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Posted: 11/9/2007 2:11:36 PM EDT
| Say I have X-Ball to figure out trajectory data etc. But what I can't find is muzzle velocity and Ballistic Coefficient for the .458 SOCOM. I'd like to see the data on this round up to 1000 yds. |
| Without the BC of the bullet and the velocity it is impossible to figure the trajectory to 100 yards, let alone 1000 yards. I can tell you this, even with relatively high BC bullets like the Barnes X bullet, 300 gr. with a BC of about .302 after 200 to 250 yards the bullet is dropping like a rock. To get it 1000 yards you would have to be holding so high as to be ridiculous. For instance, with this particular bullet at 1750 fps, actual measurement with a BC of .302, with a 300 yard zero MRT at 175 yards is +17.6 inches and drop at 1000 yards is -1,300+ inches (over 108 feet and roughly 103 MOA). The .458 SOCOM is a lot of things, but a long range target or hunting load it is not. |
I kinda figured it wasn't much better than the .50 cal pistol round or 30-30. Fairly accurate within 100yds and drops like a brick after that. I did see some bullets for the .456 that almost looked like a Hornady V-Max tip and it sparked my curiosity, especially when some places are saying great for anything North America can throw at you. But there again. I could find nothing on ballistic coefficient and velocity for this round to see what it does on the chart. |
I'm such a dummy sometimes. It was right in the software. I thought I had tried to look it up once. Man, Thing stops to drop pretty hard outside of 100. No offense to the guys that have one but I personally cant think of a use other than "because I can" for that thing.
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She was meant for up close and personal, but 720 yards against a 2x2 gong with iron sights and 500 gr loads is not unheard of ... then again, the .45-70 was a 1000 yard rifle as well ... The original design intent was for very heavy (500-600 gr) slugs subsonic at short range. Ironically, it ended up mimicking the .45-70 low pressure loads with the 300 gr JHP, making it a very nice brush round. Great for deer and hogs at the 100-150 yard mark.  
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The .458 SOCOM IS great for any North American big game animal. Everyone has differing opinions, but I feel if you can't get within 200 yards of an animal, you don't need to be shooting at it in the first place. 
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Fosgate, I am not trying to sound like a 458S cheerleader, but do you realize that your post questioning the usefulness of the 458 is basically saying that there is no use for a 45-70 class weapon out there. I know a whole bunch of folks who might take exception to that line of reasoning, myself included. Seriously, working within the distance limitations, you are not gonna find an animal on this continent that cannot be cleanly harvested with a 458S. If you are not into hunting and are looking for some major horsepower for your AR, the 458S (and other big bore AR rounds) all are fantastic. It all depends on what you are trying to do. Craig |
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I bowhunt (Bowtech Liberty at 62lbs) for deer etc. I like to target shoot long range and also shoot Coyote and Prarie dogs at long range. It's not a matter if I know how to get in close for a shot. (That's obvious with my bowhuntng experience) Shooting deer within 200yds is something that nearly everyone can claim. But how many people can claim shoot at a target 600yds+ and know they will hit what they are aiming for. I myself am not quite ready to graduate to Deer, antelope and elk at long range but I will be soon as I get my consitancy up a little higher before I try. I'm not saying there is no use for the .458. Just not a use I could justify spending the cash on with the exception of me being an attention whore showing it off to my buddies. (not implying anyone here is one, I'm saying I, myself would be one if I had it.) |
A lot of people could....but why? If that's what you want to do, you should be looking in the Win Mag, Ultra mag, Lapua Mag families. Certainly nothing in the AR-15 mag length family is going to give you 100% clean, humane kills at 600+ yards. You might get hits, but they might be less than humane. |
Hell a 223 or 308 would do this without problem |
Kind of like owning a Harley or an AR-15, If I hae to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand. I saw a video a couple years ago that really intrigued me. I bought the 2 dvd sets and started researching long range shooting on my own. Suprisingly it's not as difficult as I thought it would be once I had the knowledge. I think my next upper will probably be a .260 or .300 SAUM www.thebestofthewest.net/longrangeshootingforhunters.html |
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You'll hear a sharp "SNAP" and a cool rush up yar' arse if you set the 100yds POI at 2 inches high.  Yes, with a 1.5" scope above bore input. |
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Fosgate, It sounds like we have a LOT in common. I bowhunt and varmint hunt (shoot), and yes with the proper equipment it's not hard to hit things at extended range. I offed a PD a month ago at 625 yards with my varmint 556, and it was darn windy. It took a few rounds to get on, but I found when looking over the scene of the crime downrange, that I had quite a few rounds that were not much more than a PD tail away from hits. Any of them would have been lung shots on a deer, but I would NEVER do that with a 556 at that range. Gotta match the range with the animal with the cartridge with your personal beliefs about hunting. I have my 458S set up nicely to hit targets way out there, even with the rock drop trajectory. I have 30 moa in drop lines in my Nightforce scope, and about double that left on my elevation knob. For the naysers that say it can't be done, a 300 grain 458 bullet has to go a very long way before it's on target energy would be much lower than say the lowly underpowdered for game 44 mag  . And to be perfectly honest if I needed to I could see myself taking that shot on a deer size animal. But I actually prefer to work to get closer. Much closer. Back to my point of what is physically possible v. personal ethics.Craig Craig |
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It would drop more realistically if you punch in the proper numbers in your ballistic program... good luck getting 2600 fps out of a 300 grain in 458 SOCOM!!!!! Try 1900 to 200 fps... then you will dispise it even more. You better stick with the lightning rod and wounded animals at 600 yard. It's okay, the coyotes will finish off what you leave bleeding with your poorly placed 600 yard shot with the .260 REM. That way you can spend more time around the camp-fire ... "being an attention whore showing it off to my buddies." I'll stick with the .458 SOCOM at less than 200 yards or the .308 at less than 300 yards - even if I "KNOW" I can hit a target at greater ranges. I chose not to be careless and wasteful with the limited wildlife resources that we have in our dry state. |
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