Getting ready for my first Big Bore AR.

[mcb]

I have been using my big bore for deer hunting. The property I hunt only has a few place with shots much over 150 yards. I have killed nearly all my deer at less than 100 yards. I still have not killed one with my big bore AR but I have only hunted one season with it so far. Hopefully my luck will change this year.

As for magazines I have been making big bore magazine from parts. I started with straight body 20rd 556 magazines. Make sure the feed lips are smooth and free of burrs. Cut a relief is top front of the magazine body so it does not scrap the bottom of the round. I am using an anti-tilt 458 SOCOM follower from CAlegalmags.com. I get 7 rounds of 450 Bushmaster in the straight body. They have been very reliable for me, more so than the factory 450BM magazines. I think they would work just as well with 458 SOCOM.

Deburring and making sure the feed lips are smooth with no sharp edges seems to be very important to getting good feeding of big-bore cartridges that end up center-feeding in an AR magazine. Whether you're making them yourself of buying them ready to go. If there is a sharp edge or burr on the feed lip edges it seems to really dig into the cartridges as the bolt attempts to strip the round; since the round is riding on the inside edges of both feed lips rather than under the feed lip in a traditional staggered double stack. Best case it just scratches up your brass badly, worst case it will causes failure to feed stoppages.

 

[Varminterror]

Just curious- what do people use these for besides range fun? Seems like they would be ideal for tracking wounded dangerous game though.

Not so different than a .45-70 or .44mag carbine. Most hunters in America are only after Whitetails, and most shots are taken under 100yrds, let alone 200. Throw a milling reticle on a 1-6x/1-8x/2-7x/3-9x and making it to 200-250yrds isn’t so difficult.

But as you assessed, like most firearms, they get their most use at the range.

My .458 SBR spends its nights hanging above the door in our bedroom closet, handy at the ready for my wife.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I stopped off a my local Pawn & Gun Shop, BJ Pawn & Gun, to pick up my upper and lower. I think they turned out pretty good.


I also had them make me a dust cover. The muzzle break should be finished next week and I’ll be able to build the upper. I’m still waiting on the LaRue trigger.

 

[badkarmamib]

Those scream, "Fun"! I imagine your smile will look similar. The hogs', not so much...

 

[TIMC]

I stopped off a my local Pawn & Gun Shop, BJ Pawn & Gun, to pick up my upper and lower. I think they turned out pretty good.
View attachment 800196

I also had them make me a dust cover. The muzzle break should be finished next week and I’ll be able to build the upper. I’m still waiting on the LaRue trigger.
View attachment 800197

I’m liking it!

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I’m still waiting on the LaRue trigger.

I ordered one on 7/27. It will arrive Friday so 3 weeks is the lead time or I just got lucky.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I ordered one on 7/27. It will arrive Friday so 3 weeks is the lead time or I just got lucky.

I placed my order on 7/26. I checked the status yesterday and it showed it was still on bank order. I just checked and it’s showing completed now. I guess it will be here in two or three days.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Yesterday I received a package from Black Butterfly Ammunition. The box seemed a little on the light side.
I had ordered two boxes of 458 Socom 300 gr. Hornady JHP. When I opened the box I discovered there was only one box of ammo, and the latch on the plastic ammo container was broken.
The invoice showed just one box ordered and shipped.
I checked my account on there web site and it had the same order # but showed two boxes ordered.

I just called Black Butterfly and they checked my order and saw that they had made a mistake when shipping the order. They said they would ship out the other box of ammo right away and also send me a replacement container.
They were very nice and I was only on the phone with them for less then 15 min.
And for the ammo, it’s nice and clean, loaded with new Starline brass.

 

[Skylerbone]

Those suckers look like they could flatten anything short of Edward James Olmos’s face. Looking forward to seeing it come together ‘cause it looks like serious fun!

 

[brasscollector]

Those 300gr Hornadys shot lights out through mine. Are you planning on reloading for your socom gunny?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Those 300gr Hornadys shot lights out through mine. Are you planning on reloading for your socom gunny?

This showed up yesterday. So I guess you can say, yes, I'll be rolling my own. .

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Primary Arms has a 485 SOCOM barrel on sale for $50.
https://www.primaryarms.com/radical-firearms-16in-458-socom-cm-barrel

 

[gotboostvr]

Primary Arms has a 485 SOCOM barrel on sale for $50.
https://www.primaryarms.com/radical-firearms-16in-458-socom-cm-barrel

If I could get away with using a bottle necked cartridge I'd be all over that. If they had a 450 bushy for that price I woulda pulled the trigger on it already.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

If I could get away with using a bottle necked cartridge I'd be all over that. If they had a 450 bushy for that price I woulda pulled the trigger on it already.

A few deals on 450 Bushmaster uppers.
https://www.deltateamtactical.com/search.asp?keyword=450+bushmaster+&search=GO

 

[gotboostvr]

A few deals on 450 Bushmaster uppers...

Anybody ever call you an enabler before?

 

[LoonWulf]

grrr.....gimme a sec technical difficulties

 

[LoonWulf]

I dunno guys... I feel like he has cost me a lot of money. Between posting pictures of his builds, and allowing me to spot odd things that he has in storage, he keeps giving me ideas, and causing an already-expensive habit to be more appealing.

He is a bit of an enabler isnt he?

and thats just this month.......

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Anybody ever call you an enabler before?

Often. You should hear what my coworkers say.

 

[rust collector]

I went to Primary Arms and put the barrel in my cart, then noticed that reviews were not good. I'll re-think barrel, but I think Gunny has sent me down another rabbit hole and I can't be happy without a big bore 15 now.

 

[rdnktrkr]

Primary Arms has a 485 SOCOM barrel on sale for $50.
https://www.primaryarms.com/radical-firearms-16in-458-socom-cm-barrel

I also looked at the Radical barrel at Primary Arms and the reviews were not that good but it looked like it was a feed problem more than anything else which can be polished, I've polished some 1911 feed ramps so they will handle some of my reloads easier. If you decide on the Radical barrel DON'T order the muzzle brake, it has 5/8x24 threads and the barrel is threaded 5/8x32.
I've been looking at the Delta Team Tactical site for a while and have ordered some of their stuff for my 1st AR build and I was surprised at their trigger and barrel so will probably order again from them when I decide "what" cartridge to go with, I've been thinking 6.8 or 458, I can get lowers locally for about 38.00 and with Delta Teams prices I should be building 1 a week

 

[theotherwaldo]

Enabler.
A big-bore AR has been added to my to-do list, once my ducks settle into their rows.
Kid sister starts her new job this week - at half again her previous pay.
Middle sister got a big settlement from her school district for firing her without cause.
My budget for guns should get refreshed in a month or two.

Yep. First a Garand, then an AR big bore upper.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here’s the drawing of the muzzle break, side view. It should be ready next week.

 

[LoonWulf]

Looks good!
What are the exterior dimensions on that?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Looks good!
What are the exterior dimensions on that?

I’m not sure Zack text me today to let me know that he had the program finished and would have it made as soon as he had a machine open.
He did say that he was going to try and keep the profile close to the barrel.

 

[LoonWulf]

Nice, that should be real slick.