.300 AAC Blackout

300 Blackout the Kodak Black Song Kodak Black discography Rifle cartridge originally designed for use in the M4 carbine June 2017 7.62×35 mm/300 AAC Blackout Five bullets.jpg 250px The .300 AAC Blackout plastic tipped, left, compared to .300 AAC Blackout 125 gr match, .300 AAC Blackout 220 gr subsonic, 5.56×45mm NATO, and 7.62×39mm. Rifle United States 2009 2010–present .221 Fireball/.223 Remington Rimless, bottleneck 25.1 .308 .300 .332 .3759 .378 1.368 2.26 55000 SAAMI 56565 CIP 52,000 1/8 inch (203 mm) Small rifle 78 Lehigh Defense CQ 2800 1358 90 Barnes OTFB 2550 1300 110 Hornady Black V-MAX 2375 1377 125 OTM 2215 1360 150 Winchester Power Point 1650 907 220 OTM 1010 498 16 in The .300 AAC Blackout (abbreviated as 300 BLK by the SAAMIhttps://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAAMI-Z299.4-CFR-2025-Centerfire-Rifle-Approved-2-10-2025.pdf#page=115 SAAMI Z299.4-2025 American National Standard Voluntary Industry Performance Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Centerfire Rifle Ammunition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers SAAMI February 2025 November 8, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20250215045527/https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAAMI-Z299.4-CFR-2025-Centerfire-Rifle-Approved-2-10-2025.pdf#page=115 February 15, 2025 dead mdy-all 300 AAC Blackout [300 BLK] Issued: 01/17/2011 Revised: 05/20/2022 102 and 300 AAC Blackout by the C.I.P.https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/300-aac-blackout-180801-en.pdf October 17, 2018 QuickDESIGN - 300-aac-blackout-180801-en.pdf bobp.cip-bobp.org Date 15-05-19, Revision 18-10-17, Alternative Names: 300 Whisper, 300 BLK, 7,62 x 35), also known as 7.62×35 mm, is an intermediate cartridge developed in the United States by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) for use in the M4 carbine. The cartridge yields increased performance in shorter barrels and effective subsonic performance for suppressor use when compared to 5.56 mm NATO. The .300 AAC Blackout uses standard 5.56 mm NATO magazines and components with the exception of the barrel. History Although 5.56×45mm NATO has been widely adopted in the NATO armies, the nature of the missions encountered by some special operations groups often requires a round that provides better performance than that available in the high-energy, standard velocity rounds, and subsonic performance greater than standard 9×19mm Parabellum (the ubiquitous pistol and submachine gun round).http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/articles/20070202.aspx Infantry: Big Bullet Blues February 2, 2007 Strategy Page https://web.archive.org/web/20230603105341/http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/articles/20070202.aspx June 3, 2023 To meet this demand, AAC developed the .300 AAC Blackout in cooperation with Remington Defense. The new cartridge was intended to negate many of the perceived drawbacks inherent to other large caliber cartridges used in the M4. Colt Firearms and other arms makers had previously chambered AR-pattern rifles and carbines in various .30 caliber rounds but encountered problems. In the case of the 7.62×39 mm, its relatively severe case angle caused feeding issues unless specially modified AK magazines were used, and even then results were unsatisfactory.August 2016 Modified bolts were also needed owing to its larger case head diameter. Rounds such as the 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel had similar parts-interchangeability issues but did allow for the use of the standard M4/M16 30-round magazine, albeit with a reduced capacity.Lee Jerry Gun Digest 2014 https://books.google.com/books?id=OoBq0qlNwcwC&pg=PA114 August 12, 2013 Krause Publications Iola, Wisconsin 978-1-4402-3542-9 114–116 thumb|left|250px|.300 AAC Blackout rounds shot from a suppressed M4 carbine Wildcat cartridges such as the .300 Whisper series addressed these issues, but their widespread use in single-shot handguns and lack of industry standard cartridge dimension meant that a great number of the popular loads on both the supersonic and subsonic end of the spectrum were less than ideal in the AR pattern weapons. Many of these rounds required an excessively long overall cartridge length that would prohibit feeding in a STANAG magazine while using powder charges that were not compatible with the pressure requirements of the M4 carbine. This was particularly noticeable when using subsonic ammunition in conjunction with a suppressor, as short stroking and excessive fouling would occur, similar to that which was seen in the earliest variants of the M16 in Vietnam.Small Arms Review 2001 L. James Sullivan Interview https://smallarmsreview.com/the-evolution-of-invention-an-interview-with-l-james-sullivan-gun-designer/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230127122002/https://smallarmsreview.com/the-evolution-of-invention-an-interview-with-l-james-sullivan-gun-designer/ January 27, 2023 The designers planned several cartridges primarily for the M4 and M16 during load development that not only satisfied the ballistic requirements, but also ensured mechanical reliability with only a simple barrel change necessary for complete conversion.The Ultimate Battle Round? Cooke Steve Recoil January 2012 1 1 https://www.recoilweb.com/preview-ultimate-battle-round-119.html https://web.archive.org/web/20230528230345/https://www.recoilweb.com/preview-ultimate-battle-round-119.html May 28, 2023 Robert Silvers, director of research and development for AAC said, We started development in 2009, but most of the work was done in 2010. A military customer wanted a way to be able to shoot .30-cal. bullets from an M4 platform while using normal bolts and magazines, and without losing the full 30-round capacity of standard magazines. They also wanted a source for ammunition made to their specs. We could not have just used .300-221 or .300 Whisper because Remington is a SAAMI company, and will only load ammunition that is a SAAMI-standard cartridge. We had to take the .300-221 wildcat concept, determine the final specs for it, and submit it to SAAMI. We did that, and called it the .300 AAC Blackout (.300 BLK).https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2012/11/5/shades-of-gray-300-whisper-300-aac-blackout/ Shades of Gray: .300 Whisper & .300 AAC Blackout Johnson Steve November 5, 2012 American Rifleman December 30, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180307054654/https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2012/11/5/shades-of-gray-300-whisper-300-aac-blackout/ March 7, 2018 .300 AAC Blackout was approved by SAAMI on January 17, 2011. It was later revised on May 20, 2022. On October 23, 2011, Staff Sergeant Daniel Horner of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit used .300 AAC Blackout to win his fourth USPSA Multi Gun National Championship before the rules were changed to negate its advantages in such competitions.http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gearscout/2011/10/23/usamus-horner-takes-the-gold-with-300blk/ USAMU's Horner takes the gold with 300BLK Curtis Rob October 23, 2011 Army Times December 30, 2018 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111026030902/http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gearscout/2011/10/23/usamus-horner-takes-the-gold-with-300blk/ October 26, 2011 .300 AAC Blackout was approved by the C.I.P. on May 19, 2015. It underwent a revision on May 17, 2017.300-aac-blacout-170307-en.pdf http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/300-aac-blacout-170307-en.pdf December 2, 2018 July 15, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180715123037/http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/300-aac-blacout-170307-en.pdf dead It was last revised on October 17, 2018. Military use Netherlands In July 2015, the Netherlands' Defense Material Organization issued a tender for 195 carbines chambered in 300 BLK on behalf of the Dutch Maritime Special Operations Force (NL-MARSOF). The intention was to purchase ball, subsonic, and lead-free frangible cartridges, representing the first formal military adoption of the .300 AAC Blackout.Wilk Remigiusz Dutch special forces to buy carbines chambered in 300 BLK http://www.janes.com/article/52727/dutch-special-forces-to-buy-carbines-chambered-in-300-blk July 2, 2015 Janes Defence July 4, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075509/http://www.janes.com/article/52727/dutch-special-forces-to-buy-carbines-chambered-in-300-blk March 4, 2016 In December 2016, the NL-MARSOF acquired 195 integrally suppressed SIG MCX carbines fitted with a new folding stock, developed for use with ballistic visor helmets, chambered in .300 AAC blackout, becoming the first publicly-known military user of the cartridge.http://www.janes.com/article/65747/sig-mcx-rifles-delivered-to-dutch-special-forces SIG MCX rifles delivered to Dutch special forces 24 November 2016 Remigiusz Wilk IHS Jane's 360 IHS Jane's Defence Weekly November 8, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171109023100/http://www.janes.com/article/65747/sig-mcx-rifles-delivered-to-dutch-special-forces November 9, 2017 dead mdy-allhttp://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/09/dutch-marsof-officially-purchase-300-blk-sig-mcx-rifles/ Dutch MARSOF officially purchase .300 BLK SIG MCX Rifles 9 December 2016 The Firearms Blog https://web.archive.org/web/20230409035556/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/09/dutch-marsof-officially-purchase-300-blk-sig-mcx-rifles/ April 9, 2023 United Kingdom On 14 July 2017, the UK Ministry of Defence issued a tender for a five year (plus five years optional) contract to supply .300 Blackout supersonic and subsonic small arms ammunition. Also noted was that the ammunition type had already been in use.Prior information notice for contracts in the field of defence and security supplies http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:273296-2017:TEXT:EN:HTML 14 July 2017 European Union Tenders Electronic Daily 25 July 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20230416014930/https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:273296-2017:TEXT:EN:HTML April 16, 2023 United States In May 2022, United States Special Operations Command selected SIG Sauer to deliver its MCX Rattler personal defense weapon, which can be chambered in both 5.56 NATO and .300 Blackout. With a barrel length of 5.5 in on, the .300 Blackout allows the Rattler to fire a powerful round while being compact.Special Operations Command finally found its next-generation personal defense weapon. Task & Purpose. 21 May 2022. Germany The H&K 437 semi-automatic-only version will become the standard medium range weapon for the state police of Schleswig-Holstein (i.e., one as backup in every patrol car), replacing both the old MP5 and about 200 SIG MCX that have to be replaced due to technical issues. A total of 1,700 rifles will be procured between 2024 and 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20250120094106/https://soldat-und-technik.de/2024/02/bewaffnung/36879/polizei-schleswig-holstein-stellt-neue-mitteldistanzwaffe-hk437-vor/ January 20, 2025 soldat-und-technik.de (in German) In February 2024, the procurement order for about a thousand H&K 437 rifles for the German Army's Special Forces KSK was issued. The rifle ("Sonderwaffe schallgedämpft Spezialkräfte" = "special weapon, silenced, special forces") will be known in Bundeswehr service as G39. https://web.archive.org/web/20251227194051/https://www.hartpunkt.de/spezialkraefte-der-bundeswehr-beschaffen-hk437-als-sonderwaffe-schallgedaempft-spezialkraefte-g39/ December 27, 2025 hartpunkt.de (in German) Taiwan Since 2023, the Coast Guard Administration Special Task Force (CGA.STF) of Taiwan has allocated budgetary resources to procure eight categories of tactical equipment, aimed at enhancing its counter-terrorism and close-quarters battle (CQB) capabilities. The procurement includes sniper rifles, handheld thermal imaging laser rangefinders, handgun suppressors, and submachine guns. A specific budget of NT$7.7 million was designated for the acquisition of 70 new compact weapon systems; during the evaluation process, the unit assessed both traditional 9mm submachine guns and short-barreled rifles chambered for the 7.62×35mm (.300 AAC Blackout) cartridge. The SIG Sauer MCX Rattler LT was ultimately selected and incorporated into the procurement list to meet the unit's operational requirements.海巡特勤隊強化海域岸及重大犯罪維安量能武器裝備籌補中長程計畫114年至118年（ Page 13~16） https://www.cga.gov.tw/GipOpen/wSite/public/Attachment/f20241120154545.pdf海巡署特勤隊汰換衝鋒槍　竟瞞天過海改採購突擊步槍 https://www.upmedia.mg/tw/investigation/survey/193022德軍特種部隊和我海巡同樣青睞.300 BLK彈藥　採用HK437步槍成首軍方用戶 https://www.upmedia.mg/tw/international/headlines/196051 Performance section September 2019 thumb|right|Example of a .300 AAC Blackout shot in a block of gel Supersonic ammunition muzzle velocities and muzzle energies by barrel length:June 2026 Barrel Cartridge Velocity Energy 9 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 115 gr UMC 2120 ft/s m/s on 1136 ft.lbf J on 16 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 115 gr UMC 2295 ft/s m/s on 1344 ft.lbf J on 9 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 110 gr TTSX 2300 ft/s m/s on 1310 ft.lbf J on 9 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 110 gr VMAX 2350 ft/s m/s on 1350 ft.lbf J on 9 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 125 gr OTM 2030 ft/s m/s on 1143 ft.lbf J on 16 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 125 gr OTM 2215 ft/s m/s on 1360 ft.lbf J on 20 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 78 gr Lehigh Defense CQ 2880 ft/s m/s on 1436 ft.lbf J on 24 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 78 gr Lehigh Defense CQ 2960 ft/s m/s on 1517 ft.lbf J on 20 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 90 gr Barnes OTFB 2630 ft/s m/s on 1382 ft.lbf J on 24 in mm on barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 90 gr Barnes OTFB 2710 ft/s m/s on 1468 ft.lbf J on The 300 AAC Blackout was designed to achieve energies similar to the 7.62×39mm Soviet in an AR-15 while using standard AR magazines at their full capacity. The 7.62 Soviet's cartridge taper prevented reliable feeding in AR magazines and created wear on the bolt. From the 14.5 in mm on barrel of the M4 carbine, the M855 5.56×45mm round has an effective point target range of 500 meters. The bullet has significant drop, drift, and energy loss at that distance. From a 16 in mm on barrel, a 125 gr g on .300 BLK round has a lower velocity and similar bullet drop and drift at shorter distances. However, it has the same amount of energy at 700 meters that the M855 has at 500 meters. In terms of hit probability, the Blackout has an effective range of 460 meters. From a 9 in mm on barrel, the 125 gr BLK round has the same muzzle energy as the M855 from the M4, and 5 percent more energy at 440 meters. In comparison with 7.62×39 mm rounds, .300 BLK rounds with varying loads have better ballistic coefficients and more energy out of similar length barrels. 300 BLK rounds like the Barnes TAC 110 grain, have "barrier blind" performance, being capable of penetration through several inches of different hard targets. 300 BLK allows a user to have one firearm with the capability of switching between subsonic, supersonic VMAX or barrier penetrating ammunition all with just the change of a magazine. It is able to replace the H&K MP5 for close quarters, and with just a magazine change, bring the fight to longer distances, outperforming the M4 carbine.August 2016 The .30 caliber cartridge has an 89.1 percent increase in frontal bullet area over the 5.56×45 mm, and so leaves a larger wound cavity in soft targets. It also penetrates deeper and initially yaws faster. 300 BLK rounds are effective out of barrels as short as 4.5 in mm on. Weapons chambered for the round can be as light, compact, and quiet when suppressed as submachine guns like the 9×19mm MP5, 5.7x28mm FN P90, and 4.6×30mm MP7 while having more energy and accuracy at longer range.http://www.midamericamunitions.com/300-Blackout_c_49.html 300 AAC Blackout Ammo Mid America Munitions https://web.archive.org/web/20230501002923/http://www.midamericamunitions.com/300-Blackout_c_49.html May 1, 2023http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2012armaments/Wednesday13590Silvers.pdf 300 AAC Blackout Low Visibility Carbine Robert Silvers Advanced Armament Corp. October 20, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130430184001/http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2012armaments/Wednesday13590Silvers.pdf April 30, 2013 dead mdy-all Round Weight Barrel length Muzzle velocity Range for 100 in m on of bullet drop Range for 41 in m on of bullet drift Range for 291 ft.lbf J on of energy Effective range M855 5.56×45 mm 62 gr g on 14.5 in mm on 2,900 ft/s m/s on 500 m yd on 500 m yd on 500 m yd on 500 m yd on 300 BLK 125 gr g on 16 in mm on 2,220 ft/s m/s on 440 m yd on 484 m yd on 700 m yd on 460 m yd on 300 BLK 125 gr g on 9 in mm on 2,050 ft/s m/s on 410 m yd on 470 m yd on 625 m yd on 440 m yd on Round Weight Barrel length Muzzle velocity Ballistic coefficient Energy at 300 meters 7.62×39 mm 123 gr g on 16.5 in mm on 2,396 ft/s m/s on 0.280 712 J ft.lbf on 300 BLK 115 gr g on 16 in mm on 2,295 ft/s m/s on 0.300 777 J ft.lbf on 300 BLK 125 gr g on 16 in mm on 2,220 ft/s m/s on 0.320 829 J ft.lbf on Compared to the 6.8×43 mm Special Purpose Cartridge, another round made to have increased stopping power over the 5.56 NATO, the 300 Blackout has different capabilities. The 300 BLK was designed with a specific shorter-range focus to have equal or more energy than the 7.62 Soviet and work reliably with suppressors. The earlier 6.8 SPC was simply designed to have more energy at all ranges than the 5.56×45 mm. It has a relatively small projectile with a high velocity that maintains performance at range. At 200 yd m 0 on, the 300 BLK drops 2 in mm on lower than the 6.8 SPC, while it drops 30 in mm on lower at 500 yd m 0 on. The 115 gr g on 6.8-round has a higher muzzle energy of 1,694 ftlb J on due to its greater velocity, while the 125 gr g on 300 BLK round has a muzzle energy of 1,360 ftlb J on. Both rounds were made to be used in an easily converted AR-15. The 6.8 SPC has a more difficult conversion because it was designed around the obsolete .30 Remington cartridge, requiring a different bolt and decreasing standard magazine capacity. The 300 BLK was made specifically for ease of conversion, so the standard bolt will work and a magazine can be used to its full capacity, so the only change needed is the barrel and gas system.http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/09/foghorn/ask-foghorn-6-8-spc-versus-300-blk/ 6.8 SPC versus 300 BLK? Nick Leghorn September 24, 2012 The Truth About Guns December 30, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20120927051614/http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/09/foghorn/ask-foghorn-6-8-spc-versus-300-blk/ September 27, 2012October 2024 Potential hazards thumb|AR-15 rifle with dustcover and magazine band that identify it as having a chambering of .300 AAC Blackout The advantage of the 300 BLK (its similarity to the popular .223/5.56 caliber) can also be a safety issue if ammunition of the two calibers is mixed. Because of similar chamber dimensions between the two calibers, SAAMI has listed the combination of using a 300 BLK round in a .223 chamber as unsafe.http://saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_211-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf Technical Data Sheet - Unsafe Firearm Ammunition Combinations SAAMI November 26, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180329050224/http://saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_211-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf March 29, 2018 dead mdy-all Since the bullet of the 300 BLK is larger than the bore of the .223 caliber, chambering and firing causes excessive pressure to build up since the bullet has nowhere to go, which can cause the rifle to explode resulting in risk of injury or death. Since the mix up can easily be done, some suggest owners of firearms in both calibers carefully separate firearm and ammunition of the two types by, for instance, clearly marking the firearms and magazines, and visually inspect every round while loading magazines.https://www.nrablog.com/articles/2016/9/avoiding-the-300blk-ar15-kaboom/ Avoiding the .300BLK AR-15 'ka-boom!' Jason J. Brown September 1, 2016 NRAblog.com https://web.archive.org/web/20161119181936/https://www.nrablog.com/articles/2016/9/avoiding-the-300blk-ar15-kaboom/ November 19, 2016 Whether a 300 BLK cartridge actually is able to chamber in a .223 barrel depends on bullet length and shape, bullet seating depth, crimping, and the volume of powder charge. Ideally, cartridges would use one of the longer projectiles, a case-filling powder charge, and have the projectile crimped into place. Predecessors Pioneering work by the USAF Armament Lab at Eglin Air Force Base in the late 1960s produced the 7.62×28mm cartridge, which propelled a 172 gr match projectile to about 1050 ft/s m/s on but suffered from various reliability issues.Ordnance Magazine, September–October 1970 More recently, popular wildcats such the .300-221, 300 Fireball, and JD Jones's proprietary version of them, the .300 Whisper, advanced the concept.Barnes Frank C. Cartridges of the World: A Complete Illustrated Reference for More Than 1,500 Cartridges https://books.google.com/books?id=bjhy8uv196IC&pg=PA55 October 5, 2012 Gun Digest Books Iola, Wisconsin 978-1-4402-3059-2 436–437 The .300 AAC Blackout is a SAAMI-standardized .300-221. Hornady states that any rifle chambered for the 300 AAC Blackout can shoot their .300 Whisper ammunition, which is made within .300 AAC Blackout specs. The reloading dies for these two cartridges are often the same. The C.I.P. lists the following as alternative names for 300 AAC Blackout: 300 Whisper, 300 BLK, 7,62 x 35. See also 6mm ARC .277 Wolverine 7×33mm Sako 7.62×37mm Musang 7.92×33mm Kurz 7.62×40mm Wilson Tactical 9×39mm List of rifle cartridges Table of handgun and rifle cartridges References External links SAAMI drawing C.I.P. TDCC sheet 300 AAC Blackout Category:Military cartridges Category:Paramilitary cartridges Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges Category:Subsonic rifle cartridges