Molds for 458 SOCOM Boolits?

[American]

Just got my .458 SOCOM up and running and am interested in casting some boolits of about 300 to 325 grains for it, and maybe up to about 415 grains later.

One of the reasons I choose the .458 S over, say, the .50 Beowolf is the wide variety of 45/70 bullets readily available - I hope the same can be said for boolit molds in that diameter now that I have started casting my own.

Any recommendations or discussion of molds (or loads) for this would be much appreciated.

[Scrounger]

No experience in that caliber but two bullets I'd consider are the RCBS-300-FN and the SAECO 350grain. (017 I think) Both are gas check bullets which you probably want.

[rockrat]

I plan on trying the RCBS boolit in mine, but will probably try the ranch dog mold first.

[only1asterisk]

There are lots of cast bullet possibilities. I think the LEE 450 would be a good basis for a SOCOM specific design.

This is my take on a 400 grain gas checked version:
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6091&stc=1&d=1201203589

[American]

I plan on trying the RCBS boolit in mine, but will probably try the ranch dog mold first.

OK, good point! I'm pretty new to this and hadn't noticed the entire menu of Ranch Dog's offerings. How about that TLC460-350-RF? Nice sensible name says it all, mostly it seems.

I haven't slugged my 458 S yet but it sounds like it'll work? .460 sizing die? Just right for .458 in the groove?

[rufracer]

What twist is it?

[American]

16" barrel; 1 in 14 twist:

http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=SOC0370X&storeid=1&image=u458a407.gif&CFID=41580255&CFTOKEN=62462434

[only1asterisk]

Barrels for the .458 SOCOM (up to the fairly recent shipping of the RRA's) have been custom jobs with customers ordering whatever twist suited their particular wants or needs. Check out 458socomfurums.com for details.

David

[mtnman31]

I have one as well and have reloaded for it with jacketed but would like to shoot cast out of it some time in the near future. Other projects have pushed the cast reloads for the SOCOM farther down the cue of open projects. Hopefully, I'll get to it sometime in the next millenia. I do have a few 45 rifle molds I intend on experimenting with.

The SOCOM forums site has a sticky thread under the reloading forum on this very subject.

http://458socomforums.com/phpBB2/

Good luck and I'd be interested to see how things work out.

Did you build a rifle or buy a complete rifle ?
I have a 16" Tromix upper that I purchased about 5-6 years ago. I got a good deal on it and it came wtih CH4D dies and 100 brass cases to load up. The cases were the older production run that was stamped "50AE". The thing is a riot to shoot. I've only used it for blasting junk on the range, no hunting yet.

[mastercast.com]

I have a mold here(LBT design) that throws a 350 grain TCFP gas checked bullet that I size to .459....might be able to size it to .460

I am curious to know if it will work well in the .458 SOCOM. I will send some free sample bullets to a couple of you guys if you will just let me know how they work in those rifles.

If anyone is interested in some of those bullets, please contact me at mike@mastercastbullets.com and I can send you some photos of the bullets to look at prior to sending the free bullets. I do not know how to attach photos here and really do not have the time to learn.

Thanks,

Mike

[mastercast.com]

only1asterisk:

I attempted to reply to your private message and it seems your in-box is full.

Please let me know when you make some room in that in-box, and I will try it again.

Thanks very much,


Mike

[only1asterisk]

Cleaned out my inbox. Whenever you are ready.

David

[American]

The SOCOM forums site has a sticky thread under the reloading forum on this very subject.

http://458socomforums.com/phpBB2/

Good luck and I'd be interested to see how things work out.

Did you build a rifle or buy a complete rifle ?


Yeah, they are a hoot to shoot.

I bought a RRA upper and put it on a Bushmaster lower from my regular AR.

Just tried it out at 25 yards to zero the scope. First shot was 1/2" from the orange dot I was shooting at, so no need to zero for how I shoot. The next couple must have been way off because I couldn't see where they were hitting. Then I realized all went into the same hole... Never did that before - even at 25 yards - I'm just not that great a shot.

Anyway, I'm contented with it so far. Guess I'll spring for the 350 gr Ranch Dog mold and sizer setup. 350 gr is supposed to be pretty ideal for the 458 S according to an article I have that seems to make sense.

[Navy80to04]

Would PC the boolits get rid of the gas check on them? OR PC over the gas check?