Quietness of a suppressed .300 AAC Blackout vs. 5.56/.223?

[Aim1]

I've heard that a suppressed 5.56 is still pretty loud while a .300 AAC Blackout is considerably quieter. I've seen some say the .300 Blackout with hunting ammo can be as low as 120 decibels. How that relates to the real world hearing I don't know.

I have a 5.56 Sig MCX on order and was considering getting a .300 Blackout barrel for hunting if it's noticeably quieter. I know that new and improved hunting ammo such as the Nosler/Noveske ammo has supposedly fixed the problem of lethalness for .300 Blackout on animals like deer. I'm looking at getting the .300 AAC for quietness over the 5.56 as number 1 and hunting number 2.


So, is the suppressed .300 AAC Blackout noticeably quieter than the 5.56 suppressed and would it be worth it to get the .300 Blackout barrel?

 

[MaterDei]

If you compare subsonic rounds of each there won't be a big difference in loudness, they will both be very quiet. That is where the similarity ends though. The 300 will have much better terminal ballistics than the 5.56, also the subsonic 5.56 will not properly cycle an AR (without gas system modification).

 

[Elkins45]

The difference between a supersonic 223 and subsonic 300 is significant. In my case it means the difference between wearing hearing protection or not.

 

[Ryanxia]

.300 blackout gets quiet when subsonic ammo is used which I don't believe is a good idea for hunting (assuming you'll be hunting something larger like Deer).

 

[pdsmith505]

I would not hunt with a subsonic 300 blk.

The supers I load with 110gr Barnes tac-tx bullets are adequate for whitetail however.

 

[Prince Yamato]

.300 BLK is Hollywood quiet when suppressed; even out of an 8" barrel.

.223 is NEVER quiet, even when suppressed. It can get down to sounding like a .22 unsuppressed, but it's still noisy.

 

[Peter Gun]

I'm a recent .300 blk convert!
I was surprised how quiet the subsonic .300 is, almost Hollywood quiet.
I found the surpressed .223 supersonic much more pleasant to shoot than unsurpressed, but still sounds like a a real rifle. Definitely needed hearing protection. I have very good hearing.
The great thing about .300 is you can get all kinds of different loads to suit your needs.
I found the .300 supersonic slightly too loud to shoot without hearing protection for more than a round or two, got a little ringing. My buddy said he was fine with it (not as good hearing as mine).
I was completely comfortable shooting the .300 subsonic with no hearing protection. The action of the AR was louder than the shot. It's an incredible experience!
The .223 was in Noveske built AR with 10.5" bbl and Silencerco Omega.
.300 is in same Noveske lower with noveske .300 upper and 8.5" bbl and same surpressor.

 

[yugorpk]

Ive got several 300 BLK's and a 10.5" 5.56. I use a 762 Specwar on all of them. Sometimes a SIG 762Ti. While the 300 BLK is stupid quiet with subsonic ammo, the 5.56 is remarkably quiet at the muzzle . The majority of the noise being down range from the supersonic crack. I shoot the 5.56 without hearing protection and have no discomfort at all.

 

[Aim1]

Ive got several 300 BLK's and a 10.5" 5.56. I use a 762 Specwar on all of them. Sometimes a SIG 762Ti. While the 300 BLK is stupid quiet with subsonic ammo, the 5.56 is remarkably quiet at the muzzle . The majority of the noise being down range from the supersonic crack. I shoot the 5.56 without hearing protection and have no discomfort at all.

How do you like the Sig 762Ti?

 

[yugorpk]

How do you like the Sig 762Ti?

It is the quietest rifle silencer I have ever seen or used. No change in point of impact. Its relatively light. Its even got flats for tightening and removal . I have nothing bad to say about that silencer. Top notch piece of equipment.