The Hammer and the Hunter

A closer look at Bishop Ammunition & Firearms’ AR and bolt-action rifles in .458 SOCOM.

The goal of creating the new .458 SOCOM caliber was to make a larger, more powerful cartridge that could be used in the AR-15 platform to provide greater stopping power and effectiveness in close-quarters combat and in situations where larger rounds were considered too heavy or impractical. The .458 SOCOM was designed to be compatible with standard AR-15/M16-style rifles with minimal modifications, enabling Special Forces units to use a more powerful round while maintaining their existing weapon systems. The round uses a .458-inch-diameter bullet, making it significantly larger and more powerful than the standard 5.56 NATO round used in most AR-15 rifles.

So now that we have a new caliber to use, is there any manufacturer out there making a rifle designed around it? I’m glad you asked. Enter Bishop Ammunition & Firearms, founded by Merrisa and
Dianne Bishop, both US military veterans. Merrisa is a disabled combat vet and former Army military police officer and long-range marksman. She does the research and development of all the company’s rifles and ammo products, and also builds rifles. She is a wealth of knowledge and talking with her is an enlightening experience. She is a consummate professional and takes pride in the work she does. Bishop has designed two incredible rifles to complement the .458 SOCOM.

THE FIRST RIFLE we’ll talk about is the Bishop 458 SOCOM Hunter, which is a bolt-action. This rifle originally debuted at SHOT Show in 2019 but has since had a few revisions. The short action receiver includes a Sako extractor, dual ejectors, side bolt release and six locking lugs. The rifle comes standard with 16 inch EV-5 Match barrel from Tactical Ordnance, eight-port muzzle brake made by Bishop, and Elftmann match adjustable trigger. The safety is located at the top of the rifle near the buttstock and is easily maneuvered with your thumb; this requires less movement, so your grip and sight alignment stay focused on your shot. The rifle only weighs 8 pounds. Now that all that technical stuff is out of the way, the question is, “How does it shoot?” The best way for me to describe the feel of this rifle is that it is
shockingly smooth. First, the trigger was set just around 2 pounds, so the rifle just screams at you as soon as you apply a little pressure with your trigger finger.
The rifle almost jumped out of my hands, as it was excited to be in action on the range with me. The accuracy, smooth shot, and easily manipulated bolt-action is like something out of a dream. The
rifle practically did all the work; I just had to grab on and go along for the ride. The 458 SOCOM Hunter can easily make anyone feel like a short-range Carlos Hathcock. (Google him if you do not recognize the name.)

THE SECOND RIFLE Bishop sent me to run was their 458 SOCOM Hammer MK II. Like their bolt-action, this rifle was also introduced at SHOT Show in 2019, and has had a few revisions. And just like its sister, this AR has a 16-inch EV-5 match grade barrel by Tactical Ordnance. The Elftmann match-adjustable trigger can be set from 2.75 to 4 pounds. An adjustable gas block is now standard to help the user adjust the harmonics of the barrel for optimum accuracy. What’s unique about this AR is the billet Gibbz Arms side charging handle. Yep, you read that right; the charging handle is located on the left side of the rifle instead of the standard top charging handle on most AR platforms. Each rifle is also fully configurable by the purchaser to create it to their own requirements.

I know, I know, technical blah blah – now tell me how it shoots! Well, like how a pit bull bites – hard, fast and powerful! This 458 SOCOM AR kicks like an AK but is smooth like its bolt-action sister. While shooting rapidly, you really need to have your stance locked in (or preferred shooting platform), as this baby likes to announce its presence! Having the charging handle on the left side (I am a right-handed shooter) made racking the rifle a lot smoother.
Magazine changes on the move were smooth and fast, as there is nothing I did to this rifle that interrupted my normal actions on the range. Accuracy at 100 yards was pinpoint, even on the move. If
my targets could talk (which they can’t, as they were all destroyed), they would tell you to change to a different rifle because this one hurt too much! For more on Bishop Firearms, visit
bishopammunition.com. ★

Editor’s note: Author Jason Brooks is a combat medically retired marine, force recon hand-to-hand instructor, counterterrorism instructor trainer, recognized national law enforcement trainer, active personal protection specialist and co-owner of Assault Counter Tactics. Visit assaultcountertactics.com for more.