Yep, like any tool. But it’s also nice to have some that “call” you to take them out because they’re a little different and fun to shoot. I just bought a cheap 9mm carbine just for this purpose. It will live in its base form just to keep it simple.
Printable View
I just built a 458 socom.
From what I've read .450 BM beats 458 on paper.
450BM has been approved by saami and is pretty easy to find at my LGS & Cabelas neither of which had 458 socom.
450BM is a straight walled cartridge and has the advantage of being allowed in States that only allow straight walled cartridge for hunting i.e. Ohio
You almost have to be a reloader to choose 458
All that said - I can't see any reason why .300blk or the 6.5 flavors wouldn't serve as a much better whitetail cartridge than the .4xx rounds
300 AAC is a capable deer/midsize game round, as is 6.5 Grendel.
Currently serving the purposes I consider essential:
1. 16" 5.56 Recce setup for 3 gun, range fun, SHTF, varminting, etc. -- 1-4x scope
2. 18" 5.56 DMR setup for DMR competition, range fun, SHTF, and varminting w/ 3-15x scope
3. 16" 5.56 pencil barrel w/ irons for my son when he's old enough to learn to shoot w/ a centerfire
4. 16" .22LR w/ 1-4x scope for my son and/or myself and/or wife for practice and small game
5. 18" .308 AR10 w/ 3-15x scope for hunting (out of state, I don't bother with here), precision matches, range fun, SHTF
6. 10.5" .300BLK w/ red dot for HD, pest control and hogs, range fun
7. 16" 6.8 SPC for my son and/or wife for hunting (lighter weight than AR10)
Drop the "s" in "ARs". You need 1. Get 1 AR, be it a 16", 14.5" pin & weld, or 11.5" AR "pistol/SBR". Take whatever money you would be wasting on building other ARs & invest it in decent kit, glass, armor, NOD, & most importantly TRAINING. Having multiple ARs is worthless if you cant employ them better than the guy(s) shooting at you.
You can't do a New York reload with only one rifle. ;)