Big Bore AR-15s

[pmer]

I was pretty much set on 458 SOCOM then I ran across McGowen Precission Barrels. I see they have 450 Bushmaster chambered barrels with a faster twist.

http://mcgowenbarrel.com/

So I'm wondering if I'm wrong thinking the 450BM could use a faster twist? If I got a 450BM I'd want it to shoot 300 grain projectiles. Is the 450BM able to feed a .452 300 grain RF with a bigger meplat or 300 grain JHP?

[Smoke4320]

I have a 458 socom .. Absolutely love it 325 gr hps and lee 500 grn subs thru a Silencero Hybrid or a Costal 458 suppressor
deer or hogs have no chance

Attachment 213579
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[Whiterabbit]

458 socom with cast, any tips?

Or maybe better put, would I have any issue with hardball lead with gas check? How about no gas check? Tumble lube vs traditional lube? How much do I need to worry about nose profile? Any other considerations?

[Smoke4320]

How much do I need to worry about nose profile? if in AN AR15 probably not going to get a real wife flat nose to feed
I shoot a HP'ed NOE 460-350 with a fairly wide nose and once in a while will have a hang up .. with the pointed 500 grain Lee I have never had any feeding issues
have shot a good amount of RCBS 300 grain gas check mold without a gas check powdercoated at 1600 FPS no issues at all

[dkf]

Thanks everybody for the information. There are a lot of cartridge names that I haven't seen before, I could not find the Velociraptor I did find the 30 ARX. Has anyone ever tried to neck down the 458 or the 50 Cal to 44 cal? And are you guys having any trouble shooting cast or powder coated boolits with these?

Tromix has the original prints for the .44 Fury which is a .458socom necked down to take a .44 bullet. Myself and one or two others tried to get Tony at tromix to run some .44Fury barrels but I guess he doesn't think enough people will want them to justify a run.

I shoot a lot of cast in my .458socom, PCd and lubed lead. I always use a gas check. I'm using a Tromix barrel and bolt.

How much do I need to worry about nose profile? if in AN AR15 probably not going to get a real wife flat nose to feed
I shoot a HP'ed NOE 460-350 with a fairly wide nose and once in a while will have a hang up .. with the pointed 500 grain Lee I have never had any feeding issues
have shot a good amount of RCBS 300 grain gas check mold without a gas check powdercoated at 1600 FPS no issues at all

Largest metplat on a bullet I shoot in my .458socom is .380". The 46-350VG and 46-405VG from Accurate. I also have the 46-350 from NOE and shoot it as well. Runs 100%. I run primarily Lancer magazines and have blended the upper receiver into the ramp on my Tromix barrel for a smooth transition.

[Whiterabbit]

Great, Great, Great info.

Smoke, can you share your load data for 458 socom wiht the 500 grain LEE? and is the LEE the gas check round nose with small meplat, or is it the plain base BPCR profile bullet? I've cast, loaded, and shot both (in other cartridges)

[Earlwb]

I have a AR-15 in .450 Bushmaster caliber. I have used it for pig hunting and I have been quite pleased with the results too. The ammunition is becoming much more common to find too. Cabelas sells the ammo, and it is appearing in other chain stores now too. Of course online it is easy to find as well. Reloading is not a problem either.

[rockrat]

I have shot the Lee boolit thru my 450 b without any problems. It sure puts a "thump" on our gongs

[Smoke4320]

Great, Great, Great info.

Smoke, can you share your load data for 458 socom wiht the 500 grain LEE? and is the LEE the gas check round nose with small meplat, or is it the plain base BPCR profile bullet? I've cast, loaded, and shot both (in other cartridges)

Whiterabbit the load is right on the pic above .. Now several have cautioned me about using Federal Large Pistol mag primers in the Socom .. They say its prone to slam fire
459-500-3R round nose plain base

[Smoke4320]

Ok whiterabbit here is the load
NOE 460-350 HP
50/50/1 COWW/PB/HSB
With this alloy and the deep HP pins I end up with a 325-327 grn HP bullet
powdercoated and sized .4595
Seated 1.975
Fed 155 LPM primer
200 Powder 25.2 grns
MUST CRIMP to get good burn
avg velocity 1592 FPS

out of a 16" AR15
Absolute murder on deer/hogs

[Smoke4320]

Whiterabbit .. remember You probably want a different LPM primer brand .. best to eliminate the slamfire option

[dkf]

All I use are CCI350 primers and I recommend them for th e.458socom. They take more to "pop" than some other primers but are not so tough as to not work reliably. My .458socom AR has a trigger group with a reduced power hammer spring and I have never had one not go bang when the hammer dropped. I have never had one go off from dropping the bolt with a round in the chamber with no mag in the gun either, though do so is not really recommended.

[Whiterabbit]

Awesome, thank you. A friend just bought the socom, its for him.

[Intel6]

Another .458 SOCOM fan here. I have lots of fun with mine, uses regular magazines and an easy to find diameter bullet. I recently tried two new moulds for mine. A 360 Gr. bullet that is becoming my all around shooter/plinker bullet and a 500 gr. spire point for subsonic use. See the pic below for the bullets and them loaded in cases. The 360 gr. has a crimp groove in it for use in the 45-70 which it shoots great in also.

[pmer]

Those look pretty nice Intel6, thanks for input. Where did you get the molds for the smooth sided boolits from?

[corbinace]

It looks just like the one that I have from NOE.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product...la4d93tiav2ub3

[dkf]

Those look pretty nice Intel6, thanks for input. Where did you get the molds for the smooth sided boolits from?

Both are from NOE. I have the mold on the left (459-354-FN) for my .458socom. We designed it primarily for the .458socom but it also works well in the .45-70 as well as some others. The crimp groove was put on for the 45-70 shooters but it helps get a longer COAL in the .458socom. Kinda a win win on that one.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.p...la4d93tiav2ub3

[Meatpuppet]

If you are just getting into large bore ARs, I would recommend simply buying a Tromix .458 SOCOM complete upper. You get a quality build that will work right out of the box using the standard buffer and AR mags (Lancer mags for best performance). It is probably your cheapest entry into the Large Bore AR game.

You can purchase .458 ammo from several sources and then decide if you want to make your own (which I guarantee you will once you shoot it).

Tromix also makes a .358 SOCOM, which is a .458 SOCOM necked down to .358. I have just started working up loads for this round and it is a screamer! Basically it is my 357 Maximum on steroids shooting through an AR.

Using swaged projectiles from BT Snipers dies or cast from MP's 462 Hammer mold, they run great. Way cool!

[pmer]

https://sotaarms.com/component/jshop...2/460?Itemid=0

Check out the price on this upper. $480.00 hopefully in a week or two I can put in an order for something like this.

[DCM]

Nice price.