Short 300?

[TheBigCountry]

Educate me like someone totally new

300BLK is appealing to me in a 8.5-10.5” barrel in a pistol AR

It’s either that or a 12.5” mid 556

Suppressed HD and feral hog/deer are on the list

I’ve read the Hornady 110 in a 8.5”/10.5” BLK smacks hard

What’s the word?

 

[USK308]

I have a 300BLK SBR, 10.5" barrel with an OCL Hydrogen L 7.62 suppressor.

147/150gr Supers work best in mine, though the 110gr A-Max does hammer!! 200/220gr Subs are where my SBR works best...Very quiet, very little recoil! Optic has been changed out for an EOTech EXPS2-0 Green...but you get the idea.

I really like the punch of the 300BLK, but my best advice is to really identify your use-case, then go from there.

 

[hafejd30]

If you plan to hunt, especially deer, then 300 BO is the way to go. For a range gun the 556 is great but lacks in the ft lbs knockdown department

You can get 1 lower and 2 uppers and have both. But 300 is best for what you want.

 

[91Eunozs]

Full disclosure: 300BLK is not my favorite game round, but is probably my favorite round to shoot; I shoot more 300BLK than all my other rifle calibers combined. I just love how easy it is to tune if you reload, and how incredibly versatile it is; albeit, within a pretty small performance envelope.

Great round as long as you don’t try to make it something it’s not.

All my 300BLK are gas guns, and I have uppers ranging from 8” up to 16”. 300BLK is designed to burn completely in ~8” of barrel, but I’ve seen and shot them as short as 6”. I only shoot suppressed.

300BLK works great for shots inside 150 yards or so; really within 100 or so for supers, but I won’t take subsonic shots on game at more than 50 yards or so. Again, they work fine inside their respective envelopes, but there's not a lot of energy out past 100 yards or so, and the subsonic rounds in particular basically have the ballistics of a thrown rock. LoL

Speaking of that, I generally zero my 300BLK uppers at 50 yards; exception being the two used almost exclusively for hunting with supers. They both have scopes and are zeroed at 100 yds.

My favorite do everything 300BLK load is the 110gr Barnes flat base black tips over 19-20 grains of H110 powder. Really nice for hunting, and good performance within 100-150 yards. The Hornady 110s seem to do just as well as the Barnes bullets, and are a lot easier to find.

I prefer to use Accurate 1680 powder for my subs, but the H110 seems to work just fine for subs too. I usually load 220gr Sierra HPBTs over 9-10 grains of powder since I use 300 subs almost exclusively for just punching holes in paper, but I have recently been using the 190gr Hornady sub-x bullets. Haven’t shot any game with that bullet though, so can’t speak to its effectiveness for hunting.

I probably need to do that soon though since our primary HD rifles are chambered in 300BLK, and loaded with those 190gr subs (factory ammo in those).

Remember, the 300BLK was originally designed to provide better effects on target than a 9mm PCC (specifically MP5s) at ‘across the room’ distances, using subsonic bullets. It also proved very effective with lighter-weight supersonic ammo though, and basically became the AR version of the 7.62x39 AK round.

Just my $0.02

Edit: a few of our 300 BLK rifles/uppers:

16” that we loan out a lot…good all around plinker and hunting rifle:

My personal favorite for hunting though is this 10” barrel, and has the old Leupy Mk5 scope with the 300BLK reticle:

My son and daughter each have a 10.5” 300BLK upper for their SBR’d ARs:

…finally got the red dot shroud Cerakoted pink too, LoL:

My go-to HD and truck gun when travelling; 9” barrel:

And an 8” done as a pistol; got tired of having to notify the bureaucracy if I wanted to cross state lines with one of our SBR’d lowers.

…that upper gets shot enough that it has an actual red dot and magnifier now:

 

[diggler1833]

Educate me like someone totally new

300BLK is appealing to me in a 8.5-10.5” barrel in a pistol AR

It’s either that or a 12.5” mid 556

Suppressed HD and feral hog/deer are on the list

I’ve read the Hornady 110 in a 8.5”/10.5” BLK smacks hard

What’s the word?

I like @91Eunozs post above.

If I had to go with one of those two options you listed, I guess I'd probably go 300BLK, supersonic, regardless of intended use.

There are a lot of videos where guys take down big hogs with suppressed 300BLKs and subsonic ammunition. HOWEVER - The amount of perfect shot opportunities and editing needed to make a video where the subject doesn't look anemic as hell would be on par with what you've seen out of the Democratic party these past few months. Supersonic gives you better performance by a lot on game.

The 110 Barnes has long been regarded as one of the best bullets for pigs and whitetail in the 300BLK.

Best of luck man.

 

[TheBigCountry]

I like @91Eunozs post above.

If I had to go one of those two options you listed, I guess I'd probably go 300BLK, supersonic, regardless of intended use.

There are a lot of videos where guys take down big hogs with suppressed 300BLKs and subsonic ammunition. HOWEVER - The amount of perfect shot opportunities and editing needed to make a video where the subject doesn't look anemic as hell would be on par with what you've seen out of the Democratic party these past few months. Supersonic gives you better performance by a lot on game.

The 110 Barnes has long been regarded as one of the best bullets for pigs and whitetail in the 300BLK.

Best of luck man.

Between you and @91Eunozs

Sold

10.5” BLK will be my next adventure when I can do it

 

[Landon4]

I used my 10” 300 last year with 110 vmax on a doe at about 40yds she made it about 10yds and dropped

 

[TheBigCountry]

I used my 10” 300 last year with 110 vmax on a doe at about 40yds she made it about 10yds and dropped

That 110VMax seems to be the magic ticket I need

 

[NHPiper]

Full disclosure: 300BLK is not my favorite game round, but is probably my favorite round to shoot; I shoot more 300BLK than all my other rifle calibers combined. I just love how easy it is to tune if you reload, and how incredibly versatile it is; albeit, within a pretty small performance envelope.

Great round as long as you don’t try to make it something it’s not.

All my 300BLK are gas guns, and I have uppers ranging from 8” up to 16”. 300BLK is designed to burn completely in ~8” of barrel, but I’ve seen and shot them as short as 6”. I only shoot suppressed.

300BLK works great for shots inside 150 yards or so; really within 100 or so for supers, but I won’t take subsonic shots on game at more than 50 yards or so. Again, they work fine inside their respective envelopes, but there's not a lot of energy out past 100 yards or so, and the subsonic rounds in particular basically have the ballistics of a thrown rock. LoL

Speaking of that, I generally zero my 300BLK uppers at 50 yards; exception being the two used almost exclusively for hunting with supers. They both have scopes and are zeroed at 100 yds.

My favorite do everything 300BLK load is the 110gr Barnes flat base black tips over 19-20 grains of H110 powder. Really nice for hunting, and good performance within 100-150 yards. The Hornady 110s seem to do just as well as the Barnes bullets, and are a lot easier to find.

I prefer to use Accurate 1680 powder for my subs, but the H110 seems to work just fine for subs too. I usually load 220gr Sierra HPBTs over 9-10 grains of powder since I use 300 subs almost exclusively for just punching holes in paper, but I have recently been using the 190gr Hornady sub-x bullets. Haven’t shot any game with that bullet though, so can’t speak to its effectiveness for hunting.

I probably need to do that soon though since our primary HD rifles are chambered in 300BLK, and loaded with those 190gr subs (factory ammo in those).

Remember, the 300BLK was originally designed to provide better effects on target than a 9mm PCCs (specifically MP5s) at ‘across the room’ distances, using subsonic bullets. It also proved very effective with lighter-weight supersonic ammo though, and basically became the AR version of the 7.62x39 AK round.

Just my $0.02

Edit: a few of our 300 BLK rifles/uppers:

16” that we loan out a lot…good all around plinker and hunting rifle:

My personal favorite for hunting though is this 10” barrel, and has the old Leupy Mk5 scope with the 300BLK reticle:

My son and daughter each have a 10.5” 300BLK upper for their SBR’d ARs:

…finally got the red dot shroud Cerakoted pink too, LoL:

My go-to HD and truck gun when travelling; 9” barrel:

And an 8” done as a pistol; got tired of having to notify the bureaucracy if I wanted to cross state lines with one of our SBR’d lowers.

…that upper gets shot enough that it has an actual red dot and magnifier now:

Have you found windage variations, not just elevation, moving between supers and subs?

Granted that issue with my MCX and the Barnes ammo. I'm going to try some different supers to see if heavier supers are less impacted by the fast twist.

 

[45-90]

Neither are hard hitters, but both will do the job.
The 5.56 has been killing 100 to 200 lb humans since Vietnam. Just shootem again. High velocity has more predictive bullet performance, and generally longer range.

 

[diggler1833]

After having a couple of big boars come back on me, I can not, and will not, recommend the 5.56. It is as deadly as anything when you shoot them in the CNS. It frigging sucks when you double-lung one and have it that that shot personally.

Both times I literally had them come to a sliding stop within 25 yards of me. Both times they were hit a minimum of 6 shots. The second one had both front shoulders broken by the time he finally stopped.

It is the sole reason why I went to 6.8 instead.

 

[91Eunozs]

Have you found windage variations, not just elevation, moving between supers and subs?

Granted that issue with my MCX and the Barnes ammo. I'm going to try some different supers to see if heavier supers are less impacted by the fast twist.

Yes, absolutely.

There’s a reason I don’t generally shoot subs at game, especially running sounders, at >50 yards or so! LoL

For me subs are for fun plinking, especially for new shooters who may be noise sensitive, and for my situation, an ideal HD round.

Unless “they” happen to catch me while I’m running a weed-eater or mower, or grinding on something in the shop, I can’t imagine a scenario where I’m awakened in the dead of night, or even a surprise need during daylight hours, where I’ll have hearing protection readily available. I have a suppressed .45 in my nightstand, but the closest rifle is a suppressed 300BLK, loaded with subs, just a few feet away. Closest hearing pro is in my range bag, or on top of the safe in our closet.

If I’m in need a rifle, things have already gone horribly wrong, but as they say, “If a rifle is an option, a rifle is almost certainly the right answer.”

I honestly think a 12.5” or so AR in 5.56 shooting MK262 or similar ammo is a ‘better’ HD gun, but shooting it indoors will absolutely disorient an inexperienced shooter. And I’d really, really like to not be deaf afterwards too…my hearing’s already shot as it is, and it won’t take much more damage for me to be completely deaf.

So subsonic heavy bullets through a can works better for my situation. I do have a 3 tax stamp PCC in .45ACP as well (takes the same mags as my G21), so that may be a good alternative/answer for HD, but I don’t have enough rounds through it yet to bet my life on it.

For the OP: I shoot 6.8 for 75% of my “planned” hunting, and .308 or larger for the rest. If you’re looking for a hunting round, there are a lot better options out there than 300BLK. That said, of your two choices, 300BLK is better than 5.56 for hunting shooting game inside 150 yards or so.

I still love the round, and it makes a great HD/truck gun for when hearing pro may not always be readily available. The fact that it can perform reasonably well for other needs (like hunting) with the right supersonic ammo, albeit inside a pretty small performance envelope, is a nice bonus for me.

I’ll repeat: It’s a great round, as long as you don’t try to make it into something it was never designed to be.

 

[NHPiper]

Yeah I love subsonic 300Blk. It's great at killing varmints without neighbors knowing. Although the last skunk got lit of by a 10.5" 5.56 after it hit the dog.

I had a 16" bolt gun and there was no windage shift between subs and supers, with a lot of different types. But the MCX, I think because of that fast twist, throws supers like 8" left at 50yds. No way a dot or scope can account for that. That was with the Barnes though. I have some Fiocchi supers I am going to try and if windage it good, then I will load a similar bullet to the same speeds.

 

[TheBigCountry]

Yes, absolutely.

There’s a reason I don’t generally shoot subs at game, especially running sounders, at >50 yards or so! LoL

For me subs are for fun plinking, especially for new shooters who may be noise sensitive, and for my situation, an ideal HD round.

Unless “they” happen to catch me while I’m running a weed-eater or mower, or grinding on something in the shop, I can’t imagine a scenario where I’m awakened in the dead of night, or even a surprise need during daylight hours, where I’ll have hearing protection readily available. I have a suppressed .45 in my nightstand, but the closest rifle is a suppressed 300BLK, loaded with subs, just a few feet away. Closest hearing pro is in my range bag, or on top of the safe in our closet.

If I’m in need a rifle, things have already gone horribly wrong, but as they say, “If a rifle is an option, a rifle is almost certainly the right answer.”

I honestly think a 12.5” or so AR in 5.56 shooting MK262 or similar ammo is a ‘better’ HD gun, but shooting it indoors will absolutely disorient an inexperienced shooter. And I’d really, really like to not be deaf afterwards too…my hearing’s already shot as it is, and it won’t take much more damage for me to be completely deaf.

So subsonic heavy bullets through a can works better for my situation. I do have a 3 tax stamp PCC in .45ACP as well (takes the same mags as my G21), so that may be a good alternative/answer for HD, but I don’t have enough rounds through it yet to bet my life on it.

For the OP: I shoot 6.8 for 75% of my “planned” hunting, and .308 or larger for the rest. If you’re looking for a hunting round, there are a lot better options out there than 300BLK. That said, of your two choices, 300BLK is better than 5.56 for hunting shooting game inside 150 yards or so.

I still love the round, and it makes a great HD/truck gun for when hearing pro may not always be readily available. The fact that it can perform reasonably well for other needs (like hunting) with the right supersonic ammo, albeit inside a pretty small performance envelope, is a nice bonus for me.

I’ll repeat: It’s a great round, as long as you don’t try to make it into something it was never designed to be.

I had a 12.5” 556 and without the can, it was a beast at the indoor range. I usually double up with foamies AND my peltors and it’s was enough to set off my tinnitus bad, so I’m sure without the hearing protection it would be shitty

Hell, even with my 30cal can it was still noisy as fuck.

I’m just throwing ideas around; I have a 16” Recce-ish build but I’d like a shorty suppressed gasser for HD and also for toting around while I travel, and maybe to take some game when the time presents.

 

[TheBigCountry]

After having a couple of big boars come back on me, I can not, and will not, recommend the 5.56. It is as deadly as anything when you shoot them in the CNS. It frigging sucks when you double-lung one and have it that that shot personally.

Both times I literally had them come to a sliding stop within 25 yards of me. Both times they were hit a minimum of 6 shots. The second one had both front shoulders broken by the time he finally stopped.

It is the sole reason why I went to 6.8 instead.

What rounds are you using bro? I have a pile of stuff here to try, including the 64 grain Trophy Bondeds and some 77 TMK which are supposed to be hellacious.

Will be getting around to loading some up next weekend and seeing what they can do

 

[diggler1833]

What rounds are you using bro? I have a pile of stuff here to try, including the 64 grain Trophy Bondeds and some 77 TMK which are supposed to be hellacious.

Will be getting around to loading some up next weekend and seeing what they can do

64gr Speer Gold Dot and the 62gr Mk 318 Mod O SOST.

Both are great for CNS shots, and both will EXIT on big hogs too. They just lack the ass when you hit something big and mean less than perfectly. The .223's weakness becomes apparent when you center punch a 70lb pig and they roll, get up, and start running again.

Proof that I've killed big shit with the little 5.56:

^ That guy was the same standing height as the bucks that were coming to camera that year. The blood spot on his hind quarter was the entrance, and in the front armpit is the exit of the SECOND round of Mk 318 that I shot him with. The initial shot to the neck dropped him, but I was so nervous that I gave him an extra one from a hard going away angle while he was laying there flopping. That's 2' of penetration. He was 60" long asshole to snout.

I know that there is plenty of anecdotal evidence by guys who've killed a few dozen pigs that certain smaller cartridges work great. But after killing my fair share, I'm a big believer that mo' azz = mo' betta regarding cartridge selection.

 

[TheBigCountry]

64gr Speer Gold Dot and the 62gr Mk 318 Mod O SOST.

Both are great for CNS shots, and both will EXIT on big hogs too. They just lack the ass when you hit something big and mean less than perfectly. The .223's weakness becomes apparent when you center punch a 70lb pig and they roll, get up, and start running again.

Proof that I've killed big shit with the little 5.56:
View attachment 8544363


^ That guy was the same standing height as the bucks that were coming to camera that year. The blood spot on his hind quarter was the entrance, and in the front armpit is the exit of the SECOND round of Mk 318 that I shot him with. The initial shot to the neck dropped him, but I was so nervous that I gave him an extra one from a hard going away angle while he was laying there flopping. That's 2' of penetration. He was 60" long asshole to snout.

I know that there is plenty of anecdotal evidence by guys who've killed a few dozen pigs that certain smaller cartridges work great. But after killing my fair share, I'm a big believer that mo' azz = mo' betta regarding cartridge selection.

That’s pig is…uhhh….i woulda wanted a 45-70 or a slug gun. No joke smdh

 

[91Eunozs]

Yeah, the same reason I use 6.8 as well. I actually prefer .308 on hogs for a better chance at one-shot kills, but too hard to get accurate follow up shots…for me anyway.

The 6.8 just works well for my hunting needs, and a lot faster on follow up shots for me. We typically shoot these three (all in 6.8) for hog eradication at the ranch and on surrounding properties.

Several other calibers would work as well for my needs…6 ARC, and 6.5 Grendel in particular. But I'm far too heavily invested in 6.8 after all these years to go in a different direction now.

If I were starting today though, I’d probably go with the new 6 Maxx; similar performance, but uses the same bolt as my 5.56 (and 300BLK) guns. Simple = good.

 

[diggler1833]

Yeah, the same reason I use 6.8 as well. I actually prefer .308 on hogs for a better chance at one-shot kills, but too hard to get accurate follow up shots…for me anyway.

The 6.8 just works well for my hunting needs, and a lot faster on follow up shots for me. We typically shoot these three (all in 6.8) for hog eradication at the ranch and on surrounding properties.

View attachment 8544408

Several other calibers would work as well for my needs…6 ARC, and 6.5 Grendel in particular. But I'm far too heavily invested in 6.8 after all these years to go in a different direction now.

If I were starting today though, I’d probably go with the new 6 Maxx; similar performance, but uses the same bolt as my 5.56 (and 300BLK) guns. Simple = good.

Use a really obnoxious muzzle brake. It'll tame the recoil to a 6.8, and keep everyone from wanting to hunt with you at the same time.