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300 AAC BLACKOUT

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300 Blackout ammo was developed by Advanced Armament Corporation and Remington Defense in 2010 and standardized by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) in 2011, the 300 AAC Blackout (also known as 300 BLK or 7.63x35mm) is a relatively young cartridge, but one that is rapidly gaining in popularity.

The 300 BLK was developed around a long list of design parameters intended to allow the use of .30 caliber projectiles in the AR/M4 platform. Chief among them, the cartridge had to feed reliably from standard 30 round magazines and utilize their full capacity, which previous attempts with the 7.62x39 cartridge (used in the AK-47) failed to do. Other requirements included the ability to operate suppressed or unsuppressed in a short, lightweight configuration.

The propellants used in 300 BLK cartridges tend to be much faster burning than typical rifle powders, meaning the 300 BLK is well suited to pistol-length gas systems and suffers relatively little in the way of velocity when fired from short barrels. This makes the 300 BLK an ideal choice for AR-style pistols or short-barreled rifles. Learn a lot more about what 300 BLK can do in our 300 Blackout Ballistics Guide.

The cartridge uses a shortened 221 Fireball or .223 Remington case, shortened to 35mm with the new case mouth necked down to .308 caliber. Bullet weights for the 300 BLK range from 110 grain to 250grain, with lighter projectiles suited to maximum velocity while the heavier bullets are used for subsonic work and maintain high energy despite limited velocity.

Ballistically, the 300 BLK performs much like the 7.62x39mm cartridge, with a shorter effective range than 5.56x45mm NATO, but with more kinetic energy than the latter. Because of these characteristics, the 300 BLK is well suited to close range combat and for hunters wishing to use the AR platform.

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20rds – 300 AAC Blackout Barnaul 145gr. FMJ Ammo

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20rds – 300 AAC Blackout Wolf 145gr. FMJ Ammo
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300 BLK - Common Questions

Where Does “BLK” Come From?

The name “BLK” is simply an abbreviation of the term “Blackout.” The full name of the cartridge is “.300 BLK” by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, but the primary manufacturer calls it the .300 AAC Blackout. You will also see it called the 7.62×35mm by some circles, particularly military-centric groups.

What Types of Firearms Load the .300 BLK?

Similar to the most rifle cartridges created in the past 100 years, the .300 BLK was created for semiautomatic weapons. While there are other types of rifles that can load this cartridge, the vast majority are “AR-style” weapons. It is known as a “carbine cartridge,” meaning it is generally meant for short-barreled rifles.

Is the .300 BLK Interchangeable with the .308 Winchester?

No. These are two different cartridges that are not interchangeable at all. While they have the same bullet diameter (.308 inches), the biggest difference is the length. .308 Remington ammunition is longer in both case and overall length, meaning it has a larger capacity for propellant, which results in superior speed and power. While the .300 BLK is not a slow round, the .308 Winchester generally has muzzle velocities around 2,500 to 3,000 feet per second, while the .300 BLK has speeds around 2,000 to 2,500 feet per second.

How Does the .300 BLK Compare to the .223 Remington?

These are both high-volume cartridges meant for semiautomatic weapons, both have a foundation in military purposes, and both are associated with “AR” style rifles, so a comparison is warranted. However, the differences are vast. The .300 BLK has a larger bullet, with grain sizes as high as 200 or more; the standard bullet size for 223 Rem ammo is 55 grains. The .223 generally has faster velocities, consistently reaching above 3,000 feet per second, while the .300 BLK tends to deliver slightly better muzzle energy.

Can You Hunt with the .300 BLK?

Yes. The .300 BLK is a recent cartridge, and it often takes time for cartridges to work their way into hunting circles. However, the cartridge has many attributes that make it ideal for medium-sized game hunting, including whitetail deer. First, it’s a .308-caliber cartridge, which is one of the most popular sizes for deer hunting. It also has supersonic loads available, which give hunters greater speeds. From a ballistics perspective, it’s very similar to the .30-30 Winchester, which is used for deer hunting in short-range situations. If you want a rifle that can give you enjoyable high-volume target shooting, as well as medium-range hunting capabilities, a weapon that loads the .300 BLK is a fine choice. For hunting, choose expanding rounds such as jacketed hollow points; for target shooting, choose FMJ for better internal performance and affordability.

300 AAC BLACKOUT

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