.458 SOCOM
 

I have been toying around with the idea of picking up a RRA .458 SOCOM Upper. Does anyone have any experience with this round? I am thinking for stopping power it would be a nice addition to my "collection". Also it looks like Corbon makes some very nice 300GR JHP and 405GR JSP Defensive rounds.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e/458SOCOM.jpg

http://www.rockriverarms.com/images/...s/u458a407.gif

I figure for around $700 it's not a bad deal as it uses the same lower and mags as the 5.56

Tell me your experiences or what you think about them.

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

Maybe it's just me, but I'm very leery of spending $$$ on a "new, improved, TACTICAL" device that requires custom ammo. While the upper is $700, ammo prices alone would probably eat you alive.

A quick check shows that Midway has the 300 grain Corbon jacketed hollow point ammo for a mere $2.75 PER ROUND:no_ma:.

Remember the .41AE & .50AE calibers? Marketed by IMI years ago as the best thing since sliced bread. Good luck even finding any brass for them nowadays.

Also..."stopping power" is a myth.

That upper might be pretty decent with subsonic loads & a suppressor. Even at that, though, I'm not sure it would be a whole lot better than a suppressed .45ACP (with subsonic loads).

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

I had an opportunity to fire an AR with a .50 Beowulf upper. Very nice!

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

I found Ammo here for only $2.35 each........it looks like a poor-man's 50-cal and if it's your 2nd Rifle then Go FOR IT :ok:

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalo...ammo-458-socom

I'd like to see some ballistic comparisons to the 50-cal & .308 to see if it's a nice mid-range power hitter. $700 seems like a good price and heck, I might go for one with that kind of POWER !!! :bear_w00t:

Thanks 4 posting :coolbeer:

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

LOL! From what Ive been told the .458 SOCOM is a beast!

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

.458 SOCOM
The .458 SOCOM cartridge was developed in order to provide superior stopping power for AR-15 based weapon systems, in view of the questionable effectiveness of the 5.56 mm round in recent conflicts. A new cartridge in .458 calibre was selected as this not only offers considerable stopping power but also offers the user a vast choice of commercially available bullets, ranging from 300 gr. (19.4g) HP and Spitzers, 405 gr. (26.2g) FN, up to 500 gr. (32.4g) Solids and Tungsten Core RN. A case of the same diameter as the .50AE that would completely fill the AR-15 magazine seemed the right choice, but the rim needed further reducing to avoid much work to the bolt lugs. The use of an even more drastically rebated rim seemed the solution, and the 0.473� (12.0 mm) diameter rim employed by the .308 and .30-06 based cartridges was chosen, as this would allow easy retrofit of bolt action rifles in this calibre.
The .425 Westley Richards cartridge was identified as the ideal basis as it had all the proper measurements, but it was too costly. So Starline Brass agreed to a pre-production run of .50AE brass, but unformed, untrimmed and with the rim rebated to 0.473�. It is headstamped: * 458 * SOCOM. Case length is 39.9 mm, rim diameter 11.9 mm, body diameter 13.6 mm, neck diameter 12.3 mm.
Initial loads, and the overall case, were designed around the Barnes 300 gr. X Spitzer, as this appeared to be the lightest spitzer bullet available. This determined the case length of 40 mm to ensure that the cartridge was short enough to still function through the AR magazine. The .458 SOCOM uses standard AR-15 magazines with no modification. The 20-rd magazines will hold 7 rounds, the 30�s will hold 10 rounds, and the 40-rd .223 magazines will hold 15 rounds of .458 SOCOM ammunition. The AK-47 can also be chambered in this calibre.
The case is a pistol case so operates at relatively low pressure, and thus imparts less stress on parts of the rifle. The following results are obtained from a 16� (406 mm) barrel:
300 gr (19.4g) JHP at 2,000 fps (610 m/s): (CorBon factory load equivalent)
400 gr (25.9g) Barnes RN Solid at 1,700 fps (518 m/s): (CorBon factory load equivalent)
500 gr (32.4g) Hornady RN at 980 fps (300 m/s)
500 gr (32.4g) Speer AGS-T at 1,300 fps (396 m/s) 600 gr (38.9g) Barnes Original at 900 ft/sec (274 m/s): (CorBon factory load equivalent. Subsonic; complete combustion in 10.5 inch barrel).

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/TeppoJutsu.htm

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

If you want more power than a .223, a .308 is a devastating round and readily available.
If its just for fun go for it. I have a 50BMG for fun. I shoot rocks and cast iron with it. If 20 bad guys ever run at me in a straight line and will wait for me to get the thing I'll shoot them. If there are only 5 bad guys in a row I would use the .308.
I think the 50 beowulf is an interesting weapon, don't have one though.

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

Well, it looks like the .458 SOCOM falls short in ballistics when compared to the .308 / 7.51 NATO :





I guess, I'll just stick with my FAL rifles. :wink:

http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/corbon/convjhp.htm

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

There is a 19 round clip for the DPMS .308.

There are 20 and 30 round clips for the HK91 (.308).

More rounds and energy and better long range performance.

Don't have any FALs so don't know their standard size clips.

There are even 100 round beta magazines for the M1a, though that would be really heavy.

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

Standard size FAL magazine is 20 rounds.

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

By the time you drop the money on the upper and enough mags/ammo to make it worth while, you could have bought a decent Gen II NVG. Can you see and shoot 24/7 already or only about 12/7 like 99% of gun owners? Priorities folks! Bx3

Re: .458 SOCOM
 

Thank you for the correction.
http://www.angelfire.com/art/enchanter/clip.html