Have you assembled the right upper on your best 458 SOCOM upper? If you have, then you must understand by now that it is not such an easy experience.
But if you haven’t, then the challenge of assembling one is not as important as it is to get the perfect upper for your 458 SOCOM. Yes, you want to get the good 458 SOCOM upper, but the main challenge lies in where to start.
Luckily, we did the job for you, and we’ll be sharing how you can get a good one. We will offer you the top 5 units to consider, and even give a brief buyer’s guide on how to pick one. Without any further ado, let’s get it started.
458 SOCOM Upper Comparison
| Model | Barrel Length | Finish | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radical Firearms 16 in | 16 in | Black | Check Price |
| CROSS MACHINE TOOL CO., INC. – AR15 | – | Black | Check Price |
| ANDERSON MANUFACTURING – 458 | – | Black | Check Price |
| Radical Firearms 10.5 in | 10.5 in | Black | Check Price |
458 SOCOM Upper Review
As we have said, the main challenge usually lies in finding the perfect upper for you. However, we made it easier for you and came up with this list of the five best units.
1. Radical Firearms 10.5 458 SOCOM Complete Upper
First on the list is this complete upper for 458 SOCOM, which comes from a reputable brand as well. This one has been made with state-of-the-art technology to serve you as you deserve.
If you are looking for more power from your rifle, this would be the perfect upper to get. We loved that it comes complete and well-assembled.
Generally, you get this with an upper receiver, a custom ejection port door, forward assist, a panzer muzzle brake, and a barrel nut.
With the combination of all these parts, you can be sure of enjoying taking the shots with your rifle. Keep in mind that the charging handle and bolt carrier group come complete with this upper.
but, there is an option of upgrading the charging handle if need be. By the way, this upper is an optics-ready cartridge for your pistol chamber. We noticed the precision of this upper, which is machined and made to perfection.
It features a MIL-STD M4 flat top upper with forged aluminum receivers. This one starts with a 10.5-inch 4140 CMV Steel Barrel that has an HBAR contour.
The contour is Melonite-treated and threaded with a Panzer muzzle brake. For the record, the threading is 5/8×32.
We won’t forget to mention that this upper comes with an SB Tactical SBA3 pistol brace that is perfectly adjustable. This way, it can fit the rifle as you need to give you the perfect control.
Whether you are getting this unit for home defense or competition, it would be the perfect big-bore AR that you’d want to have.
What We Loved
What Could Be Better
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2. Anderson Manufacturing SOCOM Upper Receiver
If you are looking for an upper receiver specifically meant for big-bore use, this piece would be the best pick for you.
It offers you a ready-made upper, which is well designed to handle the enhanced dimensions of the round – specifically if you want a good upper for your big-bore .458 model.
We loved how sturdy this unit has been made. It comes with a 7075 T6 forged aluminum construction, which comes along with a wider ejection port.
Furthermore, there is a durable hard-coat anodized finish that prevents it from catching corrosion or rust.
Also, the black color makes it somewhat discreet when you mount it to your rifle. Besides that, this matte black finish reduces the sunlight glare as you are shooting in the wild.
This one has been designed to easily fit on a standard AR-15 lower receiver, even without the need for specific customization.
Nevertheless, the upper receiver is a true stripped-down upper receiver that’s ready to be customized from scratch. In other words, it is an upper receiver that you can customize for your AR.
Keep in mind that this unit will require some touch-ups for you to make it as efficient as possible.
We’d say that it is supposedly the best budget 458 SOCOM upper since it lets you customize it as much as you wish without breaking the bank.
The ejection port on this baby is wide enough to extract the large 458 cartridges with ease. But also, the barrel extension comes with a large relief for efficient feeding.
You have to know that this one doesn’t come with a dust cover. However, you can use any standard dust cover on it with standard pins.
What We Loved
What Could Be Better
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3. Cross Machine Tool Co. Inc SOCOM AR15 CMT
Here is another great upper receiver that you can get for your 458 SOCOM. It would be the perfect match for your UHP-15 lower receiver. Also, you could get it for your Mil-Spec lower, and it would serve you accordingly.
This unit uses the 7075 T6 aluminum that gives it more strength and rigidity compared to the 6061 receivers.
The piece is machined on a 5-axis machining center, which in turn helps to cut down the number of setups and operations needed to make it complete.
In other words, it is designed to give you an easy time when using it. The aim of this machining process is to make the upper receiver as accurate as possible.
Also, it has been made to enhance the performance, function, and overall appearance of your weapon system.
By the way, this one also comes with an enlarged ejection port opening that is ideal for 458 SOCOM rifle builds.
An anodized finish helps to make the upper receiver durable and rust-resistant. But also, it helps to keep the rifle protected as you take shots out in the rain or snow.
The cross-machine makes the upper receiver fully compatible with the regular AR-15 parts. So, it won’t be wrong to consider this a versatile upper receiver. There’s an extension ejection port that extracts the larger-sized cartridges after every shot.
Besides being compatible with standard AR-15 parts, the upper receiver accepts standard bolt carriers, barrel nuts, as well as standard 5.56 charging handles.
Keep in mind that all these parts are not included with the upper, which means that you’ll have to buy and install them separately. Either way, it is a very reliable upper when fully assembled.
What We Loved
What Could Be Better
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4. Tromix Right Hand 458 SOCOM Complete Upper
For those that are not so much into the assembly of an upper for your 458 SOCOM, this one would suit you perfectly. This baby comes in a black 4150 Chromoly steel, but there is also the stainless steel option if you prefer it shiny.
This Milspec forged aluminum upper receiver comes with a forward assist, along with an installed dust cover assembly. There’s one single feed ramp for the big bore cartridges.
We loved that the upper receiver is perfectly modified around the ejection port to make it easy for proper ejection and clearance of the cartridge. This one is quite lightweight and generally comfortable to use.
Even though the Picatinny rail sections are not included in this unit, you still have the option of purchasing them from the official website.
Luckily, the rail sections will attach easily to the available rails if you want to add some accessories such as grips, flashlights, lasers, or bipods.
There is also a carbine gas tube that keeps it strong whenever bullets pass through at super-speeds. Keep in mind that this upper assembly will easily fit all the standard AR-15 receivers.
Ideally, experts advise that you run this upper receiver with a D&H tactical SOCOM magazine, which helps to cut down any possible issues.
What We Loved
What Could Be Better
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5. Radical Firearms 16-Inch 458 SOCOM Upper Assembly
This might be the last product on the list, but that shouldn’t fool you. It does qualify among the high-quality 458 SOCOM complete upper receivers out there.
With this upper assembly, you get a high-quality unit that offers you power when shooting at your target with your rifle.
The assembly comes with a complete and fully-assembled forward assist, upper receiver, the new panzer muzzle brake, barrel nut 16” barrel, as well as a custom ejection port door.
With this, you can be sure of taking out the round without any major challenge. Also, the charging handle and bolt carrier group come fully assembled with the upper.
It comes with a 4150 vanadium steel barrel that is made to withstand rust and corrosion while remaining strong for long.
A stainless carbine-length gas tube is also included. Besides that, you get a direct gas impingement with this upper receiver
Additionally, this upper is custom forging with a forward assist that makes it easy to use. The barrel length of this one is 16 inches, and it comes in a cool black color.
Its matte black finish helps to match it with the color of your AR. Furthermore, it will reduce the sunlight glare as you take shots out in the field.
In general, this upper receiver is very easy to use, and you will not have a difficult time getting along with it.
What We Loved
What Could Be Better
How to Buy the Right SOCOM Upper?
So, there go our top-rated upper receivers for your Best 458 SOCOM Upper. Finding a good upper is all about understanding the requirements of your rifle and your preferences.
That being said, here are some of the things that you should consider when choosing the perfect 458 SOCOM upper.
Durability
You need to have a durable upper that will serve you for a long time without wearing out too quickly. There are multiple bullet weights and grains when it comes to the 458 SOCOM. They range from 250 grains to 600 grains.
This makes it difficult and complicated when you are in search of the right upper receiver for your 458. If you want your 458 to handle heavier rounds, you will need to have an upper receiver that’s strong and durable enough.
Suppose you choose a receiver that cannot handle around 500 to 600-grain bullets, it can lead them to get stuck, and the locking lugs can break. Above all, this may lead to cracks developing in the upper receiver.
Even when you go for the lightweight 458 rounds of 250 grains, a strong and durable upper receiver is still needed. For that reason, ensure that the upper receiver that you choose is made to last for long.
Ideally, 7075 T6 aluminum or 4150 Chromoly steel is a good selection for the best material that can last for long.
Corrosion/Rust Resistance
This point is quite similar to the first in this section, but it shouldn’t be covered individually. The material used to make the upper receiver might be strong and durable, but still susceptible to rust and corrosion.
There are two aspects that can determine the rust and corrosion resistance of the upper receiver. These include the material and finish. Most upper receivers that come with a coating helps to keep the material rust-resistant.
Naturally, stainless steel is rust and corrosion-resistant.While aluminum might be strong, it often corrodes when it gets in contact with moisture and humidity.
Ideally, choose an upper receiver that is made of stainless steel, steel, or one that comes with an anodized coating.
Range
Does the range of an upper receiver affect the delivery of your rifle? Yes, it will. Generally, the 458 SOCOM is not as precise as that, especially when shooting at a long-distance like over 1,000 yards away.
In this case, you need to make the 458 rifles as accurate as possible; you will need a good upper receiver with excellent range and accuracy. Ensure to consider the range of the upper in relation to its accuracy when choosing one.
Compatibility
Another thing that you should consider when going for the upper receiver is the compatibility of its parts. Durability, accuracy, range, and rust resistance are not enough when going for the right upper receiver for your 458 SOCOM.
Rather, it is important to go for an upper receiver that is compatible enough with other accessories. This should be a major point to consider if you will be going for a unit that is highly adjustable.
Some come fully assembled, which need limiting to no customization. On the other hand, you will find upper receivers that are customizable and meant to be assembled.
Usually, the units that are meant to be assembled are meant for experienced shooters. They are not the best pick for beginners. Either way, a good upper receiver will come with highly compatible parts.
For instance, you can check if the upper receiver comes with an attached rail at the top. With this, you can add some lasers or optics to offer better delivery and shooting experience.
Also, you can check if the upper receiver has disconnect mounts that allow you to add lasers or sling attachment points.
A good and highly compatible upper receiver lets you enhance your shooting experience while getting the best from it.
Furthermore, some customizations help to reduce recoil. Normally, the 458 SOCOM will deliver too many kicks than the 308 or 556 AR.
In this case, installing a muzzle brake, along with a recoil buffer spring, will help to reduce the recoiling of the rifle. However, it should be able to accept these adjustments accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some parts of the 458 SOCOM parts and 5.56 parts are similar. However, the muzzle attachment, bolt, barrel, and upper receiver are the ones that differ.
SOCOM is Special Operations Command, which is the joint service command that controls the special operations units like Naval Special Warfare, Air Force Special Operations, and Army Special Forces.
The 458 barrels were given the SOCOM name on the basis of the original drive from these Special Forces.
There are a few official online stores that sell upper receivers, and one of them is Radical Firearms.
A typical short barrel upper comes with a 10.5-inch barrel. Nevertheless, the shortest you can go for is a 7.5-inch barrel.
Since these units come with different sizes and features, you should expect equally different price tags.
Some go at less than $100, while others can cost well over $1,000.
Just make sure that you choose the one that suits you accordingly and falls in your budget bracket.
Final Words
So, there we have the top 458 SOCOM upper reviews. We are confident that you now have enough information to help you go shop for the perfect unit.
When picking the barrel, make sure that it meets your shooting needs and preferences accordingly.