Anyone have any input on which you would prefer for a 10" .300blk pistol? I like the idea of the piston upper, especially with the ability to have a folding brace, but is it enough of an advantage for the significantly increased cost? For the moment I don't have plans for a suppressor and would likely stay with supersonic ammo.

Personally, I don’t think the added weight, cost, and complexity of a piston upper has much value for .300 BO, especially if you have no intention of running a suppressor. As for the importance of having a folding brace, that’s a personal thing with how you intend to carry it.

I bought the 9" barreled "Pistol" JAKL and went through the time and effort to SBR it. I added my Dead Air Sandman "K" and it shoots like a dream with either subsonic or supersonic ammo. Very quiet and not gassy at all.

If you are staying with supers and have no plans to use a can, you can squeeze some more performance out of a 16" barrel (most of these still use a pistol length gas system). If you want to have the option to suppress or run subs, the 8-10" barrels are a sweet spot and will run very well with a DI setup from a reputable barrel mfg.

I've used both KAK and Ballistic Advantage .300 BO barrels (with and without) adjustable gas setups. You should be able to run both subs and supers without issue on a 10" barrel with pistol length gas system. Some of the carbine length gas guns in this caliber can be finicky (have personally had issues with a BCM upper with carbine gas).

I've not tried a Jakl upper, but DI uppers will run .300 BO reliably. You probably don't need a Jakl or BRN180 unless you absolutely have to eliminate the buffer for a folding stock/brace.

I guess I'll be that guy: If you have no plans to suppress it, why go with a .300BO instead of 5.56?

Thanks for the input all.

Was thinking .300 as it seems to give up less with 6" shorter barrel than 5.56.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
I guess I'll be that guy: If you have no plans to suppress it, why go with a .300BO instead of 5.56?

Fair point. However an 8-10" .300blk with subs, suppressed or not, makes a handy home defense gun imho. Better suppressed certainly, but I'd still prefer it unsuppressed for this role over a 556.