G11354
Member
Considering building an AR upper in 300 Blackout with a 16" barrel.
Is this cartridge any good?
Is this cartridge any good?
300 AAC Blackout Input
- Thread starter G11354
- Start date
- Status
What do you want to do with it?
If you want to run subsonic ammo while using standard magazines and a standard bolt, yeah it is good.
OP
OP
G11354
Member
Just looking to build it for fun more than anything.
Zerodefect
member
Then plain olde 5.56 is best.
Save .300blk for specific tasks that require that round. Otherwise you're just wasting money on expensive ammo.
Save .300blk for specific tasks that require that round. Otherwise you're just wasting money on expensive ammo.
kimbernut
Member
300blackout
Built mine last February/March with the Stoner hbar carbine barrel. I've put about 600 rounds through it so far and I am impressed with the accuracy. If you are a handloader there is no reason to wait. If you will be using all factory ammo it could get a bit costly. I have found it shoots everything well but seems to prefer the Hornady 125gr. SSTs with Hodgdon's Lil Gun above the rest. Well, it likes Nosler Accubond too but they are twice the cost. I'm wanting to try it on deer but I'm having a hard time leaving my go to deer rifle back at camp.
I will build another soon.
Built mine last February/March with the Stoner hbar carbine barrel. I've put about 600 rounds through it so far and I am impressed with the accuracy. If you are a handloader there is no reason to wait. If you will be using all factory ammo it could get a bit costly. I have found it shoots everything well but seems to prefer the Hornady 125gr. SSTs with Hodgdon's Lil Gun above the rest. Well, it likes Nosler Accubond too but they are twice the cost. I'm wanting to try it on deer but I'm having a hard time leaving my go to deer rifle back at camp.
I will build another soon.
Ohen Cepel
Member
Unless you are going to suppress it I see no reason to go that way. Get a 7.62-39 upper and drive on.
The 300 is great IF you want to suppress it. Otherwise, there are many other better options. I think it will shrink like many of the other AR rounds in the last decade over time and become another vogue round. It's great for it's designed intent but otherwise not worth the effort in my mind.
The 300 is great IF you want to suppress it. Otherwise, there are many other better options. I think it will shrink like many of the other AR rounds in the last decade over time and become another vogue round. It's great for it's designed intent but otherwise not worth the effort in my mind.
Good for what? What purpose do you have in mind?
I have one I built and it is a favorite range rifle. Fun to shoot at 50 to 300 yards, although 300 is a definite challenge.
People use them for deer and hogs, although IMO they are on the low end of power for it. Not that it won't work, cause folks have proven it will.
You can shoot heavy bullets subsonic in it and folks enjoy doing that.
I can make my own brass from .223 I have picked up at the range and use the same mags I use for .223.
I shot it this weekend.
Some of the best (and sometimes most heated) debates we have is about whether the 300 BLK is good for anything.
I have one I built and it is a favorite range rifle. Fun to shoot at 50 to 300 yards, although 300 is a definite challenge.
People use them for deer and hogs, although IMO they are on the low end of power for it. Not that it won't work, cause folks have proven it will.
You can shoot heavy bullets subsonic in it and folks enjoy doing that.
I can make my own brass from .223 I have picked up at the range and use the same mags I use for .223.
I shot it this weekend.
Some of the best (and sometimes most heated) debates we have is about whether the 300 BLK is good for anything.
bangswitch
Member
Big argume.........uh, discussion, going on here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=769198
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=769198
I like the 300 BLK. I shoot only supersonic.
It makes an excellent barn gun for my horse farm. I can hit small critters, possums and coons, out to 50 yards and larger critters out to 75/100 yards with the same sight setting. The rainbow trajectory past 100 yards minimizes collateral damage past 150 yards.
It is a fun range gun, uses mostly readily available 223 Rem AR components except the barrel, cases are easy to make if commercial sources are out of stock and it is easy to load on my Pro2000.
It makes an excellent barn gun for my horse farm. I can hit small critters, possums and coons, out to 50 yards and larger critters out to 75/100 yards with the same sight setting. The rainbow trajectory past 100 yards minimizes collateral damage past 150 yards.
It is a fun range gun, uses mostly readily available 223 Rem AR components except the barrel, cases are easy to make if commercial sources are out of stock and it is easy to load on my Pro2000.
LocoGringo
Member
deleted
Last edited:
gojuice101
Member
I like the 300BLK. I built one a while ago, mainly so I could have an AR I could hunt deer with (gotta be larger than 23 cal in VA). I handload so ammo is not a problem, although at times I have had to make brass and bullets. Not really a problem, but if you are using factory ammo, then ammo will definitely be a concern. It is not cheap or easy to find. Everyone says to go with 7.62x39 instead of the 300blk, but I don't agree. For one thing, there are many more problems with 7.62x39 uppers, bolts, magazines, etc, in an AR platform. 300blk has few problems because it uses the standard 5.56 equipment.
The 300blk makes a great suppressed round, so that is a consideration if you want to go that route at any point. Personally, I don't. Way too much hassle for me. I just prefer to shoot it supersonic as it is. Great accuracy, the convenience of a 30cal round in an AR, and fun to shoot.
The 300blk makes a great suppressed round, so that is a consideration if you want to go that route at any point. Personally, I don't. Way too much hassle for me. I just prefer to shoot it supersonic as it is. Great accuracy, the convenience of a 30cal round in an AR, and fun to shoot.
Mr.Revolverguy
Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2007
- Messages
- 1,882
I am with Walkalong here. It has become my favorite range rifle and favorite to reload for.
Here are 5 pages of my journey with 300 blackout. From building the rifle to many loads I have developed for it.
http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3460
Here are 5 pages of my journey with 300 blackout. From building the rifle to many loads I have developed for it.
http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3460
bangswitch
Member
The reasons for that are this: the AR bolt diameter is optimized for the .223/5.56 case, Enlarging the bolt face for the 7.62x39 case head requires cutting back the locking lugs for the larger diameter case, and weakens them. The greater taper of the 7.62x39 case also creates greater thrust against the bolt prior to unlock, and increases the stress on the modified bolt. The greater taper of the 7.62x39 case makes stacking in an AR magazine more difficult, and they don't feed as reliably.
All the AK fans talk about greater power from the 7.62x39 round over the 300BLK. It is true that the AK round has greater muzzle velocity and muzzle energy, but downrange is where you want the velocity and energy, and 300BLK retains 16% more energy than the 7.62x39 at 300 meters, with the same weight bullet.
The 300BLK is truly a reloader's delight. There are many more bullet options, from 110 grains to 220 grains, available for the Blackout.
Then make it a 5.56.
1/3 the ammo cost, 200x the availability of uppers/barrels, and did I mention 1/3 the ammo cost?
Where 300 blk really shines is short barrels (you still get excellent performance even from 8-9" barrels) and suppressed (since you have the option of sub sonic rounds that are stupid-quiet). You can also get better terminal performance for defensive or hunting purpose and particularly better penetration. But for a general purpose rifle, for plinking/fun/competition, for defensive uses where ammo cost is a concern or where you won't be using a short barrel, etc...5.56 is almost surely a better bet.
Better how? Not everyone has the same use(s). I like my 5.56/.223 ARs, but they won't keep me from enjoying my 300 BLK AR. I would feel well armed with either, but would prefer the 300 to hunt with. And since we can't deer hunt with a .22 here, it's a moot point there. I enjoy shooting it more than the .223, although it does cost more to shoot, being at least a 110 gr .30 bullet vs the cheapest rifle bullet one can buy, the .22 cal 55 Gr FMJ. Even when you could get 147/150 Gr pulled bullets for $60 per 500 it cost more to shoot.
What is good for some is not for another, but that doesn't make either answer right for everyone.
What is good for some is not for another, but that doesn't make either answer right for everyone.
armoredman
Member
Oddly enough, I happened to see about ten boxes of 300 Blackout at WalMart today, caught me by surprise.
LocoGringo
Member
Me too. Saw 10 boxes of Federal Fusion 6.8 also. Ammo supplies seem to be recovering nicely.
5.56 doesn't cost much more than 9mm.
5.56 rifles are far more common and generally less expensive than 9mm rifles.
The 9mm rifles tend to have just as much recoil due to the action type.
The 5.56 rifles have far more terminal effectiveness and a much greater effective range even just for target shooting purposes.
The 5.56 rifles use far more common and available parts and magazines.
There just isn't much of a market or reason for 9mm AR type rifles.
Zerodefect
member
To be more specific:
7.5" barrel =.300blk is better
14.5"+ barrel =5.56
suppressed =.300blk
cost of training =5.56
entertainment =5.56
hunting? = I'd rather use a .308 AR10 type.
Heavier versions of .300blk ammo, pretty much makes 9mm PDW's and SBR's obsolete, IMO.
7.5" barrel =.300blk is better
14.5"+ barrel =5.56
suppressed =.300blk
cost of training =5.56
entertainment =5.56
hunting? = I'd rather use a .308 AR10 type.
Heavier versions of .300blk ammo, pretty much makes 9mm PDW's and SBR's obsolete, IMO.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,191
I can reload 9mm for quite a bit less than .223. Not only are the bullets generally cheaper but using a 3.1 grain powder charge, I can load more than 2250 rounds from a single pound of powder. Where a 223 load using 25 grains of powder will go through a pound of powder in 280 rounds. That is an 8:1 difference right there.
I agree there isn't much reason for a 9mm rifle, .223 or 300 blk either. A good old lever action 30-30 or bolt acton 30-06 took care of everything long before any of the "new" rounds existed.
Lucky for us we don't really need a reason other than "just for fun"...think I may put that on my next form 1.
- Status
