Horner Wins Tactical-Optics Divison At Multigun Nationals
SSG Daniel Horner of the USAMU used the new 300 AAC Blackout (300 BLK) cartridge to win first place overall in the Tactical Optics division of the 2011 USPSA Multigun National Championship, held outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Horner’s choice of cartridge allowed him to satisfy “Major Power Factor” requirements while using his regular AR15 rifle and magazines. The only important change was replacing the 5.56mm barrel with a .30-caliber barrel.
The 300 AAC Blackout was created by Advanced Armament Corp. and Remington primarily for the military as a way to shoot .30-caliber bullets from the M4/AR15 platform while using standard magazines. As explained by Robert Silvers, AAC’s R&D Director: “Now there is a way to shoot 30 caliber from your AR while still using normal magazines with full capacity. Even the bolt stays the same, and all that changes is the barrel.” For more information visit www.300aacblackout.com and download the 300 BLK Cartridge Information Guide (PDF).
The concept of putting a .30-caliber bullet in a shortened 223 case has been done before, but not as an industry-wide standard that anyone can make products for, royalty-free. SAAMI, the industry standards organization, adopted and standardized the AAC 300 Blackout earlier this year. The SAAMI diagram for the 300 BLK is shown below.
300 Blackout SAAMI Cartridge Specification
Affordable Factory 300 BLK Ammo is Available
Remington now sells a variety of 300 BLK ammo: 1) 125 grain open-tip match with a custom Sierra bullet; 2) 220gr subsonic, and 3) 125gr AccuTip (photo below). While the 300 BLK is easy (and inexpensive) to reload, Remington and AAC recognized that most people are not reloaders. So Remington will be budget-priced UMC-brand 300 BLK ammo through at just $12.99 per box — that’s less than most other rifle cartridges than are more powerful than the .223.
The 300 AAC Blackout has been touted as an important new hunting round, but we see it more as a specialized “rule-beater” 30-cal option that lets 3-Gun competitors “make major” with a low-recoil cartridge that also offers long barrel life. For those who need to run a .30-caliber cartridge from a standard AR15 platform (as opposed to the AR10), the 300 AAC Blackout makes some sense. But for hunters using a bolt gun, there are any number of tried and true options, such as the 7.62×39, .30-30, and, of course, the .308 Winchester (7.62×51 NATO).
Other 300 BLK Resource
300 BLK Overview with Ballistics and Ammo Info READ FIRST.
300 BLK by AAC: An Introduction by Paul Erhardt.
300 AAC Blackout Ammo Review
AAC .300 BLK AR-15, The Gun Blog.
New??? Anyone ever hear of the .300 whisper that came out many years ago? It’s the same thing, just a .221 Fireball necked up to .30 cal.
Of course AAC was smart enough to get saami specs and not put a strangle hold on its popularity with expensive licensing. So it may not be “new” but JD Jones wasn’t the first guy to neck-up fireball cases either.
The 300 BLK with its almost straight case and 30 caliber bullet reminds the .30 Carbine round, (which is a 7.62×33 instead of 7.62×35). Specs are 110g @ 1900 fps versus 125g @ 2250 fps.
The OAL of the 300 BLK is 2.26″ versus only 1.65″ for the .30 Carbine which allows for a more aerodynamic projectile.
The extra 2mm of case length and slightly larger case diameter provides for more powder capacity and the operating pressure is 55kpsi instead of 38.5kpsi. This provides a 20% boost in velocity and 40% boost in muzzle energy.
It’s like the .30 Carbine’s big brother.
My thoughts on this was, wow it’s a new version of the 1906 30 Remington, but with less power. I’m not saying I don’t like the wildcatting as I have many myself but I just don’t see the point in all of these “new” cartridges. Unless it’s the die makers pushing it then I understand
Actually a .300 fireball/trade mark name/whatever you want to call it is not a bad little cartidge at all. Last count, I’ve built about a dozen for friends and family. It makes a great low recoil deer round for youth hunting and a fun round for playing if you live in a suppressor friendly state.
In my circle of friends there have been several one shot kills with both Sub and supersonic ammo, including 1 instance with 2 dead deer for 1 round fired….
I agree that it’s just another ‘rule-beater’.