300 blackout divergence. Vote here

[R.W.Dale]

I'm noticing an interesting trend amongst 300 blk threads where two seemingly different groups of people are using the cartridge for different reasons.

The first and original group are people running the cartridge as a suppressed, heavy bullet high BC round.

The second and what I'm noticing is gaining in popularity recently is Hunters shooting the cartridge as a modern AR friendly 30-30

I'm not here to argue the merits of either, I'm just curious as to which aspect is possibly poised to become most popular. So if you HAVE a 300blk, building one or merely thinking about one please vote as to how you would mostly use it.

 

[bikemutt]

I now have two 300 BLK uppers, both Primary Weapon Systems (PWS) piston-driven. One is a rifle, the other a pistol with a 9.75" barrel which I may convert to an SBR somewhere down the road.

I shoot both with 150 grain target ammo and 200 grain subsonic, suppressed. The pistol is a range toy, the rifle will see some hog action this year.

 

[Legionnaire]

Seems to me there would also be some advantage to a suppressed supersonic round. A lot of guys suppress their .260 and .308 bolt guns while shooting supersonic cartridges.

My personal interest is a suppressed close-range subsonic hunting round from a bolt action or single shot rifle. I expect I'll shoot supersonic, too, from the same platform. No interest (at this point) in an AR upper in .300 BLK, but you never know.

 

[scaatylobo]

Not allowed in my state

Since 'cans' are not allowed in my state = I wont need the ammo that is used in them.

AND the 300 blkout is a better round than the 5.56 ,only as long as you keep it supersonic.

I have an upper in that caliber,and I really like the 125 grainers as well as the 150's.

Most of what I got were 110 & 150,so that is what I will use till I need to reload for her.

Hog,deer & any thin skinned critters are my choices [ yes,I know hogs are NOT thin skinned ].

Need to keep the hog shots to close range AND very accurate hits.

 

[ZGunner]

I said both. I like the idea of the 300 BLK as a short barrel suppressed OR a long barrel supersonic. I will have one in my future, just not sure when. I've got buckets of .223 brass that just needs to be converted.

The short barrel I'd put on a pistol, that would give me a good excuse to invest in a suppressor. A long barrel I'd use just like a regular .223 AR or SKS style rifle.

If someone knows where I can get a 300 BLK rifle kit for under $500 it'll be my next rifle purchase.

 

[R.W.Dale]

If someone knows where I can get a 300 BLK rifle kit for under $500 it'll be my next rifle purchase.

I've been buying piece by piece as a catch a great deal and I am well on my way to a compete rifle for under that.

 

[68wj]

No interest in subsonic here. Were I to get a can to cut down on report, I will still load to full velocities. I want flat tragectories and expanding bullets.

 

[Corn-Picker]

A few thoughts:

1) Personally I'm weary of comparing the 300 blackout to the 30-30. The old 30-30 has about 30-35% more muzzle energy than the 300 blackout, which is significant.

2) If I were going to build a suppressed single shot I'd go with a TC Contender in 30-30. Single shots (at least the break open ones) really like the rimmed cartridges. I calculated that a TC contender in 30-30 with 16" barrel and lightweight suppressor would be around six pounds and three feet long, ready to hunt.

 

[R.W.Dale]

A few thoughts:



1) Personally I'm weary of comparing the 300 blackout to the 30-30. The old 30-30 has about 30-35% more muzzle energy than the 300 blackout, which is significant.



.

When it comes to making deer and hogs stop being alive in the ranges both cartridges are useful in it is absolutely and utterly insignificant.

 

[TIMC]

I shoot both supersonic and subsonic and both suppressed. I find the supersonic .300 Blackout is still pretty quiet even supersonic when suppressed.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

I'd be interested in the supersonic stuff for hunting, since we need a bore larger than .22 for deer here in WA. One of the big advantages to me is that all I need to do is swap the barrel on my AR15 (~$200) and I'm ready to go. Sure, the 6.8 might be better but reloading for the 300blk seems like less of a pain.

Plus, when I finally get a suppressor, the 300blk would be a ton of fun

 

[Corn-Picker]

When it comes to making deer and hogs stop being alive in the ranges both cartridges are useful in it is absolutely and utterly insignificant.

I disagree.

30-35% is a big energy difference. That's the same difference between the 30-30 and the 308 Winchester. If there's no difference between the 300 blackout and the 30-30, and there's no difference between the 30-30 and 308, then there must not be a difference between the 300 blackout and 308

 

[bikemutt]

When it comes down to terminal ballistics it only takes so much to kill a hog lets say. A margin above that is good for those not-so-perfect shots of course. If the 300 BLK meets the criteria then it really doesn't matter if any round has more knock down. Why stop at 30-30, may as well go to 336 Lapua just to be certain

 

[Revoliver]

If i were to get into a .300 BO build, I would only use it for what it's best at; subsonic suppressed. I'm not fond of trying to pound round pegs into square holes.

 

[bikemutt]

If i were to get into a .300 BO build, I would only use it for what it's best at; subsonic suppressed. I'm not fond of trying to pound round pegs into square holes.

It's good for plenty beyond suppressed subsonic, even supersonic suppressed is very quiet with low felt recoil. It's the first cartridge I've had where a pistol form-factor is something I look forward to shooting. Certainly supersonic un-suppressed is not a quiet proposition but it still retains it's modest recoil.

 

[TIMC]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revoliver
If i were to get into a .300 BO build, I would only use it for what it's best at; subsonic suppressed. I'm not fond of trying to pound round pegs into square holes.



I was of the same thought until I built one and became enlightened.
Now I realize what nonsense I was speaking.

 

[cfullgraf]

It is my opinion that the 30 M1 Carbine would make a dandy home defense rifle. Light, rapid fire, effective at ranges encountered, and a little less chance of collateral damage.

Unfortunately, current manufacture M1 carbines are hit and miss in the reliability department and I would not want to subject a fine WWII USGI carbine to home defense service.

Enter the 300 BLK in an AR-15. With a 16" barrel, it is as handy as the M1 Carbine with better performance. I have one in my shop and one in my horse barn so one is never far from hand.

For dog size and larger animals, I can use the same point of aim out to 100 yards.

So, there definitely is a purpose for a supersonic 300 BLK.

It is great that 300 BLK performs well with subsonic, heavy projectile rounds but the trajectory is too much a rainbow for me. Also, I am not interesting in fooling with the tax stamp to be able to run suppressed.

Are there cartridges with more capability, sure. But sometimes it would be like hitting a carpet tack with a 5 pound maul.

 

[Revoliver]

@Bikemutt: I said best at. It was designed for optimal subsonic/suppressed work first and foremost and coincidentally is best at being used in that capacity.

@TIMC: I saw that Travis Haley 800yard shot too. I've also read about long range .45-70 and even shotgun slug shots. Still never going to use the .300 BO for other than what it's best at and was designed for, short range subsonic/suppressed work. You like using tools for purposes other than their intended ones, have at it. I use them for what they were intended for. I *can* cut a steak with a fork while manipulating it with a knife, but I'll choose to use the knife to cut with and use the fork to manipulate the steak every time given the choice.

 

[TIMC]

Ok, LOL

I also own several other AR's in different calibers and my own opinion of the Blackout not trying th change yours, was just saying I changed my mind about it once I owned one!

 

[R.W.Dale]

I disagree.

30-35% is a big energy difference. That's the same difference between the 30-30 and the 308 Winchester. If there's no difference between the 300 blackout and the 30-30, and there's no difference between the 30-30 and 308, then there must not be a difference between the 300 blackout and 308

Disagree all you want.

But there's no percentage of dead possible. 35% more of an already meaningless number is still meaningless

The critter is either dead or it isn't. And inside 150 300blk will make anything you'd use a 3030 on just as dead. But with a better degree of accuracy, in a handier platform and a faster follow up if need be

 

[HOOfan_1]

.300 blackout is less powerfull than a 7.62x39 which is less powerful than a .30-30.

.30-30 with a roundnose and .300 blackout meet energy wise around 200 yards which is about where both should probably end range wise.

6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC seem like much better hunting cartridges for the AR-15 if you want to stretch your range.

.300 blackout beats the .357 magnum for short range work though.

 

[ZGunner]

Let's try to refocus. OP asked for how you do or would use the cartridge. Not what's better at one particular aspect. I, for one, am curious what folks are using theirs for and if it'll fit what I imagine for it.

 

[bikemutt]

@Bikemutt: I said best at. It was designed for optimal subsonic/suppressed work first and foremost and coincidentally is best at being used in that capacity.

@TIMC: I saw that Travis Haley 800yard shot too. I've also read about long range .45-70 and even shotgun slug shots. Still never going to use the .300 BO for other than what it's best at and was designed for, short range subsonic/suppressed work. You like using tools for purposes other than their intended ones, have at it. I use them for what they were intended for. I *can* cut a steak with a fork while manipulating it with a knife, but I'll choose to use the knife to cut with and use the fork to manipulate the steak every time given the choice.

The 4 position gas block on my PWS does expand the usefulness of the 300 BLK rifle, not saying it's the be-all and end-all but it does address using the rifle un-suppressed while still maintaining a reliable cycle.

I was up in the woods with a bunch of yahoo buds last weekend where we tried out the 300 BLK through my PWS pistol (9.75") barrel in all configurations. This barrel length does NOT sport an adjustable gas block. Anyway, from roughly 8' away, from the firing line, without ear muffs, the motley crew sat as shooters took turns. To a man everyone agreed the subsonic, suppressed round was the most quiet, with an almost imperceptible increase in loudness from supersonic rounds. The most common thought; neither was any louder than a 22lr rifle. Un-suppressed rounds, either sub or supersonic, elicited immediate reach for hearing protection.

In any event, I'd credit the round with at least a small amount of versatility beyond it's presumed narrow design scope, particularly as weapon makers allow their rifles to be easily tuned for different configurations.

 

[dubbleA]

I have an 8" SBR AR and a 16" bolt rifle in 300BO and shoot them exclusively suppressed with sub sonics.

I kill deer, hogs and steel with them . 240gr Sierra Match Kings or Hornady 225gr HPBT's behind AA1680 at 1050fps is a death ray.............well maybe a rainbow ray but that doesn't sound right.

Here's a short video......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xvt118x8Vo&feature=share&list=UUymPMyABkYA1dB2DbG_QUEw

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The things I really like about .300 BLK is the ability to get good performance out of a relatively short barrel (say 9") using supersonic ammo and being able to have a heavy subsonic bullet with a good BC. The two combined make for a really enticing combination. You can have a compact package that still retains some oomph and then have a really quiet high BC pistol caliber as well.