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View Full Version : What cartridge is winning the big bore AR build?


mag360
03-12-2012, 9:23 PM
is it the .458 socom, .450 bushmaster or .50 beowulf?

By winning I mean, most support for likely to still be around 5, 10 years from now.

Are they even worthwhile when a .308 will take whatever game a .458 socom would? or is the .458 socom a much better short range heavy game load than the .308?

five.five-six
03-12-2012, 9:27 PM
.308 AR is a lot moar money ... but a lot moar comon round

DannyInSoCal
03-12-2012, 9:32 PM
.338 Lapua

/thread

NorCalK9.com
03-12-2012, 9:46 PM
458socom ftw!
I had my socom upper for 5 days, shot 50 rounds and its bad@ss but thise rounds do cost ALOT! Much funner than 308

Cali-V
03-12-2012, 10:13 PM
Both the socom and beowulf... will be around... socom because of bullet choice, and beowulf because number in the field...

In either case you should reload, or forget about it... them expensive...
I buy 50 Beowulf ammo and components whenever I can...

HonkingAntelope
03-12-2012, 10:27 PM
.308 AR is a lot moar money ... but a lot moar comon round

Given the huge price differences between loaded ammo for .308 and .50 Beowulf, wouldn't a .308 AR pay for itself after a few years of casual shooting?

Horta
03-12-2012, 10:55 PM
Since I have one, the .458 Socom looks like a real keeper. The factory rounds are expensive but the wide selection of bullets and the increasing information availability on reloading should lower the cost substantially.

zfields
03-12-2012, 10:56 PM
Isnt .50 and 458 socom more oriented for short-mid range shooting also?

Cali-V
03-12-2012, 11:05 PM
Given the huge price differences between loaded ammo for .308 and .50 Beowulf, wouldn't a .308 AR pay for itself after a few years of casual shooting?

True, but you ever try to put a 5.56, 6.8, or 22lr upper on a AR10 platform? Not only that I can optimize and train on one FCG...
There is economic value above and beyond ammo cost.

I have a 10, I love it's ability to reach out, but I also love the versatility my 15's... the ability to change...

Full Clip
03-12-2012, 11:08 PM
True, but you ever try to put a 5.56, 6.8, or 22lr upper on a AR10 platform? Not only that I can optimize and train on one FCG...
There is economic value above and beyond ammo cost.
I have a AR10, but I love the versatility AR15... the ability to change to my needs...

Exactly why I went with the Beowulf.

Horta
03-12-2012, 11:13 PM
Isnt .50 and 458 socom more oriented for short-mid range shooting also?

Yes. They are also a very fun round to shoot!!

pyro3k2
03-12-2012, 11:15 PM
in terms of preformance the three most popular as listed above are actually pretty close to one another. In terms of practicality the .450bm is taking the lead simply due to getting relatively cheap factory ammo out the fastest. Remmington and Hornady have made it easier for the non-reloading shooter to get into the big bore market and it's gaining in popularity. Bushmaster is also now offering a 9 round "high-cap" factory mag for the .450bm which can be found on midway last time I checked. Bushmaster is also bigger a name than rock river who is the biggest seller of the .458socom and honestly if it wasn't for future weapons I doubt the .50bw would be as popular as it is today. Not saying the .450bm is the "best" there are reason why it's being used more and more than the others.

If ammo cost and availibity were all equal for all three rounds and if it was my money and my choice it would be a tie between .458 and .50bw. I would get which ever one I could get the better deal on. But back in the real world .450bm is only one (two at the most) small baby steps behind either round and where it gets my recommendation is simply due to easily obtainable factory ammo.

Horta
03-12-2012, 11:43 PM
is it the .458 socom, .450 bushmaster or .50 beowulf?

By winning I mean, most support for likely to still be around 5, 10 years from now.

Are they even worthwhile when a .308 will take whatever game a .458 socom would? or is the .458 socom a much better short range heavy game load than the .308?

I have a .308 M1A and an .458 Socom upper for my AR. The 308 at 100 yards makes the 12” steel plate ring loudly as it should. The .458 Socom upper on my AR with a 300 gr. Bullet makes the plate Gong like a bell and swing like a pendulum for several seconds. NOW THAT’S FUN!!

chrisf
03-13-2012, 1:01 AM
IMO I don't think either should be on an ar platform, But hell what do I know.

451040
03-13-2012, 1:13 AM
.458 SOCOM

stix213
03-13-2012, 1:39 AM
Don't all the big boys have their own niche following?

Here's my recent .50 Beowulf build, AKA "The Blaster" and a ton of fun :D so I have to vote for the Beowulf

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8720/blastero.jpg

Alexander Arms is still at least 2 months backordered on .50 Beowulf ammo (that's what they told me via e-mail at least), so someone is definitely buying it. Seems to be popular enough to stick around for a while.

Isnt .50 and 458 socom more oriented for short-mid range shooting also?

Alexander Arms says the Beowulf drops to subsonic just past 200 yards or so. I can't speak for the 458.