.450 Bushmaster Barrels
Your barrel is the heart of the system. We offer 16″ & 18″ lengths in a Medium Contour so you can find the perfect balance between velocity and portability for your application.
Material: 416R Stainless Steel for accuracy and durability.
Finishes: Choose between Uncoated Stainless, Black Cerakote, or a Bead Blastedย Stainless finish.
Specifications
- Liberty Barrelsยฎ made by Saternยฎ
- .450 Bushmaster
- 416R Stainless Steel
- Medium Contour
- 1-20 Twist 6 Groove Rifling
- Mid Length Gas
- 3/4ร24 Threads
- .875 Gas Block Journal
Grendel Hunter AR-15 Billet Upper Receivers
Forget standard, mass-produced mil-spec forgings. We designed our Grendel Hunter Big Bore Billet uppers to move beyond the “basic” look of a standard AR. Billet allows us the design freedom to create sharper lines and a more modern aesthetic that you just can’t get from a forging.
We didn’t just design an upper; we designed a system. Our uppers and handguards are engineered to match up in an almost monolithic way, creating a seamless, integrated look.
Premium Finishing: Available in Black Hardcoat Anodized, Magpul FDE Cerakote, and Magpul OD Green Cerakote. Note: All Cerakoted uppers are anodized on the interior for maximum durability and smooth cycling.
Specifications
- 7075 T-6 Aluminumย
- .250 takedown pin holes
- Oversized ejection port for reliable ejection of Big Bore brass
- Slick Side (No dust cover or forward assist)
Grendel Hunter AR-15 Handguards: Form & Function
Every Grendel Hunter handguard is designed to integrate seamlessly with our billet uppers, creating a near-monolithic look and a rock-solid mounting platform. While they share the same rugged DNA, each version has a unique style.
Built-In Standards across all models:
Material: Lightweight, high-strength 6061-T6 Aluminum.
Rock-Solid Lockup: A heavy-duty Steel Barrel Nut and Steel Retention System ensure your rail doesn’t shift, even with heavy use.
Anti-Rotation Tabs: Integrated tabs prevent the rail from twisting under torque.
Slim Profile: A 1.3โณ inside diameter provides a modern, ergonomic “C-clamp” grip and a sleek look.
- Premium Finishing: Available in Black Hardcoat Anodized, Magpul FDE Cerakote, and Magpul OD Green Cerakote
Which Version is Right for Your Build?
V1:ย
Front Profile: Aggressive Slant-Cut
Top Rail: Competition Style (Rails at front and back only)
M-LOK Slots: Sides and Bottom
Weight: Our Lightest Option
The V1 is our lightest handguard. By utilizing a competition-style top rail and a sleek slant-cut front, weโve shed every unnecessary ounce without sacrificing mounting space.
V2:ย
Front Profile: Traditional Squared-Off
Top Rail: Competition Style (Rails at front and back only)
M-LOK Slots: Sides and Bottom
Weight: Balanced
If you prefer a more traditional look, the V2 features a squared-off front end. It maintains the competition-style top rail for weight savings.
V3:ย
Front Profile: Aggressive Slant-Cut
Top Rail: Full Picatinny (Continuous top rail)
M-LOK Slots: Full 360ยฐ (All sides)
Weight: Built for utility, but our heaviest option
The V3 is our most capable rail. It features a full-length Picatinny top rail and M-LOK slots surrounding the entire circumference. This is the go-to choice for hunters running thermal clip-ons, IR illuminators, or side-mounted accessories.
The Grendel Hunter BCG: Precision-Tuned Reliability
Headspace Check: We perform a manual headspace check for every upper using the specific barrel and bolt youโve selected.
Optimized Extractor Tension: Excessive tension is a leading cause of malfunctions and extractor failure. We are meticulous about our extractor tension being at the “sweet spot”โensuring reliable cycling without putting unnecessary stress on the steel.
Built to Last: Our bolts are machined from 9310 Steel, shot-peened for fatigue resistance, and Magnetic Particle Inspected (MPI).
Professional Grade Finishes
We offer three distinct finishes, each offering a significant upgrade over the old Mil-Spec phosphate in terms of lubricity, hardness, and ease of cleaning.
BCG Finish Specifications
Black Nitride
Surface Hardness: ~740 HV (Vickers)
The Process: A salt-bath thermo-chemical treatment that hardens the steel.
The Benefit: Far more durable and smoother than original Mil-Spec magnesium phosphate with excellent corrosion resistance.
Nickel Boron (NiB)
Surface Hardness: ~1800 HV (Vickers)
The Process: UCT EXOยฎ (High Boron content).
The Benefit: An extremely hard, durable finish with a very low friction coefficient. Itโs smooth and wipes clean easily.
DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon)
Surface Hardness: ~2300 HV (Vickers)
The Process: Next-level Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD)
The Benefit: High hardness, Excellent abrasive wear resistance, Low thermal conductivity, Ultra-Low friction level.
BCG Technical Specifications:
Carrier: M16 Auto Profile (8620 Steel) for smooth cycling and increased mass.
Gas Key: 4130 Steel with properly staked Grade 8 fasteners.
Bolt: .450 Bushmaster / .458 SOCOM
Small Parts: 4140 Steel Cam Pin and Hard Chrome Firing Pin.
Grendel Hunter Gas Blocks
We exclusively use adjustable blocks in our uppers. With the explosion in popularity that suppressors have enjoyed in recent years, it just makes sense to have the ability to tune the gas.ย
Note: Every upper is test-fired and shipped pre-set for reliable unsuppressed firing.
GH .875 Click Adjustable
Best For: Those who suppress or who like to really fine tune their rifles.
Design: Ball-detent system with 22 audible clicks of adjustment across the gas port and zero-shutoff.
Ease of Use: Front-access adjustment screw (1/8″ Hex) allows for tuning without removing the handguard.
Performance: Eliminates the “violent” over-gassed cycle common with suppressors, reducing carrier speed and heat.
Finish: Black Nitride
Will my upper come assembled and test fired?
Yes. You choose the components above and we assemble and test fire with those parts.ย
Will my upper receive a headspace check?
Yes. For every upper we build, we take the specific barrel and bolt the customer has selected and perform a headspace check prior to assembly.
What is the lead time on an upper?
We ship the same or next business day. Since our website has a live inventory and we only sell things that actually exist on our shelves, we do not have lead times.ย
If a specific component I want is out of stock, can I place the order anyway?
Unfortunately, we do not accept backorders. It’s Grendel Hunter’s policy to only take a customer’s money for things that exist.ย
If a specific component is out of stock, you can go to that item’s individual product page and join the “Back in Stock” email notification list.
Playlist

Best .450 Bushmaster Hunting Loads: 100 & 200 Yard Ballistic Test
Best .450 Bushmaster Hunting Loads: 100 & 200 Yard Ballistic Test Tested Ammo Muzzle Velocity (fps) Muzzle Energy (ft/lb) ย Hornady 250gr FTX | B.C.
- Don’t forget magazines!



















RC –
Iโve been extremely impressed with the Grendel Hunter 450 Bushmaster 16โ upper. Out of the box itโs rock-solid and very accurate โ Iโm routinely getting sub-MOA groups at 100 yards using Barnes bullets. Build quality and fit are excellent, and Andy has been incredibly responsive and helpful any time I had a question. Iโve been happy with every product Iโve bought from them and would happily recommend this upper to anyone.