I did a search and found nothing. I can't own a suppressor or a SBR or an ar pistol. So are there any advantages of 300 blackout over 5.56 out of a 16 inch barrel. Thinking of a new build.

If you're going to hunt, or otherwise want more effective terminal ballistics, go with 6.8 SPC II.  Otherwise, I'd stick with 5.56 in your shoes.

Ok so 5.56 it is as no hunting either. Nj home of everything not fun.

bigger bullets 22 vs 30cal

I started my trip away from all 5.56 with the 300 whisper.  originally only for the purpose of supersonic.  that changed.

if you are not going to be able to SBR or get a can, then you may still like it, many do, but you may consider other calibers.  6.5, 6.8, 7.62x39, 6x45, 270 wolverine, 7.62x40.  and any number of other wildcats

you could punch in a bunch of numbers and one or more will look better on paper.  but really it comes down to what you want.

I would still say 300blk, but I have an admitted bias.

If you aren't hunting or running an SBR or suppressor you are basically just paying more money to shoot with 300 blk.

Big 300 BLK fan here.  I've got two BLK rifles and am looking at another.  Why?  I've got a can and an SBR.  

That said if no SBR and no can, I would stick with heavy 5.56 ammo.  Barnes 62 grain tsx or 77 TMK (or handloaded to those velocites).   If you can't go less than 16", I would also look at 18" for just a touch more velocity and still balances well with either collapsible or fixed stock.  

If you are wanting something different, while I like BLK, compared to all other calibers with 16" or longer an no can, the only advantage is parts and magazine compatibility.  BLK can have brass easily converted from .223 brass and can shoot pulled 7.62 NATO projectiles.  

If I were in your shoes, I'd stick with 5.56 and build a Mk12 or similar rifle with heavy bullets.  If you wanted something different, I would look to 6.8 SPC II.  However, I think personally, I'd stick with 5.56 and then build a 16-18" .308 with a good muzzle break.  I just had Ayan at boltcarrier.com build an M110 carbine clone.  A real M110k has been used out past 800 yards.  According to KAC there is a touch less than 100 fps loss shooting M118LR ammo from a 16" M110k vs the original 20" M110.

Just my $0.02.

unless you reload.....

You can buy 6.8 ammo for $9.99 /20.

If you don't reload, sell the brass. It goes for .30¢ each. That brings your cost down to $3.99/20. You can't hardly buy 5.56 for that. It offers a lot more power than either the 5.56 or the .300 or the 7.62x39 from a 16" barrel, and a flatter trajectory.



if you buy higher end ammo or reload, a 110gr projectile in spec II is about 2700fps. That same weight is 2375 in the BLK, and the heavy 5.56 is usually 2700-2750 from a 16"

right now is a good time to be in the 6.8 especially if you can't SBR or suppress the gun.

SBR I still say 6.8, but with a suppressor either alone or in combination with an SBR , the BLK is damn hard to beat.

You situation though, looks like the 6.8 is the best fit.

As for the 7.62x39, the BLK beats it in an AR all day long, with similar trajectory, but the BLK has better available bullets with higher BC that will make a difference past 250-300 yards, and the bullets expand way down extending the effectiveness. It will be more accurate as well.

The 7.62x40 has drawbacks. Only one maybe two ammo companies.

I like the Wolverine, but it's still not common enough for me, 6.8 (.270 bullets in a 5.56 case ), very good round though. This is an up and coming round , and it's gaining a ton of support. It just got started by a member here a year and a half ago or so, and it gets really close to the old SAAMI spec 6.8 velocities. It's one to watch, and I will recommend it if you hand load or if you don't shoot a ton of ammo due to supply. I will promise you though, this round will be offered by more and more companies soon. MDWS is where you want to go for this one. He's a member here and on 68forums, and a great guy.

The only real competitor is the Grendel, and it's really a wash performance wise between the two. The G has really upped it's shorter barrel game to just about match the 6.8 spec II, and the 6.8 Spec II can just about match the G past 1000 yards. The 6.8 though has more ammo choices.

I would recommend ARP for your barrel and bolt in 6.8, or really, pretty much anything they offer. I have two barrels from him, and they are both sub moa accurate, and I don't know anyone that doesn't get that much out of them. Ironworks Tactical is the best place for a complete upper. Bret is a mil vet, and will take care of you 100%.

Someone else can point you to the Grendel specialists if you go that way.

If I can help you with any questions, feel free to IM me, also go to 68forums and read up there on what is going pon with it, current info. I would advise that you go to each caliber's specific forum for up to date info, and look at what actual shooters are doing rather than just what you read and manufacturer's advertising data.

I had a 16" 300BLK but after poor performance on deer I rebuilt it with a 16" ARP 6.8 SPC II barrel and super bolt.

Much happier with performance. Shot 2 deer at 200 yards last year, DRT.

Big 300 BLK fan here.  I've got two BLK rifles and am looking at another.  Why?  I've got a can and an SBR.  

That said if no SBR and no can, I would stick with heavy 5.56 ammo.  Barnes 62 grain tsx or 77 TMK (or handloaded to those velocites).   If you can't go less than 16", I would also look at 18" for just a touch more velocity and still balances well with either collapsible or fixed stock.  

If you are wanting something different, while I like BLK, compared to all other calibers with 16" or longer an no can, the only advantage is parts and magazine compatibility.  BLK can have brass easily converted from .223 brass and can shoot pulled 7.62 NATO projectiles.  

If I were in your shoes, I'd stick with 5.56 and build a Mk12 or similar rifle with heavy bullets.  If you wanted something different, I would look to 6.8 SPC II.  However, I think personally, I'd stick with 5.56 and then build a 16-18" .308 with a good muzzle break.  I just had Ayan at boltcarrier.com build an M110 carbine clone.  A real M110k has been used out past 800 yards.  According to KAC there is a touch less than 100 fps loss shooting M118LR ammo from a 16" M110k vs the original 20" M110.

Just my $0.02.

I'm with this guy from the hunting perspective. 300 blk isn't a .30-30.  Neither is 7.62x39 for that matter. And, .30-30 isn't all that great anyway. If I was going to
hunt with one it would be 6.5 or 6.8.

If I was just going to shoot and wanted to have fun in something that isn't 5.56, I think I'd go 7.62x39.

oh yea 223 and 300blk  use all the same parts besides barrel and ammo?   Also walmart carries 300blackout ammo

Yes, but the OP doesn't already have a bunch of parts and an extra bolt group laying around. he is going to have to buy new everything. At that, the cost is the same. Also, Walmart carries Federal XM68GD and two Federal Fusion 6.8 rounds, the 90gr and the 115gr. Depends on your Walmart. I've seen .300BLK at a Walmart 30 miles one way from me, and never 6.8, but, the Walmart 25 miles south of me has 6.8 and never has had any .300BLK, not even a SKU tag and space for it.

Either way, it isn't hard to find, and you can find more 6.8 ammo and in more varieties, and as cheap as $9.99 / 20. 6.8 mags can be had for about the same price as 5.56 mags. You will literally wind up with pretty much identical costs to get into each caliber.

well op asked about 556 and 300blk.  Not 6.8 or all the other calibers.   Not trying to get off topic.

OP asked, but then OP also asked if the .300BLK was the best choice since he cannot get an SBR or a suppressor.

The correct answer is no, there are other calibers that are better in a 16" barrel, non suppressed hunting rig.

Sometimes the right tool is the .300BLK, sometimes it isn't. This time is one of those times. I have pointed many times to the BLK as it fit the job best, but this isn't the case here.

I would rather lead a man to a decision that works best for him that fanboy my caliber, and have many times on this and other sites.

That's why I advised him to go to the sites respective of each caliber, including the BLK, to see exactly what is going on with each one currently, so he might get the best information from seeing the results of shooters from each one.

Also, if the OP runs JBM ballistics, inputs the data, he can see the energy levels, the velocity at different yardages, and with the manufacturer's minimum opening data, see the distance where the projectile is no longer going to work as designed. He can compare calibers, and he can see what his ranges are, and what fits best.

well op posted
I did a search and found nothing. I can't own a suppressor or a SBR or an ar pistol. So are there any advantages of 300 blackout over 5.56 out of a 16 inch barrel. Thinking of a new build.
and then
Ok so 5.56 it is as no hunting either. Nj home of everything not fun.
Not really sure where the  OP asked if the .300BLK was the best choice since he cannot get an SBR or a suppressor.

To the op there are pros and cons to every caliber.

I agree with pavlov.

If the OP has to stay with a 16" non-suppressed, and solely wants a "better" option (supersonic speaking), then both the 6.5 and 6.8 are "better" options.

Now, if you want a short 8" suppressed gun that can easily switch between supers and subs, the 300BLK takes the cake.

Different strokes and all that...

Since we are on other calibers i would go 5.45x39 ammo is still pretty cheap at around 25cent a rd.

I can think of three advantages where the Blackout "beats" the 5.56.  First is in reloading.  You can load anything from 110 grain to 240 grain pills. I needed some plinking rounds so reloaded some 168 grn Amax bullets today.  It's not an ideal load for the Blackout by any stretch, but for plinking the 168s will suffice.  Second is hunting.  For those locales that require something larger than .22 caliber, the Blackout again suffices.  Sure, there are better choices for hunting rounds, such as the 6.5 or 6.8, but the Blackout works in a pinch.  Lastly, because the Blackout doesn't generate the speeds of the 5.56/.223, it's easier on target steel.  I can shoot Blackout all day on my steel targets at CQB ranges and have no issues.  However, 5.56 at the same distances slightly pits my steel because of the higher velocity.

There is also 458 socom if money is no concern or the 50 beowulf.

If the OP is simply plinking, then maybe, but the 5.56 is dirt cheap as well, and reloadable. The 5.45 can be, but it's a pain, berdan primed and steel cased, and there are really no projectiles available.

5.56 or .223 also has a much wider variety of projectiles and loaded options to choose from. 5.45 you pretty much have one.

If the OP is hunting, which I can't tell the way it is worded, then if the .223 diameter class is illegal, the 5.45 will not meet that requirement as it's smaller.

10 years ago I would have said, for a plinker, sure 5.45x39 is good for inside 300m. Further than that, and it falls off compared to the 5.56, and for SD, the 5.56 or the BLK, or the 6.x calibers are far superior.

op said no hunting.  Not sure if he reloads or not.  if so 5.45x39 is not a good choice.  As far as a hd and range toy it would be on my short list if he is lookin into other calibers besides 556 or 300blk.

In your case, no.  Not worth it.

 

To me, a .300blk is all about reclaiming effectiveness from a short barrel.  From a 14.5-16" barrel, there are plenty of .223/5.56 loads that are effective, accurate and barrier blind out to at least a couple hundred yards.  


From a 9-12" barrel, there are fewer options that perform well, and those that do, have a shorter range where they exhibit good performance.


A .300blk, however, with Barnes 110gr blacktips solves that.  A bullet, that from a 9-10" barrel has deep penetration, while still expanding reliably out to 300+ yards is very interesting to me.  Doing the above after going through common barriers such as sheet metal, car windshields, wood or drywall makes it even more interesting.  Switching to a 16" barrel won't really improve that performance all that much.  So to me, it's a short barrel cartridge.


There are penalties too.  Cost and bullet drop.  Switching to a 16" barrel won't solve either.  Switching to a 16", 5.56 barrel does solve both penalties.

If I simply wanted a range toy/home defense rifle and didn't reload the nod would lean to 5.56, possibly x39 though it's known to have running issues.  Better accuracy the 5.56 slightly more expensive but with more ammo choices than x39 for factory ammo.

Better ballistics then look at the 6.5 or 6.8, the 6.5 slightly cheaper to shoot, but more selection with 6.8 and both have higher cost per round shoot if he doesn't reload compared to either the 5.56 or x39.  The 300BO just really doesn't make sense in the equation as it really doesn't provide any advantages to the OP as he lives in a throttled state.

As some people stated, there can be some poor performance with 300 blackout and ammo availability and price is pretty insane right now.  I have two 300 blk rifles currently.  I bought a PSA heavy barrel back during the scare following Sandy hook.  As with most PSA things it was OK, shot decent but nothing special.  After hunting that season with a 5.56 (nosler partitions) I wanted something with a bit more thump, and interchangeable parts (something other calibers don't have).  

After finishing it my grandfather asked me to look into one for him due to his heart surgery he couldn't shoot higher recoiling rifles without a degree of pain.  So I found a Wilson Combat 300 recon barrel and matched a NB bolt and carrier to it in a PSA receiver set.  Pretty light build for him, and pretty dang accurate.  With good ammo it'll drop anything in South Carolina.  However, if you don't handload its expensive.  But so are most other calibers for the AR platform.  

For hunting I like the 300 blackout, but my no means is it a sniper rifle.  Trajectory is similar to a 7.62x39, just more reliable in my experience than AKARs. YMMV.

Thanks for the advice I guess I'm leaning towards the 6.8 then. I will be getting a rcbs  reloading setup soon as payment. I just wanted something different from 556 but as accurate. When me and my wife move I'm trying to go to pa because nj is a headache. I wanted an ar pistol so badly.