.300 Blackout vs 5.56

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 1/16/2018 | M Down

[w1n1]

We all love the AR platform because its so reliable and as long as you keep it maintain, it can last a life time.

The only drawback from this platform is the 5.56 cartridge. Some folks want a little more punch. There have been some cartridges that have come down the pike as an alternative, but the only one that stands out is the .300 AAC Blackout.

The .300 AAC Blackout was designed to give the AR platform extra umph in terms of power and penetration on intermediate ranges with reduce recoil while holding the 30 round mag.
Its original intent was to provide outstanding terminal performance and accuracy going through suppressed with subsonic or standard ammunition.

Strengths & Weaknesses
Both calibers are used for the same general purpose.
Both cartridges are perfect for target shooting, hunting, home defense, and plinking.
Somethings to consider from each strengths & weaknesses.
5.56
-The 5.56 is half the cost of 300 BLK and is available in more high-end loading suitable for precision rifle fire.
-The 5.56 also shoots flatter, has less recoil, and the ammunition weighs about 40% less.
-The 5.56 is also safer for use inside a building for home-defense because the rounds are designed to break apart upon impact.
.300 Blk
-The .300 Blk has a wider range of projectile choices
– Due to the .30 caliber bore, burns its full potential in a 9-inch barrel, and is a much better choice for hunting.
-Has the ability to cycle both super and subsonic ammunition without modification.
– Its strengths shines with short barreled rifles and silencers and when barrier penetration might be needed.
– Whether for hog hunting from 0-200 yards or conducting CQB work, this baby is godsend.
Read the rest of this .300 blackout vs 556 here. Which would you go with?

[ctdonath2]

.300BLK is superior. Except...it’s not ubiquitous.

Were I starting out with what I know now, I’d go .300BLK ... but I’m not, I’m pretty deeply vested in 5.56, and the benefits of switching aren’t worth the cost.

Even were I to go all-in with .300BLK, I’d still keep at least one 5.56 rifle on hand precisely because it’s easy to feed from the existing supply chain. With .300BLK, I’d seriously consider buying a pallet ($$$) because I’m not confident in crisis & long-term availability.

[budj]

I love my AR10, 7.62x51 (.308 Winchester).

Ammo’s easily available, not expensive, AND it hits a ton.

[Vaquero]

.308 AR10...(or M1A1 or .30-06 Garand)

why play with toys?

[TTFlyer]

“Toys?” A 5.56 77 gr. JHP will tear your *** up.

[Mouton]

Although hard to find in an AR, I prefer the 243 win round. Very plentiful, 100 gr hits hard. Obviously not up to 308 standards but does not weigh as much either.

[D Rider]

So ballistically it's like a .30 carbine. No question go with the thirty. Want more range? try the .308.

[Blueflag]

Best hog rifle in my Armory - AR-10, Nikon 50mm glass, with 45 degree BUIS, 800 lumen (green) predator light with thumb switch.

Hornady Whitetails work just fine, thank you very much.

Although the 300 blackout DOES present the “NEED” for another firearm, and there IS room in the safe after the boating accident ...

[Vaquero]

Yup. It will. And I can put one to good use. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end. But if I need to shoot distance/accuracy especially in a windy area/ or where I have to shoot through car doors or buildings in a life or death, war situation I’ll take a 30-06. Or better yet a .300 or .338 winchester magnum.

I understand the ability of carrying more ammo but in many situations I’ll choose to take ‘Enough Gun’.

[marktwain]

Energy on the 5.56 and .300 blk rounds are virtually equal.

.300 blackout is much more energetic than the .30 carbine.

With a 110 grain bullet, velocity on the .30 carbine is 1950 fps. With the .300 blackout, the velocity is 2350 fps.

That means the energy level of the .300 blackout is 45% greater than the energy of the carbine.

The .300 blk approaches .30-30 levels.

[RedStateRocker]

Great article, but they really need to check the grammar.

I’ll stick with my 300 Winchester magnum for hogs, thank you.

[old-ager]

SHTF:
- 300 BLK cases are commonly made from .223
- get a .300 BLK bullet mold
- can use some pistol powders

It actually is a better close range round. Use the same lower as your .223 AR.

[Man from Oz]

The true essence of the 300 BLK becomes apparent when one attaches a can and shoots subsonic.....

[old-ager]

Poor man’s 50 Beo

[misanthrope]

There have been some cartridges that have come down the pike as an alternative, but the only one that stands out is the .300 AAC Blackout.

Absolute, serious hogwash. The 300BO's major claim to fame is subsonic, heavy bullet, suppressed. That is it. It retains the same case as the 5.56, so can only generate roughly equivelant energies.

The 6.5 Grendel, on the other hand, utilizes a larger case and a much more ballistically superior projectile to achieve higher energies at ALL ranges, and can remain supersonic out past 1000 yards, and still within the AR-15 platform.

Knowing a little about the platform, I would recommend to anyone interested in achieving the most possible out of thier AR-15, to do some research on the 6.5 Grendel varient. Once you know the facts, the choice is clear.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

A 200 gr bullet from the 300 blk has a vel of ~ 1000 fps, roughly the same as a 45 ACP, but in a much larger heavier platform. What’s the point except it is good with silencers?

[Man from Oz]

I have flirted with that caliber but I do not relish the idea of maintaining another library of cartridges to feed it. You are correct. The BLK really shines in a SBR, canned variant with subsonic rounds. But, damn... those rounds get pricey especially if one goes with Hornady..

I have also been intrigued with the creedmore but... again, I hate the idea of buying another 1,000 rounds to keep in stock.

[Redleg Duke]

I’m building up a couple on .300BLK for Household Six and I. I will make an upper in 5.56 as well, but I like what I read about the .300BLK.

[ctdonath2]

During SHTF, I don’t want to be fiddling with resizing cases and casting/swaging bullets individually.
It’s much easier, and arguably cheaper, to just buy more completed rounds than you’d ever need in SHTF than to get the equipment to make your own. Remember: you won’t be making your own primers & powder (those run out, you’re done), and shells/lead/copper will be in diminishing supply; better to get all those in already-completed form. Under those conditions, you’re not going to survive long enough to actually use up several cases of properly manufactured rounds.

[ctdonath2]

The point is you just feed different ammo for different conditions, same suppressed gun. Contrast carrying a suppressed 5.56 or .308 _and_ a suppressed .45 (featuring a big can hanging off the front).