Spike’s New .416 Spike – a .308 version of .300blk

[SharpDog]

Found this in The Firearm Blog today:

Thanks to Shawn and Brian of 2AGuysandGear. I almost missed this at Big 3 East but Shawn mentioned it and showed me a photo. So on the last day I caught up with Spike’s Tactical. They brought out a new caliber to show us. It is called the .416 Spike. It is basically a .308 version of .300 blk. I had actually pondered this a while back and at the time there wasn’t a larger version of a .300blk. Well now there is.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/03/25/spike-416-spike-a-308-version-of-300blk/

So I looked around a little:

 

[Walkalong]

Interesting.

 

[<*(((><]

Pass. I’m not seeing the point when one could likely get equal performance from an AR15 platform with the .458 socom, .450 bushmaster or .50 Beowulf.

It’s not like one needs high BC’s for the velocities that they are getting. Using an expensive, high bc bullet to have a rainbow subsonic trajectory. Color me confused how this made it out of the lunchtime napkin drawing phase.

A .458 socom will push a 600 grain RN at 1,000fps and 1,336 ft/lbs in a smaller package. Or a 405 grain at 1,600fps with 2,300 ft/lbs. and I would assume these would be much cheaper alternatives to .416 cal bullets.

 

[primalmu]

Sure its not an early April Fool's joke?

 

[someguy2800]

Nah

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetL...y=p_priceperunit|0||p_metric_sales_velocity|1

 

[marksman13]

This almost has to be a joke on Spike's part. My 458 SOCOM is doing the same job from a lighter rifle. I just don't see this thing ever gaining any steam.

 

[Varminterror]

I think a lot of folks dismissed the 300 blackout for the same reasons we’re dismissing this cartridge above... but somehow that short-bus ridiculousness left the station like a rocket.

So some guy out there is thinking to himself: what does the .416 spike do the .458 socom doesn’t? Easy - use readily available, unlimited supply, inexpensive 308win brass. Others still may be turned on by being able to tout the advanced BC options over the 45cal cartridges - even if they don’t understand how little the extra BC means.

The .458soc, .450bush, .500beo, .458raptor, and this .416spike, among a few others, occupy a small niche of novelty AR cartridges. I don’t expect this will do as well as the .300blk, but I can easily see it hanging onto a small, dedicated market share.

 

[eastbank]

the latest greatest thing next to sliced bread.

 

[WestKentucky]

Who said you have to use pointy bullets? I can see it working well with a round nose budget bullet, if any are available in that caliber. I’m not familiar with that bore size so I don’t know what’s out there.

 

[CraigC]

Pass. I’m not seeing the point when one could likely get equal performance from an AR15 platform with the .458 socom, .450 bushmaster or .50 Beowulf.

It’s not like one needs high BC’s for the velocities that they are getting. Using an expensive, high bc bullet to have a rainbow subsonic trajectory. Color me confused how this made it out of the lunchtime napkin drawing phase.

A .458 socom will push a 600 grain RN at 1,000fps and 1,336 ft/lbs in a smaller package. Or a 405 grain at 1,600fps with 2,300 ft/lbs. and I would assume these would be much cheaper alternatives to .416 cal bullets.

I typically detest early bird critics but this time I have to agree, based mostly on the fact that it's taken so long to get +200gr .308" bullets that expand at subsonic velocities. Getting an expandable .416 will be an even greater uphill battle. We already have plenty of bullets that will work in the .450BM.

 

[horsey300]

If we can do this, then just down load the .338 fed and stick it in the AR with some chaos or cutting edge type pills.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Nice pills. Looks like a good armadillo round.

 

[ewlyon]

I think it is a neat idea but it would be a reloaders cartridge. Cheap parent brass, easy conversion, and I am guessing the case life would be pretty good. Factory bullets are not really ideal but it would probably do well with cast bullets which would also make it pretty cheap.

 

[adcoch1]

Looking at this makes me wonder why not go up to .429 bore. Most of the 44 mag bullets are perfect for the velocity this cartridge would push them. Most .416 rifle bullets won't deform hitting steel at subsonic velocity! Ok, maybe a little exaggerated, but not much...

 

[Havok7416]

A large part of the .300 Blackout (for me) is the easy and cheap availability of brass AND bullets in addition to it's sub/supersonic capabilities.

Of all the caliber options they went with .416, which makes little sense to me. Even the BO necks the case down a bit, but there's a bunch of other options that seem to offer a better end product IMO.

 

[Elkins45]

Looking at this makes me wonder why not go up to .429 bore. Most of the 44 mag bullets are perfect for the velocity this cartridge would push them. Most .416 rifle bullets won't deform hitting steel at subsonic velocity! Ok, maybe a little exaggerated, but not much...

I once experimented with cutting the shoulder off of a 308 case and expanding it to fit a 44 bullet. Turns out there’s too much taper in the case to make that work: you end up with a case shaped like a Coke bottle. I suppose you could gently fireform them or make a set of full length tapered expander plugs, but that would cost quite a bit.

My guess is that they chose .416 because that’s what the interior diameter of a 308 case most closely matches at the point where they cut it off.

 

[CraigC]

You've just created an extra long .44AutoMag. Which is probably pointless if you're gonna run it subsonic. In which case the .450BM is still a better option, already in existence. The 300gr XTP, which I don't particularly care for, still expands very well at that speed.

 

[Elkins45]

This is what a 44 caliber bullet looks like squeezed into a cut down 308 case. The bullet wouldn’t seat to the crimp groove, and I’ll bet if I pulled it that it has been squeezed down several thousandths. You would probably need to inside neck ream all your cases.

Am I correct that this is for the AR10 platform, not the AR15? I assume there isn’t an AR15 that can handle the 308 case head size?

 

[edwardware]

Nice pills. Looks like a good armadillo round.

WOW! You must have an incredible Armadillos of Unusual Size problem.

The thought of slow-pitching those enormous, expensive bullets that slowly is just depressing. Maybe if I could cast and powder-coat for it. . .

 

[primalmu]

Am I correct that this is for the AR10 platform, not the AR15? I assume there isn’t an AR15 that can handle the 308 case head size?

Mad Dog Weapon Systems has their .358 Yeti that is built off trimmed .308 brass and is designed for AR-15 receivers. Since its a wildcat and very few people are actually running the round I doubt there's enough data to determine how the receiver and bolt will stand up over hundreds to thousands of rounds. An interesting round, though, and I admit that I really want one.

 

[eastbank]

the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys, he,he.

 

[CraigC]

They probably did inside ream .308 brass for making the .44AMP but again, what does it gain over the .450BM? Less performance in a heavier rifle. Probably be better off necking down the .450 to .430" to use in a standard AR but then again, what does that gain? Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a .44 fan to a fault but the .45 already has plenty of bullets designed to run from 800fps to well over 2000fps.

 

[js8588]

Kinda wish they had made it 404 (really 423 if memory serves). We need something to Make the 404 Jeffery Great Again!

 

[adcoch1]

They probably did inside ream .308 brass for making the .44AMP but again, what does it gain over the .450BM? Less performance in a heavier rifle. Probably be better off necking down the .450 to .430" to use in a standard AR but then again, what does that gain? Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a .44 fan to a fault but the .45 already has plenty of bullets designed to run from 800fps to well over 2000fps.

I'm right there with you CraigC, but since I presently dont have any other 45 cal firearms my mind naturally gravitates to 44.

 

[adcoch1]

Oh, tromix ( of 458 SOCOM fame) makes bolts and barrel extensions for ar15 platform with a .473 bolt face like 308. Designed for lower pressure, but it's the right size.