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Post by Rifleman on Sept 28, 2008 11:48:34 GMT -5
So fellas what the pros and cons of both? I know the socom uses .458 bullets and the 450 bushmaster .452 but that is about all I know. What are the parent cases for each, and can you make your own brass?
How does each shoot?
Any feedback appreciated, thanks, Rman
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Post by CraigF on Oct 2, 2008 10:17:51 GMT -5
458 socom and Barnes Originals..... Match made in heaven? ;D
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Post by rossman40 on Nov 1, 2008 0:44:09 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't catch this earlier. The 450 Bushmaster actually started out as the 45 Professional that was developed by the guy that ran LeMAG ( he had a bunch of oddball cartridges), his goal was to push a 230gr bullet 3000fps and I think all he did was break a lot of parts. Bushmaster got interested and licensed it then teamed up with Hornady for the ammo. Hornady wanted to shorten the case so they could use their best .452 bullet, the 250gr SST ML. The parent case is a 284 Win IIRC. It is a straight walled case and the big drawback is your limited to .451 or .452 bullets. Some guys have been playing with 275gr XPBs and one guy said he loaded some 300gr SWs, guys are coming up with loads. Trying to duplicate Hornady's loadings and still keep the pressure down is a bear as from what I have heard (I think they learned a trick from the Savage board) Hornady's big secret with their ammo is they are mixing two different powders (duplexing). I haven't had a chance to shoot a Bushmaster yet. Hornady still isn't selling brass but it was mentioned that it would be selling the SST ML and Leverevolution bullets in bulk starting in 2009.
The 458 SOCOM is a bastard case and I think the prototype used .50 AE cases that were made extra long by Starline and then necked down. Starline does make the production SOCOM brass and you can get it from Midway. With the SOCOM you use .458 bullets and you have a much wider selection. 300 to 600gr with the 300 and 350gr being optimum. I have actually shot these loads and they are nice, you definitely know it isn't a 5.56, about like a light 20ga.
The SOCOM headspaces on the shoulder so you should do a full length resize, the Bushmaster headspaces on the case mouth so you would have to watch case OAL. Being a necked cartridge the SOCOM would probly chamber a bit more reliably. But with the Bushmaster being straight walled it might be easier to reload.
Power wise they are about the same. With the Bushmaster you can use a lighter bullet, with the SOCOM 300gr is about the lightest unless you go with some solids from Lehigh Bullets who makes some 255 and 275gr .
Range wise you have to remember these were designed for CQB and 200-250 is about max effective for most people. With the SOCOM and 300gr bullets I had no problem hitting a 200yd steel silhouette.
A friend of mine has had a SOCOM since 2003 and loves it. The only problem ammo wise has been with 300gr Remington JHPs, real short and they work forward in the mag. Hornady 300gr JHP and Speer 350gr are his favorites but he likes cheap so I don't see him buying BOs. I recommended 300gr X bullets a few years ago and he did try them but they seemed less accurate then the Hornadys and of course he didn't like the price.
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Post by Rifleman on Nov 3, 2008 4:45:27 GMT -5
Thanks Rossman that was very helpful.
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