.300 Blackout upper or just get high-end 5.56 hunting ammo?

[Noodles]

Terminally, I realize it gets positive reviews from Doc, but I haven't seen anything on the 300BLK that makes me think it will do anything better than .223/5.56.

Suppressed (no large cyclic rate change)
SBR
Subsonic
Larger/expanding bullet
Empty Wallet

And any combination of those the 300blk will "do better" than 223/556. No dog in the fight, but that does not prevent me from seeing the obvious differences of one vs another. To the OP not running suppressed OR SBR, I would not do 300blk. That doesn't mean it's useless as a 16" unsuppressed, just less useful for ME.

[GunnutAF]

CCFD1414
FMJ are illegal in most states to hunt with. The thing with the 5.56mm is you don't have much room for error in shot placement. The 300 Blk gives better performance- think 30-30 with spitzer bullets with alot better BC's on big game. My 150 gr Speer BT load carries 1000 plus ft/lbs to 150 yards just under 1000 ft/lb at 200yards. There isn't one 5.56mm load that does that out of an AR! Want to see what the 300 Blk will do go read here:
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=145

[CCFD1414]

CCFD1414
FMJ are illegal in most states to hunt with. The thing with the 5.56mm is you don't have much room for error in shot placement. The 300 Blk gives better performance- think 30-30 with spitzer bullets with alot better BC's on big game. My 150 gr Speer BT load carries 1000 plus ft/lbs to 150 yards just under 1000 ft/lb at 200yards. There isn't one 5.56mm load that does that out of an AR! Want to see what the 300 Blk will do go read here:
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=145

Oh snap I just asked my friend (wildlife officer) and he said its illegal here too, looks like I'll be finding another type of ammo to use, and/or I'll be looking into a 300 blackout myself. Thanks for letting me know, the last thing I need is to do something illegal.

[feedramp]

CCFD1414
FMJ are illegal in most states to hunt with. The thing with the 5.56mm is you don't have much room for error in shot placement. The 300 Blk gives better performance- think 30-30 with spitzer bullets with alot better BC's on big game. My 150 gr Speer BT load carries 1000 plus ft/lbs to 150 yards just under 1000 ft/lb at 200yards. There isn't one 5.56mm load that does that out of an AR! Want to see what the 300 Blk will do go read here:
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=145

Argh! I was feeling convinced that 5.56 was Good Enough and then you posted this.
Interesting. Though I think I'll start with 5.56 complete gun and save toward a .300Blk upper down the road.

[Clint]

Oh snap I just asked my friend (wildlife officer) and he said its illegal here too, looks like I'll be finding another type of ammo to use, and/or I'll be looking into a 300 blackout myself. Thanks for letting me know, the last thing I need is to do something illegal.

Legalities aside, you should always choose an appropriate hunting bullet for hunting, regardless of caliber.

It's the ethical thing to do and will result in less lost game.

[doubleajaybrock]

There are other options like the 6.5, 6.8 or 7.62x40 available also.

[John_Burns]

CCFD1414
FMJ are illegal in most states to hunt with. The thing with the 5.56mm is you don't have much room for error in shot placement. The 300 Blk gives better performance- think 30-30 with spitzer bullets with alot better BC's on big game. My 150 gr Speer BT load carries 1000 plus ft/lbs to 150 yards just under 1000 ft/lb at 200yards. There isn't one 5.56mm load that does that out of an AR! Want to see what the 300 Blk will do go read here:
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=145

No cartridge will give you "much room for error in shot placement". If you miss the vital zone you will need to shoot again, be it with a .223 or a .338 Win Mag.

Tell me the spot on a deer that the powerful .300 Blk is a sure killer and the lowly .223 will bounce off?

I have seen a lot of deer and antelope shot with 30-30s and .223s and from what I have seen the .223 (good bullets) kills faster with similar shot placement. The 30-30 is a sure killer but it rarely does the DRT (Dead Right There) thing. The slower velocity means slower expansion and deeper penetration and less of what we might call shock to the animal.

Stay away from varmint type bullets in the .223 and it will stack deer and other critters up like cord wood.

[djmorris]

Tell me the spot on a deer that the powerful .300 Blk is a sure killer and the lowly .223 will bounce off

Exactly my thoughts.

[GunnutAF]

John_Burns
Your correct there is nothing better then putting the bullet where it belongs- no matter what the caliber is. I will disagree with you on one simple fact a bigger bullet , bigger hole more energy dumped does make a difference. Plus I've had many DRT's with the old 30-30! Bust just about any deer through both front shoulders and they don't going any where! You better be very close witha heavy constructed bullet(TSX) to do that with a 5.56mm. I don't do head shots nor neck shots! If I don't want the game going anywhere do to terrain it gets a double shoulder shot! I'll sacrifice some meat to get the deer vs loosing it!

[C2_Drew]

You need to verify that it's legal to take deer with 223 in your state. Some states, Washington and Colorado come to mind, don't allow the taking of deer with anything smaller than .243.