Big Bore AR Cartridges
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 4 months ago
The AR-15 design limits the length of the cartridge, so the only way to increase the power level is by going bigger diameter. That’s good, as heavy bullets at moderate velocity are well proven in the hunting fields.
In other words as I take it, the cartridge must be short-action. So Shooting Illustrated covers three cartridges: The .50 Beowulf, the .450 Bushmaster and the .458 SOCOM.
I see no need for this kind of cartridge unless there is a real need. Another way of saying it is that this is no good for target shooting, plinking, fun, or mere range time. If you need it, you need it for personal defense against very large predatory animals, and then you really need it.
We covered one such gun, the .450 Bushmaster Windham Weaponry AR pistol. I also know that there are bolt action long guns that shoot this round. Savage sells one. I guess if I had to purchase a large bore AR or AR pistol I’d choose the .450 Bushmaster and make sure there was another gun in that caliber in my gun safe.
On August 8, 2018 at 2:21 am, Pat Hines said:
There’s also the .458 Ham’r from Wilson Combat. This one supposedly out powers all other fat cartridges for the AR-15.
https://www.wilsoncombat.com/458-hamr/
Ruger is making their Gunsite Scout Rifle in .450 Bushmaster, magazine capacity is only four rounds.
https://ruger.com/products/scoutRifle/specSheets/6837.html
I’m not sure I see the need for any of them.
On August 8, 2018 at 10:00 am, revjen45 said:
Seems like the ultimate SD carbine in Big Bear Country would be a big-bore AR.
On August 8, 2018 at 1:37 pm, Stryker said:
For the AR 10 platform there are now the .45 Raptor (.308 Win necked up to .45 cal)
and my favorite, the .375 Raptor. (.308 Win necked up to .375)
This offers a big step up in power while maintaining the advantages of a semi auto platform.
The accuracy of the .375 is unbelievable.
http://www.45raptor.com/45RAPTOR/
http://www.375raptor.com/375RAPTOR/