Mossberg Patriot .450 Bushmaster 20 in. Walnut Vortex Combo

About this product

The Mossberg Patriot .450 Bushmaster 20 in. Walnut Vortex Combo is a classic bolt-action hunting rifle platform that delivers short-range power for regulated deer zones. It pairs a traditional American walnut stock with Mossberg's utilitarian action and ships with a Vortex Crossfire II scope, providing an immediately functional hunting and sporting combo for 2025. Let's cut through the marketing language and examine what this package actually provides.

What is the Mossberg Patriot .450 Bushmaster combo used for?

This rifle combo is principally for hunting medium to large game—primarily whitetail deer—within the straight-walled cartridge zones of Midwestern states. The .450 Bushmaster has a point-blank trajectory suited for shots inside 250 yards, and the 20" barrel threaded 11/16-24 allows for direct suppressor mounting without a gunsmith, provided you follow your Form 4 wait time and trust registration. The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 is a serviceable entry-level scope for hunting in fair light, but budget for a higher-grade mount if you plan on heavy use; the included hardware is adequate for initial zeroing and casual range trips.

How does the Mossberg Patriot combo compare to the Stevens 334?

The Mossberg Patriot offers a more polished factory package with an adjustable trigger and a classic stock compared to the utilitarian Stevens 334. The LBA trigger on the Patriot can be adjusted from approximately 2.5 to 7 pounds, while the Stevens uses a simpler, non-adjustable mechanism. Where the Stevens 334 in .308 excels is in offering a common, versatile cartridge with wider ammunition selection for the budget-conscious hunter; the Mossberg combo justifies its higher price point by including a usable optic and providing a purpose-built solution for straight-wall-only hunting regulations.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

Unloaded rifle with optic weighs approximately 7.8 lbs, with an overall length of 40.5 inches. This creates a balanced, traditional feel, though it's around 1.2 lbs heavier than comparable synthetic-stocked predators due to the walnut furniture. The stock's length of pull is a fixed 13.75 inches, which is standard for a hunting configuration; shooters who need a specific LOP adjustment will need to add aftermarket spacers or install a different stock.

Who is this NOT for?

This is not for tactical shooters seeking a modern chassis system or long-range precision competitors. The bolt uses a single front lug design, adequate for hunting pressures but not for continuous, high-stress volume firing like you'd see in a PRS match. It also isn't ideal as a first rifle due to the cost and scarcity of .450 Bushmaster ammunition compared to .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor; a new shooter would be better served by a base Stevens 555 Sporting shotgun or a centerfire in a more common caliber for fundamental skills development.

What's in the box?

The box contains the barreled action (20-inch threaded barrel, 1:24 twist rate) seated in the walnut stock, one polymer 2-round detachable drop-box magazine, the factory-mounted Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 scope in its supplied rings and mount, an Allen wrench for the scope base, and a printed owner's manual. You must supply a torque wrench for proper scope mounting and thread locker for securing the mount; Mossberg does not include these critical tools.

Is the Mossberg Patriot combo worth it at $707.99?

Yes, at this price point, it represents a solid, no-surprises starting platform for a regulated-state deer hunter who needs to be range-ready quickly. If you purchased a bare Patriot rifle (~$450) and a Vortex Crossfire II scope separately (~$180), plus rings and a gunsmithing fee for installation (~$50), you'd approach or exceed this combo price without the convenience. It's a value-consolidation purchase; you're paying for the assembled convenience and avoiding the common pitfalls of poor initial scope mounting.