458 socom build

[Aggie14]

Moving to Indiana in a couple months. I have a savage short action sitting in a box and was wanting to build off of it for public land Indiana. Was between a 450 bushmaster and the 458 socom. Chose the socom from the advantages of running heavier subsonic. Just wanted to see if you guys have any recommendations or thoughts to make sure it cycles smoothly and other considerations? More than likely will run a MDT xrs chassis

 

[linebaugh]

I built one on a savage. Have had no time to do anything with it so not much help. On the fence still as to if I should have went bushmaster since I plan to shoot subsonic cast bullets.
Feeding may be a bit of a bear to deal with. I shot mine just a few times and I am not happy with the internal mag feeding. Rebated rims and short front heavy cases makes it a bit of a challenge. I need to get back to this project.

 

[Aggie14]

Definitely keep me updated if you get back on it. I was hoping by using AICS mags I could tune it to feed a little easier. I don’t cast bullets so that’s why I was leaning socom. Other option is to just build an AR platform but I’m a bolt action guy

 

[XTR]

Personally I like the SOCOM, that’s what I built. Mine runs great with N120 and 405 subs or supers. Sounds like you’re building a Bolt gun. I run my gas gun with Lancer mags with a slight relief on the front.. Not sure what fits in a bolt.

 

[dantiff2]

Moving to Indiana in a couple months. I have a savage short action sitting in a box and was wanting to build off of it for public land Indiana. Was between a 450 bushmaster and the 458 socom. Chose the socom from the advantages of running heavier subsonic. Just wanted to see if you guys have any recommendations or thoughts to make sure it cycles smoothly and other considerations? More than likely will run a MDT xrs chassis

Nice! but you can do it all with the 450, trust me ; ) Anywhere from 185 gn pistol bullets all the way up to 500gn, if that's your flavor. I shoot cast 405's from mine routinely, I just size them down to .452 after I powder coat them. Barley even noticeable through a sizer die. If you decide that you want to hunt with subsonics, give the Hornady Sub-X a go. I'm running 395's from my bushy and they shoot GREAT! I think they are 410 gn for the 458. I can't speak for the SOCOM but the 450 feeds slick through a Ruger UNTIL you try to stick the bullet way out of the case (to get close to the lands). When you do that, it will nose dive because all of the weight is too far forward. This is not an issue for me since my gun loves a super short OAL. The plus about a shorter OAL is there's less case capacity, I believe this is why I get really low ES loads with my subs. Usually 10 FPS or lower with my 10-12 grain powder charges (depending on bullets). Keep us posted on your build! Nothing better than a big ole' heavy suppressed 45 cal!!
Here's a recovered 395 Sub-X bullet fired at sub velocity. Everyone I found looked almost identical.
Dan

 

[linebaugh]

I love the look of the socom case but as mentioned above when running subsonic I probably have too much case capacity. This is the only reason I say I think I should have went busmaster.

 

[dantiff2]

What led me to the decision of 450 over 458 was the ability to use literally every bullet option on the market. You can size down jacketed 458's to 452 if you want to. Some guys do it in multiple steps. Some do it in one pass. Lee sizer dies are really cheap and work perfect. If you don't cast your own, there's umpteen online retailers that sell coated bullets for outstanding prices. I tried the Acme bullets before buying my mold and rolling my own. They go up to 350 gn for 452 (45 colt), 500 gn for 45-70 and 576 gn in .458 dia for 458 socom. You can size any of those for use in the 450, if you're twist will stabilize them.
Dan

 

[spaniel]

I just built a bolt action SOCOM on a Rem700 with a 16" barrel explicitly to shoot suppressed hunting. It turned out great. The action I used ended up being well-used and given the short case length, the bolt face had a hard time holding onto that short case as it angled off the bolt face during extraction bouncing off the metal surfaces with the case mouth and usually dropping on top of the mag. I sent the bolt off to longrifles.com for an M16 extractor install, and that fixed it. I used the Wyatt's detachable mag system and it works wonderfully. I use Makers 500gr bullets for hunting, they feed perfectly as they are long and pointy. I got some flat nosed 500gr coated lead bullets for practice, they won't feed. The flat nose gets forced into the front of the mag too low and no nose to point them up to the chamber.

With a 46 Griffin Bushwacker they are hearing safe.

I shot the 500gr Maker bullet into water jugs, the bullet was caught in the 5th gallon jug with ~100% weight retention, expanded to at least 1.5" in diameter.

 

[Aggie14]

That’s excellent information. Really excited about this build! Thanks for the knowledge and testing. I’ll have to run factory ammo for a little while until I get moved and the reloading room gets set back up

 

[linebaugh]

Making some headway on my build if this helps you any. I am only planning to run cast subsonics IF I can get accuracy. I loaded about 40 rounds with two different powders and two different HP configurations. We shall see what velocity and accuracy look like this Friday.
440gr cast HP with a .150 boat tail, powder coated and seated just off the lands. The base extends just below the shoulder but the full diameter looks to still be ahead of the neck shoulder by about .050 by visual.

Feeding will possibly need addressed after I get the load development done and will need to mess with alloy and building a HP pin configuration that will open well from 1100 down to 900 without losing the bulk of the tip. Will keep you posted.

My buddy claims to have a cpl 5 gallon buckets with lids so may shoot some water at 100 and see if I can find a bullet. Not the best media I know but its better than nothing.

 

[dantiff2]

Making some headway on my build if this helps you any. I am only planning to run cast subsonics IF I can get accuracy. I loaded about 40 rounds with two different powders and two different HP configurations. We shall see what velocity and accuracy look like this Friday.
440gr cast HP with a .150 boat tail, powder coated and seated just off the lands. The base extends just below the shoulder but the full diameter looks to still be ahead of the neck shoulder by about .050 by visual.

Feeding will possibly need addressed after I get the load development done and will need to mess with alloy and building a HP pin configuration that will open well from 1100 down to 900 without losing the bulk of the tip. Will keep you posted.

My buddy claims to have a cpl 5 gallon buckets with lids so may shoot some water at 100 and see if I can find a bullet. Not the best media I know but its better than nothing.

I hope you can find some accuracy with these. They look great for your intended purpose. If you have trouble with your load, try some Unique powder. I get Outstanding accuracy and single digit es with my sub loads (450BM). A good buddy uses BlutDot in his 450 and 300BO with great results also.
Dan

 

[XTR]

Not sure how accurate you need it to be. My gas gun with 405s shoots about 1moa with or without my can on. I consider mine to be a 100 yd gun so an inch at 100 is more that good enough for anything I plan to shoot with a bullet that heavy.