I shot a 458 Socom rifle this weekend...

[MarikinaMan]

My review, its an interesting round. I don't personally want to own it.

1) It is brutal. On an AR platform, it shot like a 45/70 with a short barrel and no ports. It's got a lot of recoil. I can't see myself dumping a mag with that thing and getting all A zone shots without major bracing and a solid stance.

2) Its too much for an HD situation. Too much noise, concussion and, I think, too much power.

3) Pig hunting? It would be the bomb. Duhno how much that thing drops, but should be gtg at 100 yards and some more.

[sigstroker]

1) It is brutal. On an AR platform, it shot like a 45/70 with a short barrel and no ports.

Shouldn't be a surprise because that's basically what it is. Check the ballistics - it's very close to the .45/70.

[k1dude]

I'll bet you shot it off a bench with a standard non-padded AR buttstock.

Shoot it standing with a recoil pad or recoiling buttstock and it's a whole different story.

You wouldn't shoot a 3" 12 gauge slug off a bench with no recoil pad on the stock.

[ECG_88]

I thought it was a cool round. I think most people had one because the 10 round mags were the same as standard 30 round AR mags...

After freedom week, it might be unnecessary to need the 458 upper to justify having all these standard cap mags.

[jeremyro]

I have a 10.5 458 pistol and it is not that bad actually. I am not going to say it is soft shooting but it is not too brutal. I agree that it would be a little much for a home defense.

[broofy]

I love my .458 socom. Ammo is ridiculously expensive and it kicks like a mule, so no...I don't shoot it much, but when I do, it's awesome.

I think it drops like 26" at 200 yds...Trajectory like a rainbow, but I pity the hog on the other end.

[Q]

How does recoil and shooting it compare to 12g or 308?
Somewhere between? Or less than 12g?

[jeremyro]

I would say the recoil is like a 308 more than a 12G. It is lighter recoil than my Israeli K98 in 308

[MarikinaMan]

How does recoil and shooting it compare to 12g or 308?
Somewhere between? Or less than 12g?

The 458 socom feels a little stronger than a 12g 1oz slug at 1700 fps on my Mossberg 930.

The 458 kicks sronger IMO.

[mlentzner]

Here's a little physics for you:

Back of a napkin impulse estimates:
12g slug -> 14.7 kgms
458 socom -> 11.0 kgms
20g slug -> 9.7 kgms

Of course a 12g shotgun is most likely heavier than the AR-15 in 458 socom. Firearm weight has a lot to do with perceived recoil. A 6 lb AR-15 firing 458 is going to feel about the same as an 8 lb shotgun firing 12g slugs (with the above numbers).

[Bisley]

I understand you don't own it, but you left lots of stuff out. Since the caliber will handle 200gr to 500gr bullets, just like the 45-70, recoil is very dependent on what you shoot. And I wont even get into the incredible subsonic stuff. If it were my HD gun, that is where I would most definitely head toward.

On the subject of recoil, this simple $16 fix from Luth AR turns my 350gr Speer loads into absolutely no worse than my AR 47 loads in 7,62x39. Maybe even more tame. https://www.luth-ar.com/product/limb...-recoil-pad-2/

A week ago I was playing around with the 250gr Hornady Monflex bullet for the first time. It was starting to cloverleaf groups as the charge went closer to max. This will most likely be my load. Very, very manageable with the aforementioned slip on pad.

My favorite load right now however is the KAK brass 228gr 10 petal Short bullet. This one here.








Not only does it shoot terrific, performance is great as well. I put this one into a bowling pin at 50 yards, and at a 45 degree angle! You can see the ten slices from the bullet if you look closely. It penetrated 3" of that hardwood, That is both base and a petal or two. I found a total of 179grs of bullet, but I'm pretty sure there was more in there I didn't see.









I used this one on a bunny or two the other weekend. Pictures were quite gruesome so I wasn't sure if I should post or not? First was a headshot. Tossed one ear a foot and a half away. Third was rear facing spine shot that tossed one leg over 2 feet away and pretty much split the rest in two.

I would say you were correct about even lighter supersonic loads being a bit much, but that would be because of the bullet and not the recoil, IF you dont add the cheap recoil pad. But with that pad and supersonic loads it would most definitely be a pig's worst nightmare.

Here's a pic of the girl in her entirety.

[Q]

^ The coolest thing I think about 458 is all the custom ammo.

Here's a little physics for you:

Back of a napkin impulse estimates:
12g slug -> 14.7 kgms
458 socom -> 11.0 kgms
20g slug -> 9.7 kgms

Of course a 12g shotgun is most likely heavier than the AR-15 in 458 socom. Firearm weight has a lot to do with perceived recoil. A 6 lb AR-15 firing 458 is going to feel about the same as an 8 lbs shotgun firing 12g slugs (with the above numbers).

That’s true, I had a noreen 3006 didn’t even break it in and sold it but man it was a breeze to shoot and hit frickin hard.
Compared to a 308 g3 that thing was brutal.


I think 458 is interesting and neat looking round. Mainly I just like 12g or 308 because it’s basic sporting ammo that’s pretty much at Walmart.
The Walmart standard, if it ain’t at Walmart I can’t afford it.

[sigstroker]

If I were inclined to get something like that and it wasn't for bear protection or the like, I would probably get a .450 Bushmaster. It doesn't have the big-*** giant bullets, but still has 250-260 grainers. It's less stress to own because the ammo is sold by Hornady and Federal, and it's a straight wall case that's easy to reload.

[k1dude]

The 458 socom feels a little stronger than a 12g 1oz slug at 1700 fps on my Mossberg 930.

The 458 kicks sronger IMO.

Your 930 has a nice thick recoil pad. I'll bet the .458 didn't.

[sl0re10]

Shouldn't be a surprise because that's basically what it is. Check the ballistics - it's very close to the .45/70.

same projectiles.