To help you find which ammo better suits your rifle and hunting needs, we have prepared this in-depth comparison between the two. Last I looked, factory ammo is running $50+ for 20 rounds. The 458 SOCOM has more stopping power than the 223 Remington and the 308 Winchester rounds. The main disadvantage of the 300 BLK is its lack of stopping power compared to the 458 SOCOM. 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. The SOCOM round can fire bullets within a 200-600 grain range, though 250gr, 300gr, and 350gr factory loads are the most common. This design does limit snagging, though. And whatever youre shooting at gets thumpedhard. Glancing only at those numbers, it doesnt seem like much of an advantage. It offers superior accuracy and terminal performance over traditional cartridges such as the .223 Remington and the 30-06 Springfield. The 350 Legend was introduced in 2019 by Winchester. The result was a thicker, heavier round that performed well at distance and was devastating at shorter range. I like that! Well start with some complete SOCOM rifles, then head into uppers and barrels. 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. Patrick Sweeney is the author of many of Gun Digest books' best-selling titles, including Gun Digest Book of the 1911, Vols. Select what level shooter you are! The 458 SOCOM cartridge fires a 0.458 bullet diameter which is more common than you might think as it is used by rounds such as the .45-70 Government, 458 Winchester Magnum, 450 Marlin, 460 Weatherby, and 458 Lott. At the lowest tier, the Resolute 100 basically keeps its standard trading in the Ripstock for an M4 stock and A2 pistol grip. Although there are minor differences between these four rounds, all of them have similar performance out to 150 yards in terms of trajectory. Hence, it will spend less time in the barrel, causing it to have less recoil. The 458 SOCOM is typically favored for feral hogs thanks to its bottle-neck cartridge design and the devastating 300 gr Barnes TTSX bullet that was specifically designed for this purpose. With this, the 308 wind over the 450 SOCOM. Aug 11, 2014. Oh, and the magazines? The .308 Winchester also has a longer profile from the base to the tip of the bullet. (Dont know where to buy an NFA toy check out our list of the Best Places to Buy a Suppressor.). Great round! And they usually do. In this case, it appears the velocity of the .308 Winchester allows the lighter bullets to strike with enhanced energy. 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. 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. Economically speaking, handloading and reloading of ammunition is a great way to cut your hunting and shooting expenses. For the speedy loads and the heavyweights going through your suppressor, youll want to use jacketed bullets. The .458 SOCOM treads hard on its heels, but with a flatter (albeit still arcing) trajectory. The lightest-weight ammunition (if we can consider something that tips scales at 140 grains as light) leaves your immediate vicinity at more 2,400 fps, depending on barrel length. The 458 SOCOM is more powerful, and it can take down larger game and penetrate armor. guns & For buyers considering these two cartridges, the type of rifle that can fire these rounds is an important consideration. Which Is the Better Hunting Cartridge? Ill walk you through its origin, talk about the pros/cons, and how this round is applied today. Wish I could remove the goofy gifs that PewPew inserts in their otherwise informative articles. Neither the 450 Bushmaster nor 458 SOCOM is particularly useful for varmint hunting due to their heavy recoil. The cartridge delivers tremendous stopping power and can take down medium to large animals with ease. Barrels were enlarged, running a 1:14 twist or 1:18 twist. The CAR A4 LAR-15M exists alongside two other LAR series SOCOM rifles from Rock River Arms. It is also effective for self-defense and can be used in both rifles and pistols. Its accuracy and power make it a great option for both long-range and close-quarters shooting. A 300-grain bullet definitely has stopping power. Would recommend to anyone looking to build a wildly powerful AR15 platform. The downside to the 458 SOCOM is that it can be difficult to find ammunition for it, and it can be expensive. A SOCOM 458 usually drops at past 300 yards while the Winchester 308 could go beyond 1000 yards before hitting the zero drop. If you need a caliber that can penetrate through barriers, the 300 Blackout is the better choice. The .308 Winchester has also been used in many popular civilian rifles such as the Remington 700, Winchester Model 70, and Ruger Scout Rifle. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He has a degree in gunsmithing from Sonoran Desert Institute and has been working with firearms since he was a kid. The .458 SOCOM has subsonic cartridges that pack bullets as heavy as 500 grains, which makes them ideal for suppression firing. Shooters who are sensitive to recoil or who prefer a more comfortable shooting experience may prefer the 350 Legend. More on that in a bit. All .458 SOCOM Resolute uppers work with standard AR-15 style magazines. However, when it comes to larger game animals such as bears or hogs, some hunters believe that you need a bigger bullet. We dig that this is more or less a one-stop shop. The thump is impressive. There are a number of factors that come into play when considering the stopping power of a caliber. It has a high velocity and is extremely accurate, making it a great choice for long-range shooting. All three come with 10-round CMMG Modified Lancer Mags and the option to Cerakote. At the muzzle, a 350gr XTP .50 Beowulf will have about 2,440 ft.lbf of energy. Both cartridges have unique features and are suitable for specific hunting scenarios. The .458 is like any other bottlenecked rifle cartridge, so youll have to lube cases for resizing. The gas tube you use is the same gas tube youd use for any other build of the barrel length youve chosen. In this article, we will compare the 350 Legend to the 458 SOCOM to help you determine which cartridge is best for your hunting needs. From all the specs that Ive seen, the .450 Bushmaster performs BETTER than BOTH the .458 S and .50 B. in all areas, with a higher velocity, more energy, and less down range drop. 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. The 458 SOCOM's only significant advantage is its stopping power. Whichever one you choose, make sure that you do your research and pick the right bullet weight and type for your needs. our in-stock .308 ammo for sale by clicking here, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. You dont have to invest in special, proprietary buffer weights or springs. Its effective for hunting, home defense, and even long-range shooting. Sporting 16.1-inch barrels, the Resolutes feature a length of around 33-inches and weight at 8.3-pounds. Jacketed 45 ACP bullets measure 0.451 in diameter while the 450 Bushmaster requires the slightly wider 0.452 diameter bullets. The 300 Blackout has more energy than the 458 Socom, but the 458 Socom has a much larger bullet. Heck, its as easy as any of them, because you can count on the parts makers keeping things inside the AR-15 envelope. Click below for a FREE LESSON! 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 . And since the 308 ammo can be purchased anywhere, this is another advantage against 458. We are the original factory loaded ammo for the 458 SOCOM, and leading manufacturer of the 375 SOCOM, 338 Spectre, and 240 Spectre ammunition. Where the .458 SOCOM gets to be giddy fun is when you go with heavyweight subsonics. 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. Your email address will not be published. With this, the 458 SOCOM takes another win. So the .458 SOCOM will concede the velocity comparison to the faster .308 Winchester. If you are looking for a versatile cartridge that can be used in both semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles, then the .308 Winchester is a great option for you. Here is a ballistics chart of the 350 legend with a 180-grain soft point bullet: The 458 SOCOM was developed in 2000 by Teppo Jutsu, a company founded by former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Marty ter Weeme. Found out a standard 20-round 5.56mm NATO magazine can hold seven .458 SOCOM rounds and a standard 30-round 5.56mm NATO magazine can hold nine .458 SOCOM rounds. Great Subsonic Cartridges. The .458 SOCOM and its shorter range would make for an excellent option when hunting something like hogs in brush-covered areas where shots tend to be shorter. Two cartridges that have gained popularity in recent years are the 350 Legend and the 458 SOCOM. This makes it a more versatile choice for hunters and shooters who may need to adjust their ammunition for different situations. Whichever caliber you choose, make sure you do your research and pick the one that is best for your needs! Yes, it has decent speed, but the overall goal for this round was to provide powerful tactical performance in automatic weapons, particularly those used by elite special forces. Have a .458 SOCOM rifle? The 458 SOCOM can fire slightly heavier subsonic bullets up to 600 grains. Both cartridges offer a range of bullet grains shooting enthusiasts could choose from, depending on their specific hunting needs. 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. This project had a few factors that would need to be met to gain Spec Ops approval. Thats two decades of expertly upholding the Texan gun culture. Part of this decision came down to cost, as the .458 round required changing only two parts. Mossberg 500 vs 590: Which Shotgun Is Right for You? Known as the .458 x 1.5-inch Barnes, it was the predecessor to the .458 SOCOM. What CMMG does well is optionsand we like options. The 458 SOCOM was the first thumper round to hit the market in 2001 while the 450 Bushmaster hit store shelves six years later in 2007. The 300 AAC Blackout (300 BLK) was developed by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) in an attempt to create a round that could be used in both AR-15 rifles and pistols. The American-made Brownells SOCOM barrel ships with a bolt and removable 3-post muzzle brake. History [ edit] The round was first developed by Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Not only do they hit hard on large game, but they impart stout recoil on the shooters shoulder as well. However, the 458 SOCOMs recoil is manageable for experienced shooters and is necessary for the cartridges power. The 308 is a very accurate round, but it lacks the power of the 458 SOCOM. This is for informational purposes only. Yowza! Among all the .308 products we looked at, the round had an average velocity of 2,835 fps, which is a highly respectable speed for any cartridge. 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. When it comes to ammo availability, you simply cannot beat the 450 Bushmaster. Socom will concede the velocity comparison to the 458 SOCOMs recoil is manageable for experienced shooters is... Digest Book of the 458 SOCOM can fire these rounds is an important consideration the predecessor to the tip the. Enthusiasts could choose from, depending on their specific hunting scenarios ideal for suppression firing two,.. ) flatter ( albeit still arcing ) trajectory x 1.5-inch Barnes, it will spend less time the! Winchester also has a high velocity and is necessary for the cartridges power guns for... 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