300 Blackout... Why?

Suppression is its raison d’etre.

I have one, a Remington Model 7 ACC Blackout. I can't silence the thing. I also have an SKS and an CZ in 7.62x39. What I like is the ability to load 30 cal bullets from light weight to heavy weight. It is what it is. Is it a better AK round. Not really. Not sure it designed for that anyhow. I like it and shoot it often. I also have a cool flash hider on the front that was purchased for looks and not function. Since I can't have one on a semi, might as well have a cool one on the bolt gun.

If you take it for what it is, and remember what it isn't, your in good shape.

American_Fusilier said:

What can the 300 Blackout do for me that the 7.62x39 can't?

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Run cheap surplus .308 bullets, in an AR15 action, in a pistol that isn't obscenely loud (like a .223 pistol).

That's my reason.

Bullet weights from 110 grain up to 220 grain. Far more choices that the Soviet M1943 cartridge if you stick to the original .310 projectiles. Also it feeds well on the AR platform and uses the same magazines.

Suppressor, short barrels, and a little more CQB punch.

The catch? It runs out of steam at larger ranges before 556 does. It's expensive right now. (everything is though). It's picky on mags. So far, if I was using it for HD, 20rd metal mags work best.

I have a 300 blackout, I don’t run subsonics and really never plan to. I even have a suppressor.

What I do like is the larger bore which gives a more efficient and complete burn for a given barrel length, over 5.56. This will allow you to have less of the negatives associated with an SBR like blast, flash, and ballistic losses (with the exemption of the poorer ballistic Coefficient)

300 blackout ammo is also generally loaded standard with faster powders that help reduce the negatives associated with an SBR. 300AAC was designed with short barrels in mind. 7.62x39 is loaded with a 16” barrel in mind with slower powders. You CAN find short barrel optimized loads in 7.62x39, but you will be paying as much or more than 300 AAC

I also like the compatibility/ reliability of the 300AAC. It’s based on the 5.56 and is pretty much the same, and runs in the same mags. I’m not sure if this is still the same today, but 7.62x39 AR’s are not as reliable (this is only from what I’ve heard). I also like not needing proprietary parts like on a 7.62x39 AR

I would never consider a 10.5” 5.56, but I certainly would consider a 10.5” 300 AAC. And likewise I don’t have interest in a 16” 300 AAC, but I have great interest in a 16” or 18” 5.56.

DocRock said:

Suppression is its raison d’etre.

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Was it not originally known as the .300 Whisper? IMO, better cqb performance with a can was the idea.

Besides, AK mags hanging out of an AR magwell just look so.....wrong.

I have both 300BLK and 7.62x39 ARs, both 16" barrels and only shoot supersonic. 7.62x39 is more accurate when I reload, cheaper, far cheaper if factory ammo. Now I take out 7.63x39 more than my 300 BLK. Reason for me to go 300BLK is abundant 223 brass to covert from.

American_Fusilier said:

I understand that 300 Blackout is easier to reload and easier to suppress. And while I do reload, I do not have a suppressor (yet. Someday...).

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You kinda answered your own question.

The 7.62x39 'can' be suppressed and it can run subsonics but doing so requires a rifle other than an AK and a non-standard twist rate. The .300's standard specs allow it to do very well with light bullet supersonic loads, heavy bullet subsonic loads and it does very well with either in shorter barrels.

Ammo cost is really an unfair comparison. Nothing is going to be as cheap as 9mm, 5.56, 7.62x39 and .22LR. Although most the folks shoot the .300Blk are probably not doing mag dumps and shooting large quantities of cheap ammo.

I have never really wanted an AR pattern rifle in the 7.62x39, although I love my Norinco SKS. When you put a 300 BO cartridge next to a 7.62 x39 the small size of the 300 is apparent, as is the taper on the 7.62x39 case. An AR can be configured to chamber the 7.62x39 but in my experience its just not the natural pairing.

300 blk is a little weak mostly due to its shortened .223 case but there is enough oomph there 200 yards an in. Subsonics and a suppressor are just plain fun. I use it as a .30 cal garbage disposal of sorts. There are so many different powder/ bullet combos that can be loaded. And its parent case is what the AR was designed around.

i own two aac rem 7,s in 300 blk and shoot them quit a bit, all at supersonic. 125 gr bullets at 2400 fps with littlegun and 150 gr bullets at 2200 fps with littlegun. i have killed deer with them at under 100 yards as its pretty brushy and that about as far as you can see.

JMHO, but for me I don't see a whole lot of point to 300 BO if its not suppresses subsonic or in a SBR/pistol with suppers to eek a little more closer range performance out of it compared to 556.

I love 300 BO suppressed subsonic for thumping the up-armored opossums.

I would not own a 300 BLK if I wasn’t going to suppress it. I own suppressors and I still wrestled with the idea of adding a 300 BLK to the stable. It just doesn’t do anything well other than being a reliable, quiet option if you want to run subsonic ammo in an AR-15. If I was looking to add a complementary round to an AR-15 lower it would be a 6.8 SPC.

I own 2 .300 AAC Blackout weapons, a Sig Canebrake Rattlesnake pistol AR and a Sig MCX rifle. As others say, .30 caliber, retains good % of energy in pistol and heavier bullet.

I also have 2 AR-10s in .308 so I'm set for real hard hitting AR style rifles. Also, several 5.56 mm. AR-15s.
Why .300 AAC Blackout?

For me ....

Because I can.

I like real small semi auto carbines with good optics that are accurate and reliable. An 8-10" slick side AR lower and a lightweight .300 Blackout with a real good 1.5-6x (range) optic is real magic. You can pull it out of your motorcycle saddle bag and kill a deer to 250 yards very nicely ! A hornady 125 SST leaving a 9.5" pencil barrel at 2200+ FPS is death on hogs and deer to at least 250 yards we have tested it. A lot of local Oregon Antelope are in that range too . Having a backpack sized super accurate semi auto deer rifle is really neat for me a and my son and our hunting friends. The 6.8 also can do it but the .300 Blackout is less hassle and cheaper .Also the noise factor unsupressed is true ! My son has a switch barrel rig an his 16" barrel is very mellow in report. Our shorter barrel pistols are no where near blasty like the 5.56 or 6.8 !

While the Blackout version has only been around for about a decade, it’s approaching it’s 30th birthday as the 300 Whisper. I bought my first “Blackout” roundabouts 2000, intent on suppressed varminting...

There’s no reason to believe the 300blackout will collapse as a factory offering, and as a reloader’s cartridge, well, in what future timeline would 223/5.56 brass and 30 cal bullets become unavailable?

Personally, despite almost 20 yrs with the cartridge myself, I remain relatively underwhelmed by it. So I wouldn’t say there’s a burning drive for all riflemen to own a Blackout. But I’d rather have a Blackout than an x39.

I personally would never shoot my .300 BLK unless I had a suppressor. In fact I never would have built it if I didn't have or planned to buy a sandman. So I would say don't bother unless you have a can or plan to get one "soon"

The one big problem with my line of thinking is now I don't want to shoot anything that isn't suppressed lol.

Edit: I will add that a 9-10.5" supressed .300 blk is wicked fun to shoot.

Zerodefect said:

Suppressor, short barrels, and a little more CQB punch.

The catch? It runs out of steam at larger ranges before 556 does. It's expensive right now. (everything is though). It's picky on mags. So far, if I was using it for HD, 20rd metal mags work best.

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Magpul makes 300 Blackout mags. They work great!

Texas10mm said:

Magpul makes 300 Blackout mags. They work great!

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I have never had a an issue using standard 556 magazine with everything 300 BO but my expanding 220 gr all copper subsonic 300 BO load. For those I have been using D&H or Lancer Magazine 300 BO magazines. I don't like Magpul Pmags as much, had them fail too many times compared to others. YMMV

From my understanding older mags had different followers that didn't treat .300 blackout very well. I use surefeed right now and love them. Straight mill spec mags might still have issues once in a while from the stuff I have read.

The front ribs on many mags have problems with the fat heavy 300 Blackout bullets.

I have suppressed 300 BLK- a Ruger American ranch bolt action rifle. At $400, it is the same price as a decent AR upper. I am more interested in the round than the gun, and due to costs, I didn't desire to have it in a rifle like the AR designed for "high round count" shooting. Without a suppressor, I would have no use for it. I have killed deer and varmints with it. The Hornady sub-x round is very effective in my experience to 100 yards. The 220 grain Remington sub is a cheaper alternative for applications where the sub-x terminal performance is not required. Mrs. Fl-NC uses the suppressed RAR as her deer rifle now.