re: Opinion on Ruger .300 Blackout?

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I deer & hog hunt and am considering getting something different from the old 30.06 Woodsmaster that I've been taking each year.

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Probably should look into the AR-10 side of family. I've never gotten the idea with trying to extract full-power performance out of a system designed for intermediate-power cartridges. The Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory all offer .308 rifles that are reasonably priced. $1500 MSRP for the SAI Victor .308 gets you a 16" rifle under 8 lbs. If I didn't already have an M1A I probably would pick one up for myself, might do anyway since I sold my .30-06 American and now have an annoying gap in my gun cabinet.

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Anybody have a recommendation for a heavier caliber than 5.56 in an AR platform?

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research and buy a 6.5 Grendel (1:8" twist)... it's parent case is based on the most accurate short-range cartridge (100-300 yds) ever created. Shoot the 120 ~ 130 gr bullets and you're GTG.

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but another scenario happens like covid shutdowns you could be up creek

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covid did not discriminate on loaded rounds, primers, powder, brass, etc .... EVERYTHING and ALL ammo components/supplies were affected. I haven't bought or shot a factory round in 30 yrs. I've been handloading since 1990 and have enough reloading supplies to last awhile. I know it's not for everyone, but you can buy a set of 6.5G reloading dies for $25, a press for < $50, a scale for $25, ($100 investment). Obviously, you would need brass @ $1 per piece, powder @ $50 per pound, primers @ .08 cents each, and bullets @ $45/100 (another $200). Roughly $300 and you can reload the 6.5G for around $1.50 per round vs. 20 rds of factory for $50 ($2.50 each). Brass can be re-used and shot 25-40 times before it's no longer serviceable. Cost to reload goes down to .75 cents per round after you already have the brass.

I know it's not for everybody, and some won't have the time to invest in a new hobby. I can reload 50 rds. in < 1 hr. I'm not a high-volume shooter, strictly shoot for 1 hole accuracy at paper and crows, coyotes, deer, pigs.

One of the rifles I built and shoot is chambered in 17 Ackley Hornet. I can load 640 rds from a single pound of powder


loaded round next to the action port ...
11.0 grs of powder under a 20 gr VMax at 3,850 fps
it makes crows blow-up into a puff of black feathers

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Theres no reason to buy a 300 blackout with longer than a 10 inch barrel

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Why do you say this?

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7.62x39 isnt a bad round to run suppressed. The AK action will generally be louder than the round it self. I think the biggest issue comparing the two is availability of subsonic ammo.

Taking a 9 inch 300 blackout, adding a suppressor and subsonic ammo is awesome for home defense so you arent blowing peoples ear drums out.

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That all makes sense. I think working the safety on an AK makes more noise than shooting a well-suppressed AR would .

I have a .300 blk and it’s a lot of fun to shoot.
Brass is easy as you can take .223/5.56 and cut it at the shoulder, resize and then trim.

Mine has an 8” barrel. The powder for the ammo is a pistol powder which means it burns fast. You can definitely get a longer barrel for one but there is no advantage in doing so.

The 300 Blackout is a good hunting round for the hunter that's aware of its limitations. It will NOT be nearly as powerfulor have the flexibility of your 30-06. As a hunting round, supersonic loads are more effective than its sub-sonic loads. Sub-sonic bullets do their damage by "tumbling" inside the game. By nature it's a fairly quiet (even w/ supersonic loads) load w/ mild recoil. Using good/appropriate bullets, it's an effective hunting round to <200 yards on thin skinned game. I used a 300 Whisper (AKA 300/221) in the early 90's w/ a 12" Contender barrel. Using the 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip and 130 gr Hornady SSP bullet (now discontinued)I killed 4 deer w/ it w/ the longest being 190 yards. Last year I bought a PSA AR15 pistol w/ 10" barrel in 300 AAC Blackout for deer and hog hunting inside 125 yards. I killed a doe whitetail deer w/ it this season using the 125 gr Hornady SST. I was NOT impressed w/ the damage done and will no longer use that bullet on deer. Bullet selection is really important w/ the BO. In the future, I'lll be using the 110 gr Barnes, 125 gr NBT and 150 gr NBT bullets. If you want a Blackout, get one, but use it to supplement your 30-06, not replace it. Performance wise, think of it more as a 30-30 w/ less recoil and using a Spitzer bullet. The 6.5 Grendel is also a fine hunting round for the AR15 platform. In both, you'll get around 2400 fps in 16-18" barrel. Both also make a fine youth gun in an AR. Of course, the Grendel can't be loaded subsonic. Keep us updated w/ your decision.

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300 Blackout? I deer & hog hunt and am considering getting something different from the old 30.06

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300 blackout with can and subsonic ammo for home defense. I wouldn’t use a 300 blackout for deer hunting personally but I’d be comfortable shooting 100 yards with 125gr supersonic. The subsonics in this caliber are similar in power to a 9mm Luger +P and don’t have the energy for fast ethical kills.

If you want a dual purpose deer/hog AR-15 do a 6.5 Grendel. Great performance out to 200 yards. Practically identical in muzzle energy and trajectory to the 6.8spc at hunting distances except the 6.5 Grendel can shoot a heavier bullet with better sectional density and penetration and less wind drift and it’s cooler because it’s named after a mythical monster.

If you wanted to hunt suppressed at 200 yards be movie-quiet consider a 458 Socom with a can and a good scope with turrets and a range finder. It can hurl 500gr bullets at 1050fps.

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Anybody have a recommendation for a heavier caliber than 5.56 in an AR platform?

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i built a 6.5 Grendel to hint with.