Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Hunting in general, or with a suppressor.

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Wicked
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Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by Wicked »

Just got back from a week in the Canadian bush on a Black Bear hunt. Drove up from OH with 9 guys and met another 3 in camp. In total, 7 bears were killed and another 2 guys had opportunities but didn't connect. Our bears averaged 130 to 160 and the largest went 245lbs. Outfitter indicated anything over 200 in that area was great, over 300 was really fantastic - with 130lbs being average size. The conditions this year were dry/rough so bears were hitting the baits hard and they were much leaner than in years previous. Weather was perfect, 45 at night and 60-70 during the day. Got my bear late on day 3 and spent a few days fishing in ponds that may never have seen a plastic worm.

We hunted over bait from fixed, portable and ground stands in a mix of Provincial and private land in and around Golden Lake, Ontario. Nine bow hunters and 3 rifles in the bunch; two 45-70 Marlin 1895 Guide Gun's and my Savage bolt in 458 Socom. Both big-bores connected for quick clean kills. The 45-70 shot clean through with a 300gr C/T at 1900fps. I used the Barnes 300gr TAC-TX going a bit over 2000. Very happy with the bullet and rifle's performance. My shot was from atop a 35ft rock cliff at about 45yds. Bear traveled less than 30 yards before piling up. Both lungs pierced and the top half of the heart torn off. Bullet exited the ribs then the off side shoulder then hit a flat rock that held the cover on the bait barrel. I actually recovered the bullet sitting right in the dirt. A few petals were sheared off by the rock but it looked like perfect expansion otherwise.

I'll leave you with these pics:

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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by martineta »

Thanks. Great read.
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by He'sDeadJim »

Loved the pics, especially the recovered bullet. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by jreinke »

If you haven't already done it or haven't done it before, can (pressure cook in mason jars) some of your bear meat. Of all the meat that I've canned, and I've canned a wide variety of different game and domestic animals, bear is by far the BEST canned meat. BTW the hind quarters, brined and smoked are better than the best corn-fed pig hams. Just sayin' :wink:
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by Wicked »

jreinke,

Your comment got me thinking, so Santa brought me a pressure cooker and a dozen jars!

Any advice or special instructions on canning meat? I need to check out utube.

I've got deer, bear and hog. And a grass fed lamb I butchered this fall.
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

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PM me your email address and I'll send you a pdf file I made on canning meat.
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by Joker31D »

I know this is a little moldy but whats the specs on the rifle? Did you use a Suppressor and what made you choose the caliber when there are plenty of other calibers that were easier to find already made? I was looking at 35 Whelen but now this is making me think something else for bear.
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by Wicked »

No suppressor as this hunt was in Canada. I had to perm attach the brake to get the barrel to 18" to meet Canuk specs. 99% of the time the Socom is found in AR15 rifles, but the AR is no bueno in Canada as well.

Rifle started as a Savage 10VT in 308. Swapped out the barrel and that's it. McGowan 410 ss blank in a Savage varmint contour fit right in the original stock. There's a bit of work to get it to magazine feed, but other than that it's pretty much a plug and play conversion. Weaver Extreme 1-4x scope is a perfect fit. The rifle ain't light weight but there's very little recoil either.

I have the Socom chambered in half a dozen rifles. The bolt guns are fast twist (1-8") for really heavy projo subsonic loads, but I built this one with a 1-22" twist for supers as I really wanted to smack a bear with it but can't use a semi up there. Supersonic, the Socom works just as well for hogs and deer out to 200 or so. It's basically a more efficient 45-70. Same bullets at the same velocity. You must handload, but brass and dies are easy to find. It's very forgiving, an easy cartridge to load and it's sub MOA all day in the bolt guns.

Now, 700gr subs thru a can are a whole 'nuther game though. 8) This is one I recently finished.

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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by Joker31D »

beautiful rifle, I'm still kicking around the 458, I have a Sharps but the bullets I shoot are cast and paper patched, actually found a guy locally who is patiently teaching me how to do it, He casts the bullet on Custom Dies and uses a cotton based paper with Black Powder. I wish I could get the state to allow it for BP season, even though I have an Insanely accurate Traditions Strikerfire for that. The 458 would be great for our new Bear Season here, they have been multiplying for 60 years without a season and need culling. In North Fl people have had them in their Garages in the middle of the city and its getting dangerous.
If you wouldnt mind sharing some tricks with me, I have been kicking it around for a while and want to get into the 458 in an AR, maybe the Savage bolt for the states I hunt in that dont allow AR's.
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by icebug »

Wicked wrote: Now, 700gr subs thru a can are a whole 'nuther game though.
700gr subs?! :shock:
Which bullets?
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by Wicked »

icebug wrote:
Wicked wrote: Now, 700gr subs thru a can are a whole 'nuther game though.
700gr subs?! :shock:
Which bullets?
I had a mold cut to cast a near-copy of the Lehigh 582gr subsonic match. A bit shorter but still heavier.

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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by icebug »

Wicked wrote: I had a mold cut to cast a near-copy of the Lehigh 582gr subsonic match. A bit shorter but still heavier.
Awesome!
Do they expand at subsonic velocities?
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

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Not really sure. Guess they might expand some on a shoulder shot but I don't have any kills with these yet. I have been experimenting with molding plastic balls in the nose to initiate expansion. Without going to a lot of expense and time, I don't have a really good method to test bullet expansion. Most of the shooting I do with these is against steel targets at long range.

Subsonic hunting = Lehigh controlled fracturing or the all copper from makerbullets.com. Unfortunately I know you can't get them, so a hard cast lead boolit with wide meplat would be my second choice. It won't expand but will punch hard and head or shoulder shots should work.
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

Post by Killerapplesauce »

Very nice rifle have you posted the pics on the 458socom forum yet?
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Re: Savage 458 SOCOM bolt gun draws first blood.

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