New Caliber - 300 AAC Blackout

[Strykervet]

I'm having a barrel made by Satern for this round. They are turning out to be my favorite barrel maker by far. I had them make me a 6.5 Grendel barrel in 20", without going into the rest of the build other than to say it is top end military style SDM rifle, I can say this rifle, with just 100 rounds through it and loads not yet worked up for it, it really smokes --2 five shot groups, each covered with a dime, only one round wasn't touching the other two. Cold barrel shots are wicked, and I bet three shot groups would be amazing.

Anyway, the .300BLK. I'm expecting this Satern barrel to be like their others... Awesome. I still hear conflicting stories as to which gas length to get for the 14.5 or 16 inch barrels that will run subs and supers with and without a suppressor and still cycle. I have an email off to AAC, waiting on reply. I still have time to resolve the issue before they cut the barrel, Satern is always behind, the best always are.

The adavantage of the .300BLK over the Whisper, as I understand it, is that the BLK has better ballistics, a larger array of bullets, was designed to fire supers and subs and still cycle the action with either. While it appears similar, the BLK is superior to the Whisper. I've done a good deal of research on this, sorry, I can't point you to the sites, I went to a lot of them a while back, but this was the consensus among folks that owned both the BLK and the Whisper. The BLK was also supposed to be quieter using the SDN6 suppressor AAC makes, supposedly they were designed together. They say it is quieter than a MP5SD! Good enough for me.

I plan on getting the suppressor next month, the paperwork anyway, and I already have Blackout mounts on the FAL, the Grendel, and I have one for the BLK; I also have a Brakeout on an M4, and they all accept the SDN6 suppressor (and those flash hiders DO work better than any others I've ever seen!).

I also REALLY like, that as a handloader who loads for all of my rounds and doesn't care about ammo availability, I can form 5.56mm brass into BLK brass easily. I may have to invest in a better trimmer than I have, but that would be it outside of the dies (which I'd get anyway of course). I also get LC virgin primed brass for a great deal, so that round, as well as the 6mm and/or 6.5mmAR rounds look appealing to me.

 

[rsilvers]

I don't think it is fair to say the BLK has better ballistics than the Whisper(R). But BLK is the 300-221 standard - so that is that.

Rule for gas system length is to always use the longest one which fully works. So for a 5.56mm, use mid-length. For a 16 inch 300 BLK barrel, I would do a carbine gas port. For a 14.5, you may be able to get away with a carbine also - especially if you are cool using a standard C buffer. But it is iffy, and I would probably use a pistol port for that length.

 

[451 Detonics]

The adavantage of the .300BLK over the Whisper, as I understand it, is that the BLK has better ballistics, a larger array of bullets, was designed to fire supers and subs and still cycle the action with either. While it appears similar, the BLK is superior to the Whisper. I've done a good deal of research on this, sorry, I can't point you to the sites, I went to a lot of them a while back, but this was the consensus among folks that owned both the BLK and the Whisper. The BLK was also supposed to be quieter using the SDN6 suppressor AAC makes, supposedly they were designed together. They say it is quieter than a MP5SD! Good enough for me.

Not real sure how the Blackout can be better than the Whisper when the two are for all practical purposes identical. Hornady states there is zero dimensional difference between the cases. As for a better bullet selection.....huh? They use the same caliber bullet. And being quieter? How so when both use the same case and can be loaded with the same bullet at the same velocity.

A rose by any other name...

Is the 45/70 better than the 45 Government?

 

[Z-Michigan]

Not real sure how the Blackout can be better than the Whisper when the two are for all practical purposes identical. Hornady states there is zero dimensional difference between the cases. As for a better bullet selection.....huh? They use the same caliber bullet. And being quieter? How so when both use the same case and can be loaded with the same bullet at the same velocity.

My understanding is that the 300 Blackout chamber has a bit more freebore than typical 300 Whisper chambers, and therefore potentially allows a bit more powder without exceeding the pressure limit, much like 5.56 NATO vs. .223 Remington. Apart from that, yes they are basically the same.

 

[rsilvers]

True, 300 BLK can reach higher velocity if both are loaded to the same pressure.

 

[jmstevens2]

7.62x39 does not work in ARs, period.

300 Whisper was a wildcat - hand loading only - unless you wanted $45 a box Cor-Bon ammo. 300 AAC BLACKOUT will have affordable full power ammo - so you can hunt with 30 cal bullets in an AR - and also have 30 round mag capacity for other uses.

I already do. It is called an AR-10. 7.62 NATO, or .308.

 

[jmstevens2]

"Just saw this on AAC's Facebook page. Seems like the caliber we've all been waiting for. Hard hitting, quiet, and seats 30 in a standard GI magazine. Comes in 123gr, 155gr, and 220gr flavors. This thing is going to be the HEAT like Bobby Deniro! Seriously, here are some links:

http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gears...r-new-mission/

http://300aacblackout.com/

What do you think? I'm downing a pitcher of this AAC/Remington Kool-aid right now! First thing Monday morning, I'm calling Mers at AAC to see about getting an upper and some ammo.

-- Evan
__________________
_____________________
Evan Kostreva, Owner
On Point Firearms
www.onpointfirearms.com"

Do you really have to post the same thing in every forum? "...be the HEAT like Bobby Deniro" ??? I don't know what to say.

Well, he does sell them on his web site. Makes you wonder the motivation......

 

[rsilvers]

None of those work in an AR15.

 

[ants]

Mr. Stevens says ...an AR-10. 7.62 NATO, or .308.

Mr. Silvers says ...None of those work in an AR15.

But they do work a HELLUVA lot better for big game hunting, long range shooting, and other hefty tasks.
Where the 300BLK works a HELLUVA lot better under suppression, short range, and other light duties.

Both the 10 and 15 platforms have their best uses.
So get one of each, that sounds pretty good to me.

 

[jmstevens2]

And I expect him to defend his round as I would my child. I have no issues with it, it may have a place, it is not everything to everyone. He mentioned that you can't use a .30 in an AR platform, I pointed out one of two .30 calibers I have in the AR. one AR 15 and one AR 10.
My only issue here was that the OP was selling us, not telling us. It did however spark a good conversation.

IMO

 

[ugaarguy]

I know that rsilvers is here to promote his product. But let's maybe back up a little bit from there. Instead of a PR guy promoting his caliber, we have a lead engineer doing so. Beyond promoting it, he's also answering technical questions. I'll take a little product pushing in exchange for having a lead engineer answering technical questions on bulletin board type forum.

 

[rsilvers]

308 is 308 - I have three SR25s, many bolt guns, many FALs, many HK-91s, M14s, etc. If I need the power and am ok with the weight, I will use it. I also like my Steyr Scout.

If it is snowing out, my wife changes from the minivan to the Sequoia. When it is not snowing, she prefers the ease of getting in and out of the minivan.

Same thing. I will use 308 when I want the power and don't mind the weight.

A few times I have made the decision to use 308 for home defense. I have loaded up a 16 inch FAL. I have also loaded up the SR25C. Hornady 155s. But each time it did not take me long to decide that the weight was too much or the noise was too much.

 

[Jath]

You know, this 300 blackout round reminds me of the 9x39mm round designed for the VSS Vintorez, which is a heavily modified integrally suppressed sniper rifle based on the AK platform. It's essentially a 7.62x39 necked up to a 9mm 200 grain bullet that is subsonic.
It's a really cool platform, but you can't find it in the US.

 

[rsilvers]

Except that 9x39 has no reasonable supersonic performance, and 300 BLK is mostly supersonic but also happens to have subsonic capability for the few people who want that.

 

[savage1r]

I have an sks and I've got some data for 180grn supersonic and 220 subsonic. Won't that basically be the same thing as 300blk?

 

[jmstevens2]

I know that rsilvers is here to promote his product. But let's maybe back up a little bit from there. Instead of a PR guy promoting his caliber, we have a lead engineer doing so. Beyond promoting it, he's also answering technical questions. I'll take a little product pushing in exchange for having a lead engineer answering technical questions on bulletin board type forum.

He was not the OP. I am glad rsilvers chimed in. At least it is real info, not "what I heard". I therefore expect him to defend his round, I would too. The OP was not him and was just selling stuff.

 

[DJR]

I'll take a little product pushing in exchange for having a lead engineer answering technical questions on bulletin board type forum.

Amen brother. It's a rare thing and I've got to admit I'm intrigued by what he's saying. Shoot, I don't even own an AR but it's got me thinking.

DJR

 

[451 Detonics]

Originally Posted by ugaarguy View Post
I'll take a little product pushing in exchange for having a lead engineer answering technical questions on bulletin board type forum.

Be nice if he laid off the product bashing however. I have always said the 300 Blackout is as good as the Whisper...he feels a need to bash the Whisper everytime he mentions it...

 

[rsilvers]

451 - I think I was disagreeing with the concept that SAAMI specs did not matter in today's world. It may have been you, or someone, who said that since SAAMI companies like Cor-Bon and Hornady load the Whisper(R), that was just as good as it being a SAAMI approved round. And I pointed out that no doubt they are loading it safely and pressure testing it, but SAAMI is important for interchangeability between brands - not to mention that larger-than-Hornady companies tend to require it before making products.

 

[rsilvers]

http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2011/11/01/smith-wesson-mp15-300-whisper-300-blackout/

 

[mortablunt]

Okay, I'm not normally into AR stuff, but this actually has my interest peaked.

 

[rsilvers]

 

[trigerhppy]

Rsilvers, any more updates on the scope with the calibrated reticle? If so, what barrel length is it designed for?

 

[rsilvers]

16 inch barrels. Not sure when we will get them.

 

[7.62 Nato]

http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2011/11/01/smith-wesson-mp15-300-whisper-300-blackout/

"Smith & Wesson announced a new M&P15 rifle chambered in 300 Whisper. The S&W rifle will also chamber the popular new 300 BLACKOUT cartridge."

I thought the 300 Whisper cartridge could be fired in the 300BLK chamber. Looks like S&W is saying the 300BLK can be fired in the 300 Whisper chamber. Can they be swapped both ways? I thought the 300 BLK has slightly larger (or different) external dimensions