Quick Answer: Which Battery Is Best for the HobbyKing BushMaster V2?
There is no single best BushMaster V2 battery for every pilot. The most useful choice depends on whether you prioritize lighter handling, balanced everyday flying or more onboard capacity.
| Flying Priority | Recommended Direction | Why It Makes Sense |
| Lighter Setup | 3000–4000mAh 6S | Useful when lower installed battery weight and a more responsive airframe are priorities. |
| Best All-Round Range | 4000–5000mAh 6S | Closest to the center of the factory recommendation and suitable for mixed STOL, sport and aerobatic flying. |
| Higher Capacity | 5000mAh and selected 5000mAh+ packs | Worth considering when additional capacity can be added without an excessive size or weight penalty. |
Featured CNHL Battery Choices for the Turbo BushMaster V2
CNHL G+Plus 4000mAh 22.2V 6S 70C LiPo with XT90
A strong all-round starting point. The 4000mAh capacity sits comfortably inside the BushMaster V2 factory battery range while the XT90 connector matches the aircraft's recommended connector format. This is the type of setup to consider for pilots who want one battery direction for STOL practice, circuits, touch-and-goes, sport flying and aerobatics without automatically moving toward maximum capacity.
CNHL G+Plus 5000mAh 22.2V 6S 70C LiPo with XT90
A higher-capacity standard LiPo choice that remains within the factory-recommended capacity range. For pilots who prefer more onboard capacity while staying with a conventional 22.2V 6S LiPo setup, 5000mAh is the natural upper end of the original BushMaster V2 recommendation.
CNHL Lightning LiHV 6000mAh 22.8V 6S 120C with XT90
A higher-capacity lightweight option for pilots who do not want to judge battery suitability by capacity alone. Selected CNHL Lightning packs can offer substantially more nominal capacity while remaining competitive in physical size and weight with conventional 6S packs of lower capacity.
Can You Use More Than 5000mAh in the HobbyKing BushMaster V2?
Yes, selected higher-capacity batteries can be considered, but 5000mAh should not be exceeded blindly.
The factory 3000–5000mAh recommendation is a useful baseline, but capacity is only one part of aircraft battery selection. Two 6S batteries with very different capacity ratings can still have surprisingly similar weight or external dimensions depending on cell chemistry, cell construction and pack design.
That matters because an RC airplane does not experience capacity in isolation. It experiences the installed battery weight, physical size and resulting CG position.
A lightweight 5500mAh or 6000mAh pack can therefore be more practical than a heavier conventional 5000mAh battery if it fits securely and allows the aircraft to balance correctly. Conversely, a high-capacity battery that causes excessive installed weight or pushes the CG outside the usable range is not a good choice simply because it offers more mAh.
For the BushMaster V2, judge the pack — not just the capacity number.
4000mAh vs 5000mAh vs Higher-Capacity 6S Batteries
| Battery Direction | 4000mAh | 5000mAh | Selected 5000mAh+ |
| Factory Capacity Range | Yes | Yes | Above factory range |
| Typical Role | Balanced / lighter setup | Higher-capacity all-round setup | Capacity-focused setup without automatically accepting more weight |
| Main Check | CG and dimensions | Weight, CG and dimensions | Weight, dimensions, CG and voltage type |
Why Battery Weight Matters on a STOL and 3D Airplane
The HobbyKing BushMaster V2 is not simply a conventional cruiser. Its large flaps, oversized control surfaces and 6S power system give it a flight envelope that includes slow flight, short-field operation, general sport flying and aggressive aerobatics.
Battery weight influences how the aircraft feels across that envelope. A lighter setup can be attractive to pilots who value lower wing loading and more responsive maneuvering. A higher-capacity setup may appeal to pilots who spend more time cruising, flying circuits and making repeated touch-and-goes.
The objective is therefore not to chase the lowest possible weight or the highest possible capacity. The better target is a battery that supports the way you actually intend to fly the BushMaster V2 while still allowing a secure installation and correct CG.
Does a Higher C-Rating Hurt the BushMaster V2?
No. A battery's C-rating represents its advertised discharge capability; it does not force additional current through the ESC or motor. The power system draws current according to the aircraft's motor, propeller, throttle load and electrical setup.
The original BushMaster V2 recommendation is 40–60C. CNHL batteries rated at 70C, 90C, 100C or 120C can still be considered when voltage, connector, dimensions, weight and installation requirements are appropriate.
A higher advertised C-rating is therefore not automatically a reason to reject a pack. More important questions are whether the battery fits the aircraft correctly, keeps the CG in range and matches the electrical system.
Standard 6S LiPo vs 6S LiHV for the BushMaster V2
The standard BushMaster V2 battery specification is based on a conventional 22.2V 6S LiPo. These packs are the simplest starting point when you want to remain directly within the aircraft's original voltage class.
CNHL Lightning 6S LiHV batteries use a higher nominal voltage of 22.8V and can reach a higher full-charge voltage when charged in LiHV mode. Do not assume that an ESC described simply as “6S compatible” automatically supports the maximum full-charge voltage of a 6S LiHV battery.
Before using the full LiHV charging voltage, confirm the maximum permitted input voltage of the Aerostar G2 80A ESC and the complete BushMaster V2 power system. Use a charger with the correct LiHV mode when charging as LiHV.
HobbyKing BushMaster V2 Battery Fit Check
Before flying with a new battery, check the complete installation rather than relying on capacity alone.
| Check | What to Confirm |
| Cell Count | 6S |
| Standard Voltage | 22.2V nominal for conventional 6S LiPo |
| Connector | XT90 |
| Factory Capacity Range | 3000–5000mAh |
| Factory Discharge Range | 40–60C |
| CG | 60–70mm from the wing leading edge |
| Physical Fit | Confirm pack dimensions, secure retention and wire clearance. |
| Installed Weight | Evaluate the actual pack weight rather than assuming higher capacity always means a heavier installation. |
| LiHV Voltage | Verify ESC maximum input voltage before using full LiHV charge voltage. |
HobbyKing Turbo BushMaster V2 Battery FAQ
What battery does the HobbyKing Turbo BushMaster V2 use?
The original recommendation is a 3000–5000mAh 6S LiPo rated at 40–60C with an XT90 connector.
Is 4000mAh a good battery size for the BushMaster V2?
Yes. A 4000mAh 6S battery sits comfortably inside the original recommended capacity range and is a logical all-round starting point for mixed STOL, sport and aerobatic use.
Is 5000mAh too large?
No. 5000mAh is the upper end of the factory-recommended battery range. Actual suitability still depends on battery dimensions, weight, installation and CG.
Can I use a 5500mAh or 6000mAh battery?
Selected higher-capacity packs can be considered when their dimensions and installed weight remain practical and the aircraft can still be balanced inside the recommended CG range. Capacity alone is not a reliable measure of physical fit or flight suitability.
Can I use a 6700mAh battery?
A lightweight 6700mAh pack should be evaluated by its actual dimensions, weight and resulting CG rather than rejected only because its capacity exceeds 5000mAh. It should not, however, be assumed to fit simply because another lower-capacity pack does.
Can I use a 70C or 120C battery when HobbyKing recommends 40–60C?
A higher C-rating does not force the aircraft to draw more current. A 70C, 90C, 100C or 120C battery can be considered when voltage, connector, size, weight and installation requirements are suitable.
Can I use a CNHL Lightning 6S LiHV battery?
It can be considered as a lightweight high-capacity battery option, but full LiHV charging requires confirmation that the BushMaster V2 ESC supports the higher maximum input voltage. Do not assume full LiHV compatibility based only on the ESC being rated for 6S.
What CG should I use after changing the battery?
The recommended CG range is 60–70mm from the wing leading edge. Always check the aircraft with the actual flight battery installed and reposition the pack as required before flying.
More CNHL 6S Airplane Batteries
Need to compare the BushMaster V2 options with other 6S packs? Browse the complete CNHL 6S LiPo Battery Collection for additional capacities, discharge ratings and connector configurations.
You can also explore the wider CNHL RC Airplane Battery Collection for fixed-wing battery options across sport aircraft, scale models, EDF jets and other electric RC airplanes.