The question arose because those present had experience at shooting people and werent entirely happy with the results they were getting from the M855. The .308 Winchester, while carrying a smaller, narrower bullet, has a longer profile. Save my name and email to use for future comments. It can shoot bullets weighing anywhere from 90 to 220 grains. A total of five rounds competed for a coveted spot among Spec Ops 7.62x39mm, 9x39mm Grom, .45 Professional, .50 Action Express, and, of course, .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. Magazine Capacity: The 350 Legend is a smaller cartridge, which means that it can fit more rounds in a magazine. So the .458 SOCOM will concede the velocity comparison to the faster .308 Winchester. For most AR owners, you dont have to purchase a whole new weapon to adopt the .458 SOCOM. The .308 Winchester is a very powerful round that is great for hunting large game. No 5.56 NATO or 6.5 Grendel for youWho needs all these namby-pamby intermediate cartridges anyway? So why choose the 458 SOCOM at all? There are custom-made options that can be ordered through special rifle companies, but youll have a hard time finding department stores or outdoor shops that can provide anything but AR-style rifles for the .458 SOCOM. Some say that the .308 Winchester is the best all-around caliber for deer, elk, and other big game animals. The 450 Bushmaster is an excellent deer hunting options in states that require the use of straight-walled cartridges. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. Its effective for hunting, home defense, and even long-range shooting. Check out our Best Large-Bore Hunting Rifles. Steel less than perfectly smooth may bounce back fragmentswhich is why you want to be 100 yards away. A .458 SOCOM cartridge with a heavier bullet (up to 600 grains) would also make a solid guide gun or bear protection rifle. towards your level. Developed in 2000, the 458 SOCOM was an upgrade for the standard M4/M16/AR-15 family of rifles. And This Out Of An AR-15 Whichever one you choose, make sure that you do your research and pick the right bullet weight and type for your needs. Sitting at the top tier, the Resolute 300 boasts a CMMG Ambi safety selector, oversized ambi charging handle, Giessele SSA trigger, CMMG Ripstock, and Magpul MOE grip. Not unsurprisingly, the heaviest bullet, the 450 gr FMJ 458 SOCOM load, had the slowest muzzle velocity at 1,450 fps. The larger bullet creates more tissue damage, which means that the 458 Socom will likely have more stopping power than the 300 Blackout. Using the .50 AE casing for the parent design allowed it to use standard M4 magazines without modification. When it comes to hunting, many people debate what the best caliber is. As long as the bullet reaches its desired destination, it has basically done its job. There is no overlap is speeds; in fact there is a gap. With heavier bullet weights, the 458 can put more energy into any target at subsonic speeds compared to the 308 Winchester. Faxon 16" Gunner Big Bore AR-15 Barrel, .458 SOCOM. 450 bushmaster cant do that as well as 458 socom. Part of this decision came down to cost, as the .458 round required changing only two parts. . For the 458 SOCOM, the Barnes 300-grain TTSX loaded by Buffalo Bore and the SBR Precision Ammunition 450 gr FMJ factory loads were selected. If you prefer variety in your firearms, but prefer using the same cartridge across multiple firearms, you may decide that the .308 Winchester is best. Get Our Top Shooting Drills and Zeroing Targets ($47 value - but FREE for a limited time). The main disadvantage of the 458 SOCOM is its lower velocity, which results in less accuracy. our in-stock .308 ammo for sale by clicking here, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. :). Great round! So, theres plenty of options to be had. . :). So, if you are looking for a caliber that can reach targets at long range, then the 300 blackout is the better option. The Recon Tactical from Wilson Combat is a sleek-looking rifle. Article has been updated. However, the 458 SOCOM is actually a very different 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. Patrick Sweeney is the author of many of Gun Digest books' best-selling titles, including Gun Digest Book of the 1911, Vols. Smaller game will be obliterated the .458 SOCOM round, though. The 450 Bushmaster or 458 SOCOM? Thats two decades of expertly upholding the Texan gun culture. The 308 is a classic caliber that has been around for many years. Are you interested in self-defense handguns? Grab a scope out of the scope drawer, in its mount, and put on top. Yes but keep in mind that 458 socom offers rounds that are up to 600 grains. Inspired by the lack of power offered by the 5.56 NATO cartridge used in the M4 carbine and the M16 rifle, the .458 SOCOM came about from informal . (Firearms enthusiasts might call this good grouping!) Whether youre looking to take down big game or compete with the best of the best, the 458 SOCOM is a great choice. .22 LR shooters have the wisest variety of subsonic options, with loads from just about every manufacturer. Well, affordability wise, the 308 brass is cheaper than 458 factory load ammo. For the speedy loads and the heavyweights going through your suppressor, youll want to use jacketed bullets. Known as the .458 x 1.5-inch Barnes, it was the predecessor to the .458 SOCOM. Feel free to reach out to us or read our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy. So, they chose the .458-inch bullet diameter. Generally, the 458 SOCOM will have a higher BC than the 450 Bushmaster since the 458 can fire heavier bullets. It also provided the largest casing that would feed properly with the barrels they had in mind. Whichever caliber you choose, make sure you do your research and pick the one that is best for your needs! This may not be completely accurate in terms of real-world experience, as AR-15 rifle barrel weights can vary depending on the contour and manufacturer. This is a widely-used, widely-trusted cartridge that can be chambered in both semiautomatic and bolt-action rifles. This particular variant brings a 16-inch barrel with a 1:14 twist. 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM Similarities Pick the handguard back off the bench, install, align, tighten. 300 blackout, on the other hand, has an effective range of about 300 yards. This seems like a massive round for a roughly 6# AR. The 458 SOCOM is a great all-around caliber. All three come with 10-round CMMG Modified Lancer Mags and the option to Cerakote. It is also a good choice for long range shooting because of its accuracy. As mentioned, the story starts in 2000 with Special Operations looking for a new round. It also gives you the chance to simply swap out an upper receiver on your AR-style weapon and use the cartridge. This makes the 458 the far better choice if you want to go hunting with an AR-15 style rifle. No problem, their 458 socom AK kits and parts are pretty sweet too! It is also effective against unarmored targets, delivering a large and devastating wound channel. .50 Action Express showed promise but fell short for this application. Jacketed 45 ACP bullets measure 0.451 in diameter while the 450 Bushmaster requires the slightly wider 0.452 diameter bullets. 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. This design does limit snagging, though. I have to point out that, unless youre shooting at steel plates that are both rifle-rated and placed 100 yards away, you shouldnt be shooting steel with any .458 SOCOM load. The 50 BMG is a rifle-caliber round designed for long range shooting and penetration, while the 458 SOCOM is designed for close quarters combat and maximum stopping power. Its accuracy and power make it a great option for both long-range and close-quarters shooting. Typically, longer and heavier bullets will have a higher BC as they can resist wind drift more efficiently. Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. 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. If that latter number looks familiar, it is. The American-made Brownells SOCOM barrel ships with a bolt and removable 3-post muzzle brake. It is a rimless, bottlenecked cartridge that is based on the .50 Action Express case. It fired suppressed out of bolt-action rifles and, with a 500-grain bullet, was subsonic. If you are looking for a powerful round that can take down large game animals, then the 458 SOCOM is a great choice. And although the 308 could stomp over the 458 SOCOM in the distance, the 458 would stomp on the 308 for bullet weight and will take down just about any target you wish to hunt. The .458 SOCOM has subsonic cartridges that pack bullets as heavy as 500 grains, which makes them ideal for suppression firing. In contrast, the 450 Bushmaster was developed using the 284 Winchester as a parent case and has a longer case length measuring 1.70. For the 458, the most common options available are AR-15 rifles from manufacturers like Tromix, Wilson Combat, and Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA). The 350 Legend is designed for lower recoil, making it an excellent choice for shooters who may be sensitive to recoil or who are looking for a more comfortable shooting experience. It is also a bottle-necked cartridge that is based on the .223 Remington case. Another major difference between both cartridges is the type of bullet they fire. Your email address will not be published. Sometimes things slip our minds. However, free recoil can be used to give a general idea of how hard a round kicks. Ready for more big bore? Wish I could remove the goofy gifs that PewPew inserts in their otherwise informative articles. A lengthened 50 Action Express, or 50 AE, was utilized for the 458 SOCOM with a case length of 1.575. It can shoot bullets weighing anywhere from 200 to 600 grains. You know, the lads who now sport beards, go to dusty places and bring surprises to the miscreants they meet. Just sayn! This is for informational purposes only. The 450 Bushmaster is also unique in the fact that there are single shot and bolt-action rifles available for hunters that are required to use these firearms whereas the 458 is currently relegated to the AR-15 platform only. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. It had to use standard AR-15 magazines. Personalize your experience. We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared The noise, not so much. This is where calibers like the 458 Socom and 300 Blackout come into play. It has slower speeds, less energy, and a shorter effective range than the .308 Winchester. 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. Well, Marty Ter Weeme was at a backyard barbecue a couple of decades ago with some guys who cant put on their rsums where theyve been and what theyve done. The 458 SOCOM was designed for a very specific purpose. It has a high velocity and is extremely accurate, making it a great choice for long-range shooting. Only two different bullets were offered in .501 diameter. The BCG and bolt for the M16 just don't have the meat for higher pressure loads. Last I looked, factory ammo is running $50+ for 20 rounds. To help you find which ammo better suits your rifle and hunting needs, we have prepared this in-depth comparison between the two. These rounds were designed for pistol use and didnt perform as well at subsonic velocity while suppressed. Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. In general, the 450 Bushmaster will have slightly less recoil than the 458 SOCOM. FREE SHIPPING Weekend - Help off-set income Tax Day. gear. A .308 Winchester is a great choice for hunting game that is medium to large in size. Since the 308 Winchester offers military surplus ammo or brass, it is relatively cheaper than 458 SOCOM. If you are using a heavier bullet, the range will be shorter. bullets. Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how the two cartridges compare in-depth. Head to this .308 Ballistics post for more details about specific 308 load ballistics. However, that case was too short, and the rim too big. Straight-walled cartridges are necessary for deer hunting in Midwest states like Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan while the bottlenecked design aids in reliable feeding. In this case, the 308 Winchester got another win. One shot does it all! The .458 SOCOM simply can't keep up. 30.2: 1199: 575: 400-79.9: 40.4: 1123: 504: 450-112.7: 52: 1062: 451: 500-153.2: 64.9: 1013 . In terms of effective range, hunters generally consider 1,000 foot-pounds of kinetic energy the minimum amount required for harvesting a whitetail and 1,500 foot-pounds for elk or other larger game. The 458 SOCOM has a much larger bullet than the 223 Remington and the 308 Winchester. Scopes, guns, boots and other tactical stuff in-between. The 350 Legend has a relatively flat trajectory and low recoil, making it ideal for hunting medium-sized game at short to medium distances. Its priced right and ready to ship! Part of the issue was market availability at the time of testing. Acme bullets makes a .458 SOCOM-specific bullet thats 576 grains in weight and given a bright red Hi-Tek coating. This is where calibers like the 458 Socom and 300 Blackout come into play. Since the users wanted bullet choices that left out the usual suspects back in the pre-9/11 days, those rejected being potential cartridges that used pistol bullets. Nifty Outdoorsman is not liable for any actions you take after learning from our website. What really decided the case neck dimension were the heaviest bulletsat 500 or 600 grains, you need a lot of neck tension to keep a bullet in place in the case, even if youre hurling it at less than elephant-whacking velocities. Your email address will not be published. Automatically Applied - Minimum ORDER $100.00. Thats not to say that you CANT use them for this purpose, just most hunters prefer something with lower recoil for these pesky critters. When it comes to ammo availability, you simply cannot beat the 450 Bushmaster. However, this depends on the type of ammunition you are using. Have a .458 SOCOM rifle? Though the 1.5-inch Barnes was the wrong size and weight for the M4 platform, it inspired Tony Rumore and Mary ter Weeme to develop the SOCOM round. The kinetic energy achieved by the .458 SOCOM round makes it enough to ethically hunt any game animal in North America. Selecting the right thumper round for your needs primarily revolves around your local hunting regulations, the type of game you want to hunt, and the ranges you expect to shoot at. The cartridge delivers tremendous stopping power and can take down medium to large animals with ease. If youre looking to build your own .458 SOCOM rifle, Wilson Combat has a solution. The only manual I'm aware of with SOCOM information is the Lyman 50th Edition. Mossberg 500 vs 590: Which Shotgun Is Right for You? That much kinetic energy traveling at subsonic speeds will do wondrous things to a threat at close range. (, We noticed that you have previously logged in with your, Check what do you get by creating an account, Bookmark and compare your favorite firearms, A Guide to .458 SOCOM: History, Rifles, & Parts. It can shoot bullets weighing anywhere from 200 to 600 grains. 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. The 450 Bushmaster is a straight-walled cartridge while the 458 SOCOM has a slight shoulder. It is easy to fire multiple shot strings at steel without losing control. In this blog post, we will compare these two calibers and see which one is the better choice for your next hunting trip! Sectional density (SD) is a way to evaluate the penetration ability of a bullet based on its external dimensions, design, and weight. (It still matters for target shooting, just not as much.). With this in mind, the 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM have an identical effective range of 250 yards for deer and 150 yards for elk when considering non-FMJ bullets. 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. Since the middle of the 20th century, this round has brought speed, energy, and accuracy to the range and the field. 939 Grom faced its own set of challenges, as it never really gained traction outside of Russia. Others might argue that something like a .270 Winchester or 7mm Remington Magnum would be better. It is more evident that the 308 Win works better for a longer range than the 458 SOCOM. Beyond military applications, the .458 SOCOM round has gained popularity with big game hunters. Although there are minor differences between these four rounds, all of them have similar performance out to 150 yards in terms of trajectory. Meanwhile, the .458 SOCOM packs a staggering 3,261 joules, or 2,405-foot-pound. Buy what you want all in one place, cant beat that! This project had a few factors that would need to be met to gain Spec Ops approval. .458 SOCOM with a 350gr FMJ round will have 2,116 ft.lbf of energy. Tromix uses the correct Pacific Gauge reamer, other barrels are using something considered "close enuff" which have feeding problems. The 458 SOCOM is just getting started with 300-gr. It has different uses and different goals, and understanding how it compares to the popular .308 Winchester can help you make the right choice for adopting this cartridge. Felt recoil will differ from shooter to shooter and is dependent on shooting position, stance, and the firearm being used. 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 goal for the .458 SOCOM was never speed. But magazines can vary. You do not pay Perhaps the biggest difference between these two cartridges is their case design itself. How 458 SOCOM ballistics compare to 450 Bushmaster ballistics and produce deer hunting results. The .458 SOCOM simply cant keep up. Tony is the man for 458 SOCOM. You'll now receive newsletters of our best articles on techniques, Both rounds utilize a rebated rim design, meaning their rim is narrower than their cartridge base. If I don't fire that round to eject it it almost takes an act of god to extract that round just using the charging handle, it feels like the round is stuck in the chamber or like it's to small, firing that round it rejects fine and chambers another round fine. The 308 Winchester offers ammo ranging from 125 gr to 175 gr while the 458 SOCOM offers 250 gr to 600 gr, which are heavier. Who's barrel and bolt? Rate it below! Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. In terms of factory rifle availability, there are considerably more options for the 450 Bushmaster compared to the 458 SOCOM. Follow the suggested powder drops and don't push it. 30-06 Springfield, and 270 Win. Neither the 450 Bushmaster nor 458 SOCOM is particularly useful for varmint hunting due to their heavy recoil. A side by side comparison of 458 SOCOM vs 308. Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. 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. Each of these rounds are limited in their design capabilities due to the restrictions of the AR-15 platform. The .458 SOCOM eliminated the need for multiple shots to stop a threat in combat. 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. However, it can be reasonably assumed that the .308 Winchester will have greater long-distance potential than the .458 SOCOM. The casing was then sized to fit a Barnes 300-grain X Spitzer bullet. The 300 Blackout has a maximum case length of 0.750 inches and a diameter of 0.308 inches. The Resolute series, again, offers a few options for those that want to tailor features and price points. Its also as big as you can make the AR-15 bolt face and still have enough locking lug metal left to be safe to shoot your rifle. 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. 5. 450 Bushmaster vs 458 SOCOM caliber comparison by Ammo.com. But for hunting purposes, the energy of a rifle cartridge is an important concern. The 458 SOCOM is a very powerful round. The Gunner Big Bore .458 SOCOM barrel from Faxon Firearms features a 16-inch length and Nitride finish. Great Subsonic Cartridges. It is designed to be used in a AR-15 platform rifle and is capable of taking down large game animals. The gel shot used a ballistic-tip hollow point. Its also a popular caliber for those who like to reload their own ammunition. 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. What is recoil like? It should be noted that neither of these rounds are incredibly flat shooting. For years, the .308 Winchester has been one of the most trusted cartridges available to gun owners. Theres a reason why this class of rifle cartridges are known as thumper rounds. The final difference between the 45 70 and 458 is their maximum chamber pressure as established by SAAMI. .308 vs .338. The .458 SOCOM ( 11.6340mm) is a moderately large round designed to work in an AR-15 platform. Heavy bullets with strong energy from a compact semiautomatic weapon was the goal, not blazing speed or long-range accuracy. Although developed to achieve similar ballistic results, the 458 SOCOM and 450 Bushmaster utilize very different parent cases. Location. Restricting the maximum overall length of a cartridge to 2.26 and demanding kinetic energy values over 2,000 ft-lbs means that bullet design must take a back seat to external ballistics. Although factory loads can be a little pricey for these big bore AR rounds, handloading is one method shooters utilize to reduce their overall cost per round. It is also more effective than the 50 BMG at close range. You left out the #1 in 458 socom and that is Tromix, I built 2 one in 16 in and one in 10.5 and let me tell you what, I can take down anything I point them at. At the muzzle, a 350gr XTP .50 Beowulf will have about 2,440 ft.lbf of energy. The likely candidate that was up in the rotation was a Hi-Lux 1-4 in a LaRue QD mount. However, this does pose an immediate question as to which 45-cal you want to pick up? Hence, it will spend less time in the barrel, causing it to have less recoil. Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. So, which one is the better caliber? At 300 yards, the 250 gr FTX and 300 gr TTSX loads are still supersonic (barely), while the 300 gr Power-Shok and 450 gr FMJ loads have dipped below the speed of sound. DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR A CWP IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 223 EFFECTIVE RANGE: HOW TO HIT YOUR TARGET EVERY TIME, 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. In this case, it appears the velocity of the .308 Winchester allows the lighter bullets to strike with enhanced energy. The 450 BM and 458 SOCOM have the same rim diameter of 0.473, which is the same as the 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, and 270 Win. 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. 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. It is suitable for hunting medium-sized game such as deer and hogs at short to medium distances. Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. It should be noted that it is not advised to use 45 ACP handgun bullets for reloading the 450 Bushmaster. If youre using a carbine with a 16-inch barrel, you might fall a few fps short of that. The 458 SOCOM, on the other hand, takes up more space in a magazine, which reduces the number of rounds that can be held. Our bad. Glancing only at those numbers, it doesnt seem like much of an advantage. 458 Socom vs 300 Blackout. But with the emergence of modern sporting rifles, the .458 SOCOM has steadily gained in popularity. We already have an account registered for email address A SOCOM 458 usually drops at past 300 yards while the Winchester 308 could go beyond 1000 yards before hitting the zero drop. When comparing these two cartridges, you cant help but notice the size differences between the two. The 458 SOCOM is a large-bore cartridge that delivers devastating stopping power at short distances. CMMG comes in on our list again, but this time offering a complete upper. The 458 SOCOM is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a powerful round for self-defense or hunting. Great round. But each of these had its own set of issues. And it had to hit like a sledgehammer. Next up, the case. Both rounds are generally loaded to similar pressures, but only the 450 Bushmaster is SAAMI certified with a listed maximum pressure of 38,500 psi. Thats like taking some .45 ACP rounds and keeping the kinetic energy consistent out to 500-yards. Type your email address and well send This means that the 300 Blackout will likely penetrate deeper into an assailant, making it more effective at stopping them.