We find it difficult to say that this small difference would lead to a difference in accuracy, but in theory, the higher performing .458 SOCOM rounds should be easier to put on target at greater distances than the .50 Beowulf. Many reasons why I hate how ubi chooses firearms I feel that they find anything that looks cool and just add it rather then a actual useful firearm and theres plenty and Im also mentioning variants as well. Most of the factory ammo for 50 Beowulf comes from Alexander Arms as they hold the trademark on the cartridge name. The .50 Beowfulf is also box magazine fed, so it tin can be reloaded more quickly than a tube-fed 12-estimate shotgun. .50 Beowulf | Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf RIFLES PISTOLS AMMO ACCESSORIES PARTS BIGGER AND BETTER In the AR-15 platform, our .50 Beowulf is the top of the food chain. it fires .50 beowulf which, compared with 5.56, looks like this: https://i.redd.it/55i14yk4o5gx.jpg, Of course it won't be quad stacked but it would probably have more than 10 rounds. What we can comment on, however, is what it was like to fire this thing. Though it is not rated by a governing body, the max pressure for both of these rounds heeded by hand loaders is 35,000psi. brass . The 450 Bushmaster (or 450 BM) was developed by Tim LeGendre of LeMAG Firearm. The .50 Beowulf uses a slightly larger diameter bullet of .500 inches, whereas the .458 SOCOM uses a .458-inch diameter bullet. This allows the use of a 6.5mm bolt head, just with a .50 Beowulf extractor. For self-defense, the reason for wanting a round with incredible stopping power is obvious. The .50 Beowulf would appear to render body armor fairly irrelevant. All three rounds have a rebated rim design, meaning their rim is narrower than their cartridge base. The 450 BM and 458 SOCOM have the same rim diameter of 0.473, which is the same as the 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, and 270 Win. Which bothers me, yes we have 3 armors but thats why we still use 5.56x45 and 7.62x39 and they still do the job. The highest performing round at this mark is still a .50 Beowulf, but the averages begin to look similar. Even if the .499 quotient round failed to penetrate the armor, who cares? 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. And like most ballistic numbers, environmental conditions can change these slightly from day to day based on temperature and pressure, among others. (It does look cool though.) Lastly, the 450 Bushmaster fires 0.452 diameter bullets ranging between 158-300 grains while the 250 and 260 grain bullets are the most popular factory loads. A few of these include the bullet design and the speed of the bullet. We also see that there is not much of trend between the two cartridges in regards to one showing consistently higher or lower velocities. This is a small sample size, though maybe not with the amount of factory loaded options out there, but with handloading you could increase the BC with these cartridges by using certain bullets that just are not available in factory loads at the moment. If Im not mistaken, the Beowulf does use standard AR platform magazines. YouTube armor testers such as Buffman R.A.N.G.E. The higher the ballistic coefficient, the better the bullet can resist wind drag and wind drift which would make the bullet less likely to be pulled off of its flight path and, in theory, be more accurate. I know it doesn't have even close to the same range as the bmg, but at 200 yards does it have the same stopping power? Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes, daily! In the chart below, we will compare muzzle velocity, kinetic energy, and bullet drop for each cartridge assuming a 100 yard zero. With a degree in Microbiology and several years of doctoral work manipulating bacterial genes, he attempts to merge the rational and unbiased thinking of scientific research with the passions of hunting and fishing. Accuracy when discussing a comparison of any two cartridges and even any two rounds of the same cartridge can lead down a road of arguments hotter and more passionate than any political debate. It should be noted that it is not advised to use 45 ACP handgun bullets for reloading the 450 Bushmaster. Trusted Information and Education News Media. For the tape, DefRev hopes the Leitner-Wise Mini-.50 tin indeed live up to all the hype that has surrounded information technology since it was first reported by Defence industry sources similar AFJI(War machine Periodical International), because we believe the .499 quotient concept to be a feasible one. Anyway, thats the chief scenario I can see at the moment. At this point, the .50 Beowulf rounds, besides ones, show higher bullet energies than the .458 SOCOM rounds. If youre planning to go big game hunting in the near future, this round is an excellent choice. Cqb is just a bonus for attacking to immediately put the the enemy out of the fight. He teaches in Ottawa, Canada as a part time engineering professor and is the national affairs correspondent forGun News Daily. A .50 Beowulf Entry model might be a welcome tool if a unit had to get up against a well-armed and armored threat, or 1 barricaded behind a car or inside a dwelling of some kind, particularly if the good guys wanted to be able to put the threat down with i shot. Recently, the author has learned (from a highly trusted industry source) that Leitner-Wises failure to deliver a gun to us may be due to some kind of reliability/functioning or immovability problems with the Mini-.50 that the company could be experiencing. The .50 Beowulf Entry carbine launches a 325-400 grain half-inch slug downrange at 1900-2000 fps. The ballistic coefficient gives you an idea of how streamlined a bullet is. Mabe even Bison at close range, especially if youre shooting at them from horseback(I saw it in Dances with Wolves, o.k.?). On the other hand, the 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM can remain supersonic past 300 yards. Nonetheless, to date, DefRev hasnt received any solid bear witness, i.e. It hits with a mammoth 2,878 foot-pounds of kinetic energy, and it drops 50 inches by the 300-yard mark. Where to Buy Ammo Online [Complete 2021 Guide], Best Gun Cleaning Kits [AR-15, Pistol & Universal], Best Shooting Gloves [Hands-On Tested, 2021 Update], Best Universal Red Dot Sights [Hands-on Review], Best AR-10 Magazines: Ultimate Buyers Guide. If we take the averages of the rounds for each cartridge we see that there is never more than 100ft.lb difference between the two. The 450 Bushmaster has higher muzzle velocity, more kinetic energy, and a longer effective range than the 50 Beowulf. There is also a fine line with penetration for self-defense rounds as well. Sorry that some of the video is a bit cloudy. A Defense Review associate who also fired a few one-half-inch projectiles downrange tin attest to the same pleasurable feel. Of course, with some tinkering with your rifle, you can make this recoil much more manageable. Join 212,000 avid gun enthusiasts and claim your print-at-home shooting drills. Also 3armors are a rare thing to see, and most of a defending team has 3speeds on a in game team. Reply fredrick-vontater Additional comment actions. The 450 BM and 458 SOCOM have the same rim diameter of 0.473", which is the same as the 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, and 270 Win. Designed by Alexander Arms, the .50 Beowulf was actually the first of these three big bore AR cartridges to hit the market and, firing .500 bullets, is the largest of the group. If we have two bullets with the same weight, but different diameters, the smaller diameter localizes the force to a smaller area and gives you deeper penetration. On the other hand, the 458 SOCOM offers similar ballistic performance to the 450 Bushmaster with heavier bullets. However, Im sure that whatsoever experienced and proficient big game hunters reading this article can figure something out. Velocity influences certain characteristics and is itself influenced by others. Normally, velocity is critical for both hunting and self-defense for a variety of reasons including performance at long range, proper expansion, and penetration. And, the possibilities in terms of creative and safe inanimate targets, under well-controlled shooting conditions in the vast wide open spaces of the great outdoors, is near endless. We both enjoyed the fact that when we pulled that trigger, nosotros actually felt similar we were shooting something. We are using computer data that was compiled from the manufacturers websites as well as from trusted ballistic calculators. We also have not mentioned the subsonic 458 SOCOM round up to this point which takes a dive past the 300 yard mark, but its not an issue as subsonic rounds are almost exclusively used for close range applications. The troops would hunt the Snipe, a small and nimble bird considered extremely challenging to shoot. The most common choice is an AR-15 in the standard .223/5.56 NATO. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. If you just want a gun to shoot at the range, an AR-15 in .50 Beowulf will provide plenty of excitement, and youre sure to get peoples attention while youre there. Design and specifications The . Factory ammo from Alexander Arms will run you around $1.70/round while custom ammo for hunting or personal defense will typically cost around $3/round. So, whats my analysis regarding the viability of the .499 cal. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. We dont mean these rounds will knock you down, but when used in lighter AR platforms for competition, home defense, and even for some hunting situations, you want to be able to get quick shots in succession off at times and recoil can hamper that. However, as any AR-15 rifle is a potential host with a simple barrel, bolt, and magazine change, this means there are a lot of potential rifles on the market for all three cartridges. it only does 62 damage and 10 rounds in a mag and insanely high recoil. Davidson Defense 'Transfer Burn' 18" AR-15 12.7x42 (.50 BW) Manganese Phosphate Rifle Upper Build Kit $569.99 $254.99 Gauntlet Arms AR-15 18" 12.7X42, Mid Gas, 1:20T, Phosphate Barrel New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. In the land of the Geats, today southwestern Sweden, the most powerful of all living warriors Beowulf hears of Hrothgar's dilemma. DefRev highly recommends the Aimpoint CompM2 red dot optical gunsight to anyone interested in a top of the line tactical crimson dot site for CQB or recreational plinking. August 06, 2003. . The reason was again because of the low stopping power with the traditional rounds, and a large, .50 cal cartridge gave the promise for a round with devastating power in close quarters to mid range shots. I was supposed to receive the Mini-.fifty within a couple of weeks. Well, its now been over six months, and nevertheless no gun. So, those who were successful in hunting the bird were nicknamed, Snipers. When evaluating centerfire rifle cartridges, its a good idea to analyze the cartridge specs to gain more knowledge of each. 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. Prices for these cartridges are steep: over $1 per round and can even be over $2 per round, depending on what you choose. It was nice and loud (just like a .499 cal weapon should be), and the gun gave such a reassuring rearward push upon firing, that I just had to smile. It is designed to be a light, short range, but hard-hitting round in a semi-automatic configuration. At present, without doing the bodily math, that translates to some serious free energy numbers. 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. It is helpful to know that even the modified mags still fire 5.56 and feed proficiently into the chamber. One thing that jumps out to us is that all of the rounds bleed off velocity pretty rapidly, though we also have to keep in mind that these rounds are designed for much closer range shooting than 400 and 500 yards. In this article we will analyze each cartridge to help you decide which Thumper round will work best for your shooting needs. Sectional density (SD) is a way to evaluate the penetration ability of a bullet based on its external dimensions, design, and weight. Press J to jump to the feed. Four of the five .458 SOCOM rounds break the .2 mark while only to .50 Beowulf round do so, and they also have two rounds below the .15 mark. We have offered you what we can, but we also recommend getting a little experience with both if you have the chance. Both of these rounds can and are used at the range as well as for hunting purposes, so these sections are still relevant. Most .50 Beowulf ammo you'll come across falls in the 300-400 grain range, and even at the very low end you're still looking at a muzzle velocity of nearly 1900 fps, which translates into 2,300 foot-pounds of energy. How much energy is required to take down an animal or neutralize a target varies, and the amount that gets transferred to the target varies as well. Of course, with the internet, you are going to be able to get your hands on whatever you need, but it might take more time. That second follow up shot will kill them instantly. The only parts you need to swap out to turn an AR-15 chambered in .223/5.56 NATO to one in .50 Beowulf is the barrel and the bolt carrier group. O.k., maybe in that location are ameliorate choices out there for home defense. Beretta 3032 Tomcat [Review]: A Worthy Self-Defense Pistol? Although the 50 Beowulf will do extremely high damage both to 1 armor and 3 armor, since its a big bullet with a lot of firepower compared to both 7.62x39 and 5.56x45. Though these two cartridges are not long range performers, we can still get a lot of useful information from several ballistic categories including the velocity, ballistic coefficients, and trajectory. Borrow money from them, it gives them an added incentive to Way back in 1892, the US Government adopted their first official bolt action rifle, the 1892 Krag Jorgensen Rifle. We have looked at several ballistic and other performance categories for the .50 Beowulf vs 458 .SOCOM debate, we have seen evidence that both of these rounds can function in several shooting capacities. While SOCOM uses a different rim specification, the rim of .50 Beowulf is turned down to nearly the same diameter as 6.5mm Grendel. So keep in mind as we move through this comparison that the terminal ballistics of these rounds involve more than simply the kinetic energy or the sectional density. Suffice it to say, the .499 cal. The New Pelican Air Travel Cases! Information technologys simply a BLAST to shootexcuse the pun. The .50 Beowulf, otoh, was designed explicitly to work through a rifle, and that is how it is used. Citadel 1911 Review: Best Budget-Friendly Pistol? is one powerful little pellet. Best 9mm Ammo in 2021 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win Cartridge Comparison, 458 SOCOM SBR Hornady Interlock JHP 300gr, 458 SOCOM Buffalo Bore Jacketed Flat Nose 350gr, 458 SOCOM Underwood Ammo Lehigh Controlled Fracture HP 300gr, 458 SOCOM Buffalo Bore Subsonic Jacketed Round Nose 500gr, 50 Beowulf Alexander Arms Rainier Plated HP 335gr, 50 Beowulf Underwood Ammunition Bonded JHP 325gr, 50 Beowulf Alexander Arms Millennium Solid Brass Spitzer 350gr, 50 Beowulf Underwood Ammunition Xtreme Penetrator 325gr. .50 Beowulf Entry for military Spec-Ops and LE SWAT use? Although developed under different circumstances, both the Beowulf and the SOCOM share the same parent case. A nephew and thane of King Hygelac, Beowulf carefully chooses 14 of the finest warriors in Geatland to sail to Denmark. All three rounds are generally loaded to similar pressures, but the 450 Bushmaster is the only SAAMI certified cartridge of the three with a listed maximum pressure of 38,500 psi. As this idea is really badass, it won't be balanced well just like Blackbeard and I know he doesn't have a shield. Please allow me to describe the experience of firing this gun in 1 word: AWESOME. While you might get in closer in some situations where this difference is negated, we think its better to think about hunting medium sized game and choosing the cartridge with 75+ yards in mind. For the .458 SOCOM, we like the SBR Barnes Tipped TTSX 300gr round. the .fifty Beowulf Entry Carbine past Alexander Artillery that I had the intense pleasure to shoot at SWAT Round-Upwards 2002 in early on Nov of last year. A flatter trajectory helps negate small errors that can be made during these situations. But there are many other calibers out there for the AR-15, and even though I love .223 ammunition, Id be lying if I said it was the most fun to shoot. Below we have listed the averages for each cartridge out to 300 yards. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This kinetic energy is derived from the mass and the velocity of the bullet. It, along with one other competing weapon(read Addendum), literally creates its own new niche. And again, were taking a lot out of the picture when it comes to penetration and rest assured that these rounds are not going to plink off a target. Being that the casing is pretty much the same to the .458, and it fires from the standard AR lower as does the .458. 31.7K subscribers In this Episode, we try the Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf Solid Brass Ammunition fired from a Alexander Arms Rifle upper Vs AR500 Armor Plate. Updated: 7m ago. only today ! No spam. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There is great information out there that has been compiled by expert shooters, but does their data correlate to your skill level? Each of these rounds are limited in their design capabilities due to the restrictions of the AR-15 platform. armor piercing 50 beowulf - DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news. What we are comparing in this section is the amount that the bullet drops over its flight. Expansion not only creates a larger wound, but it is also critical for transferring the energy from the bullet to the surrounding tissue more efficiently. Still, to the make these comparisons, we have selected five rounds of each cartridge and listed them below. I'm Mike, one of the oldest writer of Sniper Country! Felt recoil will differ from shooter to shooter and is dependent on shooting position, stance, and the firearm being used. With this information, you can better make your own decision. Average citizens don't need a 50cal.