CMMG Magazine MKW-15 .458 SOCOM 30rd Modified To 10rd Hi-cap Md: 48AFC44 After extensive testing of magazines on the market for 458 SOCOM the Lancer L5 Advanced Warfighter Magazine was the top choice due to the polymer body and steel feed lips. The 458 SOCOM is just getting started with 300-gr. Part of this decision came down to cost, as the .458 round required changing only two parts. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. So anything smaller than a full-grown deer is not ideal. our in-stock .308 ammo for sale by clicking here, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. You have entered an incorrect email address! And the cleverness of the design means its a relatively easy build. Felt recoil will differ from shooter to shooter and is dependent on shooting position, stance, and the firearm being used. If you are using a heavier bullet, the range will be shorter. 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. It was designed to compete against the .450 Nitro Express and the .470 Nitro Express cartridges used in big bore British double rifles. And This Out Of An AR-15 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. Also, on that no-snagging path, the brass deflector has been trimmed down. Its effective for hunting, home defense, and even long-range shooting. .50 Action Express showed promise but fell short for this application. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Really though, 450 Bushmaster is basically in the exact same boat as 50 Beowulf and .458 SOCOM. The .458 SOCOM, however, was a little less powerful, with energies ranging from 2,248 to over 2,500. In this category, the 308 Win takes its first win against the 458 SOCOM. The 458 SOCOM is a large and powerful caliber, often compared to the 50 BMG. It can shoot bullets weighing anywhere from 90 to 220 grains. The 458 SOCOM, on the other hand, takes up more space in a magazine, which reduces the number of rounds that can be held. Although their case length is different, the 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM have the same maximum overall length of 2.26 as this is the longest cartridge length that can be used in an AR-15 receiver. The 300 blackout is another great all-around caliber. Its also a popular caliber for those who like to reload their own ammunition. Our bad. To provide a clean apples to apples comparison, a standard AR-15 carbine weight (7.5 lbs) will be used for each calculation. All .458 SOCOM Resolute uppers work with standard AR-15 style magazines. Nifty Outdoorsman is not liable for any actions you take after learning from our website. Your email address will not be published. This particular variant brings a 16-inch barrel with a 1:14 twist. Required fields are marked *. The 458 SOCOM is a very powerful round. There is no overlap is speeds; in fact there is a gap. (Though 1:14 is the most commonly seen.). Although the 300 BLK is smaller, it uses a standard AR-15 bolt and magazine while maintaining its 30-round capacity while the 458 SOCOM has a 10-round capacity in standard AR mags. Next up, the case. This can be important for hunters who need to be able to take multiple shots quickly or for those in military or law enforcement roles. Hence, it will spend less time in the barrel, causing it to have less recoil. The round itself was sound and later became the .450 Bushmaster, but at the time of submission, extractors and bolts were made of a metal proprietary to General Motors. This seems like a massive round for a roughly 6# AR. 30.2: 1199: 575: 400-79.9: 40.4: 1123: 504: 450-112.7: 52: 1062: 451: 500-153.2: 64.9: 1013 . 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. Let us know about it in the comments! The cartridge is capable of producing a muzzle velocity of up to 2,350 feet per second and a muzzle energy of up to 1,800 foot-pounds. A .308 Winchester is a great choice for hunting game that is medium to large in size. A side by side comparison of 458 SOCOM vs 308. Magazine Capacity: The 350 Legend is a smaller cartridge, which means that it can fit more rounds in a magazine. . Always remember that for a heavier the game, the heavier your bullet should be because heavier slugs always carry more energy. A 600-grain JSP (which has no hope whatsoever of expanding, just to be clear) in the subsonic velocity region becomes an entertaining range time. gear. Its accuracy and power make it a great option for both long-range and close-quarters shooting. The military used the .458 SOCOM as a short-range devastator, mostly running the round out of guns running shorter barrels. 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. In terms of performance, the 300 BLK is very similar to the 458 SOCOM. The 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM are two big bore cartridges that add a lot of stopping power to the AR-15 rifle. The .458 SOCOM ( 11.6340mm) is a moderately large round designed to work in an AR-15 platform. The 450 BM is more than lethal enough for hogs, hunters just typically dont restrict themselves to straight-walled cartridges unless they have to. When it comes to big game hunting, the 458 SOCOM and 450 Bushmaster are excellent options within their effective range. Although the smaller 0.451 diameter bullets can be handloaded safely, you will likely see decreased performance and accuracy as the bullet may not completely engage the rifling in the barrel. But each of these had its own set of issues. Out with the old, in with the new. The 458 SOCOM has an effective range of about 200 yards. you a link to reset your password. Heavy bullets with strong energy from a compact semiautomatic weapon was the goal, not blazing speed or long-range accuracy. free hampshire. Its effective for hunting, home defense, and even long-range shooting. At the muzzle, a 350gr XTP .50 Beowulf will have about 2,440 ft.lbf of energy. If we factor in the kinetic energy of the rounds as they leave the muzzle, though, the picture becomes clear why the .458 SOCOM was designed that way. Even hand loading, your talking $85-$90 for 50 rounds of brass and if you want the 500 grain bullets, you will be looking at $40 to $60 for a box of 50. 5. The lightest-weight ammunition (if we can consider something that tips scales at 140 grains as light) leaves your immediate vicinity at more 2,400 fps, depending on barrel length. The Resolute series, again, offers a few options for those that want to tailor features and price points. usp45ct said: Looking at a new upper for a lower I just picked up. The CMMG-modified . This is achieved by installing a 458 bolt and barrel. The 250 gr FTX load fire by the 450 comes in as the fastest round analyzed at 2,200 fps while both 300 grain loads had the same muzzle velocity of 1,900 fps. In some cases, barrels were used out to 14.5-inches, but were almost always shorter than 16-inches, as thats what Teppo Jutsu recommended. It also gives you the chance to simply swap out an upper receiver on your AR-style weapon and use the cartridge. It can shoot bullets weighing anywhere from 200 to 600 grains. In terms of factory rifle availability, there are considerably more options for the 450 Bushmaster compared to the 458 SOCOM. Oh, hey, theres a complete rifle on the end of the rack with a shot-out bore. Outfitted with your choice of a 14.7-inch fluted/threaded barrel or 16-inch barrel models, the Recon Tactical sports an overall length of 31.75-inches (14-inch barrel) and 33.25-inches (16-inch barrel). 300 blackout, on the other hand, has an effective range of about 300 yards. There's no dearth of .458 bullets up to 500 grains for reloading thanks to the 458's faster twist rate but hard-copy data is a bit skimpy. What CMMG does well is optionsand we like options. Hunting with reduced sound, while still delivering excellent energies to the target, is a common reason to choose the 458 SOCOM vs 308. Of course, being a Faxon, you know youre getting great quality. Automatically Applied - Minimum ORDER $100.00. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you move up to 500 grains, you can go for all the gusto, and generate some 1,300 fps out of a full-length barrel for a power factor of 650. Meanwhile, the .458 SOCOM packs a staggering 3,261 joules, or 2,405-foot-pound. Just sayn! Well, actuallyyou might want some. The 458 SOCOM has also been gaining popularity as a round for tactical and competition shooters. Usually rounds like the 223 Remington are preferred for varmint hunting as it has low recoil, is very flat shooting, and inexpensive. Not only do they hit hard on large game, but they impart stout recoil on the shooters shoulder as well. It also offers a large variety of other bullet types and can use regular gi metal 556 mags and some of the regular 556 polymer mags. Nifty Outdoorsman is a website about outdoor-related content. Up in the midrange bullets300-, 350- and 400-grainersyou can jar your fillings with velocities in the 1,500- to 1,700-fps range. The 300 AAC Blackout (300 BLK) was developed by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) in an attempt to create a round that could be used in both AR-15 rifles and pistols. The .458 Winchester Magnum remains one of the most . The only manual I'm aware of with SOCOM information is the Lyman 50th Edition. This design does limit snagging, though. The 450 Bushmaster is a straight-walled cartridge while the 458 SOCOM has a slight shoulder. For 223 Remington, a 30-round pMag by Magpul is largely considered the "go-to" magazine. A master gunsmith, Patrick is also Handguns Editor for Guns & Ammo magazine. 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. Great Subsonic Cartridges. Developed in 2000, the 458 SOCOM was an upgrade for the standard M4/M16/AR-15 family of rifles. The goal for the .458 SOCOM was never speed. It can shoot bullets weighing anywhere from 200 to 600 grains. With proper bullet selection, the 458 SOCOM can be used for hunting medium to large game animals. Without question, both rounds fit the bill in terms of integrating into the AR-15 platform and being larger than 44-caliber, but how do they stack up in terms of ballistics? There are many rifle calibers on the market today, but two of the most popular are the 458 SOCOM and 308. Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper defined the Thumper concept as a cartridge designed to be fired from the semi-auto AR-15 rifle, having an effective range around 250 yards, was 44-caliber or larger, and could harvest big game animals with a single shot. In terms of accuracy, the 300 BLK has a slight edge over the 458 SOCOM due largely to its higher velocity. These arent 55k psi loads -they run 38k which is comparable to 20 ga shotgun recoil. The cartridge delivers tremendous stopping power and can take down medium to large animals with ease. 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. It offers superior accuracy and terminal performance over traditional cartridges such as the .223 Remington and the 30-06 Springfield. If you are using the cartridge for target shooting, energy is not a massive concern. No problem, their 458 socom AK kits and parts are pretty sweet too! However, when loaded with light bullets, such as the 110-grain Varmint & Predator round from Federal, it can reach 3,300 fps. The 450 Bushmaster is an excellent deer hunting options in states that require the use of straight-walled cartridges. (It still matters for target shooting, just not as much.). Check alignment and also check eye relief. The .308 Winchester also has a longer profile from the base to the tip of the bullet. Scopes, guns, boots and other tactical stuff in-between. I have a .458 socom and when clambering a round it does fine on some rounds, I have to Tao the forward assist on my rifle to fully seat the round. 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. Beyond military applications, the .458 SOCOM round has gained popularity with big game hunters. 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. The gel shot used a ballistic-tip hollow point. The .308 Winchester is a very powerful round that is great for hunting large game. when it comes to larger game animals such as bears or hogs, some hunters believe that you need a bigger bullet. That may or may not be a good thing depending on your personal preferences. However, as any AR-15 rifle is a potential host with a simple barrel, bolt, and magazine swap, this means there are tons of potential host rifles on the market for both cartridges. And whatever youre shooting at gets thumpedhard. This makes the 458 the far better choice if you want to go hunting with an AR-15 style rifle. The 939 would require modifying the receiver to accept magazines similar to the AK-47 (in addition to modifying other parts). by Eron | Apr 15, 2023 | caliber comparison | 0 comments. Both of these cartridges can be considered fast-flying rounds. I grabbed a Brownells barrel and bolt off the shelf and looked for build candidates. There is no overlap is speeds; in fact there is a gap. The Resolute series comes in three tiers 100, 200, and 300 allowing consumers to really dial in the features and price point they want. In this blog post, we will compare these two calibers and see which one is the better choice for your next hunting trip! Since the SOCOM 458 is the heavier bullet compared to the Winchester 308, it is more likely to claim that the former has more bullet drop and arch when shot in long-range shooting games. Reloading isnt difficult. You know, the lads who now sport beards, go to dusty places and bring surprises to the miscreants they meet. So, which one is the better caliber? So, they chose the .458-inch bullet diameter. Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. In the chart below, we will compare muzzle velocity, kinetic energy, and bullet drop for each cartridge out to 300 yards assuming a 100 yard zero. 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM Similarities The cartridge was designed for use in AR-15 platforms and is capable of delivering devastating stopping power. 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. The thump is impressive. Click below for a FREE LESSON! Ammunition Availability: Both the 350 Legend and the 458 SOCOM are relatively new cartridges, but the 350 Legend has gained popularity more quickly and thus has a wider variety of ammunition available. Sporting 16.1-inch barrels, the Resolutes feature a length of around 33-inches and weight at 8.3-pounds. 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