Sierra Offers Load Data for 300 AAC Blackout
The 300 AAC Blackout (300 BLK, or 7.62x35mm) was created by Advanced Armament Corp. and Remington in order to provide the military with a way to shoot .30-caliber bullets from the M4 carbines with only a barrel change. It has since become popular with AR shooters for a wide range of uses including hunting and home defense. With the increased popularity of this cartridge, folks have been looking for reliable 300 BLK load information. Now, thanks to Sierra Bullets, we have some good load data for the 300 AAC Blackout. Sierra has released a FREE 6-page Load Guide for this cartridge, as part of the Sierra Reloading Manual (5th Edition).
Here is ONE of SIX Pages in the Sierra Load Sheet for 300 AAC Blackout
About the 300 AAC Blackout (300 BLK)
The 300 AAC Blackout cartridge shares case-head dimensions and body taper with the .223 Remington. Not only does this allow for compatibility with existing magazines and bolts, but it allows reloaders to form their own brass from cut-down 5.56×45 mm or .223 Rem cases. You can also form 300 Blackout cases by necking-up .221 Fireball brass. Take Note: Lapua has started producing .221 Fireball brass — this should be available in the USA by early April.
The 300 AAC Blackout is a similar concept to previous wildcats, such as the 30-221 and 300 Fireball, as well as the proprietary 300 Whisper®, except that 300 BLK was the first to be a SAAMI-approved cartridge and any company is free to make firearms or ammunition.
300 AAC Blackout is also finding use with hunters, who may not have been able to legally hunt with .223 in their state, and who prefer .30 caliber bullets for medium-sized game. It provides similar effectiveness to the 7.62×39 or the slightly more powerful .30-30 cartridges except works in the more up-to-date AR-platform rifles. Effective hunting range is about 150 yards. Some innovators, such as Dave Whitford, have also experimented with the 300 BLK for Across-the-Course competition. READ Whitford story in Rifleman’s Journal..
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Tags: .221 Fireball, .223 Rem, .300 AAC Blackout, 300 BLK, Load Data, Sierra, Sierra Bullets
No data for the bullets that make the 300 BLK interesting – the 220 and 240 grain Matchkings.
I don’t know how many times I asked them for load data for the 6XC and was told we’re so busy making/testing product we don’t have time for load development???
Tom Alves
Sometimes I have to wonder about the load data we get these days… the Berger manual has data for a .308 with a 230gn Hybrid – loaded to ‘mag length’, which is a complete joke. And now Sierra provides load data for .300 AAC Blackout, a cartridge whose whole raison d’être is subsonic performance, and completely neglects any heavy bullet / sub-sonic loads. If the data provided is so far divorced from real-world use… why bother?
Sierra is just not with the program, the 300 Blackout has been out for a few years and they still don’t understand that the need was to shoot subsonic .30 cal heavy bullets suppressed. Hodgdon website has the load data and also 300BlkTalk website has a lot of info about the 300blkout.
Not to mention both Sierra and Hornady have the seating depth info for the blackout completely wrong for subsonic loads. The do not get loaded to mag length or they don’t cycle in many magazines. The get loaded so the ogive is against the first rib in the magazine and they sit in line not canted outwards causing jams. One of the few bullets that is actually loaded to mag length is the barnes bullet designed for this cartridge with this problem in mind.
Help !!!!
In DESPERATE need of sub-sonic data COMPLETE with C.O.A.L. included for 300 BLK SUBSONIC w/Sierra 220-230 Gr.MK’s .
Thank You !!!
I do want to thank Sierra for what data they did provide for the .300 AAC. Unlike the whiners in a few negative responses I am grateful for what you did provide. Not all shooters want subsonic unless they have suppressors. If you don’t have a suppressor and want to deer hunt your data is plenty good enough for that.
Nice of Sierra to provide this. I’d like also to see load data for .300ACC with sabots and .224 bullets.
Thank you Sierra. I have long used this bullet in my 30-30 bolt action rifle and it is perfect 150-200 yard mule deer medicine. Very accurate and retains a lot of energy out to those ranges. It is the perfect go to bullet for the 300AAC Blackout as well. It prints 1″ groups out to 100 yards over and over again. Just bought a couple of boxes.