A buddy and I are looking into a big bore for deer hunting. He is looking at building one for Indiana hunting. I already have a 300 blkout and a Grendel. We was thinking 450 bushmaster, 458 socom, or 50 beowulf. I am a reloader, I reload for all my rifles and pistols and know components are hard to find right now. Was wondering the good, bad, and ugly of the three. We won't be shooting it past 200yrds either. Thanks for any recommendations and advice!
- Thread starter country888
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458 or 450. I own a 50 Beowulf and would not suggest getting one for many reasons. Either the 458 or 450 will serve you well .I would stock up on brass before you choose and let the brass or lack there of make or break the deal.They are all three a hand load only deal if you want to shoot them a lot but what caliber is not any more.I would try to sell you my 50 Beowulf but I have enough greif in my life.
Thanks fnarshooter! Iv been reading up some and kinda leaning toward the 458 socom mainly for bullet selection and availability.
458 for bullet selection. And most bullets have already been thoroughly tested in the .45-70 at similar velocities, so performance is somewhat predictable. You can find relevant info (bullet performance in hunting applications) on many levergun forums.
I'll just mirror what has already been said, and add that another reason to opt for the .458 as the cost of components will be slightly better (and more plentiful) than comparable components for the Beowulf. Additionally, you don't have to suffer the PITA of modifying stock AR mags to use the SOCOM as they'll run in stock AR-15 mags without modification...not so with the BM or the Beowulf. Just more inconvenience and cost that isn't necessary to achieve the goals you want to achieve with a "Thumper" AR-15.
Thanks guys, the more I read the more I lean toward the 458. Standard mags is a plus, bullet selection, I do like the sholdered case better. Thanks for the advice!
Can you even hunt in Indiana w/ rifles?
.358 or larger bullet and up to 1.8" case length
I had a 50 Beowulf and it was a fun gun to shoot. I didnt shoot it nearly enough to justify keeping it so I sold it off. I would love to build another thumper AR in the future just because they are a Badass caliber. Anytime you are throwing a 1/2" or almost 1/2" diameter projectile at something at ~2000 fps you have to smile. Espeically when it connects and makes that thump.
I would mirror what the others said. Find what you can get brass for first then buy the gun. Components for these big boys is hard to come by. If you want to shoot a lot buy 500-1000 pieces of brass. Then it is just finding bullets and you should be set for life.
I would mirror what the others said. Find what you can get brass for first then buy the gun. Components for these big boys is hard to come by. If you want to shoot a lot buy 500-1000 pieces of brass. Then it is just finding bullets and you should be set for life.
I have a 450 bushmaster and like it a lot.
It shoots 1 inch groups with factory ammo or reloads.
I use the 225 FTX over 38 grains Lil gun and crimp with a lee 45 colt collet die with shims stacked .300 over shell holder and crimp band reduced to 60 thou plus use the taper crimp die.
The side crimp lowers ES and prevents setback or the bullet sliding forward using a Tubbs CWS.
Recoil isn't bad at all to me.
I haven't had a problem finding ammo,brass or bullets.
284win or 6.5-284 can be used but the hornady brass works and make very accurate loads.
Deer hit with a 45 cal bullet going 2350 fps end up DRT most of the time.
I'd like to try a 458socom.
If it works like the 450 or a 45-70 levergun it will probably make deer DRT also.
If the deer doesn't drop I usually only have to go 50 yards or less to find it.
It helps a lot when hunting the woods and thick stuff on crowded Midwest farmland to use a big bore rifle.
Don't know for sure but think the 450 has sold more than the others.
Glad I got mine when I did.
They are getting expensive and harder to get.
It shoots 1 inch groups with factory ammo or reloads.
I use the 225 FTX over 38 grains Lil gun and crimp with a lee 45 colt collet die with shims stacked .300 over shell holder and crimp band reduced to 60 thou plus use the taper crimp die.
The side crimp lowers ES and prevents setback or the bullet sliding forward using a Tubbs CWS.
Recoil isn't bad at all to me.
I haven't had a problem finding ammo,brass or bullets.
284win or 6.5-284 can be used but the hornady brass works and make very accurate loads.
Deer hit with a 45 cal bullet going 2350 fps end up DRT most of the time.
I'd like to try a 458socom.
If it works like the 450 or a 45-70 levergun it will probably make deer DRT also.
If the deer doesn't drop I usually only have to go 50 yards or less to find it.
It helps a lot when hunting the woods and thick stuff on crowded Midwest farmland to use a big bore rifle.
Don't know for sure but think the 450 has sold more than the others.
Glad I got mine when I did.
They are getting expensive and harder to get.
Thanks for all the input guys! Buddy & I met up yesterday & was lookinh online. Was going to go with wilson combat 458 rifle build kit but they are out of stock now. So I guess we'll wait to see for how long.
The RRA 458 upper runs great.
I see its going to be hard to get a Barrel for this thing!!
.338 federal. (medium bore technically but I thought it might be close enough.) Easy to find factory ammo and still has plenty of energy out past 350yrds.
Buy a complete upper
.338 isnt large enuff in caliber per law for Indiana hunting.
We was wanting to build our own so we can put what we want on it plus I can build it quiet a bit cheaper.
We was wanting to build our own so we can put what we want on it plus I can build it quiet a bit cheaper.
Not to get off topic, but what is the rational for such a law, other than to make it a royal pain in the ass to hunt?
I have been shooting the Beowulf since it came out.....hell, I have even had a .499 LW and 50AE from Tromix. I am on my second upper, long story, but a family has the first....It will shoot Sub MOA with Factory ammo, pretty impressive considering they are 1/2" projectiles. The 500 S&W was the best thing to happen to the beowulf. A lot more projectiles where introduced to the market. You will find this whole big bore thing is a lot like a ford / chevy fanboy arguements......That being said, 458 is also one to look into as it also has a good supply of projectiles. 450 was raved on when it first came out....but the ballistics on it were not as good as promised because the the data used originally was based on very hot loads. I tend to recommend the 458 or 50 beowulf. I'll eventually get a 458 also.
I have a RRA 458 mid-length operator. I shoot 325gr Hornady FTXs over 38.5grs of IMR4198. Puts it right at 1700fps with a 16in barrel. I tried Lil' Gun and H110, but couldn't get it to cycle correctly with the longer gas system. Switching to a rifle powder worked better for me instead of the faster burning pistol powders. I hear the Carbine-length gas systems work well with H110 and Lil' Gun.
I run an Eotech XPS because of the short range and hogs on the run scenarios this rifle was built for. I shot a 325lb sow broadside at 80yrds and the FTX busted both shoulders and destroyed everything in between. I would say a thin-skinned deer wouldn't have a chance.
I run an Eotech XPS because of the short range and hogs on the run scenarios this rifle was built for. I shot a 325lb sow broadside at 80yrds and the FTX busted both shoulders and destroyed everything in between. I would say a thin-skinned deer wouldn't have a chance.
Haven't found any. My buddy has been looking for 2 for about 5 months.
The law was originally written to allow some pistol calibers to be used in a rifle. For example.......
.357 Magnum
.41 Magnum
.44 Magnum
.44 Special
.45 Colt
.45 Long Colt
.45 Winchester Magnum
.35 Remington
They have had a couple updates with the last being .358 or larger bullet and a case length of 1.8" or less.
We have found was around it and still within the law. I am building a 358 Grant 1.8 right now. I plan on shooting a Nosler accu bond 225 at about 2900.
Yeah once you select the options and add to cart, it says out of stock.
I've seen an AR-10 built in 338 RCM. It was a hell of a rifle, combining an excellent cartridge with an excellent platform. But finding an AR-10 expert (not an AR-15 expert) to build one is next to impossible.
Thanks for the great info guys! We are still looking and havnt given up. I see its going to take awhile to find parts but it should be worth it. I think the 458 with a 300 to 325 gn bullet should work nicely for deer.
I have one and shoot barns 300 TTSX and it does work well for inside 200 yards
Yes we do! Work has been crazy lately though. I did work up a good load with CFE. Ill call you soon as i get a chance to shoot some.
45ar that sounds like some great accuracy & velocity with whats still a heavy bullet. Thanks fir the heads up & info!
