Fortunately, this problem is self-correcting. MGI makes a take-down gun that is named the Hydra which is also multi-caliber with kits from .22 LR up to and including a .50 Beowulf. We shot hollow points, but you can have your .50s with brass or lead solids or FMJ if you prefer. 350 Legend vs 300 Blackout: Everything You Need To Know That's a tough choice. Seems like the perfect Great White solution to me, but then again, Im not a Hollywood gun expert.On the defensive and tactical side, those big bullets carry a lot of momentum, so theyre good for applications where penetration is required. The Ranier 335gr HPs make FINE whitetail medicine. If a related requirement calls for going into vehicle interiors without using the handles meaning right through the doors or body, the same benefits apply. Those cases are on the chubby side and need a bit more elbow room to escape.Most of the current upper-receiver models include 16.5-inch barrels. Hunters who use full caliber bullets in their .50 caliber muzzleloaders can attest to that. But, Sir Isaac Newtown giveth as much as he taketh away. 50 beowulf or 6.5 grendel - Rifles - New Jersey Gun Forums See the .458 SOCOM or .450 Bushmaster. Its not a (clip), its a magazine. A 300 grain .45 Govt bullet clocks in at about 1800 fps at the muzzle and 1500 fps at 100 yards, with energy of about 2200 and 1500 ft.-lb. In doing so, I am debating / weighing the pros and cons of the 3 heaviest calibers available for the AR platform, those being the .50 Beowulf by Alexander Arms, the .450 Bushmaster (by Bushmaster, obviously) and, the .458 SOCOM. I would like any reloading data you may have in any weights of bullets and type powder and of course how much powder. This is why many hunters prefer the 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM as it allows them to harvest game at longer ranges. The actual order went right through and the gun arrived quickly so I am happy. I have the basic Entry model and its listed @ only 4.5pounds w/o optic. However, custom ammo manufacturers often make their own 50 Beowulf loads under the metric designation 12.7x42mm. The chart below compares how much a 10 mile per hour crosswind impacts those same .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, 50 Beowulf, and .45-70 loads out to 300 yards. In contrast, as the 450 is SAAMI certified, there are considerably more rifle options including bolt-action rifles like the Ruger American and Savage 110. Some observations: the pictures upper looks like the 16 Advanced Weapons System upper with the tank brake muzzle brake. Although the 50 fires the largest caliber bullet of the three, its inefficient bullet design hemorrhages velocity and kinetic energy down range and has gone completely subsonic at 200 yards. The 223s flat trajectory and low recoil is great for varmint hunting, plinking, and target shooting; however, it lacks the kinetic energy needed for taking down larger animals like whitetail and hogs. Been leaning towards the 300 since I have 2 308's so I can share bullets. I will try to post a report after I have assembled it and taken it for a spin. Grendel and his cranky mom have already been dispatched by the Beowulf, but theres still plenty of perfectly good applications for this thumper. As for knock-down power, 50 caliber bullets are second to none. Of course 300 grain .45 caliber bullets are a darn close second. However, free recoil can be used to give a general idea of how hard a round kicks. 12 gauge slugs are more common but I will go with the 50 BEO because its semi-auto, mag fed, & can be reloaded cheaply, I use the same powder as I use for loading my .410 shotgunHodgen lil gun, just my 2 centsand thanks for the rantlol, Myself I just love guns and sometimes buy things I have no business in. We didnt fling a ton of lead downrange, so I cant represent our testing as a full 500 round shoulder crushing shoot em up. You wont melt your MasterCard or have to raid the kiddies college funds. 2. .50 Beowulf | Alexander Arms My 300blk pistol is very forgiving and typically cycles most loads and I like to push limits on low power and high end to see what is possible just for the hell of it. 308 vs 50 Beowulf - penetration test. - YouTube Initially the recoil was an issue but after installing a muzzle brake and a LimbSaver recoil pad the recoil is almost comfortable. The upper can be ordered all dressed up, or it can be fully accessorized by you to the financial limit of your wallet and the physical limit of your biceps. Pistol Buffer 5.0-8.5 oz. barrel. I got mine when they first came out. If you have a 308, I don't think you'd get much out of a 300 blackout. In contrast, the 458 SOCOM fires a 0.458 diameter bullet which is much more common as this bullet diameter is used by rounds such as the .45-70 Government, 458 Winchester Magnum, 450 Marlin, 460 Weatherby, and 458 Lott. Anyway, a Scandinavian badass, Beowulf, comes along to kick the monster's butt, successfully I might add. .300 BLK vs. Grizzly - AR15.COM Then a week later I got an automated message saying essentially: 1. your order may have been cancelled because you specifically requested in writing that it be cancelled, 2. your order may be partially fulfilled, 3. your order has been manually entered, 4. The fun factor alone merits four stars. Factory ammo from Alexander Arms will run you around $1.70/round while custom ammo for hunting or personal defense will typically cost around $3/round. 50 Beowulf AR-15s: Ballistics & More | Bear Creek Arsenal The limiting reagent is the magwell. Furthermore, the 50 Beowulf name is trademarked by Alexander Arms. Another gun to add to my need to get list. . Thats fair. In Michigan the only way I can have a loaded gun in my truck is if its a pistol with my cpl. EBR = Evil Black Rifle. The .50 Beowulf uses a slightly larger diameter bullet of .500 inches, whereas the .458 SOCOM uses a .458-inch diameter bullet. You have entered an incorrect email address! The photo below also illustrates the other obvious difference between the 5.56 and the .50 Beowulf. The .50 Beowulf has oodles of the former and just enough of the latter. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, PolyCase Ammunition and Alexander Arms Team Up on .50 Beowulf ARX, 3 Powerful AR-15 Cartridges for Survival Use. A 438-grain slug leaving the barrel at 1,610 feet per second carries 2,520 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. The 450 Bushmaster and 50 Beowulf are excellent deer hunting options in states that require the use of straight-walled cartridges. Four 5.56 bullets would fit very neatly into that single .50 caliber hole, and thatsbefore expansion. All three of these rounds fit the bill in terms of integrating into the AR-15 platform and being larger than 44-caliber, but how do they stack up in terms of ballistics? TWO SHOTS, TWO JAMS. Hey Ralph, I really love your review! 300 Blackout Rifles ; 300 Blackout Pistols ; 300 Blackout Complete Uppers ; 300 Blackout Barrels ; 7.62x39 . .50 Beowulf ballistics are similar to the venerable .45-70. Your deck photo looks like the floor of my boat. Ed, those are Hornady 300gr FTX (flex tip, expanding), Tried some in my reloads and their terminal performance was lacking compared to the 335 Rainier HP. I use a Leupold VX-R 1.25-4X20 HOG scope with FireDot illuminated reticle and it turns a .50 Beowulf into just the most amazing carbine/rifle (mines a 16 barrel) you could ever imagine for wild hogs, elk, moose, bison, brown bear, Sasquatchs, Yetis, Wooly Mammoth, great white sharks, rogue elephants, hippos, rhinosauruses and flying tryranasauruses. Two out of three testers subjectively felt that the carbine seemed to shoot a tad more easily with a first class two stage trigger and A2-type stock. The .50 Beowulf is a rifle big-bore cartridge developed by Alexander Arms for use in a modified AR-15 rifle. An entry-level Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf upper will set you back $759. An excellent candidate for some recoil therapy. It's fun to shoot. 4. Rounds like the 300 Blackout, 6.8 SPC, 458 SOCOM, and 50 Beowulf are extremely popular and effective for bringing home the venison. He changed the bolt dimension/head space to leave a little more metal in the lug area which means they wont head space properly when mixed (AA bolt, other bbl or AA bbl and other 7.6239 bolt). Owning a .50 Beowulf carbine does not require a life-altering commitment of working capital. Anyone have any advise? As a big, powerful but slow, short- to medium-distance round thats about the size of a cocktail weenie, the .50 Beowulf is reputedly versatile enough to do the business on elk, grizzly, bison, hogzillas and your brother-in-laws big block Chevy . $995 + $200 tax stamp + 12+ months wait on paperwork, I propose a moratorium on new rifle development. You dont absolutely need a fully rifled barrel, but do need at least a 4 rifled choke. All three rounds have a rebated rim design, meaning their rim is narrower than their . To get us all on the same page, heres the social-media-friendly, condensed version of the story. at those same distances. Standard mags should work. I still havent built a dedicated lower for it.. Well, due to of the short supply of elk at the rifle range and the prevalence of small block engines in the parking lot, we couldnt put the .50 to the ultimate of tests by killing big game and Chevys. FWIW, good quality .50 Beowulf ammo is a bit cheaper, too. I appreciate your appreciation . Adapting new calibers to the AR-15 rifle is nothing new, and cartridges like the 300 Blackout, 224 Valkyrie, 6.8 SPC, and 6.5 Grendel have all been moderately successful. Chatted with a female owner a couple years ago that was on here that owned one. For me the I take 50 Beowulf out sometimes for fun but mostly if I use it, it is for taking mid-sized game. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. .50 cal sabot slugs from a semi auto 12 gauge arent all that much different. Whats not as obvious is that the Alexander Arms upper receivers include a bolt carrier and bolt compatible with that 7.62x39 mm rebated cartridge rim. | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Should You Carry Your Gun With an Empty Chamber? The SOCOM round can fire bullets within the same 200-600 grain range, though 250gr, 300gr, and 350gr factory loads are the most common. Great gun I cant say enough good things about it although I havent had a chance to test all the kits I have yet. Alexander Arms will sell you .50 Beowulf mags that they claim will not handle 5.56 ammo. The perfect niche for such a weapon that otherwise seems unnecessary, but fills a specific role most dont consider better than most other rifles can. The .50 Beowulf was not intended to be a precision target round any more than was the .45 Govt. I think it's a great all around cartridge. Selecting the right thumper round for your needs primarily revolves around your local hunting regulations, the type of game you want to hunt, and the ranges you expect to shoot at. The 50 Beowulf lists its maximum overall length as 2.25". Pull the rifle in tight and theres a big shove awaiting your glenohumeral joint. 50 Beowulf: JHP: 325: 2524: 1870: 50 Beowulf: XTP HP: 350: . Most .50 Beowulf ammo you'll come across falls in the 300-400 grain range, and even at the very low end you're still looking at a muzzle velocity of nearly 1900 fps, which translates into 2,300 foot-pounds of energy. In my mind, the two may have similar ballistics, but are different enough in charm that they both have room in my safe. This however has been on it for quite some time. A straight-walled cartridge is necessary for deer hunting in Midwest states like Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan while the bottlenecked design aids in reliable feeding. Yes, precisely. Power is one thing and accuracy is another. The 458 has well over double the case capacity of the 300 BLK at 61.1 gr vs 26.5 gr. Customer service sucks. There are lots of .45 caliber bullet choices for reloading. While the projectile weights are in the same ballpark, the .50 Beowulf is going to deliver longer range and better accuracy. Everyone overlooked the fact that you can have a 50 Beowulf PISTOL! I also hear tell that its a fine platform for traditional rounds such as the .243 Winchester. So much the better. One new winner* is announced every week! .50 Beowulf AR-15: A Home Defense Option? | An Official Journal Of The NRA Not to mention having to walk around with a massive erection from carrying that much problem solving. Check. Gun Review: Springfield Armory Ronin EMP 3 9mm 1911, Gun Review: Henry U.S. There is one company making a side feeding bolt action upper (the idea of which i love, but it only comes in anti-material rounds and im not in the market). If I wasnt clear, there is some sloppy customer service here but fortunately the people who actually designed and built the gun are top notch! Thank you for the details Accur81 now I can stop fantasizing about an AR-15 in .45-70 Government! But there is a charm to a .45-70 in a big, honkin lever action (yeah, I know old school). AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. By the time your new upper arrives, youre going to be as excited as the time you had your first blind date with your first sure thing. I have no proof of that, just what I read so it might be wrong., Anywho, doesnt change the point I was getting tothe why not use the biggest, meanest, most powerful hammer in the toolbox?, Also, in full disclosure, I am a Beowulf fan girl, I love them. We know, because we used traditional double-stack 5.56 mags, including PMags and C-Products metal mags, and they all functioned perfectly as single-stack .50 Beowulf mags. Its been exploited by creative designers to chamber more and more specialty cartridges such as the 6.5 Grendel (co-created by the aforementioned Bill Alexander), 300 AAC Blackout, 6.5 Creedmoor, 224 Valkyrie, and 6.8 Remington SPC. Itll fragment against hard surfaces like steel, but for organic targets, its drill-bit-like shape is designed to transfer energy to the target using fancy fluid dynamics. As I write this, five separate Sharknado movies have been released, and Ive yet to see this rifle and cartridge featured in any of them. The 50 Beowulf has about 25% more free recoil than the 450 Bushmaster, but the Beowulf also has higher sectional density. Ssshhhhhh. 308 vs 50 Beowulf - penetration test. You would think a pistol caliber build, which uses smaller rounds overall, would require a lighter buffer weight. .458 SOCOM, and the .50 Beowulf. 308 would barely scratch the surface and 338 lapua is too expensive. Whats even less obvious is that the Alexander upper has an enlarged ejection port. It looks odd, but it isnt. IF you didnt cancel the order it is being prepared for delivery or partial delivery. Glad to know Im not the only one that was thinking 45-70 the whole time. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. Thats it. But I do love my big bores , tough choice I had to indulge in all . Danish King Hrothgars beer hall was under attack by a demonic monster. The .50 Beowulfs rebated rim matches the rim of the common 7.6239 commie cartridge. Bear hunting or protection? For elk, the Beowulf is limited to 100-yard shots and 150 yards for deer. While were wishing, make mine belt-fed with HE rounds. Can load my AP bullets in the 300 too. The most common loadings have 300- to 500-grain projectiles, and they move fast enough to deliver some serious thump. At any rate, back to my original question, if it is possible to use .45-70 Government cartridges in the AR-15 platform, I would be supremely interested such a configuration. It is also the most important factor when computing kinetic energy. Needless to say I got tired of fucking around with it and put in the back of my gun cabinet . And its an AR, so you get all the bennies like box magazines, accessory rails, adjustable stocks and aftermarket performance-enhancing parts. Mate the upper to your favorite lower, which will tip the scales at anywhere from 2.2 to 3.0 pounds, add the obligatory doodads and a full magazine, and the whole megillah has a bit of heft. For a 300 blackout, what is the optimum barrel length for AR? The Beowulf does have more perceived recoil that a 7.62 NATO, but no more or perhaps a tad less than a 12 gauge firing reduced recoil 00 buck. Bottom line: Beowulf is an epic, but dead, folk hero with valid monster-slaying certificate of participation. In the table below, weve listed the ballistic coefficient and sectional density for our selection of 3 rounds. Especially for folks like me who HATE tracking. I like both those rounds a lot. You might recognize that name from another cartridge developed by Alexander Arms.So given the attributes were going to discuss, the Beowulf name seems entirely appropriate. Already have a 12.5 inch barreled 308 but the 300 blackout keeps sticking in my head. (Since 2007) And 600 rounds neat engine block gun not a long distance hitter. The 5.56 looks as sleek and racy as a cheetah while the .50 Beowulf resembles acaballito. The 450 Bushmaster and 458 SOCOM have similar ballistic performance out to 250 yards, which is the maximum effective range for both rifle cartridges. Practical Applications 300 Blackout was designed as a combat cartridge, but it also has found a role in home defense and hunting. Although it fires a lighter bullet, the 458 SOCOM has a maximum effective range of around 250 yards on large game while the less efficient bullet design of the Beowulf limits its effective range to 150 yards. View Quote. All of the major bullet manufacturers like Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, and Federal have multiple bullet options available for all three calibers. Theres no denying that the pairing of the AR-15 platform and the 223 Remington is an exceptional match. However, this is where the similarities end as both cartridges have a different intended purpose. Power always comes at a price, and Im not just talking about the initial cost of the upper. As far as optics are concerned, we used a 1x Eotech red dot sight as opposed to a good 3x or 4x scope. For manning the Karaj al-Hajaz checkpoint, the Beowulf carbine is worth its weight in gold and will appear on many wishlists. Our buddy Dave describes the .50 slug, especially the HP, as a flying ashtray. If hunting is the point, there are at least three saboted .50 caliber 375-385 grain bullets (Rems Accutip, for example, or Winchester Partition Gold) that provide similar velocities and greater energy. Guess Im one of the few who noticed. The vast majority of .223 Remington factory loads shoot bullets in the 35-90 grain range. My 300BLK suppressed sbr is a bit more than just a "fun gun" for me. The first time I ever got to shoot steel plates with it was awesome. Thats an attractive price for a box of first class, big bore hollow point cartridges. Easy to reload(no shoulder to reshape) Slugs and powder are easy to find(thank you 500 s&w). Unless you hunt buffalo on a regular basis, what good is the .50 Beowulf? run off AR-10 platforms. Still have time to research until my load development for my 338 LM is complete. Heavy Caliber AR's - .458 SOCOM vs 450 Bushmaster vs 50 Beowulf It performed without a single hiccup, no matter what lower parts and magazines we used. Only a liberal would call it a (clip). I didnt want it, but it shows sloppy management that the invoice says it was in the shipment. All Rights Reserved. I have a question about your writing availability. Big game hunters and passionate reloaders will award it five. Therefore, short and thick bullets have to be used instead of more aerodynamic designs. Developed by Alexander Arms, this cartridge is a tapered, straight-wall case topped with, you guessed it, a .50-caliber projectile. Wow. The 600 grain Brenneke slugs for smooth bores carry less velocity but more energy. We worked the charging handles and fired ARs in 5.56, 7.62 and .50 Beowulf in rapid order just to get a handle on recoil. This is a beautiful piece of crap. The areas I hunt require either a shotgun or a rifle, and semi-auto rifles are not permitted in either jurisdiction (PA and Sweden). Mandate .50 Beowulf as the round allowed for civilian use and no one will be able to carry more than ten rounds. I took a buffalo with it, and have reduced numerous metal plate targets and bowling pins to scrap. However, some Midwest states that previously only allowed muzzle loaders and shotguns for whitetail hunting have now permitted shooters to use straight-walled cartridges for deer season. To avoid any potential trademark litigation, ammo manufacturers will often brand their 50 Beowulf ammo by its metric designation, 12.7x42mm. But theres really nothing stopping you from feeding it through the ejection port. So, like Dave, you may be able to track your personal Beowulf build, and as long as youre patient youll get your big bore AR upper sooner or later. All our shooting was from 100 yards. A light 235 grain bullet in a .375 H&H cartridge offers much better range and energy, and a new bolt gun can be had in a good Winchester Model 70 for the same price as the loaded Beowulf upper. First Look: SOLGW California-Compliant Rifles | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New: Magpul Enhanced Selector Kit For AR-Pattern Firearms | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, New: Luth-AR AR-15 Repair Kits | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Lead Star Arms Prime Race-Ready AR-15 | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, First Look: Mission First Tactical Multi Mount, Is It Right For You? Its just a tad more than the .223 cousin. I currently have a 300BO bolt gun. For the 458 SOCOM, less expensive factory loads from Underwood Ammo can be had for around $2/round while bear hunting hard cast loads from Buffalo Bore run upwards of $5/round. TNVC/NGI Giveaway: 15 winners with over $7000 worth of prizes!! I asked about payment methods, waited a week, no answer so I ordered anyway. What am I missing? Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. The soft case isnt long enough to comfortably close on the gun WITH the tank muzzle brake. As the .300 Blackout was designed to work within the parameters of the existing AR platform, only the barrel needs to be replaced . Originally Posted By boltedsafe: $150.00 3" chambered 12 gauge pump with Brenneke Black Magic Magnum (12 GA 3") Slugs. The whole process takes a few minutes and is extremely easy to do. .300 Blackout load Winchester Deer Season 150 grain Extreme Point (EP) - BC .392 Velocity and Energy Velocity flattens trajectory and makes hitting easier as the range increases. I want to take classes taught be the stupid part of his brain. No specific shipment information is available yet. I didnt speak to Bill Alexander, but Dave did throughout his ordering process. On the other hand, development of the 458 SOCOM began in 2000 in response to a conversation (supposedly at a barbecue) between Marty Ter Weeme of Teppo Jutsu LLC and a member of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) surrounding the ineffectiveness of the 5.56 NATO round in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. They also make other conversion kits for .40 S&W, .45, .300 Blackout, 6.5, 6.8, as well as some others. Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper defined the Thumper concept as a cartridge designed to be fired from the semi-auto AR-15, had an effective range around 250 yards, was 44-caliber or larger, and could harvest large game with one shot. AWC makes their Thundertrap suppressor in 50 Beowulf as well. Love to go to our farm and hit coyotes and feral dogs..rolls them up like a .22 does a soda can. Most of the factory ammo for 50 Beowulf comes from Alexander Arms as they hold the trademark on the cartridge name. Designed for shots within 250 yards or less (<150 yards for the Beowulf), these three rounds deliver crippling kinetic energy that can transform any AR-15 into a capable hog and deer hunting rifle. Hogzilla? This gun has a quick change barrel, so all you have to do is change out the barrel, bolt, and in some cases with the pistol calibers, the magwell changes as well. AR-15 & AR-10 Calibers Comparisons | Read Now - Bear Creek Arsenal Although the smaller 0.451 diameter bullets can be handloaded safely, you will likely see decreased performance and accuracy as the bullet may not completely engage the rifling in the barrel. Most 12-gauge 2 3/4-inch shells will generate recoil energy in the mid-20s depending on the ammo, so that gives you a decent comparison. Would work nicely should I luck out and draw a moose permit. Many shooters and hunters, particularly those who prefer Modern Sporting Rifles, would probably agree that the .300 Blackout and 7.6239 are both effective cartridges that offer certain advantages over the .223 Remington. The Definitive Guide to 300 Blackout (2020) - American Arms I would also guess that .45-70 Government factory ammunition is less expensive than .50 Beowulf as well. The 450 BM and 458 SOCOM have the same rim diameter of 0.473, which is the same as the 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, and 270 Win. Mostly later. Because I can! in the Beowulf, the fun of which I can understand. Hi I got A Davidson Defense Nitride Finish BCG 7.6239 for my complete upper pistol kit,So my bolt will work or not with both of them? A bit more forward lean and weight distribution might have helped mitigate muzzle rise, but still, Greg was pretty damn accurate. At the muzzle, a 350gr XTP .50 Beowulf will have about 2,440 ft.lbf of energy. .22 LR to .50 Beowulf, the ubiquitous 5.56 NATO still reigns supreme. Finally got to the range and guess what. A metal grip frame, slide ports and a red dot cut are just some of the new features. Like a good facelift, theres a visible but not a dramatic difference. On an episode of some weapons show on the Military Channel, Mr. Alexander described the Beowulf as, a wrecking ball I wholeheartedly agree. I dont see really see the niche where this cartridge fits in: Once you get over the giggle/fun factor, is there any application that this would really excel in? For 450 Bushmaster ammo, inexpensive Remington UMC factory loads can be had for as low as $1.50/round while premium hunting ammo like Federal Fusion or Barnes VOR-TX will cost around $3/round and up.