The 458 SOCOM (for Special Operations Command) was designed by Marty ter Weeme in the late 1990s, originally intended to provide massive knockdown power with heavy bullets at subsonic velocities, for use in the M16 platform with suppressor. It is based on the rebated-rim 425 Westley Richards case shortened to 1.575 inches and necked to take a .458-inch bullet. The 458 SOCOM has not been officially adopted by the military, but AR15 upper receivers are available for multiple sources and CorBon offers a variety of loads, supersonic for hunting with bullets from 250 to 450 grains; and subsonic with a 600-grain bullet at 950 feet per second. Like the 450 Bushmaster and 500 Beowulf, the 458 SOCOM offers large-caliber power in the AR platform, offering short-range capability for larger game.
