The Henry H23 is a 450 Bushmaster Lever Action from the “Lever Action Supreme Rifle” (LASR). It’s a big-bore modern lever gun designed with big game hunting in mind. It’s a purposeful addition to the LASR lineups, intended for hunting in states with restrictions on straight-wall cartridges.

Featuring a patented quad-bar linkage and a multi-lug rotating bolt, the platform is described by Henry as offering “…sub-MOA precision” and cross-compatibility with AR-style magazines (though not all of them, as you’ll see below). The capacity to feed reliably from a typical AR mag has been one of the single greatest upgrades to the lever gun in a long time. Sure, it’s been tried before, but the Henry Supreme Rifle models seem to be the only ones that can consistently be relied upon to feed (at least so far).

Plus, the .450 Bushmaster is basically a modernized .45-70 Government, so there’s some added cool factor there. And just imagine if Mal Johnson had one of these when they hit Ethan McKendrick’s ranch…that would have been badass.

Logistics & Support

Primary Hardware: Henry H23 Supreme (.450 Bushmaster)

• MSRP: $1,360
• Availability: [Check Gun.Deals for price and availability] [Check Price at Palmetto State Armory] | [Check Price at Midway USA] |

Essential Component: DuraMag SS .450 Bushmaster Magazine

• MSRP: ~$25.00 – $32.00
• Technical Note: The H23 .450 variant requires a dedicated single-stack follower. Standard 5.56 polymer magazines will not reliably feed this straight-walled cartridge.
• Availability: [Check Price at Tactical Sh!t] | [Check Price at Gun.Deals] | [Check Price at GunMag Warehouse]

Ammunition For Those Mags

• MSRP: Varies
• . Availability: 450 Bushmaster (various types). [Check price at Tactical Sh!t] [Check price at True Shot Ammo] [Check Price at Ammunition Depot]

H23 in .450

The introduction of the .450 Bushmaster chambering to the Henry H23 Supreme line (LASR) addresses a specific hunting demographic in the American Midwest. While the platform debuted with .223/5.56 and .300 BLK, the addition of this “straight-wall” cartridge allows the rifle to function legally for deer, bear, and hogs in regulated zones (e.g., Iowa, Ohio, Michigan) where bottlenecked cartridges are prohibited.

As a modern ranch rifle, the H23 is a departure from traditional tube-fed designs. It utilizes a patented quad-bar linkage and slider crank mechanism that drives a rotating bolt for positive lockup. This internal architecture allows the rifle to cycle high-pressure cartridges while maintaining a smooth, short-throw lever stroke familiar to traditionalists.

.450 Bushmaster Lever Action Supreme Specs

Technical Specifications

• Caliber: .450 Bushmaster
• Action: Patented quad-bar linkage; internal hammer; rotating bolt
• Barrel: 18″ Round Blued Steel; Free-floated; 1:24 Twist
• Muzzle: Threaded 5/8×24 with protector
• Trigger: Match-grade, user-adjustable (3.5–4 lbs. range)
• Safety: Ambidextrous tang-mounted slider
• Magazine: Detachable 10-round DuraMag (Stainless Steel); Compatible with MSR-style magazines
• Sights: Fully adjustable trapezoidal rear; Steel blade front
• Optics Mount: Drilled and tapped; compatible with Weaver 63B base
• Stock: American Walnut with diamond checkering; Solid rubber recoil pad
• Weight: 6.5 lbs.

SME Insight

It might be a stretch to call us Subject Matter Experts when it comes to lever guns, but some of our Minions definitely come close. And the rest of us definitely qualify as Subject Matter Enthusiasts. So here’s a peek behind the lever (as it were).

The H23’s design choice to use an Internal Hammer is a practical benefit for field use. By sealing the action when closed, Henry has reduced the risk of dirt or debris ingress—a common failure point for exposed-hammer lever guns in thick cover. Additionally, because the rifle lacks a gas system, it serves as an excellent suppressor host. The manual action ensures the only mechanical noise is the striker falling, maximizing the efficiency of subsonic or suppressed big-bore loads.

For those pursuing the best lever gun for straight-wall states, the H23’s ability to feed from standard magazines provides a significant logistical advantage over traditional tube-fed rifles, which are typically limited by bullet shape and capacity.

⚠️ One technical “advisory” for you all out there using one of these. While the H23’s action is designed for AR-style mags, the .450 Bushmaster variant specifically utilizes DuraMag Stainless Steel magazines. Unlike standard 5.56 polymer magazines (which have internal ribs that can cause straight-walled rounds to tilt), the DuraMag is engineered for the unique geometry of the .450 cartridge.

Out of the box, the H23 .450 Bushmaster typically ships with a 10-round DuraMag SS, though you may find it packaged with a 5-round magazine (or a 5-round limiter) depending on your local state hunting regulations and magazine capacity laws

This doesn’t mean there aren’t other mags out there that will function properly, but you’ll definitely want to double-check before picking up any standard mags as spares. The safe bet is to ensure you’re buying a dedicated .450-pattern magazine to maintain reliable feeding.

Intel Folder: Straight-Wall Magazine Requirement

Don’t mix ’em up.

Because the .450 Bushmaster is a straight-walled cartridge, the magazines have a different internal and external geometry than your standard curved AR-style mags.

• Straight vs. Curved: The .450 magazines are notably “straight” because the cartridges lack the “taper” found in 5.56 rounds. Standard 30-round curved magazines will cause these rounds to bind.
• Internal Ribs: Standard polymer 5.56 magazines often have an internal vertical rib to align the neck of the smaller round. In a .450 Bushmaster, these ribs push the larger casing out of alignment, leading to “nose-diving” and failure-to-feed (FTF).
• The Single-Stack Follower: Dedicated magazines (like the DuraMag SS) use a specific follower that keeps the rounds stacked in a “single-and-a-half” column to ensure the bolt can pick them up consistently.

The Takeaway: When buying spares, ensure you are searching for dedicated .450 Bushmaster magazines to maintain reliabilityk.

Additional Intel & Resources:

• Technical Specs: Henry H23 Official Product Page
• Magazine Selection: DuraMag .450 Bushmaster SS Tech Sheet
• Industry Recognition: 2025 Guns & Ammo Rifle of the Year Review
• Cartridge Overview: 11.48x43mmRB on Wikipedia

And by special, we mean a lowered price and free shipping.

INTREP 450 Bushmaster Henry Lever Action Supreme