.300 blackout
- Thread starter monotonous_iterancy
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It's turned into the usual .300BLK or 6.8SPC. Surprised it was the 12th post before 6.8 was mentioned; usually it's in the first 5 posts for them. They must be spending more time and effort looking for ammo than trying convince everyone else it's the coming thing..
OP, go with the .300, if you can get some once fired .223 brass and the reloading tools, you can make your own ammo. 30 caliber bullets are around, always will be.
CountryUgly
Member
I don't shoot the .300blk but know several that do. From what I've seen the only real advantages it has is it works well with a silencer and it's bigger than a .223 with only a barrel change. Personally I'm a 6.8spc guy and IMO its a far superior round than the .300blk. But I know several folks that have taken to the .300blk for 3 gun use and really short range deer hunting in the thick stuff. It's a one trick pony IMO and since I don't clear houses in far off lands and shoot BG's quietly at room distances I don't have a need nor use for it. I could see it as a good choice for a Handi-rifle chambering in a youth gun though for a new/young hunter looking to bag a deer inside a 100yds.
silicosys4
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I have been thinking about a big bore upper, I thought about going with the 6.8 or 6.5. In the end the simplicity and availability of reloading components for the .300 vs the others won me over. I decided that I didn't want to have to spend the money to stock up on the high cost specialty brass and components to reload it. I already reload for .308 and the .44 magnum, among others, and so have the powder and projectiles on hand. I have plenty of .223 brass, and I have much better access to more .223 brass to trim into .300 blackout than I do 6.8 or 6.5 brass. I've mentioned it before regarding the .300 blackout but what other big bore AR cartridge are you going to be able to reload for in a situation where you would have to scavenge reloading supplies.... say, off a battlefield or pulled down from other common cartridges? Its a farfetched and unpleasant prospect, for sure, but an advantage nonetheless for the .300 blackout.
silicosys4:
Those are the same things that drew me to the 300 blk. I already had a good supply of brass ready to cut and size, already had plenty of powder and bullets. I realize the 6.5 and 6.8 and even the X39 have a little better ballistics but not as much as some here would lead you to believe they're all range limited. If you go by the old rule of thumb that 1000 ft lbs are needed for deer none of them are 300 yard deer guns and the 300 blk is a solid 200 yard performer. I mean if I thought a 300 blk wasn't gonna have enough range I'd want more than the little bit a 6.8 would offer.
Those are the same things that drew me to the 300 blk. I already had a good supply of brass ready to cut and size, already had plenty of powder and bullets. I realize the 6.5 and 6.8 and even the X39 have a little better ballistics but not as much as some here would lead you to believe they're all range limited. If you go by the old rule of thumb that 1000 ft lbs are needed for deer none of them are 300 yard deer guns and the 300 blk is a solid 200 yard performer. I mean if I thought a 300 blk wasn't gonna have enough range I'd want more than the little bit a 6.8 would offer.
I don't have a rifle yet, but when I get one, I can't decide between 5.56 (sheer availability) or .300 blackout (because I really like what it is). I don't really like the controls on the AK (this is a subjective statement, so if you like them, use them, they are darn fine rifles) and I've heard many negatives about running x39 in an AR platform, so this is a very good option for me.
If you use your rule of thumb of 1000 ft/lbs the 300 BLK falls short at 200 yards for hunting
I may actually have to rethink my own hunting distances for the 6.8.
The comparison that made the difference for me when selecting bullet type was between the best factory 300 blk bullet I could find and the best 6.8 factory bullet I could find.
Looking at ballistics for the 125g AccuTip 300 BLK used in presentations by the 300 BLK champion everyone knows, against a good hunting bullet, the 6.8 120g Hornady SST
There is significant performance difference.
The 120g SST is around 30% more energy at 100 yards, 200 yards, and 300 yards.
At 200 yards the factory 6.8 SST is at 1120 ft/lbs and the 125 AccuTip is listed at 826 ft/lbs
This was enough of a factor for me.
I would add though, If I wasnt a hunter, with all the other advantages of the 300, I probably would have gone 300. I see loose 223 brass on the range all the time.....
Good luck in the choices, it would seem that many folks are happy with thier 300 blk.
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This thread really got me thinking.
Looking at the 300 BLK and the best ammo for hunting that I could find.... AND..... Tying that into hunting distances with a "rule of thumb" ft/lbs minimum of 1000 the 300 BLK 125g AccuTip's MAXIMUM distance to stay above this threshold is only 128 yards
128 yards isnt that far
I believe that animals can be harvested at less than 1000ft/lbs but this was eye-opening to me to think about
Per a previous poster, there are 7.62x39 offerings like Federal Power-shok that hits the 1000 ft/lbs
Out to 150 yards.
Looking at the 120 g SST 6.8, the distance to stay above 1000 ft/lbs is 262 yards.
Pretty eye opening to me.....
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I agree, IMHO you would be better to fudge power closer in where shot placement is more assured.
To be honest I did think the 300 would be a little closer to 1000 than it is, but I still feel more than comfortable with a 200 yard limit given the accuracy of my gun.
I also agree if you're looking to hunt the 6.5 and 6.8 are better and give a range advantage, but if it was really about hunting a nice bolt 7mm-08 will smoke them all.
why not compare the 6.8 to the blackout using the same weight bullet and both the same style bullet. you have compared a lighter more streamlined bullet in the 6.8 to the blackout. then I think the blackout would be close enough not to matter
Life During Wartime
Member
I'm a big fan of the round, but I've been wondering, what is the reason for seemingly every Blackout rifle being made has a 16 inch instead of full rifle length barrels. Because they know your going to suppress it anyway and they know people would want to down length? Or is it the optimal length for stabilizing the round
highorder
Member
I don't have quickload handy, but I suspect that the comparatively small powder charge makes the round very efficient in a shorter barrel. I'm not sure how much velocity you'd gain from a longer barrel, especially considering velocity is not something .300AAC shooters are clamoring for.
Actually, many of the 300 BLK rifles are offered in shorter barrels vs longer.
I think that the 300BLK is superior than anything else in the suppressed that I have seen
(The youtube videos on a suppressed 300 are extremely quiet)
Reloadability (if thats a word) is great
But....
It seems to be a short distance hunting round.....
Hunt over a feeder? It's fine
Hunt open range..... With a possible shot over 150 yards... It doesn't cut it
scaatylobo
Member
HUH ?
I fully understand your facts ,but you are not using the ballistics from the 110 grain V-max for your statistics.
And the FACT that I have never seen a X39 rifle [ except a CZ bolt gun that I did not get to shoot ] that could come close to the 300 bkl O in accuracy.
I will let y'all know how the 110 V-max does on deer as that is one of the 2 or 3 rifles I plan to use for deer this winter.
I really don't imagine I will get a game shot any further than 100 + yards,so not sure that will answer the question as to effective range.
And I don't think "effective range" would include a non stopping [ less than 100 yard run ] shot.So the round would have to be fatal within 100 yards run off.
I already have a few bolt guns that are MORE than enough for deer,Ruger scout Rifle.
But I really like the M-4 platform and I like the 300 as a improvement .
I would LOVE to have a RELIABLE m-4 in X 39,but aint seen one yet.
I fully understand your facts ,but you are not using the ballistics from the 110 grain V-max for your statistics.
And the FACT that I have never seen a X39 rifle [ except a CZ bolt gun that I did not get to shoot ] that could come close to the 300 bkl O in accuracy.
I will let y'all know how the 110 V-max does on deer as that is one of the 2 or 3 rifles I plan to use for deer this winter.
I really don't imagine I will get a game shot any further than 100 + yards,so not sure that will answer the question as to effective range.
And I don't think "effective range" would include a non stopping [ less than 100 yard run ] shot.So the round would have to be fatal within 100 yards run off.
I already have a few bolt guns that are MORE than enough for deer,Ruger scout Rifle.
But I really like the M-4 platform and I like the 300 as a improvement .
I would LOVE to have a RELIABLE m-4 in X 39,but aint seen one yet.
All I could find on the Hornady Vmax 110 was for 300 whisper, which was very similar to what I found above
Do you have a link? I would like to see if there are better bullets than whats been shown
If there are better solutions than what I saw, thats great...
Like I said..... The 300 does have some advantages
to this day the 5.56 is considered the best round ever invented. from stopping tanks to 1000 yd sniping clearing rooms urban combat desert fighting knock walls down etc. now take the same round with a much bigger bullet and all of a sudden you hear its got no powder capacity it is a pop gun (same energy as 5.56) no good for anything, it really is hilarious. anyway RRA makes an M4 with a curved magazine well for AK mags along with the 7.62x39 round the best combat round
oldpapps
Member
"Could this become a mainstream caliber eventually?"
monotonous_iterancy
I would have to say YES!
SAAMI has pronounced a standard, that says something.
This thread has 40 plus entries, that says something.
It is based upon one of the most widely accepted cartridges (the .223/5.56NATO). Uses one of the most divers bullets - less than 100 grains to well over 250 grains and in 30 caliber.
Loads with common bullets, common brass, common primers and common mag pistol powders. Yep, it will be around for a bit.
It is not a replacement for a 460 Weatherby Mag but no one said it was.
It is not as flat shooting as a 220 Swift but no one said it was.
What is it good for? I don't do suppressed so I'll pass over that one. It is great for deer in west/south-west Missouri - heavy brush and timber. Suitable for pigs (they are moving into my area). It is lots of fun to load and shoot and that in it's self is enough for me.
I still have and want my .223/5.56 and .308/7.62.
Some compare it to the classic 30-30. Well maybe but the 30-30 is a weapon with cartridge filled with nostalgia. Others compare to that COM BLOCK round. Nuff said about that one for me.
My 300 BlackOut shot great, hit where I wanted, hit hard, used components I had on hand (I never did use up/convert all of my .223/5.56 reject brass).
It a 'goodern'.
Don't like it, OK by me. Don't get one, that means I will have a better chance to replace the one I was stupid enough to sell.
monotonous_iterancy
I would have to say YES!
SAAMI has pronounced a standard, that says something.
This thread has 40 plus entries, that says something.
It is based upon one of the most widely accepted cartridges (the .223/5.56NATO). Uses one of the most divers bullets - less than 100 grains to well over 250 grains and in 30 caliber.
Loads with common bullets, common brass, common primers and common mag pistol powders. Yep, it will be around for a bit.
It is not a replacement for a 460 Weatherby Mag but no one said it was.
It is not as flat shooting as a 220 Swift but no one said it was.
What is it good for? I don't do suppressed so I'll pass over that one. It is great for deer in west/south-west Missouri - heavy brush and timber. Suitable for pigs (they are moving into my area). It is lots of fun to load and shoot and that in it's self is enough for me.
I still have and want my .223/5.56 and .308/7.62.
Some compare it to the classic 30-30. Well maybe but the 30-30 is a weapon with cartridge filled with nostalgia. Others compare to that COM BLOCK round. Nuff said about that one for me.
My 300 BlackOut shot great, hit where I wanted, hit hard, used components I had on hand (I never did use up/convert all of my .223/5.56 reject brass).
It a 'goodern'.
Don't like it, OK by me. Don't get one, that means I will have a better chance to replace the one I was stupid enough to sell.
You can shoot that out of a Blackout.
There are plenty of places where a 150+ yard shot just don't exist.
With the avaliability of components (pre/post current drought) the 300 is much like feeding a pistol caliber carbine. 147gr FMJ bullets can be purchased in bulk and loaded for near the cost of 45 acp ball ammo.
That's the beauty of the Blackout it's has a lot of the qualities of a PCC with most of the capabilities of most intermediate rifle rounds.
tactikel
Member
Heavy and slow, the .300 Blk would seem to be ideal for cast bullets. Imagine plinking for 15 cents a round using cast bullets and exclusive of brass 
. When things normalize I will pick up dies and a barrel (I already cast 160 gr .309s for my 03-A3) for my AR.
. When things normalize I will pick up dies and a barrel (I already cast 160 gr .309s for my 03-A3) for my AR.The Vmax listed had equal (or less) performance than the 125g Accutips I listed.
I was trying to find the best of the lot with the 300 BLK
But even If I use 900 ft/lbs as a minimum for effective hunting, the 6.8 round I use nearly DOUBLES the hunting range of the 300BLK... Thats significant.
I like having to worry about only one rifle.... All the way to 350 yards..... Past that, the 8mm mauser is coming out....
300 BLK..... Methinks
Still a good choice for suppressed and somewhat short hunting......
I was trying to find the best of the lot with the 300 BLK
But even If I use 900 ft/lbs as a minimum for effective hunting, the 6.8 round I use nearly DOUBLES the hunting range of the 300BLK... Thats significant.
I like having to worry about only one rifle.... All the way to 350 yards..... Past that, the 8mm mauser is coming out....
300 BLK..... Methinks
Still a good choice for suppressed and somewhat short hunting......
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I bought a AAC 300 blackout bolt rifle, got home from Afghanistan for this last Christmas vacation and went to go buy some ammo in San Antonio Texas and could not find a bullet to shoot!! Poor planning on my part, the ammo makers are trying to get caught up but if you look at Gunbroker they are selling for an average of $2.00 a bullet.
I do reload and have the brass and bullets now.
A forum member mentioned seeing some over at the ACE hardware in Georgia, and provided the phone number. I called and said I was deployed and the manager sold me all the ammo she had on hand. The price for ammo with tax and shipping was around .80 cents average.
I think the 300 blackout is what the 30 carbine could of been. Lastly I would never hunt deer with the .223, I have no doubt the .223 has killed deer, however I just want that .30 caliber bullet instead. I have hunted for 30 years in Texas. The longest shot I made was under 200 yards.
I do reload and have the brass and bullets now.
A forum member mentioned seeing some over at the ACE hardware in Georgia, and provided the phone number. I called and said I was deployed and the manager sold me all the ammo she had on hand. The price for ammo with tax and shipping was around .80 cents average.
I think the 300 blackout is what the 30 carbine could of been. Lastly I would never hunt deer with the .223, I have no doubt the .223 has killed deer, however I just want that .30 caliber bullet instead. I have hunted for 30 years in Texas. The longest shot I made was under 200 yards.
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