[jbpmidas]

Anyone with any experience with the .50 Beowulf, .458 Socom or .450 Bushmaster? They are interesting concepts. I heard the .450 Bushmaster was supposed to be balistically similar to the .460 S&W.

 

[arnygollott3]

I have a Socom.

It throws ALOT of bullet downrange and uses standard unmodified AR mags. The supersonic loads are good to about 250 yds for deer hunting. It is basically the ballistic twin to the 45/70 but in an AR platform.

I bought it mostly to hunt (150 yds and closer) with subsonic 530 grain bullets. This bullet weight even at that low speed still has 1000+ ft/lbs of energy. This is a bullet manufactured by "Outlaw State Bullets" that is designed SPECIFICALLY for subsonic use and expansion. It mushrooms to almost twice the diameter at those speeds!

I got the 458 in early spring of this year so I have not yet hunted with it.

http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2888

This is just one thread on this very good forum that discusses the 458 Socom, 50 Beowulf, and the 450 Bushmaster and others.

 

[Stryker6]

My cousin has a .450 Bushmaster. I used it on a deer hunt a few years back killed a nice 9-point @ a little over a 100 yards using Hornady ammo. Poor buck never knew what hit him. IIRC his had a 20" barrel, 1.5-5x20mm Leupold mounted in a La Rue Tactical QD mount it was a neat and accurate rifle.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

It is basically the ballistic twin to the 45/70 but in an AR platform.

Looks like a dandy little cartridge but I wouldn't compare it to the 45-70 with the same weight bullet. My smokeless load with the 535 gr. Postell chrony's at 1600 fps. and 1550 fps. with the 500 gr. Barnes TSX.

 

[arnygollott3]

It is basically the ballistic twin to the 45/70 but in an AR platform.

Looks like a dandy little cartridge but I wouldn't compare it to the 45-70 with the same weight bullet. My smokeless load with the 535 gr. Postell chrony's at 1600 fps. and 1550 fps. with the 500 gr. Barnes TSX.

You are absolutely right, I should have distinguished a bit more.

The 458 Socom can come reasonably close to the 45/70...but in an AR15 platform and with a much shorter barrel. One particular load can launch a 550 grn Woodleigh at 1200 FPS with just a 16" barrel and no pressure signs. Slightly higher muzzle velocities can be had...in an AR10 platform or a bolt action rifle, but then we give up alot of the 'compact platform and/or semi auto' benefits. The 45/70 really gains alot over the 458 as bullet weights go up too.

Either way, both deliver alot of lead down range!

 

[quigleysharps4570]

That 16" barrel would be quite a little carbine. Where are you getting your brass and such?

 

[arnygollott3]

...brass is(was, I haven't checked lately) hard to come by. Bought my rifle, brass, factory ammo and bullets in a package deal with a fellow on Gunbroker and was VERY pleased. I have about 300 pcs of new and once fired and about 200 factory rounds.

I think Starline makes the brass...check out Gunbroker, they always have some on there even when they are taking back orders.

There used to be a REALLY good dedicated 458 Socom forum but it is down right now, hacked or something...but check out Teppo Jitsu's website for lots of good reading. He is the original designer of the round.

http://www.teppojutsu.com/458.htm

Be sure to watch the short video clips of the 458 Socom in full auto...one is with a suppressor, it is cool stuff!

 

[fgials]

Got pics?

 

[Will_M]

Man I've got a lower that I've been meaning to put a standard .223 upper on but you guys are making me question it.

I'm the kind of guy who specifically will avoid what everyone else has. I like different toys. I checked out the link to that forum and there are SO many different big bore calibers for AR's!


How much does it cost per round to reload these? Just an average guess will work.