I went with the 458 Socom simply because of the .458 bullet diameter, and I don't regret my decision. A lot more bullet options and availability, but I hand load everything. I've settled on 325 grain FTX Hornadys over 35 grains of H110 at over 1900 fps out of a 20 inch barrel. I can't wait to see what they do to a big Buck this year!
Yeah the consensus seems to be that if you reload, the 458 is the best thumper. It's almost as powerful as 50 beowulf, bleeds power slower, keeping more of that raw power at medium range, the components are plentiful, but BUYING 458 socom is INSANE. 50 beo and 450 BM are both far more affordable if you don't reload.
That was an Immensely thorough comparison, thank you for that, very professional. I work for Black Rain Ordinance and we produce the 450 BM and the 458 SOCOM, of the two, and with your data I am going with the 450 Bushmaster.
@@MrFreefonix420 Same mate :( Issue is, as much as it's possible to move to America, whether they like to admit it or not they are becoming more like us in terms of gun laws, even if a few states stay free the reality is a large % of the country & the Federal law enforcement being extremely anti-gun has a huge impact and will drag down the good states too. Places like Cali literally have worse gun laws than we do here.
@@bo-dine7971 Not true, you can still buy centrefire semi-autos and handguns in California (albeit with obnoxious and mainly nonsensical conditions attached), and the overall process for obtaining what is legal is simpler than obtaining a double-barrel shotgun in the UK. UK shooters probably have it better than in Japan though, although I'm having a hard time pinning down exactly what Japanese civilians can own.
After talking with Bill Alexander at the SHOT show the year he introduced the .50 Beowulf I bought one and have never strayed. I have taken every thing from White Tail deer to feral hogs and Russian bores with it. It never missed a beat in 22 years. Every thing drops on the spot.
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Primarily the 325gr HP original factory loads. I did some hog hunting with the original FMJ’s. When the FXT hit the market I hand loaded some of those. I think I had the romantic notion it was going to shoot flatter. I never could tell if it made any performance difference between the bullets. Everything I shot with it dropped on the spot no matter what bullet I used and all were through and through no matter what angle. The first deer I shot with it just sat down on its butt and fell over. No thrashing no movement at all. To be truthful it was kind of anticlimactic but extremely effective. I am a huge fan of the 45-70 Govt in a Marlin 1895 and always wanted a semiautomatic. It lives up to it.
Nice comparison between these three cartridges. I don’t have any issues in my state with needing a straight wall cartridge & liked the fact the .458 Socom used .45-70 .458 dia. bullets so I decided to build a .458 Socom. I wanted a rifle that swings smooth,is not front heavy so bought a 16” barrel,I wanted fast follow up shots if needed so the AR-15 platform being Semi-auto fit perfectly! I hand load so tried just about every weight bullet except 600 gr.. I got very good accuracy with most bullets but finally settled on two, both Hornady, the 250 & 325 grain FTX. For deer I use the 250 gr.pushed to 1900 F.P.S. with H-110 this load took every buck I’ve shot always being a thru & thru so no need to push it more. Recoil was I felt hard on the gun so I added a tank style muzzle break,heavy buffer & spring plus added an adjustable gas block because my setup was over gassed! I use standard .223 polymer 20 rd.mags.by Thermold loaded with five. I now have 0 feeding issues in fact the gun runs perfectly! I did try some metal mags.but did have some problems feeding so stayed with the polymer mag. plus they Don’t scratch my brass. I feel the 250gr.pill would handle most Bear at close range distances in heavy timber where I hunt but might opt.for a heavier 325-350 gr.bullet most likely all copper or Hardcast! I would think this setup would be a perfect choice for big Alaska bear if you are a guide or BushPilot protecting a client from charging bear! It would offer tons of fast firepower with ten 350 gr. rds.stuffed into a 30 rd.mag.!!! Think of 45-70 power in a small,light Semi-auto platform,not many bears could handle that much lead! A perfect bear stopper!
I personally own a 450 Bushmaster. The main reason I chose it over the others is the loaded ammunition is cheaper and reloading for the Bushmaster is very easy and also cheaper components. In my testing the 450 has been very accurate out to around 200 yards and has just about the same stopping power as the 50 Beowolf. The only differences is really in subsonic loads where the 458 and the 50 can be loaded with very heavy bullets that are superior to the 450. So far I have had difficulties getting any 450 subsonic loaded to cycle reliably in a AR platform. Thanks for a good review.
May have to experiment with buffer recoil spring length and tension, perhaps try some of the specialty "alll in one" buffers for high caliber applications
You can cycle 450 subs. You will need the heaviest bullet you can get. Then a lightweight bcg and the right spring. You may have to get an adjustable gas block as well.
I own a bolt action Ruger ranch 450 with the Leupold CDS scope allowing dial to 200 and 300 yards after being zero'd at 100. I shoot Hornady black 250 grain ftx and achieved a .75" group at 100 yards for 6 shots.
Wish I had found this a few months ago. I have 450 BM and 50BW. I actually wanted a 458 socom. Socom shells are harder to find and more $. 50 rifle was all I could find for a very long time in an upper. I wanted a pistol. Then finally 450 uppers came back around. I find 450 BM ammo much more than either of the other two. I will eventually grab a socom just because it’s the only one missing now.
I built a 50 Beowulf and love it! The cost of ammo is prohibitive and factory ammo is Alexander Arms only! I eventually built a 350 Legend and shoot that way more due to the inexpensive ammunition and availability of factory fodder!!!!!
BULLL!!! UNDERWOOD MAKES A GOOD FEW 50 BEOWULF ROUNDS AND THEIR AMMO IS AWESOME. I HAVE FIRED MOST OF THEIR 50 BEOWULF OFFERINGS THROUGH MY 16" AR UPPER
I built the 50 Beowolf, I have shot two hogs with it and it knocked the both off there feet at 125 yards. Both Hogs weighed in at 225lbs. I choose this round because I own a 500 S&W, that I also hog hunt with too. I do reload both rounds. They both use the same primers, bullets and powders. It is the only way to go when you shoot these big bore cartridges. Like you said they are very effective out to 200yards. I also like the wide range of bullet weights available. I manly use the 335gr hollow points.
458 socom from Tromix with their bolt is unreal. Very accurate and deadly. 50 Beowolf does nothing to impress me besides less reliable mag and feeding. 450 was a needless caliber for myself. Have a 350 legend, but haven't used it hunting yet.
I didn’t detect you saying one round was better than any these round you reviewed and thank you for including the 45-70. But having given the statistics presented here I’ve got to say there’s a good reason the 450 Bushmaster is more popular.
@@draconian6692most recoil to.. & biggest projectile. & heaviest platform of rifle. so no its not significant enough to be better in anyway except energy.
I have the .450 Bushmaster and the .50 Beowulf in AR Platforms. The .450 Bushmaster is superbly accurate and other than handloads the Hornady Black 250 Grain FTX is all that I can find! In .50 Beowulf all I have been able to find is the Underwood 350 Grain Hornady XTP and not nearly as accurate as the .450 B', but it is Oh So Powerful!!! I ended up with 2 Lancer 20 round magazines (which hold a total of 8 + 1 cartridges) and Tromix followers which is reliable (and holds the bolt carrier group back on an empty magazine) in the .50 so it gets the nod when I go out (with even more potent handloads!) Even with magazine modifications I cannot get reliable full capacity performance with the .450 B' which is a shame! By the way I have held Jeff's M1 Carbine chambered in .450 Thumper which was the very beginning of all of this (unless you consider the bolt action .376 Steyr and it's predecessor the Remington Model 600 .350 Magnum Scout Rifle(s) to be in the mix.) What is my hunting get up; that's easy, a very old Ruger M77 in 7mm Remington Magnum with a Nikon Scope and my lucky Thunderwear!
Ordered AA new BEO on October 7, 2021. Just got last Friday. New stuff. Letcha know. 22,000ft ballon poppers, swear it. BEO and 450, no real comparison. 450 💖 love it. Shoots like butter. BEO blows fire. 357 vs 500 Mag. Same type difference. Still wait for real AA Grendel Ammo. Rare stuff.
I couldn't decide between 450 or 458. I eventually went with the 450 and I'm glad I did. It has surprisingly less recoil than I was expecting. Definitely cheaper ammo but kind of difficult to find in my area and if you can find it it's going to be at least $45 for a box of 20. I was bear hunting with a 350 legend with a 20" barrel then I decided to go with the 450 16" barrel because of a very large black bear in my area. I'm sure the 350 would have taken it down but the 450 just made me feel better and it definitely works very well for black bear
Tell me more about how the 450 Bushmaster performed on your bear. How far was the shot? What ammo did you use? And what did the bear do after the shot?
I shot it at about 100 yards using Hornady American whitetail in 245 grain with a 16" barrel. 1st shot was a good hit the 2nd shot was the last one. He went 20 yards and dropped. It weighed 468lbs. That's considered very large for my area. Our state record is a little over 600. I couldn't be happier with the way it performed but I might change to a higher grain bullet this year just for a little more knock down power or use my 350 legend that's a 20" barrel just to see how much different they are.
I went .458 SOOM only because I got an upper for $199. With an upper that cheap I was able to try it out and see how I liked it. It’s fun to shoot, and does pack a wallop at 75 to 100 yards. The thing is, I’m not a hunter, but if I had to start hunting, this would be a great choice I’m told.
AR Platform With More Ammo Capacity & Using .5:56 Magazines The .458 SOCOM & .50 Bewulf Shine With More Follow Up Shots When Considering Multiple Wild Hogs Where Bolt Action Is Limited To 3-4. .450 Bushmaster For Deer In Bolt Action However I’ll Take & Break More With My .458 SOCOM WILSON COMBATS’s & The Sweet 50 Bewulf’s.
interesting side note - if the .45 professional had not been introduced at the 2000 sopmod conference at ft benning ... none of the other "bigbore" ar's would exist. the professional opened the door for bigbore ar's.
I built my "Trumpster" tribute in .450 Bushmaster, adding an engraved ejector port dust cover calling it "45's .45(0)", trimmed in 2024 Election motif, including the Guntech Trump Furniture set in black (and Color Filled in Red & White where applicable, Blue just doesn't feel right, but it is included on this Rifle [in the manufacturers Logo on the Lower Receiver], as they are our National Colors). Most of the Rifle is MILSPEC, except a Forward Blast Mitigator, and of course the magazines... And, I recently added Red Anodised parts to enhance the "Election Effect", for my personal appreciation. 😎
Just finished an AR-15 build in .458 SOCOM and working on load development. So far, been very happy. Thinking about building another subsonic suppressed in this caliber. Open to comments or suggestions.
I've been thinking about getting Big bore upper for my AR-15 I was wondering whichever one I get do I need to get a heavier buffer and or a spring to help with the recoil or is it okay to use a stock spring and buffer .
I went into the service in 1982/83 we had to use the M-16A2 when i was in the service and i have bot only purchased complete rifles but have purchased parts and built my own. Out of all the guns i own i have my old military standard M-16A2 and its still the most accurate and easiest to operate then any of the others, for me anyway. I love the carry handle as well as the standard optic that we used on them while in the military. Now of course i have purchased and built AR's that are as or almost as accurate as my A2 but for me im so use to using the A2 that i prefer it over any other model, since! But the 223/556 just isnt a bear defense round no matter how it can put down a two legged or small predator ,but not for bear or large game or predators so i have to search the big bore lineup? I recently purchased some land in a much more "free" state and can now purchase a number of guns i cant in my present state!!! I plan to have dual residency so i can purchase firearms in both of the states. One being the very ,if not most restricted state in the Union and thats New Jersey! Then i recently purchased almost 8acres with a three bed one bath home on it in the extreme south western area of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains area! Its a beautiful piece of land!!!! :>) So i have big plans for the land as i start my late life journy into long range and 3gun shoots!!! :>) lol But the land i Purchased has issues with larger predators , do for now i am using my 45/70 1895 Marlin , Guide Gun with a capacity of 4+1. I just love it although it kicks like a mule! lol Im already thinking this 450BM is the choice for my next build? since it will be in an AR pletform rather then a bolt gun ,the recoil will be minimal...... I just keep thinking that those friends of mine with single shots, for bear defense are nuts! LOL
50 beowulf fan here, its got the most raw power up front with the lowest price tag for commercial ammo... or it did for a while. It does really well with 16" bbls and under, while most 450 BM figures are from a 20" bbl. 458 is, in some ways, the very best between the 3, but commercially, it's a huge PITA. 50 is just terminally NUTS at short range. But the 45s slow down a little slower. Note: 50 Beo also has a nigh identical copy cat chambering that several manufacturers produce.
Thank you very much for a very detailed video! I subscribed and rang the bell, I follow a ton of apples to apples gun guys in comparison your video here on these three rounds is definitely the best! When someone asks on Google your video should pop up and they need not look any further.
Sorry had to comment. When people want a Beowulf, they go the cheap route. 99% of the time. I spent the $$$$$$$$ and bought the real deal Alexander Arms. She roars. Never jams { I use their magazines and their bullets } Problem going cheap is jamming and FTF. I hear it all the time . Regular A.R.'s weren't designed for the 50 Beowulf, hence {problems} But everyone is always trying to get by or do it cheaper. And that doesn't always work out . I saw a Bigfoot ...!!! It was one of the most intense, scary moments in my entire life. It changed me. I knew it could of killed me . I knew who the king of the mountain was and is. Since owning and carrying my Alexander Arms Beowulf and my Glock 20 . I'm not the screaming crybaby anymore. When you have a monster eyeballing you like you're dinner. You'll learn cheap isn't always the way to go. Peace.
I've been considering a .450 for the same purpose. I've never seen one myself, but I hunt in an area with a lot of sightings and sometimes feel undergunned with a .223. If you ever have to shoot one, don't stick around too long - they rarely travel alone!
@@possumpatrol45same reason I'm watching these big bore videos. I've been debating 308 vs 458 and Co for a while now, considering the same hypothetical scenario. I know many people would laugh but I take this seriously . I'd feel totally undergunned with 5.56 against big foot or dogman. It was a round meant for people not massively built cryptids.
I have a few types BEO rounds. Some that smoke what those others can do. It’s fun to load a mag w a couple of each to feel the difference. All good enjoy the video!
When reloading: crimping of 450 Bushmaster and 50 Beowulf on case mouth (the forward headspace contact point) is critical to proper chambering and firing. The SOCOM headspaces on the ogive of the bottleneck making its reloading and crimping not quite so touchy. All make effective close range hunting cartridges. Recoil is manageable and, when there is enough of it, a factor in what makes it fun to shoot.
After watching this I'm 100% going 450Bushmaster once I get around to building another upper. I'm a little behind in that respect. Just ordered final parts for 300blk then need to build 350Legend but I'm putting 450 on the list 😂👌
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog I heard they could be finicky with accuracy, and shimming may be needed. I didn't have any problems with 2" +/- groups at 100 yards with Federal's American eagle 240gr load. I have some experimenting to do with reloading. All in all though I have been real happy with it, 10/22 sized 44 mag woods walking rifle. Hard to not like it 😉
I think you set up 450 Bushmaster to look best in the comparison by using the lighter bullet. If you put a 300 0r 350gr in the 450, you would be a lot closer to the 458. Inversely, put a 250 or 200gr in the 458 and you will be a lot closer to the 450. The 458 also has a much larger selection of bullet styles and weights. The 458 SOCOM also beats out both other cartridges' in the Sub Sonic realm with reliability and wide range of bullet weights that reliably function.
Bought a .50 Beowulf M-4 upper from Alexander Arms just because back in 2010. It's fun to shoot and can be very accurate. Was using Rainier 275, 300, 335gr bullets in both FMJ and HP's Sometimes groups were a single cloverleaf at a 100 yrds. Sometimes not! Rainier is out of business, didn't survive the Covid lock-downs. I found I had to weigh the Rainier bullets cause they could vary as much as 5 grains or more between bullets. The 275's were short and didn't provide much of a bullet for the case to grip. The 300 and 335 shoot the best. Only thing mine has killed is paper and steel targets and some desert jacks. It just puts really BIG holes in them! The .50 Beowulf is really a Big Pistol round. It uses Large Pistol primers. The plated bullets are for pistols and don't hold up well if pushed too fast. Rainier were good for plinking. I have some Berry's 350's, Speer GD 300's, some of the Hornady FTX Flex Tip 300 Grain Bullets. But most of my shooting was/is with the Rainier bullets glad I stocked upon them before they went bye bye.
50 Beowulf is tempting. There are AR uppers for it at a decent price. I really don't have any big bore firearms so I feel having one will round out my collection.
I have all 3 and they have their highs and lows, since I reload for most of mine I can dial in the best performance for them. My 50 has never had factory ammo in it, harder to find and expensive when you do find it. My handloads are faster than shown in the video. If you don't reload, the easiest to find factory ammo for all 3 is the 450. The performance of the 450 is also a little better overall as its a lighter bullet going faster and flatter shooting. The 458 is in the middle or best of both worlds. I primarily hunt in thick dense areas where a 100 yard shot is max, but have taken all 3 out to 400 yards at the range, they all hit with authority. Love each for different reasons and use them for different reasons, since the 450 ammo is more popular I can easily buy Hornady Sub-X subsonic ammo and run suppressed for hunting on a 40 acre piece of property that has a neighborhood behind it. Hunters and shooters get enough negative attention as it is. The 50 just makes giggle, really just a blast to shoot.
I have shot the 450 bm and the 50 beowulf the 50 really blew the steel plate off the target hanger and then bent the target stand in half it just has more thump then the 450
@David L I have the big three plus the Auto max 500 out of the 4 the Rock River 450 Bushmaster is the least impressive to me they make a 200 gr intercepter round for the Beowolf and its fast and hits hard when you can get it to cycle
In my opinion the 450 Bushmaster the best of the three. Of the three, the 450 Bushmaster has more load ability as far as powder capacity. I load mine at the level are the 460 Smith & Wesson. The 450 has the same case capacity as the 460. So when shooting an encore or a bolt gun you can load it at higher pressures.
I Have 4 Mr. Wilson Of Wilson Combat In AR’s. The 1st 2 Are In .300 Hammer & 2 In Wilson Combat .458 SOCOM. Lastly For The AR Platform I Have 2 Alexander Arms .50 Bewulf’s. I Drop Coyotes & Wild Hogs With The .300 Hammer With Lehigh/Underwood Which Mr. Bill Wilson Purchased & Now Makes The Finest Bullets Found Anywhere. The .458 SOCOM Are My Freight Trains That Hit Hard 350 Yards In With Appropriate Optics & Individual Behind Trigger Will Drop Anything In North America Depending On Shot Placement & Distance. I Enjoy All 6 Of These Stop & Drop Energy & Power To Stop Whatever I’m Aiming At. The .300 Hammer I Have Reached Out To 650 Yards. My Choice At Stopping A Car Quickly Is My .50 Bewulf Through The Radiator & Engine Block With Right Load Going All The Way To 600 Grain. All 3 Of These Heavy Hitters Are Quality & Dependable Especially The High End Wilson Combat Firearms. Appreciate Your Coverage. Keep It Coming.
Thanks, magazine capacity comparison would be useful. While off topic, 350 legend easily and reliably holds 20 rounds and delivers 1800-2000 '/# muzzle energy, plenty to excommunicate body and soul.
I'm curious as to why no one has developed a longer cartridge similar to the 450 bushmaster for the AR10 platform, which could result in a serious big/dangerous game cartridge in a semi-automatic rifle that is easy to transition from the more familiar AR-15 ??? The case diameter could easily be the same as a 45-70 with a 450 rim.
I am just in the middle of building a 458Socom AR lol i have to use a 16" barrel ,but with the purchase of some land in a much more Free state i can put what eve length barrel i want on it!!! :>) so what is the so called perfect length barrel for the, 458Socome round? thanks Also looking into building a 50Beo gun as well? lol I already have the BCG and stripped upper for the 50Beo as well as the handgard.But need ot find ,out what the best length for the 50Beo to use? In Jerset the minimum legal length is 14.5" with aa muzzle device that, brings it to 16" overall length. The muzzle device, needs to be welded and pinned to the barrel. In VA .....dont matter! LOL
Bushmaster and Socom both hold 7 in an AR-15 20 round mag & 10 (Socom) or 11 (Bushmaster) in the 30 round mag. Not sure about the Beowulf. All are used in the AR-15 platform.
You can fit 10 rounds of .50 beowulf in a standard 30 rd 5.56 mag or buy the Promag rollermag 40 rd 5.56 and it will fit 14 rounds of Beowulf ( as seen in my profile pic ) I know everyone hates promag but I've had no issues with mine so far !
Steer clear of the Hornady line if you reload. They changed their bushmaster primers from Small rifle to Large Rifle without telling anyone. All that load development has to be redone and the brass is frequently short as well. Hornady ammo should be avoided.
THANK YOU, FOR THIS VIDEO! IMHO: I WISH SOMEONE WORLD START WORKING ON SOME 10mm BIG-BORE, "STRAIGHT-WALL" RIFLE CARTRIDGES, THAT WOULD BE BIGGER, BETTER THAN ".350 LEGEND", ".300 BLACKOUT", "8,6mm BLACKOUT",...".450 BUSHMASTER, ".458 SOCOM", OR ".45-70 GOV'T.".....
Their is a 400 legend round now which came out last year which is a 10mm straight wall. Their are a few bolt action Savage is one of them but have not seen in AR platform yet. Sounds like it would be a great round.
What does it take to get these cartridge's sammi certified and why hasn't it been done yet? I imagine its like paying to get something UL certified, it costs money and requires a backer.
Whether or not straight wall is required in Indiana depends on the land on which one is hunting. All the cartridges allowed on public lands are straight wall. Cartridges allowed on private land is a longer list that contains shouldered cases. Indiana DNR publishes definitive, separate lists of the specific cartridges (calibers) allowed for deer hunting on public and private lands every year. Why the difference baffles me, but there it is.
It’s because Indianapolis thinks we’re going to shoot each other if we were allowed bottlenecked cartridges on public land. Also INDNR lists 458 SOCOM as legal on public land.
Them are some week 45-70 loads. I get 2500 fps with the 350 gr and 2100 fps with 405gr and 1825 with a 500 gr. But I hand load mine. I chose the 450 an 50B uppers are cheap.
2,500fps with a 350gr bullet? The hottest 45-70 load I can find in any of my reloading manuals (and it's specifically for a Ruger No 1) is a 2,200fps with a 350gr bullet. Heck, those manuals are listing 2,500fps with a 350gr bullet as a max load for the 458 Win Mag.
The energy is mute because they are all so close...which design is the most reliable in the AR platform? Which has the least MRBF (mean rounds between failures) per thousand rounds fired? THAT IS WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.
458S as the shoulder of the case sets the headspace and makes feeding from a semi-auto magazine more reliable than a straight walled case. Dangerous game with the correct bullet @ 50yds 458S will put down anything on this planet.
Good question and is main reason I went with the Socom. To my knowledge, the Socom uses standard AR15 mags even though I've seen Socom mags and mag followers for sale. I believe the others require their proprietary mags.
Using aics magazines, the 458 has issues. The 50 uses a 7.62x39 bolt. For a bolt gun, the 450 is the best choice. Bear Creek now loads a 240 gr 450 BM with a MV of 2550 fps. (Bolt action only) Again, the 450 is the best for bolt guns.
Anyone know if the .458 SOCOM cartridge can be fired in a rifle chambered for the .458 HAM'R? I do know that the .458 HAM'R can not be chambered in a .458 SOCOM because of its higher pressure.
.458 Ham’r actually has a longer shoulder than Socom so a .458 socom in a ham’r chambered gun is gonna have some excessive headspacing issues along with damaged brass if it is fired. It likely won’t fire due to light primer strikes since the cartridge has wiggle room but if it was my gun I wouldn’t want to test out that theory. Hope that helps
@@lanehale5669 good luck getting the extractor to snap over a rim before the case is buried in the chamber. It's not a Mauser, the shoulder has to hit a hard stop and the rim has to be under the extractor or the .030" of firing pin protrusion can't possibly hit the primer.
@@lanehale5669 I can contest for this. I had an improperly loaded 458 socom round which had a longer neck on it and failed to fire in my 458 socom. There wasn't even a sign of light primer strike. So, given the specs on the 458 ham'r that you just gave us, this makes perfect sense given the experience i had in mine 458. thanks for the input. I almost made the move to get the 458 hamr rifle over regular and less expensive 458 socom. thank you for tying this all together for me.
In my opinion, 450 Bushmaster hands down !!!
I think 450 bushmaster is the best way to go. It honestly outperforms the other 2 and more ammo availability and rifles to choose from.
It's a great bullet. Just get the right bcg and buffer spring. Oh and the right magazines as well.
I went with the 458 Socom simply because of the .458 bullet diameter, and I don't regret my decision. A lot more bullet options and availability, but I hand load everything. I've settled on 325 grain FTX Hornadys over 35 grains of H110 at over 1900 fps out of a 20 inch barrel. I can't wait to see what they do to a big Buck this year!
(Newbie reloader, here). Would you do anything different with your load for a 16"(AR) 458 as opposed to a 20"?
I'm picking 458 simply for suppressed 500-570 grain rounds.
Yeah the consensus seems to be that if you reload, the 458 is the best thumper. It's almost as powerful as 50 beowulf, bleeds power slower, keeping more of that raw power at medium range, the components are plentiful, but BUYING 458 socom is INSANE.
50 beo and 450 BM are both far more affordable if you don't reload.
The redneck in me just made every hoot and holler on the spectrum
Nobody cares
That was an Immensely thorough comparison, thank you for that, very professional. I work for Black Rain Ordinance and we produce the 450 BM and the 458 SOCOM, of the two, and with your data I am going with the 450 Bushmaster.
Would love to work on guns. But i live in england
@@MrFreefonix420 yeah we had to get out of there 🤪🇺🇸
Well that about schooled me ❗️mr bullet science man , thank you 😎
@@MrFreefonix420 Same mate :( Issue is, as much as it's possible to move to America, whether they like to admit it or not they are becoming more like us in terms of gun laws, even if a few states stay free the reality is a large % of the country & the Federal law enforcement being extremely anti-gun has a huge impact and will drag down the good states too. Places like Cali literally have worse gun laws than we do here.
@@bo-dine7971 Not true, you can still buy centrefire semi-autos and handguns in California (albeit with obnoxious and mainly nonsensical conditions attached), and the overall process for obtaining what is legal is simpler than obtaining a double-barrel shotgun in the UK. UK shooters probably have it better than in Japan though, although I'm having a hard time pinning down exactly what Japanese civilians can own.
After talking with Bill Alexander at the SHOT show the year he introduced the .50 Beowulf I bought one and have never strayed. I have taken every thing from White Tail deer to feral hogs and Russian bores with it. It never missed a beat in 22 years. Every thing drops on the spot.
What ammo have you primarily hunted with in your 50 Beowulf?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Primarily the 325gr HP original factory loads. I did some hog hunting with the original FMJ’s. When the FXT hit the market I hand loaded some of those. I think I had the romantic notion it was going to shoot flatter. I never could tell if it made any performance difference between the bullets. Everything I shot with it dropped on the spot no matter what bullet I used and all were through and through no matter what angle. The first deer I shot with it just sat down on its butt and fell over. No thrashing no movement at all. To be truthful it was kind of anticlimactic but extremely effective. I am a huge fan of the 45-70 Govt in a Marlin 1895 and always wanted a semiautomatic. It lives up to it.
Awesome!
Nice comparison between these three cartridges. I don’t have any issues in my state with needing a straight wall cartridge & liked the fact the .458 Socom used .45-70 .458 dia. bullets so I decided to build a .458 Socom. I wanted a rifle that swings smooth,is not front heavy so bought a 16” barrel,I wanted fast follow up shots if needed so the AR-15 platform being Semi-auto fit perfectly! I hand load so tried just about every weight bullet except 600 gr.. I got very good accuracy with most bullets but finally settled on two, both Hornady, the 250 & 325 grain FTX. For deer I use the 250 gr.pushed to 1900 F.P.S. with H-110 this load took every buck I’ve shot always being a thru & thru so no need to push it more. Recoil was I felt hard on the gun so I added a tank style muzzle break,heavy buffer & spring plus added an adjustable gas block because my setup was over gassed! I use standard .223 polymer 20 rd.mags.by Thermold loaded with five. I now have 0 feeding issues in fact the gun runs perfectly! I did try some metal mags.but did have some problems feeding so stayed with the polymer mag. plus they Don’t scratch my brass. I feel the 250gr.pill would handle most Bear at close range distances in heavy timber where I hunt but might opt.for a heavier 325-350 gr.bullet most likely all copper or Hardcast! I would think this setup would be a perfect choice for big Alaska bear if you are a guide or BushPilot protecting a client from charging bear! It would offer tons of fast firepower with ten 350 gr. rds.stuffed into a 30 rd.mag.!!! Think of 45-70 power in a small,light Semi-auto platform,not many bears could handle that much lead! A perfect bear stopper!
I definitely go with the .458 Socom!
I personally own a 450 Bushmaster. The main reason I chose it over the others is the loaded ammunition is cheaper and reloading for the Bushmaster is very easy and also cheaper components. In my testing the 450 has been very accurate out to around 200 yards and has just about the same stopping power as the 50 Beowolf. The only differences is really in subsonic loads where the 458 and the 50 can be loaded with very heavy bullets that are superior to the 450. So far I have had difficulties getting any 450 subsonic loaded to cycle reliably in a AR platform. Thanks for a good review.
you will need an adjustable gas block for the subsonic 458 to cycle the bolt all the way back properly.
Try the 230gr XTP over 11grs of Trail boss
May have to experiment with buffer recoil spring length and tension, perhaps try some of the specialty "alll in one" buffers for high caliber applications
You can cycle 450 subs. You will need the heaviest bullet you can get. Then a lightweight bcg and the right spring. You may have to get an adjustable gas block as well.
I like the 50 Beo in 12.5” barrel for my uses, excellent brush rifle. Rolled a big hog shooting through a mesquite bush.. thats a thumper!
I own a bolt action Ruger ranch 450 with the Leupold CDS scope allowing dial to 200 and 300 yards after being zero'd at 100. I shoot Hornady black 250 grain ftx and achieved a .75" group at 100 yards for 6 shots.
Wish I had found this a few months ago. I have 450 BM and 50BW. I actually wanted a 458 socom. Socom shells are harder to find and more $. 50 rifle was all I could find for a very long time in an upper. I wanted a pistol. Then finally 450 uppers came back around. I find 450 BM ammo much more than either of the other two. I will eventually grab a socom just because it’s the only one missing now.
The .450 ammo produced by Bear Creek Ballistics is crazy. You get over 3000lbs of energy!
Very well done, informative, professional... I went with 450 Bushmaster...
I built a 50 Beowulf and love it! The cost of ammo is prohibitive and factory ammo is Alexander Arms only! I eventually built a 350 Legend and shoot that way more due to the inexpensive ammunition and availability of factory fodder!!!!!
BULLL!!! UNDERWOOD MAKES A GOOD FEW 50 BEOWULF ROUNDS AND THEIR AMMO IS AWESOME. I HAVE FIRED MOST OF THEIR 50 BEOWULF OFFERINGS THROUGH MY 16" AR UPPER
I built the 50 Beowolf, I have shot two hogs with it and it knocked the both off there feet at 125 yards. Both Hogs weighed in at 225lbs. I choose this round because I own a 500 S&W, that I also hog hunt with too. I do reload both rounds. They both use the same primers, bullets and powders. It is the only way to go when you shoot these big bore cartridges. Like you said they are very effective out to 200yards. I also like the wide range of bullet weights available. I manly use the 335gr hollow points.
nah you sound like you own a .22
You put a lot of work into this video. Extremely informative. I will go with the 450 bushmaster. And subscribe to your channel.
So at the end of FJB/LGB .
450 is Whaaaats Uuuup!
First time viewer. I appreciate your in depth history, and in video data. Thank you, subscribed
Awesome, thank you!
458 socom from Tromix with their bolt is unreal. Very accurate and deadly. 50 Beowolf does nothing to impress me besides less reliable mag and feeding. 450 was a needless caliber for myself. Have a 350 legend, but haven't used it hunting yet.
I didn’t detect you saying one round was better than any these round you reviewed and thank you for including the 45-70. But having given the statistics presented here I’ve got to say there’s a good reason the 450 Bushmaster is more popular.
Excellent video, thank you for providing good ballistics comparisons
Thanks for watching!
450 bushmaster it is
Beowolf is the most muzzle energy
@@draconian6692 wrong
@@draconian6692most recoil to.. & biggest projectile. & heaviest platform of rifle. so no its not significant enough to be better in anyway except energy.
@@whodidwhat32I like it because i can just buy an upper and put it in my ar and it uses the same mags
I have the .450 Bushmaster and the .50 Beowulf in AR Platforms. The .450 Bushmaster is superbly accurate and other than handloads the Hornady Black 250 Grain FTX is all that I can find! In .50 Beowulf all I have been able to find is the Underwood 350 Grain Hornady XTP and not nearly as accurate as the .450 B', but it is Oh So Powerful!!! I ended up with 2 Lancer 20 round magazines (which hold a total of 8 + 1 cartridges) and Tromix followers which is reliable (and holds the bolt carrier group back on an empty magazine) in the .50 so it gets the nod when I go out (with even more potent handloads!) Even with magazine modifications I cannot get reliable full capacity performance with the .450 B' which is a shame! By the way I have held Jeff's M1 Carbine chambered in .450 Thumper which was the very beginning of all of this (unless you consider the bolt action .376 Steyr and it's predecessor the Remington Model 600 .350 Magnum Scout Rifle(s) to be in the mix.) What is my hunting get up; that's easy, a very old Ruger M77 in 7mm Remington Magnum with a Nikon Scope and my lucky Thunderwear!
Ordered AA new BEO on October 7, 2021. Just got last Friday. New stuff. Letcha know. 22,000ft ballon poppers, swear it. BEO and 450, no real comparison. 450 💖 love it. Shoots like butter. BEO blows fire. 357 vs 500 Mag. Same type difference. Still wait for real AA Grendel Ammo. Rare stuff.
Bear Creek Arsenal make their own Upper Receivers in .50 Beowulf. I have one myself with the BCA upper and it has worked quite well.
I have a bear creek arsenal 458 SOCOM upper and it works flawless
I couldn't decide between 450 or 458. I eventually went with the 450 and I'm glad I did. It has surprisingly less recoil than I was expecting. Definitely cheaper ammo but kind of difficult to find in my area and if you can find it it's going to be at least $45 for a box of 20. I was bear hunting with a 350 legend with a 20" barrel then I decided to go with the 450 16" barrel because of a very large black bear in my area. I'm sure the 350 would have taken it down but the 450 just made me feel better and it definitely works very well for black bear
Tell me more about how the 450 Bushmaster performed on your bear. How far was the shot? What ammo did you use? And what did the bear do after the shot?
I shot it at about 100 yards using Hornady American whitetail in 245 grain with a 16" barrel. 1st shot was a good hit the 2nd shot was the last one. He went 20 yards and dropped. It weighed 468lbs. That's considered very large for my area. Our state record is a little over 600. I couldn't be happier with the way it performed but I might change to a higher grain bullet this year just for a little more knock down power or use my 350 legend that's a 20" barrel just to see how much different they are.
I went .458 SOOM only because I got an upper for $199. With an upper that cheap I was able to try it out and see how I liked it. It’s fun to shoot, and does pack a wallop at 75 to 100 yards. The thing is, I’m not a hunter, but if I had to start hunting, this would be a great choice I’m told.
I loaded some 300 grain Lead hollow Points for 450BM.
They hit like sledge Hammer.
I don't know the ballistics, but the wild hogs hate it!
AR Platform With More Ammo Capacity & Using .5:56 Magazines The .458 SOCOM & .50 Bewulf Shine With More Follow Up Shots When Considering Multiple Wild Hogs Where Bolt Action Is Limited To 3-4. .450 Bushmaster For Deer In Bolt Action However I’ll Take & Break More With My .458 SOCOM WILSON COMBATS’s & The Sweet 50 Bewulf’s.
interesting side note - if the .45 professional had not been introduced at the 2000 sopmod conference at ft benning ... none of the other "bigbore" ar's would exist.
the professional opened the door for bigbore ar's.
I know the .45 professional became the bushmaster, I had never asked the creator when he debuted it. Sadly, Mr Legendre died in 2019.
@@wbrennan2253
i introduced legendre to the 2000 sopmod conference.
i have the two prototypes taken to the conference.
Amazing information. Tremendously useful! Thank you!
Absolutely beautiful details to your description!!@! Wow! Brother..Subbed!!! We The People like your Content!!450 bushmaster
Thanks for the sub!
Analysis well done, i would add summary columns to help the reader find deltas and averages.
I built my "Trumpster" tribute in .450 Bushmaster, adding an engraved ejector port dust cover calling it "45's .45(0)", trimmed in 2024 Election motif, including the Guntech Trump Furniture set in black (and Color Filled in Red & White where applicable, Blue just doesn't feel right, but it is included on this Rifle [in the manufacturers Logo on the Lower Receiver], as they are our National Colors). Most of the Rifle is MILSPEC, except a Forward Blast Mitigator, and of course the magazines... And, I recently added Red Anodised parts to enhance the "Election Effect", for my personal appreciation. 😎
Thanks very helpful just purchased a 450 bushmaster
Let me know how it performs!
450 Bushmaster seems to be the best. Ty for this.
End of the debate, buy them all!
Nothing wrong with that!
things change over time. The 458 was the only choice when I bought in years ago
Just finished an AR-15 build in .458 SOCOM and working on load development. So far, been very happy. Thinking about building another subsonic suppressed in this caliber. Open to comments or suggestions.
I've been thinking about getting Big bore upper for my AR-15 I was wondering whichever one I get do I need to get a heavier buffer and or a spring to help with the recoil or is it okay to use a stock spring and buffer .
I use the barnes 500g tsx with around 18g of lil gun for subs and if i want them to expand i use the makers
Well put together. Very informative. I appreciate ya
Thanks Colten!
Good video I have the 450 bushmaster.
Buy Ruger the more you know the better
Thank you..
Think if I had to deal with bears up close these would be amazing
I went into the service in 1982/83 we had to use the M-16A2 when i was in the service and i have bot only purchased complete rifles but have purchased parts and built my own. Out of all the guns i own i have my old military standard M-16A2 and its still the most accurate and easiest to operate then any of the others, for me anyway. I love the carry handle as well as the standard optic that we used on them while in the military. Now of course i have purchased and built AR's that are as or almost as accurate as my A2 but for me im so use to using the A2 that i prefer it over any other model, since! But the 223/556 just isnt a bear defense round no matter how it can put down a two legged or small predator ,but not for bear or large game or predators so i have to search the big bore lineup? I recently purchased some land in a much more "free" state and can now purchase a number of guns i cant in my present state!!! I plan to have dual residency so i can purchase firearms in both of the states. One being the very ,if not most restricted state in the Union and thats New Jersey! Then i recently purchased almost 8acres with a three bed one bath home on it in the extreme south western area of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains area! Its a beautiful piece of land!!!! :>) So i have big plans for the land as i start my late life journy into long range and 3gun shoots!!! :>) lol But the land i Purchased has issues with larger predators , do for now i am using my 45/70 1895 Marlin , Guide Gun with a capacity of 4+1. I just love it although it kicks like a mule! lol Im already thinking this 450BM is the choice for my next build? since it will be in an AR pletform rather then a bolt gun ,the recoil will be minimal...... I just keep thinking that those friends of mine with single shots, for bear defense are nuts! LOL
What happened to 45 Raptor on DPMS 308 platform?
Excellent video!! Thanks so much
Glad it was helpful!
50 beowulf fan here, its got the most raw power up front with the lowest price tag for commercial ammo... or it did for a while. It does really well with 16" bbls and under, while most 450 BM figures are from a 20" bbl. 458 is, in some ways, the very best between the 3, but commercially, it's a huge PITA.
50 is just terminally NUTS at short range. But the 45s slow down a little slower.
Note: 50 Beo also has a nigh identical copy cat chambering that several manufacturers produce.
Thank you very much for a very detailed video! I subscribed and rang the bell, I follow a ton of apples to apples gun guys in comparison your video here on these three rounds is definitely the best! When someone asks on Google your video should pop up and they need not look any further.
The 458 socom. But because of ammo available. 450bm!
Sorry had to comment. When people want a Beowulf, they go the cheap route. 99% of the time. I spent the $$$$$$$$ and bought the real deal Alexander Arms. She roars. Never jams { I use their magazines and their bullets } Problem going cheap is jamming and FTF. I hear it all the time . Regular A.R.'s weren't designed for the 50 Beowulf, hence {problems} But everyone is always trying to get by or do it cheaper. And that doesn't always work out . I saw a Bigfoot ...!!! It was one of the most intense, scary moments in my entire life. It changed me. I knew it could of killed me . I knew who the king of the mountain was and is. Since owning and carrying my Alexander Arms Beowulf and my Glock 20 . I'm not the screaming crybaby anymore. When you have a monster eyeballing you like you're dinner. You'll learn cheap isn't always the way to go. Peace.
I've been considering a .450 for the same purpose. I've never seen one myself, but I hunt in an area with a lot of sightings and sometimes feel undergunned with a .223. If you ever have to shoot one, don't stick around too long - they rarely travel alone!
@@possumpatrol45same reason I'm watching these big bore videos.
I've been debating 308 vs 458 and Co for a while now, considering the same hypothetical scenario.
I know many people would laugh but I take this seriously .
I'd feel totally undergunned with 5.56 against big foot or dogman.
It was a round meant for people not massively built cryptids.
I have the 458 socom snd the 338 spectre. The spectre is a sweet shooting rifle. Its produced by sbr in Brunswick GA
Tell me more about the 458 SOCOM and 338 Spectre
I have a few types BEO rounds. Some that smoke what those others can do. It’s fun to load a mag w a couple of each to feel the difference. All good enjoy the video!
When reloading: crimping of 450 Bushmaster and 50 Beowulf on case mouth (the forward headspace contact point) is critical to proper chambering and firing. The SOCOM headspaces on the ogive of the bottleneck making its reloading and crimping not quite so touchy. All make effective close range hunting cartridges. Recoil is manageable and, when there is enough of it, a factor in what makes it fun to shoot.
Excellent, thanks
Great description! Thanks for the help!
After watching this I'm 100% going 450Bushmaster once I get around to building another upper. I'm a little behind in that respect. Just ordered final parts for 300blk then need to build 350Legend but I'm putting 450 on the list 😂👌
Very informative video thank you!
My pleasure!
All three are serious thumpers. If 44 magnum didn't already fill that role for me. I would have one of them in the collection by now
Do you use a 44 Magnum in a carbine? Or a handgun?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Both. Ruger 77/44 stainless bolt action and a Super Blackhawk stainless 5.5".
Ah, very good! How do you like the 77/44?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog I heard they could be finicky with accuracy, and shimming may be needed. I didn't have any problems with 2" +/- groups at 100 yards with Federal's American eagle 240gr load.
I have some experimenting to do with reloading.
All in all though I have been real happy with it, 10/22 sized 44 mag woods walking rifle. Hard to not like it 😉
Excellent, good luck with that rifle in the future!
I think you set up 450 Bushmaster to look best in the comparison by using the lighter bullet. If you put a 300 0r 350gr in the 450, you would be a lot closer to the 458. Inversely, put a 250 or 200gr in the 458 and you will be a lot closer to the 450. The 458 also has a much larger selection of bullet styles and weights. The 458 SOCOM also beats out both other cartridges' in the Sub Sonic realm with reliability and wide range of bullet weights that reliably function.
450 bushnasty all day long.
Fantastic detailed information
Glad it was helpful!
Bought a .50 Beowulf M-4 upper from Alexander Arms just because back in 2010. It's fun to shoot and can be very accurate. Was using Rainier 275, 300, 335gr bullets in both FMJ and HP's Sometimes groups were a single cloverleaf at a 100 yrds. Sometimes not! Rainier is out of business, didn't survive the Covid lock-downs. I found I had to weigh the Rainier bullets cause they could vary as much as 5 grains or more between bullets. The 275's were short and didn't provide much of a bullet for the case to grip. The 300 and 335 shoot the best. Only thing mine has killed is paper and steel targets and some desert jacks. It just puts really BIG holes in them! The .50 Beowulf is really a Big Pistol round. It uses Large Pistol primers. The plated bullets are for pistols and don't hold up well if pushed too fast. Rainier were good for plinking. I have some Berry's 350's, Speer GD 300's, some of the Hornady FTX Flex Tip 300 Grain Bullets. But most of my shooting was/is with the Rainier bullets glad I stocked upon them before they went bye bye.
50 Beowulf is tempting. There are AR uppers for it at a decent price. I really don't have any big bore firearms so I feel having one will round out my collection.
I have all 3 and they have their highs and lows, since I reload for most of mine I can dial in the best performance for them. My 50 has never had factory ammo in it, harder to find and expensive when you do find it. My handloads are faster than shown in the video. If you don't reload, the easiest to find factory ammo for all 3 is the 450. The performance of the 450 is also a little better overall as its a lighter bullet going faster and flatter shooting. The 458 is in the middle or best of both worlds. I primarily hunt in thick dense areas where a 100 yard shot is max, but have taken all 3 out to 400 yards at the range, they all hit with authority. Love each for different reasons and use them for different reasons, since the 450 ammo is more popular I can easily buy Hornady Sub-X subsonic ammo and run suppressed for hunting on a 40 acre piece of property that has a neighborhood behind it. Hunters and shooters get enough negative attention as it is. The 50 just makes giggle, really just a blast to shoot.
I have shot the 450 bm and the 50 beowulf the 50 really blew the steel plate off the target hanger and then bent the target stand in half it just has more thump then the 450
@@davidl416 Underwood has a good few 50 Beowulf rounds available and there is plenty of reloading data online if you look
@David L I have the big three plus the Auto max 500 out of the 4 the Rock River 450 Bushmaster is the least impressive to me they make a 200 gr intercepter round for the Beowolf and its fast and hits hard when you can get it to cycle
In my opinion the 450 Bushmaster the best of the three. Of the three, the 450 Bushmaster has more load ability as far as powder capacity. I load mine at the level are the 460 Smith & Wesson. The 450 has the same case capacity as the 460. So when shooting an encore or a bolt gun you can load it at higher pressures.
450 bushmaster. Only because ammo would be easier to get.
Good show. I own all three. Great information and your views.
Michael Herrell
Very outstanding video friend. Great job. Thanks a lot friend. SC Navy vet.
Thabk u 4 ur Military Service brother!! Army Vet here.
Ive had a 50B upper from bear creek arsenal. Shoots great and with the right load, it shoots 1moa. Less than $400 for alot of their uppers.
Mine is very accurate also
I cant speak for the other 2 rounds but 50 beowulf slaps ass i think its pretty versatile for just about w.e with variety of grains to can go to
What’s the best barrel length for hunting for the 450 16 or 18 in?
Do you know if I can use 458 socom magazines loaded with 450 bushmaster cartridges in my Bushmaster rifle?
I own 2 .458 socoms, and I am looking for a 50Beowolf berrel now .450 Bushmaster is next.
lol why
Wish they would get the 458 socom sammi certified,than more guns and amm could be manufactured for it!
I Have 4 Mr. Wilson Of Wilson Combat In AR’s. The 1st 2 Are In .300 Hammer & 2 In Wilson Combat .458 SOCOM. Lastly For The AR Platform I Have 2 Alexander Arms .50 Bewulf’s. I Drop Coyotes & Wild Hogs With The .300 Hammer With Lehigh/Underwood Which Mr. Bill Wilson Purchased & Now Makes The Finest Bullets Found Anywhere. The .458 SOCOM Are My Freight Trains That Hit Hard 350 Yards In With Appropriate Optics & Individual Behind Trigger Will Drop Anything In North America Depending On Shot Placement & Distance. I Enjoy All 6 Of These Stop & Drop Energy & Power To Stop Whatever I’m Aiming At. The .300 Hammer I Have Reached Out To 650 Yards. My Choice At Stopping A Car Quickly Is My .50 Bewulf Through The Radiator & Engine Block With Right Load Going All The Way To 600 Grain. All 3 Of These Heavy Hitters Are Quality & Dependable Especially The High End Wilson Combat Firearms. Appreciate Your Coverage. Keep It Coming.
Another great video. Are you out west here? Maybe a video on coastal Blacktail hunting would be good?
Thanks, magazine capacity comparison would be useful. While off topic, 350 legend easily and reliably holds 20 rounds and delivers 1800-2000 '/# muzzle energy, plenty to excommunicate body and soul.
Great suggestion!
I'm curious as to why no one has developed a longer cartridge similar to the 450 bushmaster for the AR10 platform, which could result in a serious big/dangerous game cartridge in a semi-automatic rifle that is easy to transition from the more familiar AR-15 ???
The case diameter could easily be the same as a 45-70 with a 450 rim.
Missed the 45-70 auto, phoenix weaponry makes them on an AR10 platform.
I am just in the middle of building a 458Socom AR lol i have to use a 16" barrel ,but with the purchase of some land in a much more Free state i can put what eve length barrel i want on it!!! :>) so what is the so called perfect length barrel for the, 458Socome round? thanks Also looking into building a 50Beo gun as well? lol I already have the BCG and stripped upper for the 50Beo as well as the handgard.But need ot find ,out what the best length for the 50Beo to use? In Jerset the minimum legal length is 14.5" with aa muzzle device that, brings it to 16" overall length. The muzzle device, needs to be welded and pinned to the barrel. In VA .....dont matter! LOL
Straight walled cartridges easier for reload and brass last longer. So that leaves out the 458 for me
How many of each fit n standard 5.56 mag? And which is ar15 and ar10? I want which ever one I can build in the lightest form. Thank you
Bushmaster and Socom both hold 7 in an AR-15 20 round mag & 10 (Socom) or 11 (Bushmaster) in the 30 round mag. Not sure about the Beowulf. All are used in the AR-15 platform.
You can fit 10 rounds of .50 beowulf in a standard 30 rd 5.56 mag or buy the Promag rollermag 40 rd 5.56 and it will fit 14 rounds of Beowulf ( as seen in my profile pic ) I know everyone hates promag but I've had no issues with mine so far !
Steer clear of the Hornady line if you reload. They changed their bushmaster primers from Small rifle to Large Rifle without telling anyone. All that load development has to be redone and the brass is frequently short as well. Hornady ammo should be avoided.
THANK YOU, FOR THIS VIDEO! IMHO: I WISH SOMEONE WORLD START WORKING ON SOME 10mm BIG-BORE, "STRAIGHT-WALL" RIFLE CARTRIDGES, THAT WOULD BE BIGGER, BETTER THAN ".350 LEGEND", ".300 BLACKOUT", "8,6mm BLACKOUT",...".450 BUSHMASTER, ".458 SOCOM", OR ".45-70 GOV'T.".....
Their is a 400 legend round now which came out last year which is a 10mm straight wall. Their are a few bolt action Savage is one of them but have not seen in AR platform yet. Sounds like it would be a great round.
It would be cool if they can get 475 h&h into a AR platform
What does it take to get these cartridge's sammi certified and why hasn't it been done yet? I imagine its like paying to get something UL certified, it costs money and requires a backer.
Whether or not straight wall is required in Indiana depends on the land on which one is hunting. All the cartridges allowed on public lands are straight wall. Cartridges allowed on private land is a longer list that contains shouldered cases. Indiana DNR publishes definitive, separate lists of the specific cartridges (calibers) allowed for deer hunting on public and private lands every year. Why the difference baffles me, but there it is.
Thanks for the clarification!
It’s because Indianapolis thinks we’re going to shoot each other if we were allowed bottlenecked cartridges on public land.
Also INDNR lists 458 SOCOM as legal on public land.
Awesome video! Thank you for putting this together.
Glad you enjoyed it!
450 the best
Never had a problem out of my 450 mpr excellent
Them are some week 45-70 loads. I get 2500 fps with the 350 gr and 2100 fps with 405gr and 1825 with a 500 gr. But I hand load mine. I chose the 450 an 50B uppers are cheap.
2,500fps with a 350gr bullet? The hottest 45-70 load I can find in any of my reloading manuals (and it's specifically for a Ruger No 1) is a 2,200fps with a 350gr bullet. Heck, those manuals are listing 2,500fps with a 350gr bullet as a max load for the 458 Win Mag.
The energy is mute because they are all so close...which design is the most reliable in the AR platform? Which has the least MRBF (mean rounds between failures) per thousand rounds fired? THAT IS WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.
458S as the shoulder of the case sets the headspace and makes feeding from a semi-auto magazine more reliable than a straight walled case.
Dangerous game with the correct bullet @ 50yds 458S will put down anything on this planet.
Very informative thank you. You got a subscriber from me.
The pro with 458 socom that it uses a standard magazine
I wanted the Beowulf , after doing some checking I went with the 450 .
Best of luck to you!
What barrel length would be best for deer hunting with 450 bushmaster?
I think it was a ballistics by the inch stated the best barrel length was 19 inches ! 👍
I would suggest a new video, as you had no .350/.400 Legend, or Wilson Combat's .400 Ham'r 🤔
Will all three of them fit in a ar standard magazine?
Good question and is main reason I went with the Socom.
To my knowledge, the Socom uses standard AR15 mags even though I've seen Socom mags and mag followers for sale. I believe the others require their proprietary mags.
Using aics magazines, the 458 has issues. The 50 uses a 7.62x39 bolt. For a bolt gun, the 450 is the best choice.
Bear Creek now loads a 240 gr 450 BM with a MV of 2550 fps. (Bolt action only)
Again, the 450 is the best for bolt guns.
Shot my 3rd deer with 77 and 64 grain and seems to do everything my 257 and 243 does ...its devastating on soft tissue
What load did u use and barrel length?
30-06 is still the man
Does not the .45 ACP share the same bullet diameter as the .458 SOCOM? 🤔
The 458 SOCOM uses .458" bullets while the 45 ACP uses .451" bullets and 450 Bushmaster uses very similar .452" bullets. It's confusing, I know!
Anyone know if the .458 SOCOM cartridge can be fired in a rifle chambered for the .458 HAM'R? I do know that the .458 HAM'R can not be chambered in a .458 SOCOM because of its higher pressure.
.458 Ham’r actually has a longer shoulder than Socom so a .458 socom in a ham’r chambered gun is gonna have some excessive headspacing issues along with damaged brass if it is fired. It likely won’t fire due to light primer strikes since the cartridge has wiggle room but if it was my gun I wouldn’t want to test out that theory. Hope that helps
@@lanehale5669 good luck getting the extractor to snap over a rim before the case is buried in the chamber. It's not a Mauser, the shoulder has to hit a hard stop and the rim has to be under the extractor or the .030" of firing pin protrusion can't possibly hit the primer.
@@lanehale5669 I can contest for this. I had an improperly loaded 458 socom round which had a longer neck on it and failed to fire in my 458 socom. There wasn't even a sign of light primer strike. So, given the specs on the 458 ham'r that you just gave us, this makes perfect sense given the experience i had in mine 458. thanks for the input. I almost made the move to get the 458 hamr rifle over regular and less expensive 458 socom. thank you for tying this all together for me.
Like .300 blackout, .458 socom is 110% for reloaders