School me on the 300 Blackout

[fartgamer]

I know diddly squat.
Can I buy an upper and just slap it on my lower? Need new mags? What's the upside vs 223, mainly for hunting?

 

[7.62x51FMJ]

I built a 300 AAC Blackout upper recently and used an Anderson barrel for the build. Used my old .223 mags, BCG and a Carbine length buffer and spring. Took it to the range and fired 20 flawless rounds. Worked great. Put it back in the gun bag and sold the barrel a few weeks later. Ammo is very difficult to find at less than a buck a round.

Just finished a 7.62x39 AR47 build and Tula ammo is 6 bucks for a box of 20. More to my liking.

 

[dsdmmat]

To answer your questions

Yes
No
Heavier bullets, 30 caliber.

 

[Shadow2]

Did some research on the subject a little while back, similar punch in the realm of 30-30 and 7.62x39 accuracy isn't considered that great, 30 cal round for more take town power. If it was more accurate I'd be onboard as a hunting rig. But figured the 308 isn't broke, why fix it.

ammo isn't cheap and not the easiest to find but getting better I guess.

 

[C3D]

If you want to monkey around with an accurate hard hitting long range round, go 6.8

If you want maximum OOMPH, go with .50 Beowulf

If you want to suppress, go .300 Blackout

Otherwise go .223

 

[fartgamer]

I've seen ammo for 14.99 a box at Walmart.

 

[dsdmmat]

I have a few 300 BLK rifles. They are fun to shoot. Rings steel like nobodies business out to 200 yards any day of the week. I reload them for about 50 cents a round. Keep one by the bed loaded with Barns Tac-TX rounds. Will hit harder than any 223 round under 50 yards, longest shot in my house is 11 yards.

The 110 grain VMax loads I run drop 8 inches from 100 to 200 yards.

If you are hunting inside 150 yards it is a good round if you are going over that you should step up to another cartridge.

 

[meketrefe]

I see this compared to the x39 and 30-30 and other rounds and that is wrong.
The whisper/blackout is a pistol round and great round for subsonic work including short barrels.
It should not be compared to the 7.62x39 and 30-30 that is understandable since it was never intended to be compared with
its low case capacity for powder. This is something the marketing people and tacticool evangelists started in an attempt
to market the round as something competitive with rifle rounds.
In terms of the 223 in some places the 22 caliber is not legal for hunting for some inexplicable reason so at the moment one could use a number of
larger caliber, even less suitable to hunt in those areas. In reality prime hunting ammo in the 223 shoot flatter and further with more energy.
The blackout can be used for close range but either one is not the ideal choice for deer or hogs.
It makes more sense to compare the whisper/blackout with the 30 carbine, sort of like a +P+ 30 carbine that works great with AR magazines.
It makes a nice pistol round for close range and hunting with range and weight limitations like many small bore and pistol cartridges.
In terms of accuracy it can be accurate but it is hard to work on it so most loads do not get the accuracy of rifle rounds.
Do some research. If you want to hunt there are more appropriate cartridges. Still you can have whisper blackout to have fun
and hunt the smaller animals.

 

[Doc8404]

223 isn't legal for hunting?
Where? Must be outside our shitty state

 

[MilesTeg]

223 isn't legal for hunting?
Where? Must be outside our shitty state

Correct there are some states that dictate a minimum caliber for deer hunting.

 

[Doc8404]

Center fire even? Wow.

 

[capitalcrew]

223 really isn't an ideal hunting round anyways. I wouldn't hunt with it.

6.8 on the other hand is excellent. I put one in the heart this year and lemme tell ya, that deer was coming apart at the seams. Total devastation.

 

[MilesTeg]

I disagree. The 223 can be used for hunting ethically. Like any round you have to stay within the limitations of the round.

 

[capitalcrew]

I didn't say you couldn't take a deer with it, I said it wasn't ideal. You kind of confirmed my point by saying you have to stay within the limitations of the round.

 

[MilesTeg]

I didn't say you couldn't take a deer with it, I said it wasn't ideal. You kind of confirmed my point by saying you have to stay within the limitations of the round.

I cant take my shotgun and shoot a deer at 200 yds, but can with my 308. Does that make my shotgun not ideal for deer hunting. Everything is scenario driven. What if the only shots you have from your stand is within bow range. 60+gr 223 will be plenty in this case.

 

[Jem45472]

If you want no fuss, yes just slap the 300 on your lower and done. Good hunting round for under 200 yards. Where it really shines, and why I built one is for an sbr or pistol build. I'm using an 8.5" barrel. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that
they take suppressors off the nfa list.

 

[ManrisFrack]

If you want to monkey around with an accurate hard hitting long range round, go 6.8

If you want maximum OOMPH, go with .50 Beowulf

If you want to suppress, go .300 Blackout

Otherwise go .223

I would add the 6.5 Grendel to the 6.8 line as well. It'll carry energy farther that the 6.8 with the tradeoff being longer barrels and just a few acceptable hunting bullets to choose from. The 6.8, on the other hand has nearly a dozen good hunting bullets from 82 grains to 120.

While I'm on the subject, one of the biggest downfalls of the 300 Blk as a hunting caliber has been the bullets. Most of the 30 cal bullets are designed to the higher velocities of 308 and 30-06. The varmint (and softer types like Nos BT) bullets in 30 cal usually do an acceptable job on whitetail at Blk speeds. The 110gr Barnes TAC-TX bullet seems to have garnered the best reputation in the Blackout.

 

[Uzi]

Another 300 blackout thread... sigh. I have a 300 aac blackout pistol build and I would choose it over a 223 any day of the week with a short barrel. It is said you can even run a 4" barrel with little to no velocity loss. I run a 7.5" 1X8 twist and it cycles flawlessly. I never had any malfunctions and have tried many different types of whisper and 300aac rounds. I would be lying if I said it wasn't probably one of my most favorite firearms I've ever used and feel comfortable with. Walmart has the ammo for cheap, 30 cal, good ballistics, excellent for self defense. The ballistics are pretty damn impressive for some of the defensive hollow point rounds. If you build a rifle with a longer barrel, I don't see the upside to it. Just build a 308 instead if you're going to do a rifle. A pistol build makes WAY more sense and has MUCH more benefit than the 22 cal rounds. Most of the 300 blackout ammo avalible today is NOT designed for suppressors either, it's mostly supersonic stuff. You can also mix and match 300 whisper too. Go watch some youtube videos, lots of good info there.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I didn't say you couldn't take a deer with it, I said it wasn't ideal. You kind of confirmed my point by saying you have to stay within the limitations of the round.

It all depends on the round you use and not the caliber to an extent. A .223 all copper TSX round expands to .50 caliber and doesn't fragment offering deep penetration and compete pass through in most cases. That round is actually more effective than an inferior, low quality round from a larger caliber.

 

[meketrefe]

Exactly... another blackout thread. It would be nice if we had a search option on this forum.

The 22 caliber was banned in many places due to people using the wrong bullets like poachers using rim fire and
vietnam era 55gr gr FMJ bullets in the 223 that are less than ideal for hunting. This is how the round got banned in some
areas. But with the premium bullets and ammo between 60-80gr the modern 223 is a different story.

I would suggest you learn about all the options you can use form the AR15 including modern premium ammunition for the
223/5.56 and 7.62x39.

AR15 Caliber options:

Pistol
9mm
40 caliber
357SIG
10mm
300 Whisper/blackout

Also...
9mm Winchester Magnum
6x25 Dillon
7.62x25 tokarev

Rifle
5.45x39
223 / 5.56
223 WSSM (olympic)
6mm PPC
6x45
243 WSSM (olympic)
25x45 Sharps
25 WSSM (olympic)
6.5 Grendel / LBC
7.62x39
6.8 SPCII
450 Bushmaster
458 Socom
50 Beowulf

Also...
20 Practical
204 Ruger
222 Remington

If you reload there are many options, some amazingly simple and powerful.
For example if you like the 30 caliber the 30 herret is amazingly simple and it is done by putting a 6.8 case pressing
down and presto. This comes one step closer to the modern 30-30.
But you also have 7.6x39 hybrid chamber uppers that can shoot cheap steal ammo but one can also reload with
several 30 caliber bulles in the 125-150gr range that with the modern brass like lapua can be safely pumped
to decent speeds.
These are also top choices for short pistol barrels that offer superior energy and speed to the typical pistol
round. But when hunting with pistols, people tend to compensate the light for caliber slow moving alternatives
with grain and this is where cartriges like the 458 Socom really shine. with short barrels will send 280gr-300gr
bullets to carbine / pistol speed but form a pistol barrel.

It all depends if cost is important to you where 9mm, 40cal pistol and 223, and 7.62x39 are hard to beat for cheap
practice while some give options for hunting with more expensive ammo.
Or whether you don't mind paying a bit like the 6.8SPCII that is simple and can hut with superior power to some
of the other rounds.

 

[dsdmmat]

Mek you left 17 Remington off the list.


I built a bolt action AR in 17 Remington just for kicks. I got to say it is one fun round to shoot (when there is no wind).

 

[meketrefe]

Mek you left 17 Remington off the list.


I built a bolt action AR in 17 Remington just for kicks. I got to say it is one fun round to shoot (when there is no wind).

Yes that one too. I left many out like the fireball, automag, and other whisper(blackout wildcats) in 6, 6.5 and 7mm. 270 wolverine, etc...
Also some of the big bore like 444 short.
So many our head will explode.

 

[MilesTeg]

Exactly... another blackout thread. It would be nice if we had a search option on this forum.

The 22 caliber was banned in many places due to people using the wrong bullets like poachers using rim fire and
vietnam era 55gr gr FMJ bullets in the 223 that are less than ideal for hunting. This is how the round got banned in some
areas. But with the premium bullets and ammo between 60-80gr the modern 223 is a different story.

I would suggest you learn about all the options you can use form the AR15 including modern premium ammunition for the
223/5.56 and 7.62x39.

AR15 Caliber options:

Pistol
9mm
40 caliber
357SIG
10mm
300 Whisper/blackout

Also...
9mm Winchester Magnum
6x25 Dillon
7.62x25 tokarev

Rifle
5.45x39
223 / 5.56
223 WSSM (olympic)
6mm PPC
6x45
243 WSSM (olympic)
25x45 Sharps
25 WSSM (olympic)
6.5 Grendel / LBC
7.62x39
6.8 SPCII
450 Bushmaster
458 Socom
50 Beowulf

Also...
20 Practical
204 Ruger
222 Remington

If you reload there are many options, some amazingly simple and powerful.
For example if you like the 30 caliber the 30 herret is amazingly simple and it is done by putting a 6.8 case pressing
down and presto. This comes one step closer to the modern 30-30.
But you also have 7.6x39 hybrid chamber uppers that can shoot cheap steal ammo but one can also reload with
several 30 caliber bulles in the 125-150gr range that with the modern brass like lapua can be safely pumped
to decent speeds.
These are also top choices for short pistol barrels that offer superior energy and speed to the typical pistol
round. But when hunting with pistols, people tend to compensate the light for caliber slow moving alternatives
with grain and this is where cartriges like the 458 Bushmaster really shine. with short barrels will send 280gr-300gr
bullets to carbine / pistol speed but form a pistol barrel.

It all depends if cost is important to you where 9mm, 40cal pistol and 223, and 7.62x39 are hard to beat for cheap
practice while some give options for hunting with more expensive ammo.
Or whether you don't mind paying a bit like the 6.8SPCII that is simple and can hut with superior power to some
of the other rounds.

Whenever you post up these AR lists I realize I have way to many guns on my wish list!

 

[dsdmmat]

Yes that one too. I left many out like the fireball, automag, and other whisper(blackout wildcats) in 6, 6.5 and 7mm. 270 wolverine, etc...
Also some of the big bore like 444 short.
So many our head will explode.

I really wish I could get a traditional AR setup to feed and cycle the 5.7x28mm instead of using the AR57 upper and P90 mags.

 

[meketrefe]

Whenever you post up these AR lists I realize I have way to many guns on my wish list!

There are a lot of rounds that are bought based on impulse and then never touched again.
Most people would be happy to have an upper or two in a popular caliber and perhaps another one or two in
specialty calibers for things like long range or hunting with massive power.
Some people might like to have a specific caliber that shares the ammo with their favorite bolt action whatever that
chambering might be.

But hey some other people just like to collect things. It can get really nuts.

 

[MilesTeg]

There are a lot of rounds that are bought based on impulse and then never touched again.
Most people would be happy to have an upper or two in a popular caliber and perhaps another one or two in
specialty calibers for things like long range or hunting with massive power.
Some people might like to have a specific caliber that shares the ammo with their favorite bolt action whatever that
chambering might be.

But hey some other people just like to collect things. It can get really nuts.

I agree, right now I have a basic carbine. Next I want a long range 223 setup most likely with it's own lower, so that I can put a good trigger in it. After that a larger caliber or 2 for hunting. Probably an AR10 and or AR in 7mm-08. If we ever get suppressors I will then grab a 300 upper. Somewhere in the mix I would like to build/ or buy a high end carbine.

The pistol list is bigger than that.

 

[meketrefe]

I really wish I could get a traditional AR setup to feed and cycle the 5.7x28mm instead of using the AR57 upper and P90 mags.

the 5.7 is cool. It has the potential to be the perfect survival round vs. rimfire. Think about it, very small, fast and light and it can be reloaded forever. 1LB of powder will last what 7000/5gr = 1,400 rounds! ... dogtown bullets cheap cheap cheap! ... you know limited in use but far superior for defense and hunting and one could survive for ever with a can full of cases.
I agree nothing there even in bolt action. savage had one and they stopped.
I think in terms of simplicity it might be worth looking into the 22TCM but the 5.7 case is way cooler. I am just saying due to the lack of bolts and other parts
that make it more difficult.

 

[meketrefe]

I agree, right now I have a basic carbine. Next I want a long range 223 setup most likely with it's own lower, so that I can put a good trigger in it. After that a larger caliber or 2 for hunting. Probably an AR10 and or AR in 7mm-08. If we ever get suppressors I will then grab a 300 upper. Somewhere in the mix I would like to build/ or buy a high end carbine.

The pistol list is bigger than that.

I they approve the suppressors I am going to find a tighter twist for the 35 and make a gunner for the 300gr-320gr cast boolits.
I am optimistic but also realistic because we live in a communist infested area.

 

[Snappo]

I they approve the suppressors I am going to find a tighter twist for the 35 and make a gunner for the 300gr-320gr cast boolits.
I am optimistic but also realistic because we live in a communist infested area.

Is there a rumor about Class III coming back to New York State? I would love if they did that.

 

[meketrefe]

Is there a rumor about Class III coming back to New York State? I would love if they did that.

If the hearing protection act passes we might see some changes. It makes sense but you know with Cuomo and his gang will be against anything
the feds want to do unless it fits the communist agenda.