What Big Bore AR-15 to build

[Snaveba]

If you had a built lower, and a stripped Aero Percision XL upper, what would you build it into (think big bore) and why. Assume you already have a 5.56, a 223 Wylde, and a 300BO. 
 

And, second to this, how would you deck out the build? Assume it would be custom Cerekoted at a minimum one color. What color would you do? And if you did more that one color, how would you do that.  

Edited November 25, 2021 by Snaveba
Added additional question

[KahrMan]

The only correct answer is .458 socom. 

[Snaveba]

5 hours ago, KahrMan said:

The only correct answer is .458 socom. 

Finding a .458 socom barrel at a decent price is proving a hard thing at the moment. 

[Handsome Rob]

The other only answer is .350 Legend. 

Half the cost & a third the recoil....

Whatchoo shooting it at? 

[Snaveba]

Not sure.

Just want to build something bigger than I have. (I think I have BR Flu)  

I suppose I could end up hunting with it. 

350 Legend with its straight walled casing is appealing for those areas that don’t allow necked casings. 

Is the 350 Legend considered a big bore round ?
 

 

 

[Handsome Rob]

16 hours ago, Snaveba said:

Not sure.

Is the 350 Legend considered a big bore round ?
 

 

 

Compared to a 5.56, yeah.

Compared to a .50 Beowulf, no.

But it's really cheap to shoot, barrels & mags are widely available, ammo's everywhere & inside of 150yds, I'd put it to work on anything huntable. Winchester hyped it as having far better  ballistics than it realistically does, but a 180gn pill around 2200fps will pretty well knock anything ass over teakettle.

[Snaveba]

What about 450 Bushmaster?

[leroy]

35 minutes ago, Snaveba said:

What about 450 Bushmaster?

Built one several years ago.  Ammo and reloading component selection is good.  Basically the same as the others without the " exotic cache ".  

leroy.  

[Snaveba]

So, we have…..

one vote for 458 SOCOM

one vote for 350 Legend

one vote for 450 Bushmaster

 

[Murgatroy]

I am thinking of doing a .450 Bushmaster Build. The round has intrigued me for a while, but lately it has gained quite a bit of legitimacy, which is making it easier to find.

 

[19_A_CPT]

I've got a 450 Bushmaster I built on a Bushmaster lower.

Also built one for my step-brother. Both of us love them. 

Both are 16". 

Alot more economical to shoot than a 458 (If you can find 458 ammo)

[Snaveba]

I am leaning towards 450 Bushmaster. Looking at an 18” barrel, possibly with a match style hand guard.  What muzzle device are you running?  

[OldIronFan]

So I have 458 SOCOM, 450 Bushmaster, and 50 Beo in an AR platform. I reload for all of those so availability is not a huge concern for me but for a someone who does not reload it makes a difference. 450 Bushmaster and 350 Legend are far more commercially available.

If you are not limited to straight wall or never hunt in a straight wall state my heart would lean toward 458 SOCOM and stick with Tromix barrels and bolts. Don't bother going cheap on the barrel or bolt. You won't easily get it to feed, chamber, and extract smoothly without putting in work on the cheaper options. 

Reality and common sense says 450 Bushmaster though. A good bit of commercially available ammo including lots of hunting specific options. Good short range knock down power in a fun package. If you really like the round after shooting it in the AR there are more commercially available bolt action or conversion barrels available for a nice light brush/hunting bolt rifle. That is the route I ended up going. Now I don't shoot the 450 Bushmaster AR all that often and use my bolt gun in it instead. 

[Capbyrd]

458 SOCOM seems to have quite the thump...

https://www.facebook.com/100004236633600/posts/2182992098518657/?d=n

 

[SmokyBaer]

I'm partial to the .458 only because of pure coincidence.  Was available, i tried it and still enjoy shooting the big thumper.  Without doubt, it will cure your magnum fix.  My first one came from a Wilson bundle that i built up and it was a good package.  They usually have ammo in stock also.  Here's a link for the 250 grainers.

My bud runs a 450 Bush and i'm not sure he enjoys it as much as i do my 458.  Guess it's a personality thing.  If you are a glutton for punishment, 40 rounds of either will have you chanting nicely. 

Smoky

 

MY FAVORITE M14 TWEAKS AND TIPS

[Guest]

On 11/28/2021 at 12:35 AM, Snaveba said:

I am leaning towards 450 Bushmaster. Looking at an 18” barrel, possibly with a match style hand guard.  What muzzle device are you running?  

I would look on-line and find a comparison between the "big three", 50 Beowulf, 458 SOCOM & 450 Bushmaster. I did, and now own a .458 SOCOM along with a can full of ammo, mostly from Precision One outta Charleston, SC.

[FrankD]

If you are building one just to have a "big bore AR" why not go with the biggest and get a .50 Beo?

 

[deerslayer]

350 Legend.  It's just a cool round, plus ammo has been available all along.  

[SmokyBaer]

11 hours ago, deerslayer said:

350 Legend.  It's just a cool round, plus ammo has been available all along.  

Totally agree on 350 Legend availability.  Not a lot of users... yet!  It is catching on though.  Folks are starting to realize the 30-30 power in an AR.  Biggest hangup i had in the beginning was the mags.  Went Duramag after that and found they work flawlessly.  Yeah, technically, not a "big-bore" BUT it's bigger than a .223 with way more umph.

Smoky

 

MY FAVORITE M14 TWEAKS AND TIPS

[Thursty]

I know this is an old thread, but curious what you went with. I’m constantly seeing .450 Bushmaster ammo on shelves, even at Walmart. I went with .50 Beowulf, for no reason other than I just wanted a .50 cal AR. It’s hard to find ammo for, hard to reload for, and hard on the shoulder, but it does put a smile on your face. 

[Snaveba]

Well, I got derailed by 6.5 Grendel. Some parts came available I couldn’t pass up. Now my A4 Stocked lower that had a 223 Wylde upper built with a match handguard and nicely cerekoted a version of Disruptive Grey now has a 6.5grendel barrel and a scope. 

the 223 Wylde barrel will now temporarily be on the new build with a classic M16A2 configuration (but with a collapsible stock)  I got to keep it built as it is also used as a 22LR plinker. 

Not saying I won’t build a 450 Bushmaster.  I just need to find the best deal on a barrel and bolt. Then the PSA lower and AeroPercision XL upper will have a true purpose. 
 

i will get photos up on Show&Tell soon. 

Edited January 3, 2022 by Snaveba

[Snaveba]

I will cross post these photos to Show and Tell.

I ended up rebuilding one rifle to shoot 6.5 Grendel. 20” type II barrel and BCG, low profile adjustable gas block. Added the bipod and moved a scope over from a different one. 

 

I took the barrel, the upper I bought for the “big bore” build, some other parts I had lying around, and a delta ring barrel nut donated by mikadosoft, and put together a sort of M16A2 clone but with a carbine stock. I really need a carry-handle rear sight to complete the look. 
 

[DO-TN]

Just gonna toss this out there, especially with the recent costs of ammo. If your gonna shoot over a buck a round, why not go with .50 BMG?

https://safetyharborfirearms.com/product/shtf-50-mag-fed-upper-conversion/

[Snaveba]

Where are you finding 50 BMG (or 50 Beowulf) anywhere near $1.00 - $1.50 per round?

[Magiccarpetrides]

• 50bmg still pops up for $3 a round from time to time which ends up being quite a bit cheaper than non reloaded exotic rounds and or even reloading if you figure equipment costs to get started.  I think anytime I think I want a big bore AR i just go fire off a handful of Brenneke slugs and that gets me over the itch.