Welcome everyone to the 45th edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many fantastic series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or does it only have Fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article.

In our last edition, our poll showed that you the readers, found the 40 S&W chambered MP5 to be a tactical classic.  

HGFC 40 S&W MP5 Poll Results

At this time the MP5 is still up for grabs. Although the original auction has ended, the gun has been relisted. We at TFB hope that someone has deep enough pockets to take this classic home soon.

In this week’s edition of HGFC, we look at a custom Marlin Lever Action chambered in .458 SOCOM. Of course, as is tradition, this tactical lever action is currently up for sale on GunBroker for $2,899.99 Buy It Now.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP?

Sweet SOCOM Lever Gun or Fudd Overrun?

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet SOCOM Lever Gun or Fudd Overrun?

Let’s see what the Staff had to say about this week’s offering:

“Brake instead of threaded barrel? Death by stoning.”  -Pete

“It looks like one of those cross-bolt safety snobs inherited this and decided it needed to be punished.” -Sam S.

“Only working with one projectile is one hell of an asterisk.” – Rusty S.

“For when you want .45-70 ballistics in your AR, and your lever-action gets jealous” – Giorgio O.

“Finally, a CA Compliant Special Operations rifle and caliber…” -Tom R.

“Lever-stupid” – Mike R.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet SOCOM Lever Gun or Fudd Overrun?

Selling this big-bore blaster is GunBroker seller SPI Guns, located in Hinesville GA. Let’s see what they have to say about this SOCOM chambered custom:  

Up for sale is a brand new Marlin 1895GBL in .458 Socom, custom-built by Bishop Ammunition & Firearms. This item is very rare and only a handful of them have been produced, and as far as we are aware, this model is the only example of a lever-action gun in .458 Socom commercially available. The firearm is currently set up to accept a 2.04” cartridge, but it comes with 4 carbon fiber spacers and it is adjustable to accept cartridges anywhere between 1.94” and 2.25”. It comes with a hard case as shown in the pictures. Many parts have been upgraded by Bishop, including the barrel with an added muzzle brake.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet SOCOM Lever Gun or Fudd Overrun?

This actually isn’t the first time a Bishop Firearms 458 SOCOM has appeared here on TFB.  With that said, I’m still a little perplexed as to the overall goal of this project.  I think 458 SOCOM is a fantastic AR caliber, but rechambering a lever gun for it seems a bit much.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet SOCOM Lever Gun or Fudd Overrun?

Now there does exist a market for guns like this, for those living in a state that won’t allow you to buy a proper 458 SOCOM AR.  Still, at just shy of $3K you have to really want to shoot what is a niche caliber.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet SOCOM Lever Gun or Fudd Overrun?

What do you think?  Is this SOCOM chambered Marlin a Hot Gat or just over the top Fudd Crap?  Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and cast your vote to let us know if this 458 SOCOM Bishop Marlin 1895 Lever Action is a Hot Gat or Fudd Crap: