300BO AR15

[Tomme boy]

SO I think I want one. I know nothing about it other than it is 30 cal. I have been watching a bunch of vids on YTube and I am seeing a lot of guns that I am NOT impressed with.

One, either the people can not shoot, or TWO the cal is not very accurate! I watched WACO's video where he stacked them lead bullets on top of each other so I am going with my first hunch that most of these guys just can not shoot. Just like most of the people at the ranges here around me. All talk and just show.

Bad thing is I got rid of all my 30 cal stuff a couple years ago. the only thing I have left is about 10K Hornady gas checks I found stashed the other day. Thats what happens when you are a pack rat and don't throw anything away. You find things you were looking for 5 years ago you completely forgot you had.

Anyway. Not sure if I want to do a pistol or a rifle. If it is a pistol it will be over 10''

 

[Ian]

Buy the suppressor first. If you're not gonna do that, I'd suggest the 7.62x40 WT instead.

 

[Tomme boy]

Not going to suppress. Don't have the $$$$

 

[Pistolero]

300BO makes the most sense, by far, suppressed. I have one and it is a fun gun to shoot.

But unsuppressed......I really don't see the point of a way too small powder charge under
a .30 cal bullet. 7.62x39 would make more sense, or as Ian says, if you want to go
wildcat the 762x40, but I have a hard time figuring out why that is better than the identical
ballistically Rooskie round. The one gain is no special bolt needed, the Wilson round uses
the same head size as the 5.56 NATO, where the Russian 7.62 round will need a special bolt
due to larger case head. Also, the Russian nominal bore is .310, but there are American
bbls in that caliber with .308 diam, the early Mini30s are an example, but I THINK they are
.311 now. Not sure if a .308 barrel in 7.62x39 is sold for ARs, but wider bullet selection in
.308, although apparently .308 jbullets work well (how well???) in .311 barrels.

Guessing that the Wilson uses .308, so gets a wider range of bullets for reloading, if that is your
intent. AFAIK, no factory ammo available for the Wilson round, which is no big deal for
a handloader. On Wilson's site they make vague references to "inconsistent accuracy"
with 300 BO. Never shot supersonic light bullets in the cartridge at all, so I have no
experience with that. My subsonic 190-220 gr loads are accurate.

Why not .30 RemAR? 125gr at 2800 instead of 123gr at 2300 in 7.62x39, or maybe 2400 in
7.62x40WT. Factory ammo in .30 RemAR, too. But, it also takes a special bolt head.

Bill

 

[DougGuy]

It totally depends on your purposes and needs. I had wanted a lightweight, short barrel, easy to handle, minimum 30 caliber, high capacity AR strictly for defense against multiple assailants on my property. Home invasion, street gangs, worst case scenario. I built a 10.5" pistol with the SBA-3 brace and open sights for the purpose. I don't have to hit a golfball at 100yds, not planning on hunting with it, I chose the 300 AAC because the 220gr subsonic ammo is just about pound for pound equal to the 45 ACP in energy. If I have sufficient warning, I have no doubt the AR will perform exactly as intended, for the exact reasons I own it. UPS delivered the final pieces on the day hurricane Florence roared into the Carolinas, so I was covered within the hour against looters in the event of a prolonged power outage, which luckily did not happen.

Should I want one to plink with, or to stretch out the max at the range, I would likely choose a longer barrel for one, and set it up for 150gr supersonic loads, I think the 300 would do fine for this, but there is always going to be a handful of suggestions for other supposedly better calibers.

If hunting deer, bear, or pig was in my plans I might even opt for the 350 Winchester in a longer barrel, but again the 300 AAC will hunt so would I really gain anything over what I already have?

 

[popper]

It is very accurate even with cast. It is not a 308W but is close to 30/30. 40WT adds powder capacity. Mostly run 145-170gr PB in mine, testing a 185gr RD, seems to work fine. Use a 110-125gr jax and you have a good 200 yd hunter. It has limits but for a light weight field gun it is great. I have a carbine and 10.5" pistol which is a little more difficult to shoot but just as accurate.

 

[Ian]

Oh yes, the BLK will shoot very well.

I run a 10.5" with pistol-length gas system suppressed for a lot of purposes, 230-gr. Lee 5R powder coated gives .45 ACP energy out to 200 yards, more at closer ranges. The more energy downrange than typical pistol calibers and easily loading 28 rounds at a time in a compact SBR-like suppressed package is a lot of whupazz for "Goblins" as Allen so aptly puts it. The Lee bullet @1030 fps will go through two car doors easily including the rolled-down glass and will go through the trunk lid and two seat's worth of upholstry as well, should that ever be required.

If you want a range toy/house gun with widely-available components and tools, the 300 BLK is hard to beat. If you want any kind of meaningful ballistics downrange for hunting, there are better options.

With the kinds of magazines available now to better feed the little Soviet round in an AR-15 and the wide availability of appropriate bolts and cheap barrels with both .308 and .310" groove diameters, that cartridge can make much more sense. The only downside is the days of bargain-basement cases of import ammo are past us and reloadable 7.62x39 brass is more expensive to buy than new BLK brass or converted 5.56 brass.

 

[Hawk]

I've got a 40WT and love it. A bit more power than the 300AAC and will hammer a pig out to 250 yards with much more authority than the 5.56. After that, the trajectory come more into play. 2" high at 100 yards is 2" low at 200 yards with the 125 gr. Sierra Match King or the 125 gr Nosler.

I went with the 40 WT because it was the easiest conversion. Same bolt face, same mags (with minor adjustments) and brass made from 5.56 OFB.
Everything every other caliber was different bolt face, different mags and different brass. Nothing was compatible if the SHTF.

Only problem is, it is strictly a hand loaders gun. I've got 500 pieces of brass that can be loaded and transported, but after that and without reloading supplies, dies and a press, it's a club. No factory available rounds, so nothing to find or scrounge up.

I bought a barrel and converted an AR that I already have. With just a barrel swap, I'm back in business with the readily available 5.56 and all my mags still work.

I think Wilson now has a 300 Hamm'r that is about the same thing as the 40WT, but is tailored to be a little more user friendly with bullets designed for the 30-30.

 

[DougGuy]

Would 300 AAC Magpul pmags work just as well for 350W as they do for 300 AAC? I see they have a small rib that appears to run the length of the mag on both sides, would this need to be removed for 350W?

 

[skeet1]

In my opinion the 300 Blackout is ideal for those of us that like to shoot cast bullets in our AR's. Yes there are better hunting cartridges but for just general shooting fun with the AR they are great! On the plus side are, many .30 bullets to choose from, inexpensive to load for with small powder charges and easy to form brass from surplus or buy ready made.

Ken

 

[mattw]

I must agree, I like the BO for cast shooting. Just plain fun and really works well with the NOE 152 SP and I am having some success with the Lyman 31141. Working on the feed ramps to improve that one.

 

[Roger Allen]

I love the 300 w the 230 gr Ian mentions. Mine was terribly out of round and undersized but powder coated I was nailing 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards w 4198. Even unsupressed it’s economical, quiet, and the perfect cast gun w or w out gas checks.

 

[popper]

Yup, powder miserly case that will take 100-240gr anything. 10" pistol is great, about 5# and beats the heck out of PCC 9mm. If my AJB wasn't stuck I could get 100gr & 8gr of pistol powder to cycle. Carbine gets more fps and longer range. If I need more I'll use the AR10.

 

[Rushcreek]

The funnest AR15 cartridge there is if you reload. And nothing to sneeze at with supersonic loads within 150 yards. It's like a .357 mag in a rifle with better penetration. It's a .30 cal bullet omnivore.

 

[Sig556r]

If you already have an AR15, just build an upper, you already have everything else other than dies & molds of course...even at supersonic loads, still a fun caliber to shoot imho, though twas meant for subs/suppressed...if you're feelin' a little wilder, chamber it in .277wlv...

 

[Bruce Drake]

or recut the chamber to 30 HRT and really unleash the beast.