The 450 Bushmaster and 50 Beowulf are excellent deer hunting options for Midwest states that require the use of straight-walled cartridges. I dont see really see the niche where this cartridge fits in: Once you get over the giggle/fun factor, is there any application that this would really excel in? Even though you reload, 50 Beowulf bullets and brass are nowhere near as cheap or available as converted .223 and .30 caliber bullets. He probably wouldnt have even needed a spare magazine and would be alive drinking Danish ale today.Whats the .50 Beowulf?In short, the .50 Beowulf is an elephantine round designed to increase stopping power of an AR-15-platform rifle by a factor of 10 billion or so. Thats a classy, classy weapon. Check out the two holes at 9 oclock on this target. Anyone have any advise? Hmmm.I see a new legislative agenda in the works. Its going to take time to get your gun. So that it can use a 7.62x39 mm bolt face, the case rim is rebated, or smaller than the case body. And wait. The .243, 7mm-08, etc. Sure there are the other two members of the big three but only the Beowulf actually matches the ballistics of the .45-70 and if you have a job that needs a big hammer, why not use the biggest, meanest, most powerful hammer in the toolbox? Good.OK, so to be honest, I didnt pay attention in English Lit class either. If your AR platform fires 7.62x39, .300 AAC, or even .50 Beowulf, the heaviest buffer weight is your go-to, as it will help reduce the recoil and cycle the larger rounds. If I lived in a rifle deer zone Id own one because: 1. That upper costs $1,012 plus the cost of upgrades. Theres no denying that the pairing of the AR-15 platform and the 223 Remington is an exceptional match. The SOCOM round can fire bullets within the same 200-600 grain range, though 250gr, 300gr, and 350gr factory loads are the most common. Thought a Beretta shotgun was out of your budget? .50 Beowulf.22 Nosler.45 Bushmaster.458 SOCOM; . I will try to post a report after I have assembled it and taken it for a spin. Thats reasonable to me, but to you maybe not. However, this is where the similarities end as both cartridges have a different intended purpose. My short barrel 308 is my range toy/SHTF if needed rifle. If a related requirement calls for going into vehicle interiors without using the handles meaning right through the doors or body, the same benefits apply. With a suppressor. The limiting reagent is the magwell. But, quickly growing in popularity are the stalwart 7.6239 mm and the newer .300 AAC Blackout that, ballistics-wise, can be quite similar. Sure, the upper kit makes it muzzle heavy, but that doesnt make it too clumsy to handle. A 438-grain slug leaving the barrel at 1,610 feet per second carries 2,520 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. AA, Midway and other retailers offer several more expensive ammo flavors, but all ammo costs can be mitigated by reloading. The 450 Bushmaster dominates in terms of muzzle velocity as it leaves the barrel at a whopping 2,200 fps, which is 300 fps faster than the 458 SOCOM and 425 fps faster than the 50 Beowulf. 308 vs 50 Beowulf - penetration test. IF you didnt cancel the order it is being prepared for delivery or partial delivery. The 450 Bushmaster has higher muzzle velocity, more kinetic energy, and a longer effective range than the 50 Beowulf. Yes, precisely. This bullet is absolutely devastating to large game so long as your shot placement is on point. The chart below compares how much a 10 mile per hour crosswind impacts those same .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, 50 Beowulf, and .45-70 loads out to 300 yards. I mostly went with this caliber because it makes a nice SBR, found out about suppressor abilities and I'm itching to slap one on there now. The 50 Beowulf was the first of the three thumper rounds to hit the market in early 2001 although the 458 SOCOM was released shortly after in the same year while the 450 Bushmaster was released in 2007. Its been exploited by creative designers to chamber more and more specialty cartridges such as the 6.5 Grendel (co-created by the aforementioned Bill Alexander), 300 AAC Blackout, 6.5 Creedmoor, 224 Valkyrie, and 6.8 Remington SPC. I have used different lowers with the same result. Free recoil is dependent on bullet weight, rifle weight, muzzle velocity, and powder charge. On the other hand, development of the 458 SOCOM began in 2000 in response to a conversation (supposedly at a barbecue) between Marty Ter Weeme of Teppo Jutsu LLC and a member of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) surrounding the ineffectiveness of the 5.56 NATO round in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. The reason Mr. A went with the 7.6239 head size was, per an interview he did about it, because thats the largest he could make an AR bolt without significantly weakening the lugs. Ammo selection is great in both super- and sub-sonic while being easy to find in basically every LGS. The .45-70 is too long to fit into the mag well of an AR-15. Greg in Allstons presentation is so grooved that every shot he takes with any rifle looks exactly the same, and he shot the Beowulf offhand to great effect. The bullet diameter is only slightly larger at 0.51". The 50 is the heaviest bullet of the three, but it has the lowest BC due to its design. This royally ticks off the monster's mom (yes, really), so Beowulf uses a giant sword to slay her, too. Although their case length is different, the 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM have the same maximum overall length of 2.26" as this is the longest cartridge length that can be used in an AR-15 receiver. Good technique seems to be the difference between an exciting shooting experience and the onset of bursitis. Its just a tad more than the .223 cousin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ammo cost is also an issue, but not as big an issue as you might think. Already have a 12.5 inch barreled 308 but the 300 blackout keeps sticking in my head. And for those shooters who just want MORE, this trifecta of Thumper rounds can provide all the kinetic energy and recoil your heart could desire the 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 50 Beowulf. Was looking for AP bullets for the beo but doesn't look like anyone makes them. 350 Legend vs 300 Blackout: Everything You Need To Know No action needs to be taken by you Thats fair. 12 pistol upper w/ pepper pot brake $921.99 from Midwayusa. If you have a 308, I don't think you'd get much out of a 300 blackout. Its for when the Terminators come. The .50 Beowulf uses a slightly larger diameter bullet of .500 inches, whereas the .458 SOCOM uses a .458-inch diameter bullet. Removing the bolt carrier group (BCG) for a look-see, theres another apparent difference. For larger game like elk, black bear, and even moose, Id favor the 458 SOCOM primarily due to the Barnes 300gr TTSX bullet as it was designed specifically for this cartridge. The whole process takes a few minutes and is extremely easy to do. Four 5.56 bullets would fit very neatly into that single .50 caliber hole, and thatsbefore expansion. Easy to reload(no shoulder to reshape) Slugs and powder are easy to find(thank you 500 s&w). Standard mags should work. Moose? in this video we compare the 308 winchester. There are many different kinds of pistols out there, and whats right for one person might not be right for you. Once again we see that the .450 Bushmaster load outperforms all the others in terms of wind drift and the .50 Beowulf comes in last. As a . Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. But, its not so heavy that it will overwhelm the physical ability of a slightly-built, sub-130 lb. And the extra mass probably helped to mitigate recoil. by Mike Hardesty Posted in: Caliber Comparisons 5 comments Read More 1 of 3 Thats also why AAs Grendel and Beowulf barrels/bolts arent compatible with other Grendel and 12.742 (Beowulf w/o the copyright) barrels/bolts. Therefore, short and thick bullets have to be used instead of more aerodynamic designs. However, custom ammo manufacturers often make their own 50 Beowulf loads under the metric designation 12.7x42mm. My 300blk pistol is very forgiving and typically cycles most loads and I like to push limits on low power and high end to see what is possible just for the hell of it. The round can cover more yards and keep velocity better than its heavier counterpart. I have a .223 AR which I enjoy and am proficient with. TWO SHOTS, TWO JAMS. Recoil, while prodigious when compared to the light 5.56, is manageable. 4. Especially for folks like me who HATE tracking. There are lots of .45 caliber bullet choices for reloading. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. While the projectile weights are in the same ballpark, the .50 Beowulf is going to deliver longer range and better accuracy. So it comes down to this one question: is the pure fun of shooting this beast worth the waiting time and money? Mate the upper to your favorite lower, which will tip the scales at anywhere from 2.2 to 3.0 pounds, add the obligatory doodads and a full magazine, and the whole megillah has a bit of heft. Needless to say I got tired of ducking. It is unlikely that the whitetail or hog in your sights will be able to detect any differences in penetration, however the 458 and 50 will penetrate just a bit deeper than the 450. 223, 308, or 243. Our buddy Dave describes the .50 slug, especially the HP, as a flying ashtray. I use the plated rainier 330grn bullets most the time in the Beowulf, they are around $0.20 a piece. A standard .50 BMG cartridge fires a full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet weighing 647 grain, nearly double some of the 50 Beowulf bullets. at those same distances. Tel: 540-443-9250 Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 EST M-F Email: support@alexanderarms.com Address: 104 Centre Court, Radford, VA 24141 86# doe, shot in the left shoulder, the lump you see is the bullet under the hide on the off side. Although the 50 fires the largest caliber bullet of the three, its inefficient bullet design hemorrhages velocity and kinetic energy down range and has gone completely subsonic at 200 yards. $800 for an upper. You know, I would normally think of this as a novelty item, but as of this year we in Ohio can now hunt Deer with rifles other than muzzle loaders, but there is a catch We have to use a rifle chambered for straight wall pistol cartridges, such as .44 mag, 9mm, .45, etc. As a big, powerful but slow, short- to medium-distance round thats about the size of a cocktail weenie, the .50 Beowulf is reputedly versatile enough to do the business on elk, grizzly, bison, hogzillas and your brother-in-laws big block Chevy . Developed by Alexander Arms, not much is known about the genesis of the 50 Beowulf as Bill Alexander is known for keeping company matters a closely guarded secret. Enter the big bore, semi-auto rifle, that doesnt need a ton of range. I reload so either won't be a problem. Being ,self indulgent, I have both. But if I could only own one or the other, I would have to choose the .50 Beowulf. In Michigan the only way I can have a loaded gun in my truck is if its a pistol with my cpl. CLEARED THE JAM, INSPECTED THE CLIP, LOCKED IT BACK IN AND THE DAMN GUN JAMMED AGAIN. I use a Leupold 14 shotgun scope and its plenty of magnification. While comfort was totally dependent on technique, ease of shooting accurately was somewhat dependent on the lower. A regular .223 rifle will deliver between two and four foot-pounds of recoil, usually in the three-plus range for most loads. However, this massive case capacity is needed for the massive 0.458" diameter bullets that the SOCOM round fires. Although there are minor differences between these three rounds, all of them have similar performance out to 150 yards. An AR by any other name will cause PSH in the faint of heart and rationality. Both very capable at 150-200yds. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win. I personally have a couple of these modular systems that include .22, 9 mm, .223, 7.62 x 39, .450 Bushmaster thumper, and a .50 Beowulf. Would be doing an AR setup instead of a bolt action. The 600 grain Brenneke slugs for smooth bores carry less velocity but more energy. The .50 Beowulf is interchangeable with AR-15 lowers and uses box mags. The 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM have similar ballistic performance out to 250 yards, which is the maximum effective range for both rifle cartridges. What am I missing? 450 Bushmaster vs 30 06: Heavy Recoil Hunting Cartridges Collide Tried to edit the above post but it didnt take so Ill do it here. Great review, Ralph. I have no proof of that, just what I read so it might be wrong., Anywho, doesnt change the point I was getting tothe why not use the biggest, meanest, most powerful hammer in the toolbox?, Also, in full disclosure, I am a Beowulf fan girl, I love them. Most of the excess weight will be forward, as this carbine starts out muzzle-heavy and only gets worse from there. 450 Bushmaster vs 458 SOCOM vs 50 Beowulf: Battle Of The Big Bore AR By the time your new upper arrives, youre going to be as excited as the time you had your first blind date with your first sure thing. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. In contrast, the 458 SOCOM fires a 0.458 diameter bullet which is much more common as this bullet diameter is used by rounds such as the .45-70 Government, 458 Winchester Magnum, 450 Marlin, 460 Weatherby, and 458 Lott. Although it fires a lighter bullet, the 458 SOCOM has a maximum effective range of around 250 yards on large game while the less efficient bullet design of the Beowulf limits its effective range to 150 yards. I use a Leupold VX-R 1.25-4X20 HOG scope with FireDot illuminated reticle and it turns a .50 Beowulf into just the most amazing carbine/rifle (mines a 16 barrel) you could ever imagine for wild hogs, elk, moose, bison, brown bear, Sasquatchs, Yetis, Wooly Mammoth, great white sharks, rogue elephants, hippos, rhinosauruses and flying tryranasauruses. I replied it had been sent two days earlier and quickly got a second email saying it had been received but misplaced. Would work nicely should I luck out and draw a moose permit. Although developed under different circumstances, both the Beowulf and the SOCOM share the same parent case. Speaking of box magazines, the company offers an optimized version but the round will work with standard GI magazines. At that point, you are blurring the line between rifle and portable cannon. The 458 has well over double the case capacity of the 300 BLK at 61.1 gr vs 26.5 gr. If you were considering getting one but were scared off by the long wait times you should know there are no current delays. Although factory loads can be a little pricey for these big bore AR rounds, handloading is one method shooters utilize to reduce their overall cost per round. Just yesterday I purchased a 10.5 pistol upper from Radical Firearms 50 Beo from Primaryarms.com on sale for $419.95 (I got them to price match what Radical FA was selling them at). Overall, if you want one gun that will break down into an extremely modest space that you can carry around unnoticed and has multi-caliber capability, this is the gun for you. The perfect niche for such a weapon that otherwise seems unnecessary, but fills a specific role most dont consider better than most other rifles can. In contrast, the 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM have an effective range of 250 yards for deer and 150 yards for elk. I miss it and I'd really like to get another one. On the plus side, it is a high quality stainless steel barrel. And wait some more. Concerning the weight of the wulf upper. We didnt fling a ton of lead downrange, so I cant represent our testing as a full 500 round shoulder crushing shoot em up. Anything .308 / 7.62 x 51 based will not fit into an AR-15 mag well. Adapting new calibers to the AR-15 rifle is nothing new, and cartridges like the 300 Blackout, 224 Valkyrie, 6.8 SPC, and 6.5 Grendel have all been moderately successful. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Regardless of which cartridge you choose, make sure you get all your ammunition here at Ammo.com and get out to the range so you are always ready to defend freedom should the need arise. For the 458, the most common options available are AR-15 rifles from manufacturers like Tromix, Wilson Combat, and Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA). Whats not as obvious is that the Alexander Arms upper receivers include a bolt carrier and bolt compatible with that 7.62x39 mm rebated cartridge rim. I appreciate your appreciation . It is most a Gee Wiz cool kid toy. Wow. A Safety Harbor .50BMG upper would also be nice. Mine is on a RRA receiver. LeGendre cites Lt. Col. Jeff Coopers writings on the Thumper concept as his inspiration for creating the 450 BM. Ballistic coefficient (BC) is a measure of how aerodynamic a bullet is and how well it will resist wind deflection. It is incumbent upon the reloader to progress in a safe manner. The fun factor alone merits four stars. Not to mention having to walk around with a massive erection from carrying that much problem solving. The 300 AAC Blackout and 308 Winchester are both 30-caliber rifle cartridges that shoot a .308" diameter bullet. .50 Beowulf ballistics are similar to the venerable .45-70. Ed, those are Hornady 300gr FTX (flex tip, expanding), Tried some in my reloads and their terminal performance was lacking compared to the 335 Rainier HP. 300 Blackout vs 7.62x39: Everything You Need To Know The cartridge is just short enough to fit in a standard AR magazine, although for obvious reasons (it's fat) it wont double stack like .223 Rem./5.56 NATO cartridges. thanks. Shooting hundreds of rounds in a single range session from such a powerful rifle is not my idea of a great time, but it isnt torture. Yes, agreed. Its not really a measurement of error, so much as an estimation of destruction. Rest assured that standard 5.56 mags can handle the Beowulf effortlessly. Still, if were headed out to the prairie for a bit of early morning bison blasting, youre the one who gets to hump the rifle there and the buffalo meat back, and Ill carry the sandwiches. A couple of frangible loads are available for door lock busting and training use..50 Beowulf AmmunitionAs a proprietary cartridge, ammunition choices are somewhat limited. The rapid fire capability and fun factor of the .50 is unparalleled. Im referring to recoil. You wont have to guess which is the .50 Beowulf and which is the 5.56 NATO. Like a good facelift, theres a visible but not a dramatic difference. Felt recoil will differ from shooter to shooter and is dependent on shooting position, stance, and the firearm being used. Grendel and his cranky mom have already been dispatched by the Beowulf, but theres still plenty of perfectly good applications for this thumper. In terms of rifle availability, there are considerably more options for the 450 Bushmaster compared to the 458 SOCOM and 50 Beowulf. They're nice, but nothing out of the ordinary. [emailprotected], the other question does any one cast bullets for this Cal. This upper and round look perfect for taking down some white tails and getting more use out of my AR than plinking or just in case shtf. Would have to assume its at max powder. I got mine when they first came out. Maybe redo some of the old muskets that shot .75 caliber balls. A straight-walled cartridge is necessary for deer hunting in Midwest states like Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan while the bottlenecked design aids in reliable feeding. 300 AAC Blackout 30-30 Winchester 30-06 Springfield 308 Winchester 50 Beowulf 5.45x39 7mm Remington Magnum 7mm-08 Remington 7.62x39 7.62x54R . .300 BLK vs. Grizzly - AR15.COM The photo below also illustrates the other obvious difference between the 5.56 and the .50 Beowulf. When evaluating centerfire rifle cartridges, its a good idea to analyze the cartridge specs to gain more knowledge of each. Its a great gun and the accuracy was excellent. In terms of muzzle energy, the 450 Bushmaster continues to outperform at 2,687 ft-lbs, followed by the 50 Beowulf at 2,448 ft-lbs, with the 458 SOCOM bringing up the rear at 2,405 ft-lbs. The 450 Bushmaster (or 450 BM) was developed by Tim LeGendre of LeMAG Firearm. Glad to know Im not the only one that was thinking 45-70 the whole time. Theres a reason why this class of rifle cartridges are known as thumper rounds. Its for when the fence breaks down in Jurrassic Park T rex? A week later I got a reply to the first question with no acknowledgement that I had actually placed an order a week earlier. . Although the terminal ballistics and effective range of all three rounds are similar, each cartridge is unique and has its own advantages and disadvantages that shooters need to weigh before upgrading their AR-15. Typically, longer and heavier bullets will have a higher BC as they can resist wind drift more efficiently. In doing so, I am debating / weighing the pros and cons of the 3 heaviest calibers available for the AR platform, those being the .50 Beowulf by Alexander Arms, the .450 Bushmaster (by Bushmaster, obviously) and, the .458 SOCOM. I stole one from an inexpensive starter AR(Stag model1+) I have a 2 stage tactical trigger and an PRS stock ready to assemble for it.. Gun Review: .50 Beowulf Overmatch Upper - The Truth About Guns That said, I had to have a big bore too. However, if youre in the door-kicking business, you might be interested in the 12-inch barrel version. I also hear tell that its a fine platform for traditional rounds such as the .243 Winchester. The first time I ever got to shoot steel plates with it was awesome. So, like Dave, you may be able to track your personal Beowulf build, and as long as youre patient youll get your big bore AR upper sooner or later. just checked, depending on the bullet the .50 beowulf muzzle energy tops out at just above 3,000 ft lbs, so I should good. Hunters generally consider 1,000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy the minimum amount required for harvesting a whitetail and 1,500 ft-lbs for elk. Can load my AP bullets in the 300 too. Good point. Not a little .45 or .458its a real FIVE OH! An H3 buffer and heavy duty buffer spring mitigates recoil quite a bit. Itll fragment against hard surfaces like steel, but for organic targets, its drill-bit-like shape is designed to transfer energy to the target using fancy fluid dynamics. barrel. You can have an upper chambered in literally anything, it just might only be single shot. Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Ralph, you want pictures of expansion from the wulf, here ya go. Maybe for me, but not for you. For the purposes of this comparison, we will analyze the ballistic performance of the 250 gr Hornady FTX for 450 Bushmaster, the Barnes 300-grain TTSX loaded by Buffalo Bore for 458 SOCOM, and the 350gr XTP jacketed hollow point loaded by Underwood Ammo for 50 Beowulf. The AA upper parts alone weigh in at 4.45 to 5.37 pounds, which is light for a newborn calf but not for half a rifle. My 300BLK suppressed sbr is a bit more than just a "fun gun" for me. Perhaps the biggest difference between these three cartridges is their case design itself. Lets put it in perspective comparing it to something we all know and love: a 12-gauge slug. I like my 300blk cause it uses the same bullets as my 308's. 300 Blackout vs 308 Win - Caliber Comparison by Ammo.com The 50 Beowulf also has higher recoil. Slim Fit Leather Jackets is an online store that sells jackets for men and women with free shipping all over the world! View Quote. Designed for shots within 250 yards or less (<150 yards for the Beowulf), these three rounds deliver crippling kinetic energy that can transform any AR-15 into a capable hog and deer hunting rifle. The family resemblance between the Beowulf carbine and your basic AR-15 is obvious. A.308 is on its way sometime soon. Only a liberal would call it a (clip). Forget the 300 Blackout for Grizzly Bears, would it kill one, yes, but why take a chance. Jacketed 45 ACP bullets measure 0.451 in diameter while the 450 Bushmaster requires the slightly wider 0.452 diameter bullets. . On an episode of some weapons show on the Military Channel, Mr. Alexander described the Beowulf as, a wrecking ball I wholeheartedly agree. We all need a rifle that hurls a 2000 grain bullet. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. But there is a charm to a .45-70 in a big, honkin lever action (yeah, I know old school).
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