AmmoLand author Logan Metesh examines the historical past & improvement of .300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO ammunition rounds.
The AR platform is arguably the most well-liked one in the marketplace proper now. Primarily chambered for the 5.56/.223 caliber, the gun has been tailored to a wide range of different calibers over time, however none has gained wider acceptance than .300 Blackout. Allow us to check out the advantages & drawbacks of .300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO ammunition rounds.
Historical past of 5.56/.223
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The genesis of the 5.56 and .223 calibers is identical as many different in style calibers over time: it was pushed by the army.
The period of the heavy-hitting battle rifle had come to an finish. The M1 Garand and the M14 rifles have been phased out and a brand new and radically totally different rifle – the M16 – was coming of age.
ArmaLite’s new rifle design demanded a brand new caliber, and their preliminary intention wasn’t to reinvent the wheel. At first, they floated the thought of utilizing the industrial .222 Remington, which was a well-liked varmint cartridge. Sadly, that caliber wasn’t as much as army specs, and they also had to return to the drafting board.
What emerged was the same but distinctly totally different spherical: the 5.56x45mm developed by James Sullivan, who had labored with Eugene Stoner on the rifle’s design. The cartridge was formally adopted within the US in 1964, and the “civilian” model, often called the .223 Remington, was quickly put into manufacturing as nicely.
NATO, nonetheless, was not happy with this new cartridge. Having solely just lately switched to 7.62x51mm, they have been in no hurry to vary but once more to a different new spherical that they deemed inferior. Ultimately, they relented, and in 1980 the 5.56x45mm cartridge turned the NATO commonplace.
Each the 5.56 and .223 cartridges have confirmed themselves with the army and civilian markets alike. After virtually 60 years of use, it’s secure to say that each are right here to remain.
Historical past of .300 AAC Blackout
A relative newcomer, the .300 AAC Blackout turned 10 this 12 months, however it has achieved rather a lot in only a decade. Work started in 2009 by designer Robert Silvers as a three way partnership between Superior Armament Company (AAC) and Remington Protection.
Because the story goes, a army buyer approached them in 2009 wanting to make use of commonplace M4 (AR) bolts and magazines that might retain a 30-round capability, however fired a .30-caliber projectile. Work continued by means of 2010 and the cartridge was authorized by SAAMI in January 2011.
The outcome was the .300 AAC Blackout, which stood on the shoulders of an earlier wildcat cartridge often called the .300 Whisper.
Regardless that .300 Blackout had military-minded roots, no group has formally adopted it throughout the board. It has, nonetheless, grow to be extremely in style with AR fanatics who’re searching for one thing just a little totally different.
Advantages and Drawbacks of .300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO
The most important advantage of 5.56/.223 ammo is its prevalence. Properly, no less than till the ammo scarcity of 2020 started. Whether or not you roll your individual or purchase off the shelf each time, there was no downside discovering this caliber as a result of it was in use by virtually everybody, all over the place.
Run out of ammo on the vary? No downside. The professional store was sure to have containers in inventory. It’s not such as you had run out of one thing obscure, like 10.15x63Rmm.
One of many largest drawbacks is when it comes to sound suppression. Utilizing a suppressor with a firearm on this caliber will definitely carry the decibels down, however it actually received’t make them “listening to secure.” And keep in mind: simply because you possibly can tolerate the amount doesn’t imply it’s secure. Oh, and if you wish to run it on a 7” pistol construct? Ha! Neglect about it! Higher have that ear professional useful!
Advantages and Drawbacks of .300 AAC Blackout
The most important advantage of the .300 Blackout is that it permits caliber range within the AR platform with minimal modifications to the gun itself. All you want is a special barrel, and given the LEGO-like qualities of an AR, that is simply swapped out by popping two pins and slapping on a brand new higher receiver.
You should utilize the identical bolt, identical charging deal with, and identical magazines. In case you’re into uniformity, you may outfit a completely new higher with the identical bodily setup, simply with a special caliber barrel. Fairly nifty.
The place the .300 Blackout actually shines, although, is when it’s used at the side of a suppressor. Subsonic hundreds are impressively quiet when shot from an AR outfitted with a suppressor. Even with shorter barrel lengths, it nonetheless does an important job at preserving the decibels down with out sacrificing total efficiency.
One downside to this cartridge is the price. Regardless that it’s just like the 5.56/.223 in lots of points, they half methods at value. You’ll positively pay extra per spherical for .300 Blackout.
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The most important downside to this cartridge, nonetheless, can also be considered one of its largest advantages: shared gun components with 5.56/.223 cartridges. However for the reason that .300 Blackout was designed to fill an everyday AR magazine to its full capability, careless loading or a scarcity of oversight may lead you to seize a magazine filled with the improper ammo.
It will get worse, although. You may chamber a .300 Blackout spherical in a 5.56/.223 barrel, however you completely can’t fireplace it from that barrel with out the gun experiencing a catastrophic failure and placing your self susceptible to severe bodily hurt.
In consequence, you’ve obtained to keep watch over what rounds you’ve in what mags, and what higher you’ve obtained put in in your decrease receiver.
.300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO Which One Wins?
To be fully trustworthy, I’d say it’s a draw. They’re each nice for their very own functions and have their respective locations. I feel selecting a real winner depends upon private software. In case you’re all about taking pictures suppressed, .300 Blackout can’t be crushed. In case you’re an informal AR fanatic, then 5.56/.223 is the place it’s at.
That stated, selection is the spice of life and also you shouldn’t need to “Sophie’s Selection” your firearms, so why not personal each?
About Logan Metesh
Logan Metesh is a historian with a give attention to firearms historical past and improvement. He runs Excessive Caliber Historical past LLC and has greater than a decade of expertise working for the Smithsonian Establishment, the Nationwide Park Service, and the NRA Museums. His skill to current historical past and analysis in a fascinating method has made him a wanted marketing consultant, author, and museum skilled. The benefit with which he can recall obscure historic info and figures makes him superb at Jeopardy!, however exceptionally dangerous at geometry.
