I'll have to admit that I don't have a favorite 458 SOCOM load yet. I have several loads that would be quite acceptable on deer sized game up to 100 yards but I'm looking for 1 to 1.5 inch 100 yard 3 shot groups and I haven't gotten a load to do that well yet. Perhaps part of my problem is that I've done most of my shooting with an EOTech sight; I'll have to try scoping it.
As for bullets, I think Barnes makes goods bullets but, unless they shoot better in your gun than others or unless you're in a "lead free" zone, I think they're a waste of money for things like hogs and deer. Considering the heaviness and large diameter of .458 caliber bullets, you can use pretty much any bullet from Remington, Hornady, etc. at lower cost and with good results; after all, dead is dead.
When you get into shooting larger game with marginal cartridges, that's when you should be thinking Barnes bullets. An example would be going after African plains game with a 22 Hornet.
