that both reduces recoil and muzzle flash at the same time. It’s a highly valuable addition to have for tactical missions, although at the expense of much louder noise.

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Buyer’s Guide For The Best .450 Bushmaster Muzzle Brakes

These are the most important factors to consider when looking for a new muzzle brake for your .450 caliber rifle:

The Best .450 Bushmaster Muzzle Brakes

Now that we’ve covered why you need to consider adding a muzzle brake to your .450 Bushmaster, here are our top three choices for a .450 Bushmaster muzzle brake for 2020:

.450 Bushmaster Competition Muzzle Brake 5/8×32

Made from Barrel steel for superior strength, there is no doubt that this muzzle brake has a good if not perfect durability. To top it off, it has a black oxide finish for corrosion and weather resistance. Furthermore, it boasts a Mil-spec, made in the USA.

Another highlight in this creation is that it really ensures that there is a reduction in felt recoil, making the shooter increase its accuracy when hitting the target. It is also lightweight and compact, so it won’t cause more pain when carrying your already heavy rifle. You can also thread this easily.

This has a 5/8×32 Right-Hand Thread.

Overall

The 5/8×32 .450 Bushmaster Competition Muzzle Brake is my personal favorite. It embodies all the characteristics of a good muzzle brake. It is also easy to attach without gunsmithing required, it is compact and lightweight, it’s basically what everyone is looking for!

Heavy Duty .450 Bushmaster Tanker Muzzle Brake 3/4×24

The Heavy Duty .450 Bushmaster Tanker Muzzle Brake 3/4×24 is designed for .450 Bushmaster and all other similar rifles. It is made from strong aluminum finished with black anodize to ensure resistance to corrosion.

This muzzle brake standout in its efficient recoil reduction. Therefore, making the shooters increase their accuracy when hitting the target. Though a little heavier, the Heavy Duty Tanker can withstand the pressure of firing. So, you can guarantee that purchasing this is worth it, as it would last without any problems.

This has a 3/4″ x24 threaded pitch with a length of 2.63 inches and a weight of 9.5 ounces, with an outside diameter of 1.22 inches. The package also comes with a jam nut.

Overall

If you are looking for a bushmaster muzzle brake that can withstand the demands and pressure of your usage, then the Heavy Duty  .450 Bushmaster Tanker Muzzle Brake 3/4x 24 is an excellent option. Purchase now while it is on sale!

Silencer ASR Muzzle Brake .450 Bushmaster

The Silencer ASR Muzzle Brake for the .450 Bushmaster will not disappoint you. It’s built out of highly durable stainless steel, and also comes with a black oxide finish for excellent rust and corrosion resistance. This represents a major step up in quality from budge solutions.

It also offers three very large ports that help to keep recoil down to an absolute minimum and makes faster follow-up shots much easier. Another standout is how it’s easy to mount a sound suppressor or silencer to the end, and with only a one-hand operation. An example of a suppressor that works with the ASR is the Hybrid 46.

Finally, the ASR has 3/4” -24 threading specs. Overall, this is a solid choice for a muzzle brake for a .450 Bushmaster and is further a good option if you plan on using it in conjunction with a sound suppressor.

Overall

The Silencer ACR .450 Bushmaster muzzle brake offers high-quality stainless steel construction with a black oxide finish for excellent rust-resistant. The three large port design helps to reduce recoil as much as possible.

Next Level Armament Ruger American NLX-11 .450 Bushmaster Brake

The Next Level Armament NLX-11 .450 Bushmaster muzzle brake is designed to function on the Ruger American rifle, which is one of the most common and popular affordable bolt action rifles on the market today. Finding a muzzle brake for a Ruger American in .450 Bushmaster isn’t exactly easy, but fortunately, this one will work well.

This muzzle brake comes with 11/17×24 threading. It’s built out of stainless steel, which not only provides the strength needed to withstand immense pressure but also adds much resistance against moisture and water. And since it only weighs three ounces in total, it will add hardly any weight at all to the end of your barrel.

Take note that this is not a mass-produced product. Instead, it’s a product that has more careful attention to quality than mass-produced items. It also means that fewer of these are made. Therefore, you should purchase one when you can find it.

Overall
Overall, the Next Level Armament is one of the best choices for a .450 Bushmaster muzzle brake for the Ruger American. Since it’s not mass-produced, it is built with a higher level of attention to detail, but at the expense of far less of them being made.

Wrap Up

And that concludes our list of the best muzzle brakes for your .450 Bushmaster rifle. Any one of the muzzle brakes we covered here today is a solid option. But for my top pick, I’d go for the .450 Bushmaster Competition Muzzle Brake 5/8×32

Remember, while a muzzle brake may not be totally necessary for your .450 Bushmaster rifle, it will still be a very handy accessory to have if you want to reduce the recoil out of your rifle as much as possible.

You might also like to read:

• Best .450 Bushmaster Magazines
• Best .450 Bushmaster Uppers
• The Best .450 Bushmaster Barrels