Best .458 SOCOM Magazines

Most people overlook the .458 SOCOM for the AR-15, even if it increases your rifle’s stopping power. The .458 SOCOM is only as reliable as its magazines. Therefore, searching for high-quality 458 SOCOM mags rifle is a must.

So, today, we’ll be looking at some of the best .458 SOCOM magazines in the market.

	D&H Tactical .458 SOCOM 4-Round Magazine	Hard-coated, Teflon finish for good rust and corrosion resistance Aluminum built body Big bore follower design ensures reliable feeding Not Cheap Low capacity	$25 Shop NowClick to read my review
Top Pick	CMMG MKW-15 .458 SOCOM 10-Round Magazine	Light and durable polymer construction Non-tilt follower and curved design ensure good and reliable feeding Can be used for both .458 SOCOM & 5.56 NATO Not the most affordable choice	$26 Shop NowClick to read my review
	C Products Defense .458 SOCOM 10-Round Magazine	Durable, impact-proof Rust- and corrosion- resistant High capacity Heavy	$18 Shop NowClick to read my review
	AR-15/M-16 Snail Drum 90-Round Magazine	High capacity (up to 45 rounds) Shorter overall length due to unique design Reliable Illegal in some states Heavy	$89 Shop NowClick to read my review

Why Go With the .458 SOCOM?

The .458 SOCOM is a large round designed to increase the power of an AR-15 over the standard 5.56x45mm NATO round. Any .458 SOCOM upper receiver will fit over a traditional 5.56 lower receiver. This means that if you already own a 5.56 AR-15, you don’t have to get a new rifle to swap for a .458 model.

And yes, you can fit .458 SOCOM rounds into a standard 5.56 AR-15 magazine. More on this later. We also reviewed .458 SOCOM uppers and barrels before if you are looking for more guides.

The .458 SOCOM is a 300 grain round that can deliver 1900-2400 ft/s supersonic muzzle velocity. Its ballistics is quite like the venerable .45-70 Government round. When placed together side by side, you will notice that the .458 is smaller.

Use of the .458 SOCOM

As mentioned before, the .458 performs akin to the .45-70 Government. It can drop virtually anything in North America, even big and dangerous game like the brown bear. Lever action rifles in .45-70 Government had high levels of stopping power. As such, hunting guides used them as defensive weapons.

But why use a lever action when you can use an AR-15 with its faster rate of fire? Just imagine using the .458 SOCOM AR-15 as a weapon against dangerous wildlife. It’s not hard to conjure up its immense lethality in your mind.

Of course, you can also use the .458 SOCOM for hunting, home defense, or as a tactical/SHTF weapon. It was, after all, originally designed to put enemy combatants down in the dust.

I mentioned earlier that .458 SOCOM rounds will fit in standard 5.56 magazines for the AR-15. In general, the .458 is reliable in metal GI, but not so much in polymer magazines like those by Lancer or Magpul.

The magazine is the heart and soul of your AR-15’s reliability. Issues with your magazine will affect function, regardless of your weapon’s quality.  To ensure the best reliability possible, it is wiser to invest in magazines meant for the .458 SOCOM.

Let’s talk about .458 SOCOM mags in greater detail.

Buyer’s Guide To Finding The Best .458 SOCOM Magazines

These are the most important factors to consider for your .458 SOCOM mags:

Materials

The build material of the body will have the biggest impact on how long it lasts and how much abuse it can sustain. Metal magazines such as aircraft-grade aluminum are the most common for GI style. Polymer magazines like Lancer or Magpul are also popular. These magazines offer similar levels of durability as metal while being significantly lighter.

Capacity

The more bullets the better, right? The only tradeoff with a magazine with more rounds is that it’s going to weigh more. A standard 30-round 5.56 magazine will fit 10 rounds of .458 SOCOM, for reference. A 20 round 5.56 magazine will fit seven rounds in it. Most magazines for the .458 SOCOM round will have capacities in this range as well. Keep in mind that the .458 SOCOM is a larger round, so expect a 10-round capacity at most. Additionally, make sure that you follow state rules on max magazine capacity.

Strong Follower and Spring

The follower and spring feed the rounds from the magazine into the weapon itself. They both need to be of the utmost quality. The follower should have an anti-tilt design. Meanwhile, the spring should be made out of strong, rust, and corrosion-resistant metal. It should also not wear down easily after extended use.

Affordability

Yes, this matters too. Since the .458 SOCOM is a rarer round than the 5.56, magazines are rarer and more expensive as a whole. You can buy several 5.56 magazines for the cost of a single .458 SOCOM magazine. For this reason, many owners of the .458 may feel tempted to just use 5.56 magazines.

That’s acceptable but remember that reliability matters. Magazines made specifically for the .458 SOCOM round should function more reliably.

In general, you can expect to pay at least twenty dollars or so for a .458 SOCOM magazine, and sometimes up to thirty. That may not sound like a lot, but it can be if you buy several magazines. Try to find the highest quality .458 SOCOM magazine you can for your price range.

Grip Texturing

A textured tactile surface secures your grip even when your hands are wet or gloved. To mitigate this, aftermarket magazines usually come with improved surfaces versus factory counterparts.

Reliability

Most main brand magazines are fairly reliable. That said, the odd one does jam, and this can cause damage to your weapon. Therefore, if you are new to all this stick with the tried and tested 458 socom mags. However, an experienced shooter will be able to detect any issues with a visual inspection.

Durability

Durability has historically come down to steel v polymer and manufacturing quality. Not that it is a scientific study, but I have shot with a lot of different 458 socom mags and have not found much difference in durability between the materials. I include the hybrids in this as well. It is more down to the manufacturer’s build quality, and that is usually decent with most of what you can get your hands on these days.

The 4 Best .458 SOCOM Magazines For 2020

Here are the top four best .458 SOCOM magazines for 2020:

D&H Tactical .458 SOCOM 4-Round Magazine

The D&H Tactical .458 SOCOM magazine is a solid choice if you’re looking for an American-made magazine.

D&H has been manufacturing firearm-related components for more than three decades. They are currently based out of Wisconsin. All their products are built here in the United States.

The D&H Tactical .458 SOCOM magazines are USGI style aluminum magazines. Aircraft-grade alloys are hard coat anodized for superior rust and corrosion resistance. The black Teflon finish and the spring’s 17-7PH stainless steel provide better corrosion resistance. They also come with a proprietary big-bore follower to ensure proper feeding.

The biggest downside of these magazines is that they only hold four rounds. That’s certainly plenty for hunting purposes. Admittedly, it leaves a bit to be desired for when it comes to tactical uses.

Overall, the D&H Tactical .458 SOCOM magazine is a solid option for a classic AR magazine. It is also American-made and built out of aircraft-grade aluminum materials.  Its low capacity makes it lightweight and perfect for restrictive state laws.

CMMG MKW-15 .458 SOCOM 10-Round Magazine

CMMG has been making magazines and other firearm-related products since 2002. They specialize in high-quality components for self-loading semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15.

The MKW-15 .458 SOCOM magazine is a Lancer L5 Advanced Warfighter 30-round 5.56 magazine adapted to hold 10 rounds of .458 SOCOM. This magazine can operate with both the .458 SOCOM and the 5.56×45. The durable and impact-resistant polymer body with steel feed limps ensures proper feeding. The magazine catch is also built out of steel so that it will resist steel.

Another benefit to this magazine is the ease of disassembly, as the floorplate slides on and off. The spring is fully corrosion-resistant, and the follower is of a non-tilt design. The slim body of the magazine also has great texturing for a firmer grip.

This magazine is definitely very expensive, but you’re getting a high-quality product. Like the D&H Tactical on our list, the CMMG MKW-15 is entirely US-made.

To summarize, the CMMG MKW-15 is one of the best .458 SOCOM magazines on the market today. It’s also a high-quality magazine commanding a premium price point. With this, you will get a long-lasting and durable magazine for your money.

C Products Defense .458 SOCOM 10-Round Magazine

C Product Defense is a Florida-based company that has been in business since 2011. Recently, the company renamed its line of magazines to Duramag. Their .458 SOCOM magazine is claimed to address reliability issues of mid-to-high capacity dropout box mags with larger calibers.

It has a ten-round capacity for either hunting or tactical and defense applications. Furthermore, it is legal in states that outlaw magazines classified as “high capacity.”

These magazines are stainless steel, making them heavier yet strong and rust-resistant. The material is more shatterproof than polymer and dent-resistant compared to aluminum. The spring is also stainless steel, reducing spring compression and fatigue. The USGI styling is also a plus, as these resemble those used by the United States military.

In other words, the C Products Defense .458 magazines are heavy but impact-resistant and durable. Additionally, its ten-round capacity is good for tactical and hunting scenarios alike. As an added bonus, these magazines are also less expensive than the alternatives.

AR-15/M-16 Snail Drum 90-Round Magazine

I know I said that using .458 SOCOM mags is the most reliable way to go. But, what if you absolutely needed more rounds? The solution is to use a snail drum magazine. These normally carry 90 rounds of ammo. Yet, since the .458 SOCOM is bigger, you can load up to 40-45 rounds.

The snail drum magazine is rarely used. Most gun owners would probably never get to try one. I do believe it is the best option for an extended magazine should you really need one. This type of magazine is more commonly used in law enforcement and the military.

It boasts a high round count and smooth production. This drum magazine is built from high-strength polymer. The storage is short and low-pressure, ensuring smooth and almost error-free feeding. The unique design gives you the benefit of more rounds without needing a longer magazine. Note that because the rounds are bigger, having 40 or more rounds at once will be significantly heavy.

Overall, the combination of high capacity, reliability, and improved mobility make the snail drum magazine a viable option. The market is small, so you might find it difficult to get one. If you do get the rare chance to buy a snail drum magazine, the unique experience is going to be worth it.