I know has been out there for years. Never really thought that much about it. But now am wondering if there is anything to it or not really.
I really do not know to much about it.
Seems like only really for shooting suppressed.

I do not really need to spend money for something I do not need. For suppressed I need to spend more money for a muzzle device.
What about barrel length?

Tell more that I need to know. Thanks guys.

It's not just for shooting suppressed, although that's one of its primary draws.

It's more efficient in shorter barrels than .223/5.56, which is a bonus for suppressed use (the OAL of short barrel + suppressor sure beats 16+" barrel + suppressor), but even unsuppressed it's a better choice for a short barrel rifle/pistol/braced firearm.

And with supersonic loads, it effectively gets you 7.62x39 ballistics out of a basically unmodified AR15 platform (the barrel and muzzle device are the only differences compared to a .223/5.56).

I know several guys who use it for shorter ranged hunting, similar to the venerable .30-30. And some folks see it as a step up in terminal ballistics over .223/5.56 for defensive use, especially in short barrels.

.300 Blackout has proven to be popular enough, and has become mainstream enough, that I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon. The same can't be said for the other semi-mainstream alternative AR calibers (6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, .450 Bushmaster, .456 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf, etc.), all of which remain comparatively much more niche calibers.

I don’t have one, but not really anything against it.

Just to back up some, so many seem wedded to the AR platform. That can lead to always trying to get a newfangled cartridge to work in the AR-15/10 action.

I have an assortment of AR’s, various configurations, a Grendel, but mostly 223/5.56. Case in point, look when the Valkyrie came out. I said, I can do that & better with my bolt 243, even an AR-10 in 243 if one wanted. I’m talking about shooting 70 grain bullets.

I’m more a hunter & a casual range shooter. Hunting more often comes down to that first, carefully placed shot. Many things are easier with the bolt gun, usually getting the trigger how I like it, then maybe cleaning up after being out in the rain or snow. One of my ARs has a Jewel trigger, a few Timney, Velocity, etc, so yes it can be done.

Much comes down to what one wants to do. Even when I go prairie dogging I often prefer a bolt gun over my semi-custom AR built for dogging.

I’ve always said, even deer hunting would less interesting if we all used a Savage 110 in 30-06.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It's more efficient in shorter barrels than .223/5.56 ....

And that’s why if one must have a short barrel rifle for close range serious purposes, it’s better that it be chambered for 300 BLK. Using common loads, the muzzle energy of the 300 from a 9/10 inch barrel is about the same as 5.56 from 16 inches.

In addition, in my limited experience (because I don’t own a 223/5.56 SBR), the muzzle blast from 9/10 inches is much more tolerable with the 300.

I got into .300 BO, but now it’s a boutique caliber for me. The ammo has gotten so expensive, especially the subsonic stuff, that it’s not really worth it. Got a 16” AR upper, and conversions for my MCX and SR556, and don’t see ever using them. I’m even using my SBR lower that was registered as .300 BO more often with different caliber uppers. In the end, for me, the caliber is only really usable for short barrel suppressed, and with ammo prices, not even that is particularly appealing to me.

All AR15 calibers shoot both suppressed and unsuppressed. Subsonic loads just shoot with less noise. 300blk is likely the chambering that has the largest following in the market for non-223/556.

I have an SBR 300blk with an 11" barrel and I like it. I got it as an F-U to state legislators and as a shorter-range carbine training rifle, for times I want to shoot at steel but don't want to damage the plates. An 11" barrel with 140-150 grain supersonic ammo has low enough MV that AR500 steel won't be pitted.

Obtaining 300blk accuracy is challenging. All the precision shooters I know who have one have struggled to get good loads, both factory and by hand. FMJ bullets in the 140-150 grain ballpark fly poorly at distance. Figure 3 MOA-ish consistently, akin to 223 55 FMJ. Subsonic 300blk stings vertically quite badly, especially given how the heavy & high quality match bullets show limited horizontal variation and wind drift. Again with the subsonic loads, 3 MOA on a consistent basis.

If subsonic carbine is the goal, 9mm 147 grain loads should be considered an option. Even with FMJ loads, 2 MOA is common for me, even with FMJ. 9mm ammo is way cheaper than 300blk ammo, too.

Like precision buddies who have 300blk rifles, accurate ammo has bullets in the 110-125 grain ballpark. Hornady 110 VMax shoots great, as does the Barnes 110 and 120 Vortex loads. The best accuracy for me is with 125 SMK bullets, with ADI's ammo being the best -- 1 MOA out to 400-ish yards. But my 223 rifles are more accurate in this role.

I will never again buy Fiocchi's 125 SST ammo nor Sig's 125 HPBT match ammo. Both were quite accurate, but both popped primers like a drug addict with pills. The primers invariably got hung up behind the BCG, requiring a minute or two of downtime to fish out the jams with tools.

******
If you have a specific use for 300blk, then it makes sense:
- Hunting moderate sized game with an AR15, where caliber restrictions occur.
- Home defense with an SBR, with supersonic ammo, with a suppressor.
- Close target practice on steel.

IMO the interwebz holy grail of subsonic 300blk is completely over blown.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It's not just for shooting suppressed ..

It's more efficient in shorter barrels than .223/5.56,...

And with supersonic loads, it effectively gets you 7.62x39 ballistics ...

... step up in terminal ballistics over .223/5.56 for defensive use, especially in short barrels.

.300 Blackout has proven to be popular enough, and has become mainstream enough...

...(6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, .450 Bushmaster, .456 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf, etc.), all of which remain comparatively much more niche calibers.

^^^ Pretty much agree with everything RogueJSK said.

Also agree ^^^ I use a 300 BLK as my at-home SD rifle, a Maxim. Surprisingly accurate at < 100 yards with supersonic (the Maxim PDW w/ Hatebrake)

Have another SBR that i formed 1 and also accurate.

It's not a long-range AR, but for SD, a .30 round is personally more comforting than a .22

Basically boutique as far as I'm concerned. A rifle bullet that can only go 100 yards roughly? I'm good.

If I want a something like that for close in work out of a short barrel, I think I'd be fine with a short barreled AK style weapon, or if wanted it suppressed a pistol caliber weapon that isn't $1 a round.

300blk shines in shorter barrels and is my go to SBR when I travel. It also works well for short range hunting out to a few hundred yards. 110gr Hornady VMAX has no issues dropping wild hogs and I’m sure it would do even better against a two legged predator as well. I load for it, so cost of ammo is less than $1 or more that you pay for factory ammo.

I don’t have a 308 can, so I shoot much more supers than subs. When I shoot subs, it is through my 9mm can which is rated for 300blk subsonic.

Whenever this subject comes up, there is always talk of self defense and needing a gun for 4-500yds. Let’s get real folks, you will probably NEVER engage anyone with your AR in this lifetime. If you do, the world has really gone south. I have been carrying concealed for over 27 years and have never had to draw my pistol let alone use an AR15.

I've been considering a .300 build on and off for a while...mainly because I inevitably get bored and want to try something new. I tried the 6.5 Grendel for a while, and ended up selling it because I only shot paper with it, typically inside of 200 yards, and it was expensive and hard on brass...which made it even more expensive. The thought keeps popping into my head that blackout uses mostly 5.56 parts, and I can make the brass from .223 cases. A couple of responses to this thread are really making me think I don't need it, though.

Fritz said:

quote:

If subsonic carbine is the goal, 9mm 147 grain loads should be considered an option.

That's a fair point. Subsonic is subsonic, and while the ballistic coefficient of a .30 rifle bullet may be better than most 9mm options, does it really matter in that application? If my primary goal is to run it suppressed on steel, or even on critters, how much do I really gain over the 9mm carbine that I already have?

Sourdough44 said:

quote:

Hunting more often comes down to that first, carefully placed shot. Many things are easier with the bolt gun, usually getting the trigger how I like it, then maybe cleaning up after being out in the rain or snow. One of my ARs has a Jewel trigger, a few Timney, Velocity, etc, so yes it can be done.

Much comes down to what one wants to do. Even when I go prairie dogging I often prefer a bolt gun over my semi-custom AR built for dogging.

I can't disagree with that, either. For a hunting gun, which if I'm completely honest is likely to be the only time I'm shooting at flesh and bone with a rifle outside of a work capacity, why does it have to be an AR? A bolt gun has a lot of advantages. I actually sold the heavy-barreled .223 rifle-length AR that I built and kept my Savage Model 10 because it shoots just as well, if not better, and is simpler to maintain and clean.

I'm not saying that there's no application for anyone, but it doesn't make much sense for me at this point. It would ultimately be another AR with all of it's awkward protrusions taking up space in my already overcrowded safe making it harder to get to the stuff that I actually use.

usncorpsman, that's an awesome blaster you got there brother! I think TFB really put that 3x prism/offset reflex combo on the map for a lot of people.

uncorpsman, what is that AR setup you have?

Is the rifle in the top pic a Ruger?

quote:

Originally posted by usncorpsman:
300blk shines in shorter barrels and is my go to SBR when I travel. It also works well for short range hunting out to a few hundred yards. 110gr Hornady VMAX has no issues dropping wild hogs and I’m sure it would do even better against a two legged predator as well. I load for it, so cost of ammo is less than $1 or more that you pay for factory ammo.

I don’t have a 308 can, so I shoot much more supers than subs. When I shoot subs, it is through my 9mm can which is rated for 300blk subsonic.

Whenever this subject comes up, there is always talk of self defense and needing a gun for 4-500yds. Let’s get real folks, you will probably NEVER engage anyone with your AR in this lifetime. If you do, the world has really gone south. I have been carrying concealed for over 27 years and have never had to draw my pistol let alone use an AR15.

Most excellent to see the goods being put to work and enjoyed!!! Thanks for those pics

That is a nice rig. I have a 30 cal can coming in 290 days or whenever the NFA division decides. I should build something similar.

quote:

Originally posted by Lord Vaalic:
uncorpsman, what is that AR setup you have?

Is the rifle in the top pic a Ruger?

The SBR is a RRA lower that I did the paperwork on 16 years ago. The upper is a factory Aero Precision upper that originally came with a 7.5” barrel. I changed it out to a Ballistic Advantage Hanson 8’3 300blk barrel. The gun is super accurate with 110gr VMax and 125gr Speer TNT. They are both devastating on hogs.

The top rifle is a Ruger American Ranch in 300blk. It is one of the most accurate factory guns I have ever shot. I have the same gun in 7.62x39 and will never give either of them up. They are outstanding for the money paid.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: usncorpsman,

If I didn’t have an SBR or a suppressor, I’m not sure if .300blk would have been on the agenda.

I enjoy my Ruger American Ranch .300blk, I’ve had good luck with the Hornady 190gr. Sub-X.

Lehigh/Underwood Ammo’s Maximum Expansion 194gr looks pretty interesting, but at $72.99/20rd box, I have not given it a go yet.





I’ve got an Aero Precision 8” SBR in .300blk, so the bolt action was a fun addition for quiet shooting when not looking at longer ranges. With all the trees in Northern MN, true long range is seldom a consideration anyhow.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cntrl23,

Originally I thought it was a fad. It doesn’t do anything better than 5.56 out of an M4. It’s only good out to a couple hundred yards. Sub sonics are basically heavy pistol rounds.

Then I realized something. This was never designed to replace the M4. It’s intended to replace something like the mp5. What you get is cartridge they can either be supersonic, burn all it’s powder in a nine inch barrel, and remain effective out to two hundred yards, or a very quiet suppressed subsonic cartridge that offers better than 45 acp ballistics with a higher BHC projectile and is as quiet or quieter than 9mm. That’s impressive.

If you aren’t running it suppressed or SBR, I don’t think it’s all that interesting. I built a 9 inch upper that is an absolute joy to shoot and would be the bees knees for an urban carbine or entry gun.

What is a "BHC projectile"?

That would be me having a typo typing on my phone. Old clumsy fingers.

BC, Ballistic Coefficient. That projectile weighs about the same as a 45 acp, but is moving faster and is more efficient.