Quoted:
So.. according to that faq i posted moments ago, it appears i cannot use a rifle length gas tube for 300aac? I got another lower, but thats a let down :(
The gas tube is a $12-15 part. Used Carbine Handguards can be had for about the same on the Equipment Exchange. With the 300 BLK all you need to change out is the barrel on a carbine upper. If you have an existing rifle length upper, you will need to swap out the gas tube and handguards - EVERY OTHER PART IS THE SAME AS THE .223/5.56 AR INCLUDING THE MAGAZINE!
Total cost would be your barrel +$30 for handguards and a gas tube. This shouldn't be a let down as finding Bolts and BCG's that are dedicated to the other variants is very hard and usually much more expensive than .223/5.56 bolts, plus you typically need dedicated magazines for whichever variant caliber you choose.
I think you might want to re-read some of the "Build it Yourself" data on the AR before building up a variant if the gas system is throwing you for a curve. Check out 300blktalk.com for more info on 300 BLK.
Reloading 300 BLK in today's world is going to be expensive unless you are already stocked up on .30 caliber bullets, .223 brass and magnum pistol powder (which many longtime reloaders already are). With the bulk surplus 147 grain military .308 bullets of long ago, it may have been possible to reload for $.10/round, but it will likely be a few years (if ever) before you can buy that cheaply again. My supersonic reloads run about $.26-.29/round with Speer TNT's and re-used brass (depending on primer - CCI vs. Wolf is about twice the cost). Subsonic run about $.35-.42 just for the bullet so they will be under $.50/each. You can cast your own bullets for pennies on the dollar over copper plated factory bullets if you don't mind the time and equipment investments and cleaning the lead from your barrel and/or suppressor.
Factory Ammo for the 300 BLK will be comparable (maybe just a little cheaper on Remington 115 FMJ rounds) to the other variants with the exception of the Russian made steel cased stuff like 5.45 and 7.62x39. However, we have been promised other variants to be hitting the market in steel cased ammo.
If you want a heavier hitting intermediate round that is ideal for the AR platform, the 300 BLK is great as are the 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC. If you want a distance round, look into the .308 platform calibers where you will have to get a new lower.
300 BLK will be fine on Yotes if you call them in within 300 yards. However, the .223 will also handle this for less cost and with less holdover.