Although developed to achieve similar ballistic results, the 458 SOCOM and 450 Bushmaster utilize very different parent cases. That may or may not be a good thing depending on your personal preferences. On the other hand, only custom ammo manufacturers like SBR, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore, and Black Butterfly make 458 SOCOM rounds regularly. These arent 55k psi loads -they run 38k which is comparable to 20 ga shotgun recoil. It does not come with a forward assist. .458 SOCOM with a 350gr FMJ round will have 2,116 ft.lbf of energy. It should be noted that neither of these rounds are incredibly flat shooting. Moreover, the 458 SOCOM was practically designed for AR-15, M4, and M16 rifles while the 308 Win was chambered for an AR-10. Which Is the Better Hunting Cartridge? The 300-grain (19 g) round offers a supersonic muzzle velocity of 1,900 ft/s (580 m/s) and 2,405 ftlbf (3,261 J), [1] similar to a light .45-70 but with a much smaller case. If you are using the cartridge for target shooting, energy is not a massive concern. The goal for the .458 SOCOM was never speed. As long as the bullet reaches its desired destination, it has basically done its job. Recoil: As mentioned earlier, the 350 Legend is designed to have less recoil, while the 458 SOCOM has more recoil due to its larger size and power. So, which one is the better caliber? However, the 458 SOCOM is actually a very different cartridge. The 458 SOCOM round was developed by Marty Fackler, a retired Army Colonel and former head of wound ballistics research at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. The exclusivity of parts would ultimately knock it out of the running, as there were concerns of sourcing with only one supply chain available. With an overall length of 36-inches, the CAR sports a lightweight 13-inch free-float rail with M-LOK compatibility. There are a number of factors that come into play when considering the stopping power of a caliber. Regardless of which cartridge you choose, make sure you get all your ammunition here at Ammo.com and get out to the range so you are always ready to defend freedom should the need arise. A SOCOM 458 usually drops at past 300 yards while the Winchester 308 could go beyond 1000 yards before hitting the zero drop. Bullets fired by the 450 Bushmaster are also fired by three popular handgun cartridges, the 45 Colt, 454 Casull, and 460 S&W. The next step was to decide how much of a case neck to provide and what kind of case capacity, all while keeping one idea in mind: It had to hit like the news of an impending IRS audit. You know, the lads who now sport beards, go to dusty places and bring surprises to the miscreants they meet. For the purposes of this comparison, we will analyze the ballistic performance of the 250 gr Hornady FTX and 300 gr Federal Power-Shok for 450 Bushmaster. If you are looking for a round that can do it all, the .308 Winchester is an excellent choice. Long story short, it delivers. What CMMG does well is optionsand we like options. It was designed to compete against the .450 Nitro Express and the .470 Nitro Express cartridges used in big bore British double rifles. With its high velocity and heavy bullet, the 458 SOCOM is a great choice for taking down dangerous game. In contrast, since the 450 is SAAMI certified, there are considerably more rifle options including bolt-action rifles like the Ruger American and Savage 110. Because of that when reloading you won't see overpressure signs yet that load may already be too much. Faxon 16" Gunner Big Bore AR-15 Barrel, .458 SOCOM. The most popular 45-70 factory ammo is typically loaded with 325 gr, 350 gr, 405 gr, and 500 grain bullets while 250 gr, 300 gr, and 350 gr are the most popular for 458. There are many rifle calibers on the market today, but two of the most popular are the 458 SOCOM and 308. It is a very powerful round that is capable of taking down large game animals. Check out. Usually rounds like the 223 Remington are preferred for varmint hunting as it has low recoil, is very flat shooting, and inexpensive. The 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM are two big bore cartridges that add a lot of stopping power to the AR-15 rifle. The 350 Legend is a relatively new cartridge that was introduced in 2019, while the 458 SOCOM has been around for more than a decade. gear. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. If youre interested in lower-cost fun thumping, then you can use coated bullets and load subsonic. Ever wonder just how big a bullet we can hurl out of the standard AR-15 package? Get free updates when we add new tips, articles and more! All of the major bullet manufacturers like Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, and Federal have multiple bullet options available for both calibers. Use the information you learn responsibly. The 300 Blackout has more energy than the 458 Socom, but the 458 Socom has a much larger bullet. Here is a ballistics chart of the 350 legend with a 180-grain soft point bullet: The 458 SOCOM was developed in 2000 by Teppo Jutsu, a company founded by former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Marty ter Weeme. Non-rifle-rated steel will be dented. But for hunting purposes, the energy of a rifle cartridge is an important concern. It has slower speeds, less energy, and a shorter effective range than the .308 Winchester. Furthermore, the case capacity is nearly identical between these two big bore cartridges, as the 450 can hold 59.5 grains while the 458 can handle slightly more powder with a 61.1 grain capacity. Another factor to consider is penetration. Aug 11, 2014. And guess whatwere going to talk all about it today! You can also get different types of .308 Winchester ammunition that have different ranges. It is also effective against unarmored targets, delivering a large and devastating wound channel. Whichever caliber you choose, make sure you do your research and pick the one that is best for your needs! Really though, 450 Bushmaster is basically in the exact same boat as 50 Beowulf and .458 SOCOM. Glancing only at those numbers, it doesnt seem like much of an advantage. Article has been updated. This is where calibers like the 458 Socom and 300 Blackout come into play. However, the 458 SOCOM offers more stopping power thanks to its heavier bullet. The fastest round in our data (2,250 fps) is almost 400 fps slower than the slowest .308 Winchester. What is recoil like? Your email address will not be published. Learn the 3 most popular shooting stances & more. Designed for shots within 250 yards or less, these three rounds deliver crippling kinetic energy that can transform any AR-15 into a capable hog and deer hunting rifle. The cartridge has a maximum case length of 1.71 inches, an overall length of 2.26 inches, and a bullet diameter of .357 inches. Both of these calibers have their pros and cons, so it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. (Though 1:14 is the most commonly seen.). However, the lighter 450 Bushmaster loads give you the flattest trajectory and will typically stay supersonic out to and past 300 yards. Yes, it has decent speed, but the overall goal for this round was to provide powerful tactical performance in automatic weapons, particularly those used by elite special forces. However, free recoil can be used to give a general idea of how hard a round kicks. The stats fell between 2,648 and 2,743 foot-pounds (ft-lbs), and had an average velocity of roughly 2,681. Barrels were enlarged, running a 1:14 twist or 1:18 twist. The .308 Win cartridge was introduced in 1952, three years before the commercial release of the FN FAL rifle. The average velocity was just shy of 1,900 fps, over 800 fps slower than the average .308 Winchester. bullets. These cartridges measure over two inches in length, while the .458 SOCOM measures just over an inch and a half. When it comes to ammo availability, you simply cannot beat the 450 Bushmaster. I like that! When it comes to hunting, many people debate what the best caliber is. Who's barrel and bolt? The 458 SOCOM is a very powerful round. In this case, it appears the velocity of the .308 Winchester allows the lighter bullets to strike with enhanced energy. Let us know about it in the comments! Sectional density (SD) is a way to evaluate the penetration ability of a bullet based on its external dimensions, design, and weight. Whether youre looking to take down big game or compete with the best of the best, the 458 SOCOM is a great choice. Its effective for hunting, home defense, and even long-range shooting. You do not pay It is also more effective than the 50 BMG at close range. If youre looking to shoot medium to large size game, then the 308 is preferred. It can shoot bullets weighing anywhere from 200 to 600 grains. As the acronym implies (Special Operations Command), members of special operations units were unhappy with the 5.56 rounds ability to bring down the enemy quickly and with as few shots as possible in combat while using platforms such as the M4 and M16. It gets really interesting when you opt for the real heavyweights. Not unsurprisingly, the heaviest bullet, the 450 gr FMJ 458 SOCOM load, had the slowest muzzle velocity at 1,450 fps. The .473-inch diameter rim had been successfully used since the late 1800s in bolt-action rifles and is the spec for many modern-day calibers still. The 458 SOCOM, on the other hand, takes up more space in a magazine, which reduces the number of rounds that can be held. These two big bore cartridges give you the flexibility to turn a standard AR-15 into a deer hunting rifle, a semi-automatic hog slayer, and a heavy-hitting personal defense carbine all rolled up into one firearm. Firing a 300 grain bullet at 1,845 feet per second, (2,267 ft-lbs of energy), the .458 SOCOM packs a heck of a punch into a relatively small package and still functions very well in the standard AR platform with a variety of barrel lengths. However, once we move past 200 yards we see the two rounds start to separate as the 458 SOCOM starts to dip closer and closer to the subsonic velocities. The .308 Winchester is a very powerful round that is great for hunting large game. our in-stock .308 ammo for sale by clicking here, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. While the round itself performs well and meets all the criteria, it was ultimately passed up in favor of the .458 SOCOM. Wilson Combats rifle offers up an M-LOK rail, Tactical Trigger Unit, Wilson Combat/BCM Starburst Gunfighter Grip, and Wilson/Rogers Super-Stoc. By comparison, a 12-gauge slug with a 1-ounce projectile at a listed 1,600 fps generates 700 PF, with a trajectory like a softball. try this 6.547 LAPUA and 6.5 Creedmoor comparison here, 15 Best Gun Shops In California (2022 Updated), AR-15 Upper Assembly Guide (2022 UPDATED) Must-Read. Last I looked, factory ammo is running $50+ for 20 rounds. As AR ammo favorites, the 458 SOCOM vs 308 Winchester are both powerful and efficiently proven by the military for decades, but one of them is better than the other. We dig that this is more or less a one-stop shop. The RRA CAR A4 LAR-15M other than being a mouthful is a reliable and accurate rifle. None of this is professional or legal advice and there is no attorney-client relationship or other professional relationship. The 458 SOCOM cartridge fires a 0.458" bullet diameter which is more common than you might think as it is used by rounds such as the .45-70 Government, 458 Winchester Magnum, 450 Marlin, 460 Weatherby, and 458 Lott. The likely candidate that was up in the rotation was a Hi-Lux 1-4 in a LaRue QD mount. Not only do they hit hard on large game, but they impart stout recoil on the shooters shoulder as well. History [ edit] In the case of 223 vs 458 SOCOM however, there is a huge difference in what most shooters would consider the "standard capacity" of each. All that talk about the .458 socom and no mention of TROMIX - literally Tony Rumore's company, and THE name in 458 SOCOM parts? Tyler Freel. We had a few problems with the. Mossberg 500 vs 590: Which Shotgun Is Right for You? Acme bullets makes a .458 SOCOM-specific bullet thats 576 grains in weight and given a bright red Hi-Tek coating. . Alternative ammo great for long distance shooting: Blackout 300 and Legend 350. Although the 458 SOCOM has slightly higher case capacity, the lower bullet weights fired by the 450 Bushmaster generally surpass those fired by the 458 in terms of muzzle velocity. 878K views 5 years ago Gregg demonstrates the .458 SOCOM launching some 300 grain hard cast hand loaded rounds. This is because it is a supersonic round, so it produces a sonic boom when fired. We already have an account registered for email address The cartridge delivers tremendous stopping power and can take down medium to large animals with ease. DuraMag makes .458-specific magazines, and the rounds are single-stack in the tube (as in any AR-sized magazine) but with .458-shaped feed lips and follower. Nifty Outdoorsman is a website about outdoor-related content. This div height required for enabling the sticky sidebar, 2022 Yestactical.com We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. (Dont know where to buy an NFA toy check out our list of the Best Places to Buy a Suppressor.). The 300 Blackout, on the other hand, was developed by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) in 2009. Your email address will not be published. Automatically Applied - Minimum ORDER $100.00. While the 308 Win usually takes about 600 to 800 yards before a bullet drop. Have you considered .458 SOCOM? The 458 SOCOM is a great all-around caliber. The 458 SOCOM cartridge fires a 0.458" bullet diameter which is more . Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. Our Sitemap. Meanwhile, the .458 SOCOM packs a staggering 3,261 joules, or 2,405-foot-pound. Beyond military applications, the .458 SOCOM round has gained popularity with big game hunters. Both cartridges offer a range of bullet grains shooting enthusiasts could choose from, depending on their specific hunting needs. The .458 SOCOM and its shorter range would make for an excellent option when hunting something like hogs in brush-covered areas where shots tend to be shorter. They are all basically the same ballistically, they all have basically the same amount of ammo per magazine, they all cost basically the same, and more or less have the same issues. We'll only use the information provided according to our privacy policy. The 458 SOCOM's only significant advantage is its stopping power. At the muzzle, a 350gr XTP .50 Beowulf will have about 2,440 ft.lbf of energy. At the lowest tier, the Resolute 100 basically keeps its standard trading in the Ripstock for an M4 stock and A2 pistol grip. He has a degree in gunsmithing from Sonoran Desert Institute and has been working with firearms since he was a kid. The Resolute series comes in three tiers 100, 200, and 300 allowing consumers to really dial in the features and price point they want. That much kinetic energy traveling at subsonic speeds will do wondrous things to a threat at close range. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Feel free to reach out to us or read our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy. And This Out Of An AR-15 It has a high velocity and is extremely accurate, making it a great choice for long-range shooting. The 300 Blackout is designed to penetrate through barriers like walls, while the 458 Socom is not. In terms of muzzle energy, the 250 gr FTX 450 Bushmaster cartridge continues to outperform at 2,687 ft-lbs, followed by the two 300 gr bullets at 2,405 ft-lbs. What was the fattest case thatd fit through the barrel extension opening? 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