458 SOCOM: the journey begins!

[Rikky Lee]

The barrel has now been chambered and I assembled the rifle last night.

The AICS stock makes it feel heavy - my smith didn't turn the barrel down as far as I wanted - but all cleaned up and shiny that hole in the front is MASSIVE.

Still to find some large pistol primers.

[Wicked]

Pics please!!

Are you building a can for this?

[Rikky Lee]

Pics will be posted shortly - once I work out how to do it!

The plan is to get some loads together from either end of the spectrum to see how the thing performs. There are from 500 plus grain VLDs out there that need to be tried at around 1000fps. I will keep the basic rig as simple as possible until then.

[Alleycat]

Originally Posted by Rikky Lee

Pics will be posted shortly - once I work out how to do it!

I can put them up for you.

[Rikky Lee]

Allycat - I'll send you a picture of the rifle shortly. Many thanks for your kind offer.

First range report fills me with hope. At 50 for a zero and load development session the bullets are cutting ragged one hole groups. Up to 31.5 grains of H110 in the bolt action using Hornady 325 grain FTX and the primers are saying give me another few grains. More load development needed.

Shooting buddies watched with great interest and looking at the 500 grain load development!

[Alleycat]

This is Rikky Lee's gun. Badass

[Rikky Lee]

Thanks Alleycat for posting.

The 325s work a dream and I have got them up to 1700fps with no issues. Recoil is nothing much to speak about in this setup but I can understand why AR-15s kick and buck.

Working on 500 and 550 grain loads now.

[Spook]

Nice Rifle Rik, I have an excell file of 458 loads if you want it.

[Fritzcat]

That is a very nice rifle. I finally have some brass coming, bfarrin1 is selling me some of his. I have some 510gr cast coming. I have 5lbs of Trail Boss that I would like to use, but have Lil Gun, Win 296, and RL7. Anyone have suggestions for sub-sonic.

[Rikky Lee]

Thanks to LouBoyd and Spook for their help and advice on load development.

I tried the 550 grain loading with a bit more powder and a deeper projectile seating over the chrony - 1065fps. I need to try it at longer range now to check for the dreaded vertical string but it felt good and three shots cut a single hole at 30 yards - lighter loads haven't.

I love the 325 FTX at 1700 fps though (and room for a bit more velocity).

Need more range time!