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Thread: For general shooting is 300 blackout (suppressed) worth it?

  1. #11
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    Everybody here has made valid points...as usual, nobody is wrong. It's all based on your perspective, your needs, and your objectives for an AR platform. The 300 BLK was born for a variety of VERY RELEVANT reasons:
    1) Need for better terminal ballistic effects in close quarters...yes a 7.62 has more energy and does more damage than 5.56 inside 100m (go ahead and tell me to carry a 7.62 NATO gas gun...I did that as well. One guy is fine, but a team/squad carrying heavy rifles is not good)
    2) Need for modularity/similarity with the M4/AR platform...everybody knows the details by now...let me just say it's pretty cool. Time is EVERYTHING...based on mission one can just swap an upper (or a barrel with some platforms), grab same type mags loaded with 300 BLK, and go. No need to change your entire kit. I can't stand when somebody tells me to just carry an AK if I want 7.62 type performance. Yeah, I'm a fan of that weapon system too, but it's not very practical to change everything just to shoot a bigger round. Let's be smarter.
    3) Need for truly suppressed/subsonic performance. Obviously only for inside 100m...it's awesome. 5.56 just doesn't have the reliability or consistency in a subsonic rd.
    4) Need for better performance with a short barrel/suppressor combination. 300 BLK is much better than 5.56 in 8-10 in barrel lengths. The gas system just handles recoil and cycles better. 5.56 ARs shine in the 11.5-12.5 barrel lengths...then add a suppressor and your OAL is more than a standard carbine. Not to mention the suppressor doesn't work as well with high velocity rds.
    5) Need for a wide range of ammunition choices. This is really where the 300 BLK makes its money. You mean to tell me I can load anything from a 110gr Barnes or Hornady hunting rd to a 175gr SMK to a 220gr SMK subsonic? That is freakin awesome...and practical! I can carry mags with different ammo and change them whenever the situation calls for it. Huge advantage over just choosing between 62gr or 77gr.

    There are more reasons, but I believe these are the main ones. Now, with this said, it still doesn't mean that 300 BLK is right for everyone...heck it might not be right for hardly anyone. What are your needs? If you're just punching paper and training at the local range, then by all means save as much $ as possible and stick with 5.56. Maybe one day 300 BLK ammo will be about the same price though...heck it's only been popular for 2-3 years...let the market adjust. But please don't shy away for fear of "investing" too much in something that is unproven. First of all, you don't really have to invest much of anything besides an upper...everything else is the same! And please also don't discredit the round for having poor ballistic performance. It is a very capable rd, especially in the 110-125gr range. I would shoot some 125gr OTM against 77gr OTM for comparison out to 800m any day...both perform very well.

    And when all else fails, yes...the 300 BLK is great for hog and deer hunting. Especially now that GA has legalized hunting with suppressors

  2. #12
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    Attachment 28165
    side by side 300 BLKs: AAC MPW 9" with 762-SDN-6; LMT MRP with 16"

  3. #13
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    One more thought...and some folks may disagree with me on this one. If you're going to SBR an existing lower rather than purchase a factory SBR, I recommend using a relatively inexpensive lower that is not high name brand like BCM, DD, LMT, KAC, Noveske, etc. This is only because these brands and other like them have such high resale value...in an era where everyone is constantly buying/selling/trading their AR parts, I would always want to have the ability to sell my high name brand lowers if the market called for it. If you SBR it, that's not gonna happen.
    Now I did not say to SBR cheap or crappy lowers...I said inexpensive...basically brands that are not as popular and do not have the marketing and brand image as the big dogs. Think PSA, ST, etc. Heck, even some smaller companies out there who are making good quality forged (not billet) lowers and may even be offering free customizable NFA engravings. Buy 1 or 2, instal a quality LPK, put them together and test, test, test with multiple uppers, mags, ammo, etc. And if all is well, go do the paperwork.

  4. #14
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    Whereas I look at all the blemished versions of those fancy lowers (BCM Blems, Noveske Chainsaws) for the exact same use - since I plan to cosmetically ruin it by engraving, why start off with an ugly bin one (except I can't find the cosmetic problems on any of mine... c'est la vie).

    I can't get over just how similar BW's 9" BLK upper is to my reflex can setup 10.5" upper (same rail, same setup, even the same goofy XTM HandStop panel on the bottom). For that type of setup, I'd agree BLK is the best setup out there, his is definitely a better solution to that problem than mine is, but that's contingent on finding good ammunition for that task. 110gr TSX in a supersonic loading is the answer that has obsoleted 6.8SPC as a civilian cartridge, because it does that job better and the caliber brings all the other side benefits to the party as well.
    عندما تصبح الأسلحة محظورة, قد يملكون حظرون عندهم فقط
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  5. #15
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    Yes indeed. On a 9" upper, there's no room for a full handstop. So a finger stop is all you need!

  6. #16
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    I own a 9" SBR, that I run suppressed. I shoot more 300 blackout then I do 5.56 a year (excluding training classes).

    I also have a 16" handi rifle for backyard subs to keep the neighbors happy.

    But I also reload... if I didn't own a suppressor, have a SBR, or reload.... it wouldn't own one.

    Edit: 5.56 is still the ticket for cheap plinking ammo and training classes IMHO.
    Last edited by domestique; 08-26-14 at 05:31.
    "When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." Thomas Jefferson.

  7. #17
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    You know there is a lot of good info on this thread. I built one with a 16" Wilson Combat barrel expressly for hunting and couldn't be happier with it when I am shooting the light barnes bullets (it does shoot most all bullet weights well). Even though I reload, I don't shoot it as much as I do a 5.56 but this wasn't built to be a blaster/training gun anyway.

    I do have so much fun with it that I am seriously thinking of going the SBR route in this caliber as soon as my wife will allow it.

  8. #18
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    Thanks,
    Good to have varying opinions.

    I did load the 220gr with 1680 with good results, but I only got to run a few mags of test loads before I sold my reloading stuff. (which I still have access to use)
    At this point, I am the only one going suppressed when we shoot at my range; so it does no good to shoot subsonic with others not....
    I plan to keep it in the stable, but probably more in a limited capacity as far as volume for the moment.

    I have spare lowers I can SBR or pistol.
    In NC you can't hunt with SBR, but you can hunt with pistol. Some are using 9" with sigbrace for hunting, and not messing with SBR'ing the 9".

    This may be redundant or wrong or both - but I thought one of the goals of designing 300 BO, was to achieve sufficient powder burn for 9" barrel? I was under the impression that going from 9"-16" did not change much (but I will go check that out)

    The way I figure, the subsonic 300 Blackout are more akin to a .45- heavy and slow. Not great for hunting, so I will treat it like a .45 subgun as far a how I view its roll at the range and "use"
    Last edited by scubadds; 08-26-14 at 08:54.

  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by alienb1212 View Post
    ...it's just an expensive AR-15 that shoots bigger bullets. Might as well get an AK.
    ...or it's just an 8" barreled gun you can throw a can on and make 128 dB noise. Might as well get an MP5.

    I shoot a bit of .300 BLK. I did 250 rounds last weekend and had a great time- and I'm still waiting for my can to clear (Saker 762).

    Quote Originally Posted by TehLlama View Post
    My complaint again lies with why companies are selling 16" 300BLK setups - not only are those really good at only one task (taking hogs), but in order to have subsonic factory loads for those longer guns, there's a lot of velocity left on the table in factory loads when the shorter barrels are used ...
    I agree .300 BLK is for short and quiet.

    I had also theorized about the velocity disadvantages of the long guns. It would be interesting to see a test.

  10. #20
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    This thread is funny w/all the 300BLK hate. I have a LMT lower w/AAC 9" 300BLK running a T1 and a YHM 30cal suppressor that is my go to if the Glock 17 can't handle the task at hand. I've fired both enough to know that I trust my life to their reliability and 220gr out of a package of that size, weight, accuracy and quietness is enough to make you smile. The last thing anyone who breaks into my house will see is likely my child-like smile from how bad ass the setup is as I'm firing it. Nothing in 556 comes even close in this capacity. Not sure why everyone needs to make it fit other molds since they don't do that with other firearms or other calibers. Face it, this is as close to a high-end SMG as most will get and be done for pennies in comparison. It also balances similarly to a suppressed SMG and, possibly more importantly, is familiar to those who train with AR15's already which is most. The benefits of THIS round in THIS system are difficult to match but if you go start trying to cram a square peg into a round hole it's not going to end will. Just let round peg fit round hole and be happy with how well it fits that hole for all it's simplicity.

    Quote Originally Posted by BlackWatch16 View Post
    One more thought...and some folks may disagree with me on this one. If you're going to SBR an existing lower rather than purchase a factory SBR, I recommend using a relatively inexpensive lower that is not high name brand like BCM, DD, LMT, KAC, Noveske, etc. This is only because these brands and other like them have such high resale value...in an era where everyone is constantly buying/selling/trading their AR parts, I would always want to have the ability to sell my high name brand lowers if the market called for it. If you SBR it, that's not gonna happen.
    Now I did not say to SBR cheap or crappy lowers...I said inexpensive...basically brands that are not as popular and do not have the marketing and brand image as the big dogs. Think PSA, ST, etc. Heck, even some smaller companies out there who are making good quality forged (not billet) lowers and may even be offering free customizable NFA engravings. Buy 1 or 2, instal a quality LPK, put them together and test, test, test with multiple uppers, mags, ammo, etc. And if all is well, go do the paperwork.
    Kind of a silly way to look at it IMO. If I'm going to marry to a lower for life I want it to be the best lower I can get my hands on. I don't put my name on bullshit but that's just me.
    I'm not fat, I'm tactically padded.

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