Does a bolt action 300bo make sense

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AJC1

AJC1

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As with any good question background is important.
1. The shooter is 12 loves the range and goes with me at least once a week.
2. Our range includes a 1 and 3 hundred yard rifle option.
3. I reload and have lots of magnum pistol powders available.
4. I cast bullets and already cast 30 caliber.
5. This would not be a dedicated gun. I would just need a barrel for a savage and I already have a 223 bolt head.
6. The wide range of projectile weights is very appealing and the recoil is more age appropriate.
So with those things in.place I figured it would be a good option... thoughts or better ideas. This is an inital thought and some I dont plan on arguing for or against. I'm very aware there are many options I havent considered.
 
I bought a CVA single shot and also the Ruger American Ranch in 300 blackout and neither has ever seen a jacketed bullet. 300 is a super fun round and it really makes sense with cast bullets in terms of economy. Cast is cheap and so is making brass from 223/5.56. It does take a bit of experimentation due to the super fast twist of most barrels. If you ever buy a silencer you will love it


Ohen Cepel said:
Is there any gain over .223 though?
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Cast bullets + smaller powder charges make cost per round very attractive.
 
I've built a couple for myself and the kids; I think that they're dandy for learning to hunt (effective range of the chambering matches the effective range of most new hunters), and for the range they make big (easy to see) holes relative to the recoil.
 
Ohen Cepel said:
In the case you lay out I think it does make some sense. Is there any gain over .223 though?

I really like the BLK in a bolt gun with a suppressor on it, or as a deer hunting round at close range.
That said, I think it would serve your purpose well also.
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I dont have a 223 mold yet, not really an issue but then I'm downloading because cast bullets dont love 3k fps. This would also put me into gas checks. I do have a mini 14 for him to shoot 223 but the bullets are getting hard to find at a reasonable cost. If rmr does another run of their 69 grain bullets, I hope to get some.
 
.300 BO in a bolt action makes some sense if firing suppressed. Much less mechanical noise with a bolt action than a semi auto. My bolt action .308 are much quieter that my semi .308 using the same suppressor. My suppressed AK 7.62.39 was hardly worth the effort from all the gas and noise of the piston.
 
wally said:
.300 BO in a bolt action makes some sense if firing suppressed. Much less mechanical noise with a bolt action than a semi auto. My bolt action .308 are much quieter that my semi .308 using the same suppressor. My suppressed AK 7.62.39 was hardly worth the effort from all the gas and noise of the piston.
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This will end up as a California gun so the suppressor is highly unlikely. It would be nice if I end up staying in TN.
 
If you are casting then yes. 300 yards might be far for it but it wouldn't hurt to try.
 
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AJC1 said:
So you think a 130-150 is a reach to be consistent on paper or ring a steel plate at 300
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Not if you're shooting supersonics, and assume at least a 5" MPBR. A Sierra 125gr SP at 2250fps zero'ed 2" high at 100yards will put you around 3.5" low at 200 yards. Beyond that, you'll need to start playing with reticles or knobs - a 2" high zero at 100 yards is almost 22" down at 300 yards.
 
rbernie said:
Not if you're shooting supersonics, and assume at least a 5" MPBR. A Sierra 125gr SP at 2250fps zero'ed 2" high at 100yards will put you around 3.5" low at 200 yards. Beyond that, you'll need to start playing with reticles or knobs - a 2" high zero at 100 yards is almost 22" down at 300 yards.
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My npr2 reticle has 2 moa graduations so that's almost a perfect holdover. Teaching scope tactics is a goal of this project.
 
What barrel maker are you considering? You might be able to buy a complete CVA (with a Bergara barrel IIRC) for about the same cost of a barrel + fitting.
 
I say go for it. There is really no downside by your description/explanation. For a barrel swap you keep the young shooter involved in the sport. Sooner than you think, that 12 yo will be a 16 yo and then it's as simple as another barrel swap to whatever floats their boat at that time.
 
Well, FWIW I was born in California for my sins, and I own two non-autoloading rifles in .300 AAC/Blackout:

CZ527300BigKnob01.jpg 300AACHandi.jpg

I got interested in this cartridge back during the Obama ammo drought because it is one of the most versatile reloading options when component availability is spotty. You can make .300 AAC brass from fired 5.56 if pressed; it uses small rifle primers, but in desperation you can substitute small pistol primers (provided you keep pressures low enough and keep good notes!) You can use jacketed, cast or plated bullets, even resized .32 pistol bullets will work in a pinch. I can shoot decent but not spectacular groups with repurposed Berry's .30-30 and 7.62x39 plated bullets (the latter resized to .309") as well with as some leftover 110 gr. .30 Carbine bullets. A broad range of powders can also be used, particularly if you don't insist on highest performance.

When looking at .300 AAC from this perspective, a manual repeater or single shot has advantanges. Handloads using 'compromise' components don't have to reliably cycle the action; bullet crimp is less of a concern. With my H&R single shot, OAL doesn't even matter since I'm not feeding from a magazine.
 
I'd say yes, in the rifle you intend to rebarrel. Aside from .224 projectiles, 30 cal bullets are the most prevalent rifle bullets in the USA. Casting just makes it better. 300 blk at the range makes great sense due to low recoil and powder consumption. I'd like to have one in a bolt action myself, but I have a 7.62x39 cz 527 for all those jobs. My blackout usage at the moment is all ar pattern I'm afraid...
 
I just bought a Ruger American Ranch in Blackout. I haven't had a chance to really play around with it yet, but from the limited shooting I have done so far it's wonderful. I do use a silencer though.

I'd say buy one. There's little downside to a bolt gun for your purposes. It can either be rebarrelled or sold off later if you desire.

20210415_163404.jpg

Edited to add a crappy picture.
 
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