300BLK bolt gun question....

[TallShot]

Kind of silly I suppose; but I was wondering just how quiet, say, a 16" or 20" bolt gun, would be with subs, but without a suppressor...

I'm thinking of a hog/nuisance gun to use...

 

[2bad4u2]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

You're still going to want hearing protection when you shoot it, however, you'll definitely hear a difference in the noise level compared to other supersonic rounds.

I just recently started loading for my Blackout so I'm relatively new to the cartridge as well.

If you can manage to get 110-115gr. bullets to be accurate for you at subsonic velocities using Trail Boss, that would be a very quiet combination.

I've tried 110gr. .30 Carbine FMJ RN bullets in my .300 Blackout and the accuracy has been exceptionally poor. Using between 4.5gr.-6.5gr. of Trail Boss will keep the bullet subsonic.

Not sure if it's the bullet itself or the fact that there's too much jump to the rifling. My OAL is only 1.855" so I suspect there may be some issue there.

Having said that, I'd like to try some Speer 110gr. Plinker 1/2 jackets and maybe some 115 gr. FB HP bullets with Trail Boss to see if I can get an accurate combination there.

Chances are, you'll have better accuracy with heavier bullets if you just have to have a subsonic round. I have easier access to Lapua 200gr. FMJ Subsonic bullets than I do the heavier Sierra & Hornady brand bullets, so they're next on my list of bullets to try.

Here's a pic of my .300 Blackout. Started life as a Rem 700 SPS Varmint in .17FB. I put a 16" Shilen 1:8" twist heavy varmint contour barrel on it. I kept things simple and compact by using a LTR stock that I had on hand.

I'm happy with it but I won't go that heavy of a contour ever again. I should have stuck with a standard Remington varmint contour to keep the weight down.

I'm building a second Blackout on a Howa action as we speak. I saved a portion of the barrel blank that I used on the Remmy and I'm using it on the new Howa. This one should be really short and compact. I suspect the finish length on the barrel will be in the neighbourhood of 10"-11".

Here's a pic of my Rem 700 .300 Blackout:

 

[ddavis]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TallShot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kind of silly I suppose; but I was wondering just how quiet, say, a 16" or 20" bolt gun, would be with subs, but without a suppressor...

I'm thinking of a hog/nuisance gun to use... </div></div>

Slightly louder than a 10/22 shooting target ammo out of a 16" barrel. My Whisper had an 18" barrel and I did a lot of shooting with it before I got my suppressor. Very fun to shoot, almost no recoil.

 

[ddavis]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2bad4u2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You're still going to want hearing protection when you shoot it, however, you'll definitely hear a difference in the noise level compared to other supersonic rounds.

I just recently started loading for my Blackout so I'm relatively new to the cartridge as well.

If you can manage to get 110-115gr. bullets to be accurate for you at subsonic velocities using Trail Boss, that would be a very quiet combination.

I've tried 110gr. .30 Carbine FMJ RN bullets in my .300 Blackout and the accuracy has been exceptionally poor. Using between 4.5gr.-6.5gr. of Trail Boss will keep the bullet subsonic.

Not sure if it's the bullet itself or the fact that there's too much jump to the rifling. My OAL is only 1.855" so I suspect there may be some issue there.

Having said that, I'd like to try some Speer 110gr. Plinker 1/2 jackets and maybe some 115 gr. FB HP bullets with Trail Boss to see if I can get an accurate combination there.

Chances are, you'll have better accuracy with heavier bullets if you just have to have a subsonic round. I have easier access to Lapua 200gr. FMJ Subsonic bullets than I do the heavier Sierra & Hornady brand bullets, so they're next on my list of bullets to try.

Here's a pic of my .300 Blackout. Started life as a Rem 700 SPS Varmint in .17FB. I put a 16" Shilen 1:8" twist heavy varmint contour barrel on it. I kept things simple and compact by using a LTR stock that I had on hand.

I'm happy with it but I won't go that heavy of a contour ever again. I should have stuck with a standard Remington varmint contour to keep the weight down.

I'm building a second Blackout on a Howa action as we speak. I saved a portion of the barrel blank that I used on the Remmy and I'm using it on the new Howa. This one should be really short and compact. I suspect the finish length on the barrel will be in the neighbourhood of 10"-11".

Here's a pic of my Rem 700 .300 Blackout:

</div></div>

I had a varmint weight barrel on mine too. I thought, "Why not, it is only an 18" barrel?" That thing was HEAVY and you had to shoot it FAST before it would even get warm with subsonic loads. I would go with a lighter contour next time too.

 

[Hoser]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

Enough to need ear plugs, but your ears wont ring too bad if you forget.

As said above, it is like a loud 22 lr that has more boom to it than a crack.

 

[TallShot]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

Thanks for the input guys.

2Bad; that barrel is definitely a beast... Thanks for the bullet info as well.


I asked because I've noticed .22lr subs are very quiet in my Savage Mk II, and just thinking along those lines with .300blk. And, with the price of ammo, bolt guns can help you conserve; a little anyway lol....

 

[2bad4u2]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TallShot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the input guys.

2Bad; that barrel is definitely a beast... Thanks for the bullet info as well.


I asked because I've noticed .22lr subs are very quiet in my Savage Mk II, and just thinking along those lines with .300blk. And, with the price of ammo, bolt guns can help you conserve; a little anyway lol.... </div></div>

It'll be considerably louder than subsonic .22RF, however, you'll enjoy it none the same.

What action are you looking to build off of? If I had to do a 3rd. bolt rifle in this cartridge, I think I'd try a Tikka T3.

When I get the Howa rifle built, I'll pst some pics here. It's just a re-barrel of the Howa Varmint .223 with a green Hogue stock. With a really short barrel and a low power scope, I think it'd make an excellent short range deer rifle.

Oh, and by the way, do try some supersonic ammo too. I'm working up a nice load now using 167gr. Lapua Scenar and Hornady 168gr. A-MAX bullets using H110 that is hovering around 3/4 MOA at 100 yds. for (5) round groups. A little more refinement should get me closer to 0.5 MOA I expect.

I know the .300 Blackout is anything but an inherently accurate cartridge, so if I can get close to 0.5 MOA then that's about all I could ask of it.

 

[Hoser]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2bad4u2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I know the .300 Blackout is anything but an inherently accurate cartridge, so if I can get close to 0.5 MOA then that's about all I could ask of it. </div></div>

In a bolt gun where you can seat the bullets out a little further working up a good load is easier. In a gas gun, give me a 300 Whisper length throat anyday.

 

[azsugarbear]

Re: 300BLK bolt gun question....

The noise level will be pretty close to that of a 45 cal pistol: think of a 45 auto with a 235 grain bullet traveling at 1000 fps. Because of the longer barrel it will be slightly quieter than the pistol, but you will still need ear protection.