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

You can't own one of everything without both.

Why a 7.62x39 instead of something better? The cheap ammo argument is lost with reloading, all else being equal the 300 is a bit less because it uses smaller charges. I have both but I don't use either for much but having fun. That said, I have lots of other stuff to pick from for specific tasks, they are better at than either of the above.
 
... 300AAC was designed with short barrels in mind. ...
Which is a primary reason behind my Impulse decision to build a 300AAC pistol. That and being able to use much of the AR-related gear that I already had ... and that 9½" barrel that I bought at an outrageously low sale price last Fall. :)

For me, this AR Pistol is a short-range (≤ ~100m), quick-handling, high-capacity (I prefer the 20rd Magpuls), intermediate-power .30cal, less BLAST than .556-version firearm.

I would love to have a suppressor, but I am not willing to spend ~$1000 for the privilege.
 
Seems like the 300 BO is popular in this area .. is a few at the range , almost every time I go ..
Im not into AR’s ... But Im a 7.62x39 fan .. I have two SKS’s and a Ruger American ranch in 7.62x39
... and ALOT of 7.62x39 ammo
But if I was going to aAR platform a 6.5 Grendel upper would get a long look
 
This is why I am having fun with 300 Blackout.

8vly3zQl.jpg

That is a Maker Rex 220 gr bullet. Launched at about 970 fps from my suppressed 300 BO pistol. That bullet expanded that fully in the width of just a 12 ounce Gatorade bottle full of water. Sound like hitting a truck tire with a hammer when I shoot the armadillos with it.
 
I built a 300 BLK because I like the AR rifle, and I wanted the option of the variety of .308 bullets available, plus the ability to suppress with subsonic loads if desired. I've never owned an AK, but have shot them before; never warmed up to the rifle. Just a matter of preference. I never considered 300BLK as anything other than a mid range gun; I can easily hit targets at 300 yards, but think of it as a good 200 yard gun. Since I reload, I'm not as concerned about commercial ammo prices, and since I have several .308 calibers, I always have a good supply of bullets. And while not specific to the Blackout, just having an AR lower allows me to build as many uppers as I want without having all the regulation.
 
This is why I am having fun with 300 Blackout.

View attachment 909956

That is a Maker Rex 220 gr bullet. Launched at about 970 fps from my suppressed 300 BO pistol. That bullet expanded that fully in the width of just a 12 ounce Gatorade bottle full of water. Sound like hitting a truck tire with a hammer when I shoot the armadillos with it.
Good G-d ! That is awesome !!!!
 
The Maker Rex bullets as I've been told are barrier blind as well. I guess it takes a fluid such as water or tissue to open up which is a very nice trait. @mcb can you confirm this?
 
The Maker Rex bullets as I've been told are barrier blind as well. I guess it takes a fluid such as water or tissue to open up which is a very nice trait. @mcb can you confirm this?
Yes in my experience that seem pretty accurate I have dug them out of my dirt backstop after they went through a target and backer not a water jug and unless they hit a hard rock the were still basically un-opened.
 
This is why I am having fun with 300 Blackout.

View attachment 909956

That is a Maker Rex 220 gr bullet. Launched at about 970 fps from my suppressed 300 BO pistol. That bullet expanded that fully in the width of just a 12 ounce Gatorade bottle full of water. Sound like hitting a truck tire with a hammer when I shoot the armadillos with it.

That's impressive to say the least.


Yes in my experience that seem pretty accurate I have dug them out of my dirt backstop after they went through a target and backer not a water jug and unless they hit a hard rock the were still basically un-opened.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
A year ago I decided I needed an AR. Having a Mini 14 for years I didn’t think I wanted an AR in .223. My AR purchase was in 300 BO. I’ve yet to grasp the concept of subsonic or suppression so I bought a few hundred rounds of supersonic in FMJ and JHP. I shoot at targets occasionally just to zero, my main purpose with guns is to kill stuff, varmints and such. I have my AR zeroed at 100 yards. I killed a groundhog with it at 70. I think the 300 BO is a great little round.
 
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I would've never gotten a .300 Blackout if I didn't have a can. I've put over 2000 rounds through my cheap Radical Arms AR and all but @ 60 rounds have been subsonics handloaded with my home cast bullets.

I started out using old 30 round ex Israeli Orlite magazines and haven't seen any reason to change. They have a very shallow front rib that works well with long, fat nosed bullets.
 
The 300 BO was standardized and the short rifles started taking off after SOCOM decided it wanted something to replace their MP5SDs. From talking with a few SF dudes that have used it for certain tasks, it filled that role very well.

For me I think it is a really great PDW round. You can have a gun with a 7 inch barrel that will give good terminal ballistics at CQB ranges yet can still reach out to 200+ yards easily. Hell 300 yards is still pretty practical with a red dot.
 
It’s a fun cartridge. The advantages I can see in supersonic 300 blackout vs supersonic 7.62x39 is that it’s more economical to reload, brass is way easier to come by, uses standard AR bolt and magazines, and you can fit more ammo in a smaller magazine. I have both a 7.62x39 and a 300 blackout AR. To me a 7.62x39 excels as a rifle and I haven’t shot my 300 blackout in a long time because of it. I am planning to build a 300 blackout pistol though because I think that cartridge will be better all around in a 10” or so barrel than the X39.
 
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 found Magpul .300 BO mags to be super hard to seat, went to Lancer .300 BO mags and love them.
 
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.


What bullet did you use suppressed for deer?
 
What bullet did you use suppressed for deer?
The 190 grain Hornady sub-x. Deer was shot from about 30 yards from a ground blind, ran about 20 yards and piled up. Impressive wound channel and damage to vitals with exit wound.
 
Let me preface this post by saying this: I have an AKM pattern rifle chambered in 7.62x39.

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...).

I've been thinking about getting a 300 Blackout upper for either my AR pistol or my AR rifle. But since I don't have a can, there is no point in me buying or loading subsonic rounds for it.

So I guess my question is... Why? What can the 300 Blackout do for me that the 7.62x39 can't? I know the supersonic ballistics both are similar.

If I had a can, I get it. But I have different hunting rifles, as the AK.

Do any of you think the 300 Blackout trend will end at some point? The ammo is significantly more expensive then AK-47 ammo.

I was at the range shooting my 6.5x55 and minding my own business. A friend showed up with his camo bolt action and suppressed 300 Blackout. After he shot for a while he asked me if I'd like to try it. Sure, says I. We spied a clay bird laying on the bank which was a measured 250 yards from the shooting bench. Foolishly I said yeah, I'll try that. Well - wouldn't you know with my one and only shot of that gun I busted that target. The gun (NOT me) was impressive. And the noise was reduced to less sound than a .22 would make. No ear protection required. I immediately WANTED that set-up. (more gun lust) I actually never did buy that caliber but the experience was memorable. Impressive.
 
I don't think it will ever fall away.
We have gone through the Magnum phase and people have realized that a low recoil 30 cal makes a good deer gun for most hunting areas.
Low case volume means it's cheaper to reload for.
It's AR compatible.
It has a cool name.
I have a 7.62x39, so I don't have a blackout yet.
 
--7.62x39 for carbine length, beats 300 BO on energies in supers, especially with CFE BLK and .308 pills.
--300 BO for suppressed pistol, can't beat it for short barrel suppressed

But the 300 BO pistol in a 9" length is no slouch at 110gr going ~2,100fps
 
my two model 7 aac,s, i am getting 2400 fps with the nosler 125 gr bullet and 2200 fps with the 150 hornady gr bullet with little gun, i,m sure i could go a little faster before running into unwanted pressure. but see no need to do that, for me they are light weight rifles for game up to and including deer. i bought a bag of 500 formed cases from GI .223 for 72.00 off the net.
 

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In a word, yes.

I think they will certainly trend down at some point, but I don't think the cartridge is going anywhere. I haven't seen any official data but it has to be a very distant second to the 5.56 in ar purchases at this point. There are a good amount out there now.
 
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