Just how big is the .300 BLK?

You could try contacting the staff at some of the bigger ammo manufacturers or retailers. Even places like ammoman.com might answer your question and tell you how many units they've been selling of .300 vs. other similar cartridges.

I would agree that the .300 is currently significantly more popular than 6.8 or 6.5 at this point. But no numbers to back that up.

Sam1911 said:

You could try contacting the staff at some of the bigger ammo manufacturers or retailers. Even places like ammoman.com might answer your question and tell you how many units they've been selling of .300 vs. other similar cartridges.

I would agree that the .300 is currently significantly more popular than 6.8 or 6.5 at this point. But no numbers to back that up.

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Blackout ammo prices have been closing in on 7.62x51 and has even surpassed it in some instances for quality remanufactured & factory loadings...and if you hand-load, can be made from 5.56/.223 brass.

It (.300AAC) is becoming huge, everyone & their brother is building rifles & barrels for it, what's not to like with it's compatibility with 5.56/.223 Bolt carriers & mags...
... and short of the U.S. military adopting 6.8SPC as it's de facto caliber...it's going nowhere...relegated to a "why bother hunting round" of nominal power(when their is cheaper, more powerful, flatter shooting, far more available in any store rounds, such as .308, .30-06, .270., 243.

patriot53 said:

Blackout ammo prices have been closing in on 7.62x51 and has even surpassed it in some instances for quality remanufactured & factory loadings...and if you hand-load, can be made from 5.56/.223 brass.

It (.300AAC) is becoming huge, everyone & their brother is building rifles & barrels for it, what's not to like with it's compatibility with 5.56/.223 Bolt carriers & mags...
... and short of the U.S. military adopting 6.8SPC as it's de facto caliber...it's going nowhere...relegated to a "why bother hunting round" of nominal power(when their is cheaper, more powerful, flatter shooting, far more available in any store rounds, such as .308, .30-06, .270., 243.

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I consider the .300 Blackout more of a "why bother" hunting round, than the 6.8SPC.

The 62-64 grain .223 hunting ammo hits just as hard as the 110-125 grain .300 blackout hunting ammo. If you live in a state with caliber restrictions, it isn't as powerful as the 7.62x39 and the 6.8SPC really outshines it in power and range.

If you are looking at .308, .270 or .30-06, then you are not looking at AR-15s

If you are looking at AR-15s, what exactly does the .300 ACC Blackout do even as well as the 6.8SPC other than use standard .223 Magazines?

If you are looking to hunt with an AR-15, you don't need tons of magazines, so why not buy a specific 6.8SPC magazine?

If you are looking to plink at the range, why would you spend the money on 300 AAC ammo over .223 Ammo?

I'm not sure how 6.5 figures into the equation - I've always thought that 6.5 has a completely different role compared to 5.56 or .300BLK, or 6.8.

That said, I think .300BLK is here to stay - too many positives even for people who don't run a suppressor (like me). I'm sure this will be heresy to some but I'm willing to bet that the SIG brace pistol trend has had an amplifying effect.

300 black can also use 175 gr bullets for subsonic use in suppressed weapons using the ar-15 platform.there are several bolt guns with threaded barrels.it uses 223 bolt faces and ar-15 mags.gives ar-15 users who can't use 223 to hunt in their state the ability to use their ar-15 hunting by just changing uppers.
http://forum.lwrci.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8151 300 black forum

The 300BO is a result of excellent advertising to people who aren't concerned with ballistic tables. It is great for subsonic work, marginal out to about 200m when supersonic and nearly useless beyond that. A 5.56 will do everything better other than subsonic, and a 6.8 (SPC II) will do everything better than a 5.56. The 6.8 (maybe 6.5 too) is probably the best round for a hunter wanting to use a standard AR15 and easily available ammo.

blueskyjaunte said:

I'm not sure how 6.5 figures into the equation - I've always thought that 6.5 has a completely different role compared to 5.56 or .300BLK, or 6.8.

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The 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC are similar performance out of the same platform. Some folks argue that the down range ballistics is better with one versus the other. It is obvious on paper but will the advantages really be noticed in the field.

Comparing 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC to 300 BLK is like comparing the 30-30 to the 30-06. A bit of an apple and orange comparison in my estimation.

There are different uses for the 300 BLK. I like it for a farm gun at my small horse farm. Out to 50 yards, I can hit a raccoon or opossum. Out to 100 yards, i can hit larger targets with the same sight setting. Beyond that, the rainbow trajectory of 300 BLK minimizes the risk of down range issues.

For my farm, I do not need a rifle that has 400-500 yard capabilities.

Up until the last few months it was very difficult to find 300 BLK ammo, but I saw 6.8 SPC everywhere, from common sources, PSA, Cabelas, Bass Pro, LGS. I think there are a lot of 300 BLK rifles out there, but not regularly shot. I probably see more 300 BLK at the outdoor range than 6.8 SPC.
I have 6.8 SPC and 300 BLK. 6.8 is mainly for hunting (deer and hogs). 300 BLK is for fun (SBR with suppressor). Yes, I could hunt with it, but 6.8 outshines it significantly.
I reload both, so ammo shortages haven't been an issue for me. I can shoot either. My 6.8 is a lot more accurate as well, 300 BLK does seem to load as consistently for me.

I like them both, but if you really look at the ballistics, the 6.8 SPC is a nice caliber on the AR15 platform.

ssyoumans said:

Up until the last few months it was very difficult to find 300 BLK ammo, but I saw 6.8 SPC everywhere, from common sources, PSA, Cabelas, Bass Pro, LGS. I think there are a lot of 300 BLK rifles out there, but not regularly shot. I probably see more 300 BLK at the outdoor range than 6.8 SPC.
I have 6.8 SPC and 300 BLK. 6.8 is mainly for hunting (deer and hogs). 300 BLK is for fun (SBR with suppressor). Yes, I could hunt with it, but 6.8 outshines it significantly.
I reload both, so ammo shortages haven't been an issue for me. I can shoot either. My 6.8 is a lot more accurate as well, 300 BLK does seem to load as consistently for me.

I like them both, but if you really look at the ballistics, the 6.8 SPC is a nice caliber on the AR15 platform.

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Sheeze..... I almost hate commenting on these types of threads because invariably a fan boy gets their panties in a bunch. And somehow their man-hood is challenged when someone doesnt agree with THEIR choice in rifles

This topic seems to come up once or twice a week..........

The ABSOLUTE fact is..... all of the calibers mentioned on this thread have their place, and are all innovative


There are at least 2 armies in the middle east that are using the 6.8 (40k rifle contract with LWRC)

LWRC is reporting that the US Army is actually considering the 6.8 again


I believe the 300BLK is actually growing faster than the 6.8 these days, AND it has many, many advantages.....but... if I am
choosing one to hunt with, the 6.8 is a better choice for what I hunt and the distances I hunt



I reload for the 6.8 as well, and the ballistics are significantly better.

The bullet performance made the difference for me.

The Hornady 120g SST stays at 1k ft lbs out to 275 yards

The best hunting bullet I could find in the 300Blk drops below 1k ft lbs at 125 yards

If you hunt at less than 150 yards BOTH will do just fine..........

Good luck, and PLEASE DONT BE OFFENDED BY MY INTERNET OPINION.... they dont really matter....

I consider the .300 Blackout more of a "why bother" hunting round, than the 6.8SPC.

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I agree. I have several ar's in 7.62x39. It feeds fine with the right mags. Why mess with a low power specialty round when there are better options.

The .300 blk had a big push, money behind it. One thng that the same concept/rounds called the 221-300, 300 fireball, 300 whisper, etc didn't.

I bet it lasts longer than a lot of better rounds because of it.

I like the idea of the Blackout with it's similar to the 7.62X39 performance.
The subsonic advantages aside it's a reloaders dream with all the convertible 223/5.56 brass laying at every range.
It's also more appropriate IMO for deer sized animals than the 223/5.56 if used within it's limitations.
Most folks that have the 300 BO reload so ammo makers may not have a clear picture of it's actual popularity.
I'd love to have an upper in 6.8 or even 6.5. Either would be ballistically superior to the 300BO but would come with the "cost/guilt" of the higher ammo prices and would be relegated to "serious work", not just a fun blaster.

I still don't understand why people think 6.8 costs so much. Looking on gunbot.net right now, the cheapest range ammo for the 6.8 is 67¢/rd compared to 54¢/rd for 300BO. For hunting ammo it's 84¢ for 6.8 and 94¢ for 300BO. Both rounds are a poor choice for blowing through at the range when you can get 5.56 at 30¢/rd.

The numbers don't lie, the 300BO does not extend the hunting range compared to a 5.56. It has nearly identical energy with much greater amounts of drop. I'm a fan of the cartridge and would own one if I had a suppressor, but to make untrue claims is annoying. I'm not calling out anyone in particular, just the general way it gets exaggerated.

Factory numbers:

Hornady 120SST/2550fps/300m has 1010ft/lbs and drops 10"
Nosler 60gr Pt/3160fps/300m has 532ft/lbs and drops 8"
Sierra 125 PH/2180fps/300m has 543ft/lbs and drops 17"

I have been watching this 300 BO thing from afar. I don't have any AR platform, but I keep collecting the 223 brass from the range.

I'm intrigued by the fact that, if I understand it correctly, I were to get an AR in 223, it would share most of the platform, besides the chamber/barrel, with the 300!?

And it looks as though, from the reloading aspect, the 300 would use the slower pistol magnum powder.

I haven't done a lot of homework on the caliber. But I, for one, am intrigued.

I been around long time, served in war........I see this caliber as a fad.....a caliber that has relevance to only a few, and most of those read gun magazines and articles.....well, guess if you want one and can have, get after it, so many more existing calibers do the same job so much better and so much more sensibly.

I think the largest drawback of the round is the fact that it can be chambered And fired in a .223 upper, although with less than ideal outcome.

Should be a non issue for folks that don't have rectal cranial inversion but kaboom threads seem to be more common than they used to be.

Using the same magazines is huge! I don't hunt, my purpose would be home defense and general use, so I would pick 300 BLK as an outstanding CQB cartridge and a just fine general purpose round out to 400m.

But, it doesn't offer enough of an improvement over the better 5.56 loads to get me to spend my $ yet. I have an LMT MRP, so I literally just need a barrel with no tools or permanent alterations required and I already handload so it would be easy to get into...just not a priority for my wallet.

the whole point to 300 blackout is the subsonic capability with only changing the barrel of a 5.56mm rifle.

I mean, it's name is BLACKOUT.

The supersonic loads are just a bonus.

I thought about getting a 300blackout upper, but a over $1 a round for subsonic loads, that's simply too much.

Might as well buy a 40sw carbine.

I was buying 6.8 mags in March during Obanic II. Using the same mags isn't really anything, I have more mags than ammo to load in them.

.300BO is just the current fad, most shooters are not getting suppressors for them, because of the NFA hurdles with trusts, fees, etc. The issue with owning a suppressor is that it can easily cost MORE than the carbine you screw it on to after all is said and done. It's not a impulse purchase item.

.300BO IS a impulse purchase item, and it's positioned in the market place as the "superior" upgrade to 5.56. "All you need is a barrel" might be true, but very few are swapping barrels at the drop of a hat. What usually happens is the barrel remains attached but another carbine or rifle in a different caliber appears in the rack.

All of this was pointed out in the early days of 6.8 and 6.5, too.

There's a lot of hype and thoughtless comment about .300BO, goes to the depth of thinking around it. Let's not forget AAC had nothing to do with it, they lifted it from JD Jones and the .300Whisper, and that came from early 3Gun competitors trying to force the AR15 into play. It was ruled out because of them not being .30 cal, and when shooters came up with it, it was still disallowed.

It's NEVER caught on with 3Gun because of it's trajectory and expense, neither has 6.8 or 6.5. It's just currently popular the same way 6.8 and 6.5 were 5 years ago.

Ask again in five years. Then you will see exactly why it's still in use, with a knowledgeable base of users who understand it's limitations same as any other cartridge.

Popularity means nothing other than a whole bunch of people don't really know what they are getting into. It's the primary requirement or else they would have chosen something better.

With three other choices available, it's not One Cartridge To Rule Them All.

Popularity means nothing other than a whole bunch of people don't really know what they are getting into. It's the primary requirement or else they would have chosen something better

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Are you still this mad about the popularity of the 30/30?
Some people don't get the concept of "just right".

I like cheap and works!
Maybe since ammo makers have finally caught up on most calibers, maybe we will see some other companies expand into 300 BLK. Would love some Tula for $8/20 or less. That's still 40% more than they charge for their 7.62x39 ammo!!! It's all about volume I guess. They still don't see a sizable market, so does that answer the original question.
Larger the market of buyers, the more companies who will seek to enter it and get in.

I don't think the 300 blackout is a fad. The components are too readily available, this isn't no obscure wildcat cartridge.

They were smart to marry an easily found/made brass case, with the caliber bullet with the greatest number of options/support, to the most modular weapon. Its got everything going for it, for what it's intended purpose is for, and that is the reason why one resides in my safe.

No it's not a cartridge that one would want to consistently shoot 300+ yards with, but if one wants to try shots at that range it can be done, and has been done out to 1,000 yards. But that isn't what it was designed for.

Utilizing all of it's powder in the first 9" of barrel, while providing 10, 20, 30, 40 or 60 rounds into a compact, readily available magazine, with the option of supersonic and subsonic is something that neither the 5.56, 7.62x39 can say for itself. Yes, i know the 7.62x39 can be suppressed but not to the decibels that the 300 blackout can as far as i know (i don't have any first hand account just internet chatter).

I will say this that at this point in time one really should be a reloader if he wants to shoot the blackout a lot as the ammo costs have previously been quite high, but are coming down to the $.50/cartridge which is starting to make it feasible for the non-reloader. But a reloader can get his/her costs down to $.22-.28 depending on bullet (super/sub) and maybe cheaper that is just me buying materials.

I think the versatility of the 300 blackout is there, but don't try and compare it to other cartridges (5.56, 6.5, 6.8 SPC) in the areas where the blackout is weak in (i.e. ranges longer than 300 yards). That was never the intent of the cartridge it was strictly developed for <300 yard situations, with the ability to go beyond at a reduction in performance.

I think there is plenty of room in the AR world for variety, I think that the 300blk, 5.56, 6.5, 6.8 all have something to bring to the table, the closest overlap of those said calibers is the 6.5 and 6.8.

I for one see a huge advantage to the 300black suppressed if I were ever able to get close enough to a pack of wolves with a 8 tag limit, as I would stand a good chance at filling all 8 tags with one pack. That is something as an Idahoan I could get my head around.

shoot um all !

I shoot most of the rounds named [ but not 6.8 or 6.5 ] and I enjoy them all for what they do.

Now that I have a reliable and well made upper for the 7.62 X 39,I 'might' somewhat regret getting into the 300 blkO.

I was really intending to white tail deer hunt with the 300,but now see that as far as I am shooting [ no more than 150 yd's ] the X 39 will suffice and is cheaper too.

BUT ,I did get a 2K supply of ammo for the 300 so I will have to keep the upper till I shoot up that supply ---- I guess.