Savage Cancels 300 AAC Blackout Carbine Project
After “exhaustive testing” with a variety of barrel lengths and twist rates, Savage has deep-sixed its plans to market a Model 10-based repeater rifle chambered for the 300 AAC Blackout cartridge. The reason? The Blackout cartridge simply shot poorly when loaded with heavy bullets for subsonic applications. Since Savage could not achieve good accuracy with subsonic loads, the Savage 300 AAC project has been cancelled. Savage issued the following explanation:
Some time ago, Savage announced it would be chambering the Model 10 Precision Carbine in 300 AAC Blackout. Since that time, we have tested many variants of this cartridge in various barrel lengths and rates of twist. This exhaustive testing left us quite unsatisfied with the accuracy we were able to get from the subsonic loads in this chambering. Accuracy with the lighter, faster loads in this caliber was actually quite good. But we believe the real value in this cartridge lies in the use of subsonic loads for suppressed rifles. Therefore we have decided to scrap the project.
It is our understanding that pushing these heavy, slow bullets presents challenges not found in typical loadings and that our experience is not unique. Subsequently, many in the industry have simply adopted a lower standard for accuracy for these subsonic loads. While this does seem reasonable and we don’t criticize any in our industry that have taken this approach, it just won’t work for Savage.
Our brand was built on accuracy and we are too protective of our reputation for building the most accurate factory rifles available. We would rather walk away from this opportunity than sell a product that requires an explanation.
Savage announced this rifle in 1/10 twist and with a 20 inch barrel. Factory subsonic ammunition is only designed to be subsonic in barrels up to 16 inches, so one would expect the rounds to go transonic in a 20 inch barrel – reducing accuracy. Further, the Sierra 220 grain bullets require 1/8 or faster twist to be stable enough at subsonic speeds. 1/10 twist would not likely work – so it is no surprise that they had disappointing results. Really if they were not going to do enough R&D they could have asked for development help from AAC.
Why in the world would this cartridge not be accurate? The whisper is a very accurate chambering. I guess i dont understand! Lee
Their rifle had no accuracy because to stabilize the 220 gr sub sonic bullets you need a 1/8 twist rate, the 1/10 is good for the lighter supersonic bullets. But supersonic defeats the purpose of a “quiet” rifle.
“we have tested many variants of this cartridge in various barrel lengths and rates of twist”
Sounds like they might have tried a few different combinations….probably didn’t just grab the first barrel off the shelf and decide to market it.
This announcement seemed odd to me also. I’m running a 14 1/2″ 1-9.5 barrel and have no trouble with Hornady Whisper ammo shooting 208s. I had an oppurtunity to shoot the 220 gr. Remington load this past week. I had one shot at 200 yds that performed strangely. The 208 and 220 are almost the same length. Puzzling. I know subs don’t like long barrels. Love the 300 Blackout. Way too much fun in a small suppressed bolt gun.
Savage like most firearms companies isn’t known for just jumping into and back out of projects.
To even start this project it would have to look good on paper or they wouldn’t have spent the start up money in the first place.
Yes we as individuals may be able to make this project work for a specific application, however they must have found that it would not appeal to enough customers in the format that they could do as a company to continue on with it.
I notice that the S&W M&P15 in. 300 Whisper/Blackout uses a 1:7.5 twist, just for this reason. And that particular rifle is reported to have outstanding accuracy with both 220 and 240 grain loads, even at longer ranges. I don’t know anything about what Savage did or didn’t try, but I’m a bit skeptical that they really couldn’t make this work in a bolt-action of all things.
I have 4 bolt rifles, 2 chambered in 300 whisper with 1:10 twist which shoots anything from 100gr. to 168gr. very accurarely, one has 16 1/2″ barrel and the other a 17″. 2 are chambered in 300 blackout with 1:8 twist 16″ barrels which shoots anything from 100gr. to 240 gr. very accurately. All guns are built on savage 10, 16 and stevens 200 actions. one has an accutrigger, 2 have rifle basic triggers and one has a timmy trigger. Savage didn’t do much r&d apparently
i had noticed 208 hornady,s,,220 sierra,s,,,240 sumthns,,,220 otm,,,,r these all round nose bullets,and wat is best 4 sub speeds,accuracy,and also maintaining a 1;8 twist opposed 2 a 1;7 twist,,,,,,r they using a max,mk
The reason they deep 6’d it is because of extraction issues. The design of the 223 boltface, ejector, and extractor will not allow the short blackout case to remain seated in the bolt during extraction. The case falls out of the boltface as soon as the neck clears the chamber and pops over against the bolt raceway. They shoot fine…
This is ridiculous and only shows ignorance regarding the 300 AAC/Whisper concept. The 300 AAC is capable of SUB-MOA at Subsonic and Supersonic velocities using a good platform with the proper twist rate of 1:7 or 1:8 in a 16″ barrel. The Factual Data is readily available and goes back to 1991 when JD Jones of SSK invented the 300 Whisper. Want a SUB-MOA pistol to go with your rifle? Just call T/C.