Big bore AR Calibers

Tarowah

Tarowah

Everybody’s Honey.... unless you’re an asshole.
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This last weekend I was able to squeeze off a few rounds between down pours and my buddy brought his extreme budget 16” .458 Socom build, my first question was “why” because he doesn’t hunt and the Ammo is crazy expensive, well he hand loads and he just wanted a boomer, ok good enough.

I put 20-30 rounds through the gun and OMG is that thing a hoot! But what would make it better?? A pistol of course lol.

So is anyone running an AR pistol in 450 Bushmaster, .458 Socom or 50 Beowulf? And if so what would you do differently or is a pistol in those Calibers just a stupid idea?
 
Tarowah said:
So is anyone running an AR pistol in 450 Bushmaster, .458 Socom or 50 Beowulf? And if so what would you do differently or is a pistol in those Calibers just a stupid idea?
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I have shot pistols in both .450 Bushmaster and .458 SOCOM in pistol config, and they are nothing but painful. Well, that and brutally effective through "bulletproof" glass....
 
Tarowah said:
But what would make it better??
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A Full Auto lower. That would make it better lol.
Couple of years ago, one forum member put his .50 Beowolf upper on another forum members Full Auto lower and I was fortunate enough to be able to shoot it.
Lemme tell ya...that thing will move you, son lmao
 
draco88 said:
A Full Auto lower. That would make it better lol.
Couple of years ago, one forum member put his .50 Beowolf upper on another forum members Full Auto lower and I was fortunate enough to be able to shoot it.
Lemme tell ya...that thing will move you, son lmao
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LOL. Bob Reynolds has let me shoot his .50 Beowolf full auto on more than one occasion that that thing is a hoot. I've yet to see anybody that can keep a 10 round burst on target, and that's even with a muzzle brake.

It's built on an M16 platform so the gun is very light.
 
About 5 years ago, maybe longer, probably was, Blackwater sold fifty 50 Beowolf uppers complete for $200. I shot one...same report as Matt.Cross.
 
Wow I couldn’t even fathom a full auto Beowulf...... that has to be insanely fun, and expensive!
 
I hope this is ok, if not just knock it off...you are welcome to go to B&M Rifles through Google and look at our 50 B&M short AR.
 
I did a good bit of looking at reloading supplies over the past week and I am still a bit torn between the .458 Socom and the 50 Beowulf, it appears the reloading components are roughly the same price so now it’s just about the cool factor I guess.

I have also discovered the .375 Socom and my interest is peaked, I had never heard of the caliber until a couple of days ago and it looks very interesting.
 
A pistol in those calibers is no fun. I have a 20" 450 bushy. Its a handful even with a brake. No way I would have one in a pistol.
 
I really want a .358MGP, a 6.8SPC case necked up to .358. Supposed to shoot a 200gr over 2400fps, essentially a .35Rem in an AR15. It'll also drive 115gr FMJ hard enough to drill holes in 1/4" steel at 100yds.

Can't imagine any of the big-bores being much fun as a pistol, tho.
 
Jamie-Hog.jpg

Getting ready to build a 450 BushMaster rifle with a Kynshot hydraulic recoil buffer... 450BM makes a great hog gun caliber...! The 450BM ammo seems to be relatively cheap and available compared to the other "big" calibers....


My buddy shot this hog in Fla a few months ago with his .450 BM rifle...
 
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Very nice pig!!

After much reading I’m going to build a 16” .50 Beowulf and make the pistol a 300blk, I haven’t decided if I’m going to get a can just yet but an 8” 300blk and a suppressor sounds like a much less painful option than a large caliber pistol.
 
Tarowah said:
Very nice pig!!

After much reading I’m going to build a 16” .50 Beowulf and make the pistol a 300blk, I haven’t decided if I’m going to get a can just yet but an 8” 300blk and a suppressor sounds like a much less painful option than a large caliber pistol.
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I think that's a good decision.

Can the 458 use 45 LC bullets?
 
450 Bushmaster uses 45 caliber handgun bullets (.452 diameter) which limits you to 300 grain or so bullets.

458 Socom uses 45 caliber rifle bullets (.458 diameter) I don't know how high up they go, 500+ grains for sure.

Either way.... I like em' both......but not in a pistol. The recoil (at least for me) would be too much.
 
draco88 said:
A Full Auto lower. That would make it better lol.
Couple of years ago, one forum member put his .50 Beowolf upper on another forum members Full Auto lower and I was fortunate enough to be able to shoot it.
Lemme tell ya...that thing will move you, son lmao
Click to expand...
Tarowah said:
Wow I couldn’t even fathom a full auto Beowulf...... that has to be insanely fun, and expensive!
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It was lots of fun.

I rarely take the Beo out without letting anybody that's around fire it once. One box of 20 is usually enough for all involved. It has a 16.5" barrel with a tank brake, but I keep thinking about buying the 12" with a pepper brake.

I failed to collect any of the brass for the first year or two...since I didn't have a press. It's a straight-walled cartridge so will probably be my first rifle caliber to load. Should definitely save some money over factory stuff. Since then I usually find about 2/3 of it in grass, or all of it on gravel.
 
@Tarowah

You ever get down to PHA to shoot? I plan on joining at their next open house (Sep?). I have my Beo AR, but also two pistol configured lowers. You're welcome to try it out...but it is a full length upper, so not quite the same.

Still thinking about the 12" upper, though. To this day the 16.5" upper is the only major firearm purchase I've accidently made. :D
 


When I had my 450 bushmaster.. BTW a 450 bushmaster can shoot both .451 and .452 projectiles. Lil gun being one of the better powder choices.


Tarowah said:
I have also discovered the .375 Socom and my interest is peaked, I had never heard of the caliber until a couple of days ago and it looks very interesting.
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I actually looked in to this one also. BIG Bore ( I think that who did all the testing for Tromix) over on 68forums. I almost got it since my LGS had AR comp and the testing showed AR comp being the best powder choice.

Crazy Carl said:
I really want a .358MGP, a 6.8SPC case necked up to .358. Supposed to shoot a 200gr over 2400fps, essentially a .35Rem in an AR15. It'll also drive 115gr FMJ hard enough to drill holes in 1/4" steel at 100yds.

Can't imagine any of the big-bores being much fun as a pistol, tho.
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I almost got a 358 MGP also. But I didn't feel like dealing with fire forming brass, and spending a lot on mags as I don't plan on buy one or 2 mags for my firearms lol. It is a hammer for sure but just more work than I wanted to put in to it.
 
BigWaylon said:
@Tarowah

You ever get down to PHA to shoot? I plan on joining at their next open house (Sep?). I have my Beo AR, but also two pistol configured lowers. You're welcome to try it out...but it is a full length upper, so not quite the same.

Still thinking about the 12" upper, though. To this day the 16.5" upper is the only major firearm purchase I've accidently made. :D
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I shoot the 2 gun match at PHA when my schedule allows, I am in Greensboro so its not much of a drive for me at all and I would love to take the Beowulf out for a test drive one of these weekends for sure, the .458 Socom I shot was a beast so I imagine the .50b will be just as nasty.

I was trying to decide between getting the boomer or the 300blk first and PSA had the complete 7.5" 300blk upper with a flash can, 9" rail on sale so I went ahead and jumped all over that, I still need to replace the gas block, trigger and add BUS but its a working pistol as it is now so I hope to get it out to the range in the next week or two, I want to function check it before I tear it down for a camo job.

I'll start picking up parts for the large caliber AR over the next few months and build it little by little, I ran across a couple of places that sell the stripped uppers with the ejection port already opened up for the 450 Bushmaster, .450 Socom and .50 Beowulf and that will make life easier I believe.
 
I settled on a 458 Socom, I went cheap and ordered a complete 16” Bear Creek Arsenal upper (with a complete BCG and charging handle) and it should be here Monday, while I have heard BCA has a very checkered past but I spoke with a guy that has the exact same upper I ordered and he said his has been flawless, he’s even taken a few deer and pigs with his so I figured I’d give it a try, fingers crossed!
 
Testing BatteryOaksBilly's B&M .458 Super Short AR-15 today at PHA.....
We shot it at 50 yards off the bi-pod and ran it on a small assault course.. It is a beast!! Managing recoil on the assualt course is a job!!
It would be a heck of a challenge to run it at the PHA match with 7 round magazine capacities..!!






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I picked up a complete MOE LPK from PSA this weekend and all of the stencils and cerakote to get the build started once everything comes in, I hope to have the bulk of the 458 done in the next week.

I still need to pick up an MBUS set, a good trigger and an optic but I should be able to test fire and play with it a bit.
 
Tarowah said:
I settled on a 458 Socom, I went cheap and ordered a complete 16” Bear Creek Arsenal upper (with a complete BCG and charging handle) and it should be here Monday, while I have heard BCA has a very checkered past but I spoke with a guy that has the exact same upper I ordered and he said his has been flawless, he’s even taken a few deer and pigs with his so I figured I’d give it a try, fingers crossed!
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Let us know how the bca stuff performs. I get their emails and it’s been hard not to get a 6.5 Grendel or 450 bushmaster upper lately.
 
Well I was trying to get the upper torn down so I could sandblast and prep for cerakote this weekend but I for the life of me can not get the damn barrel nut off, I’m starting to think BCA put lock-tite on the barrel nut, I’ll find out tomorrow because I’ve got a date with a 300lb vice, a blow torch and a 5’ breaker bar tomorrow, by God that barrels coming off at all costs lmao!!!
 
Tarowah said:
Sure man, it’s definitely a big caliber, plus I’ve never read anything about the caliber in an AR and I’d be interested in a discussion about it.
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Good good.

My McGowan barrel came in last week and imma gonna pull my 308 barrel off and throw it on there for bear season. I’ll get pictures and more details tomorrow lol
 
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I use to like Big Bores, however after my back and shoulder was no longer to withstand the recoil thanks to my Multiple Myeloma, I got Rid of them all. 450 Bushmaster. 458 S0com, 50 Beowulf , 30-378 Weatherby, all 300 Weatherbys. I tried a 338 Lapur with a suppressor and it drew Blood. Now I shoot 6mm and 6.5 Creedmoor’s with a break.
 
Paladin1911 said:
I use to like Big Bores, however after my back and shoulder was no longer to withstand the recoil thanks to my Multiple Myeloma, I got Rid of them all. 450 Bushmaster. 458 S0com, 50 Beowulf , 30-378 Weatherby, all 300 Weatherbys. I tried a 338 Lapur with a suppressor and it drew Blood. Now I shoot 6mm and 6.5 Creedmoor’s with a break.
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Have you tried the 224 Val yet? From everything I have read it is perfect for people that want to shoot long range but have health issues that prevent them from sitting behind a brutal recoil all day.

Also have you been to Powers recently? I met you up there 5-6 years ago and remembered your screen name.
 
Have not been to Powers in about 6 months. Got to get by there. Have not tried the 224 Val. They seen to be hard to find. I have had great results out to 1030 yds with the Creedmoors and Grendel.
 
Tarowah said:
Sure man, it’s definitely a big caliber, plus I’ve never read anything about the caliber in an AR and I’d be interested in a discussion about it.
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A few days late but I lucked out and found a box of 358 WIN ammo lol.

First 6 rounds down the tube. Man I am gonna like this thing. Recoil is light for what it is. Gotta stretch it out to 100 and finalize the zero.

5d tactical upper, lower and LPK, CH

Trinity Force buttstock

magpul grip thanks to @charliesgrave

Toolcraft BCG and bolt.

no name free float rail.

McGowen 18" 1:12, mid length gas SS barrel.

Odin Works Adjustable gas block.

ebay special scope mount

Simmons 8 point 4-12 scope.

Magpul 20 rounder

358 with ammo by Brandon S, on Flickr

358 fixed by Brandon S, on Flickr
 
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Very nice backwoodsshooter!

I am really digging all the different calibers showing up these days, I saw a .243 AR and had no clue those were even a thing!

Definitely keep us posted as you get the barrel broken in and how it shoots out to 100 yards and beyond.
 
Tarowah said:
Very nice backwoodsshooter!

I am really digging all the different calibers showing up these days, I saw a .243 AR and had no clue those were even a thing!

Definitely keep us posted as you get the barrel broken in and how it shoots out to 100 yards and beyond.
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Thanks man.

Noreen firearms has a 30-06, 270, and a few other long action calibers. I really thought about getting a 2

But hopefully this weekend allows me get out and get some reloads done up and a final zero.

I got some speer 220gr on the way so hopefully I can get a load figured out.
 
Wilson Combat started selling a new 458HAMR. Sort of a hybrid AR-10/15. Didn’t see the details. Anyway, more energy than the existing 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 500 Beowulf rounds. Don’t know anything else about it.
 
JimP42 said:
Wilson Combat started selling a new 458HAMR. Sort of a hybrid AR-10/15. Didn’t see the details. Anyway, more energy than the existing 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 500 Beowulf rounds. Don’t know anything else about it.
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Wilsons 458 HAMR is in an AR-10 chassis and uses proprietary parts. CFF forum member Battery Oaks Billy's B&M .458 SS has even more muzzle velocity and energy than Wilsons 458HAMR, and it is in an AR-15 platform.

It appears to be the hardest hitting AR-15 "Big Bore" on the planet at this point..:D
 
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