Well, you’ve been in the deer (whitetail) hunting arena for a few years now, probably using TC Encore muzzleloader, Savage Model 99, or another model that shoots okay.
But honestly, you don’t find it impressively reliable.
You’re ready to switch to an advanced regulation cartridge rifle and consider it with either 45 Raptors or 450 Bushmasters.
But you wonder which one can give you more consistency in performance.
If so, we have covered you with a 45 Raptor vs. 450 Bushmaster – full comparison – to help you make an informed decision.
45 Raptor VS 450 Bushmaster – General Specs, Ballistic Performance, And Cost
The 45 Raptors was produced in 2014 by North American Sportsman, LLC, while the 450 Bushman was produced in 2017 by Bushmaster/Hornady.
Over the years, these rounds have gained much popularity among whitetail hunters.
We will compare the 45 Raptors vs. 450 Bushmasters’ general specifications, ballistic performance, and cost. Keep reading.
Design And General Specifications
The 45 Raptor is essentially a straight-wall rifle cartridge. Its rimless design dramatically enhances its capacity to feed in semi-automatic firearms.
It fits a standard AR-10 rifle and is perfect for hunting medium-sized and large game, including hog and whitetail.
On the other hand, the 450 Bushmaster has a straight, debated rim case. It was designed to work in the AR-15 rifle but also makes a severe thump for big game hunting.
For the 45 Raptor, its design mimics the specs of the .308 Winchester, meaning that all required to run the cartridge are a new barrel and slight magazine modification.
The 450 Bushmaster’s parent cartilage was the 45 Professional, which only differs from the 450 Bushmaster cartridges by the overall length.
The purpose of designing the 450 Bushmaster was to make a round that would fire in a semi-automatic rifle for single-shot kills on big game at 250 yards or more.
We didn’t find any significant difference between the two 45 Raptors vs. 450 Bushmasters on the specs, although the former appears to take the lead. Take a look:
For 45 Raptor comes with .452 inches bullet diameter and .478 inches neck diameter. The 45 Raptor vs. 450 Bushmaster; the 450 Bushmaster’s bullet and neck diameters are .4520 inches and .4800 inches, respectively – only a slight difference.
The rim diameter and thickness for the Raptor 45 are .473 inches and .039 inches, respectively. On the other hand, the 450 Bushmaster features a rim diameter of .473 inches at a thickness of .054 inches.
The 45 Raptor has a more significant case measuring 1.8 inches than its 450 Bushmaster counterpart’s 1.7 inches.
The overall length for the 45 Raptor is 2.3 inches while 2.26 inches.
Ballistic Performance Comparison
Both the 45 Raptor vs. 450 Bushmaster rounds demonstrate great energy on target.
After all, the idea behind their designs was to offer a more knock-down power than their predecessors.
But generally, they were designed and produced at different times by designers and manufacturers.
That means one has to be better in terms of performance, and the 45 Raptor beats the 450 Bushmaster.
Why We Think That The 45 Raptor Is Better
Energy and velocity levers from the 45 Raptor cartridge are pretty impressive. The 450 Bushmaster 250 Grain SST round muzzle has a velocity of 2,214 feet per second and about 2,722 feet per pound of energy on a target at 100 yards. A 260-grain AccuTip round muzzle is good for 2,180 feet/second and 2,744 feet-pounds of energy. But at the same distance, the 45 Raptor beats the 450 Bushmaster by about 700 feet-pounds.
For the 45 Raptor from a 16-inch barrel, a 300-grain Hornady XTP Mag can be pushed up to 2300 feet/second and over 3400 feet-pounds of energy. And even with a light 180 grain Nosler JHP is adequate for up to 2,800 feet per second and almost 3,150 feet-pounds.
The 450 Bushmaster uses .452-inch bullets since the lower impact velocities and energies wouldn’t expand the heavier jacketed .458-inch bullets adequately. This big-bore AR cartridge has a relatively flat trajectory off to 200 yards. That means if you zero the firearm at 150 yards, you’ll likely see a rise of 1.8 inches at 100 yards and a drop of 4.9 inches at 200 yards.
The 45 Raptor is also a flat shooting cartridge to 200 yards. From the muzzle to 200 yards, you can expect no more than a 3-inch rise or drop depending on bullet weights of 185 grains to 300 yards. That means you can shoot into a 6-inch diameter circle at any distance to 200 yards without holding over.
Note
The 450 Bushmaster’s cartridge adapts single-stacked in a standard AR-15 magazine with a single-stack follower.
A 10-round AR-15 magazine body will yield a 4-round magazine, and a 20-round AR-15 magazine body will yield a 5 to 7-round magazine.
The 45 Raptor cartridge can be used with standard AR-10 magazines from DPMS and ProMag. The magazines maintain the same capacity, meaning 20-rounds will hold 20-rounds.
Generally, as mentioned, the 45 Raptor seems relatively better in terms of velocity and energy. It will offer a better and more precise shoot than the 450 Bushmaster.
Cost Comparison
You’ll need to dig deeper into your pocket for the 45 Raptors than for the 450 Bushmasters.
The former boasts more commercially produced cartridges and a wider variety of bullet designs.
Another vital part of this price comparison is the price of entry for equipment. The 450 Bushmaster (mentioned above) was designed to be used with the AR-15 platform.
The 45 Raptor was designed for use with the AR-10 platform.
But many companies are producing bolt-action rifles chambered in 450 Bushmaster.
Pre-fit barrels for 45 Raptor are available for anyone adventurous enough to build his bolt-action.
You can easily find a 450 Bushmaster upper for around $400, while a 45 Raptor upper can go up to $1200.
The latter is also hard to find. Indeed, you may need to cough up to $400 for the 45 Raptor AR-10 barrels alone.
45 Raptor Vs. 450 Bushmaster – Which One Is Better?
Both cartridges deliver almost the same performance downrange; thus, they are perfect for hunting.
But which one should you take for your next rifle purchase? That may come down to budget and personal preference.
But if you’re confident in a particular projectile for hunting, the 45 Raptor can give you better odds of a kill.
If you intend your gun to double up as part of your house defense plan, the 450 Bushmaster is also hard to ignore.
If you buy a rifle that delivers one-shot stops, the 45 Raptor is hard to beat – energy and velocity-wise. Budget-wise, you’ll be better off with the 450 Bushmaster.
Take Away
Deer hunting is a fantastic experience. But you can’t enjoy this fulfilling experience without the correct rifle cartridge.
The 45 Raptor vs. 450 Bushmasters is excellent at delivering a consistent and potent knock-down for medium and giant games, including whitetail and beer.
The 45 Raptor stands out in terms of velocity and energy but comes at a higher price. We leave it to you to decide which one is the better deal for you.
We are confident you’ll make an informed decision.
