AR 15 pistol 300 BO no good

[rustyshackleford]

If building for hunting, go 6.8 SPC. Compared to 6.5 Grendel you get more KE esp in shorter barrels(less than 18 in). Both require a bolt change from 300/556 so that's moot and I honestly want say they require modified magazines. 6.5 Grendel is a great round to get enhanced long range performance from the AR-15 platform. 6.8 SPC was designed to deliver additional terminals Neal performance from short barrels.

 

[Cowboyshooter]

The wife shot 2 deer with her new 300 blackout pistol. Both deer were less than 50 yards standing. Heart shot on both. They ran like not even hit. Thank god we had some snow to track there was no hair no blood nothing. I thought she missed she said no way so I followed tracks and both deer were dead about 75 yards away. No exit wound top of heart blown off. Cavity full of blood. Not happy shooting 150 grain Winchester. Barrel is coming off and 6.5 Grendel is going on. Got talked out of it should have stayed with my original plan.

Blaming the 300 Blackout is lame! 150 grain is a poor choice in this for your combination. Which equals poor choice for the task at hand. Understand what the job is first and select for the job. Using a handgun is different from using a rifle, choose accordingly! Short barrels and lower velocity small diameter round does not make for a good body shot combo, if you are looking for fast knock down. Also, very low likely hood of complete penetration with this combo. If you want a fast knock down, shoot them in the head! Don't blame your own lack of prep for lack of understanding what will happen.

 

[Morrison]

The wife shot 2 deer with her new 300 blackout pistol. Both deer were less than 50 yards standing. Heart shot on both. They ran like not even hit. Thank god we had some snow to track there was no hair no blood nothing. I thought she missed she said no way so I followed tracks and both deer were dead about 75 yards away. No exit wound top of heart blown off. Cavity full of blood. Not happy shooting 150 grain Winchester. Barrel is coming off and 6.5 Grendel is going on. Got talked out of it should have stayed with my original plan.

I have shot deer with the 375 Winchester and had the same result. I shot Elk with 270 Short mag and also had the same result. You indicate that there was no exit wound which tells me that perhaps you were shooting sub sonic. The 300 Blk is more than sufficient for deer at out to 100 yards but it has to be loaded correctly. If you are not reloading you can buy 110 grain Barnes loaded in factory which will do the job or any expanding bullet in the 110 to 130 grain range. These also work well for Hogs and I can honestly say a tough old Hog is much harder to harvest than a thin skinned Deer. They even have ammunition for the 300Blk labeled as Hog Hammers.

Your shot was good and the caliber is sufficient, sounds like the ammunition selection was wrong.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

Thanks I have a 6.5 build started.

I have shot deer with the 375 Winchester and had the same result. I shot Elk with 270 Short mag and also had the same result. You indicate that there was no exit wound which tells me that perhaps you were shooting sub sonic. The 300 Blk is more than sufficient for deer at out to 100 yards but it has to be loaded correctly. If you are not reloading you can buy 110 grain Barnes loaded in factory which will do the job or any expanding bullet in the 110 to 130 grain range. These also work well for Hogs and I can honestly say a tough old Hog is much harder to harvest than a thin skinned Deer. They even have ammunition for the 300Blk labeled as Hog Hammers.

Your shot was good and the caliber is sufficient, sounds like the ammunition selection was wrong.

I agree my ammo selection was wrong. I will try the 110 Barnes like I already said I have those. The Winchester 150 group better so that is what we went with. In my mind I thought using a heavier bullet would be better obviously I was wrong.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Post up some pics of the 6.5G build when you get it done. You going with a Bartlein barrel for this one, as well?

 

[Nuclear Worker]

Post up some pics of the 6.5G build when you get it done. You going with a Bartlein barrel for this one, as well?

For one of them yes. The place I got the 300bo from said he would take it back if I didn't like it. So we will see if he does. If he does I was going to go with a 14-1/2 for her pistol? The other one like I said is going to be 18 with the straight flute stopping short so I can cut down to 16 if I choose.

 

[Thomas Culver]

I couldn't find the 110 Barnes, so ended up getting the 120 Barnes factory ammo. It doesn't group great, but is right at an inch at 100 yards. This is a 16" 300BO that I built for my 6yo son to shoot. We shot 4 pigs with it last year, never quite got andeer to cooperate, but the furthest trail I had was 25 yards on an 80 yard shot through the shoulders of a 150lb pig.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

Obviously I chose the wrong ammunition. But with a true length of 11" I guess it just doesn't have the velocity. People have talked about need to shoot in the head if you want to drop it. This is not a stand gun this was built for the purpose of still hunting and making drives in the swamp. So standing deer are very rare. I just can't put my faith in a round that can't leave a blood trail on a good shot at 40-50 yards regardless of the bullet used. I realize I chose the wrong bullet but even with the right bullet and a marginal shot would you find the deer? Not willing to take the chance. I am going with the 6.5 Grendel in a little longer barrel. Might not be quite as handy as the 12 inch but if it kills better than she will deal with it. For the guys that use the 300 bo and it works for you great.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

Post up some pics of the 6.5G build when you get it done. You going with a Bartlein barrel for this one, as well?

The other barrel is from Muller Works. Small private shop 30 miles from me. He makes barrels for a lot of the big names Barrett etc.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

Blaming the 300 Blackout is lame! 150 grain is a poor choice in this for your combination. Which equals poor choice for the task at hand. Understand what the job is first and select for the job. Using a handgun is different from using a rifle, choose accordingly! Short barrels and lower velocity small diameter round does not make for a good body shot combo, if you are looking for fast knock down. Also, very low likely hood of complete penetration with this combo. If you want a fast knock down, shoot them in the head! Don't blame your own lack of prep for lack of understanding what will happen.

I admit bad choice of ammunition! But any caliber that can't leave a exit wound on a thin skinned animal at 40-50 yards with a good shot is not for me. I thought I had a good idea and my lack of knowledge of many components cost me. But look at the tables and you can't deny the 6.5 Grendel has a lot more to offer. If you shoot the 300 bo and it works for you more power to you.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Just found these on the internet... Might be worth a try...

 

[troupe]

You already mentioned that the 150 gr was the wrong ammo. You were right on that. Not enough velocity. The 110's Barnes works great in the BO and made for it. If you want quiet, Hornady has a sub sonic 300 BO with the flex tip. It is very quiet and it opens up very well. We use the BO and Hornady combo for a local hunting clubs youth day deer hunt. The kids love it, and the ones that shot deer with it has not lost a deer .DRT You also mentioned the 6.5 Grendel in sub-sonic. You would be going down the same path as with the 150 gr. If the bullets are not made specifically for sub sonic expansion, you will be doing the same thing as the 150 gr. If you go with the Grendel, you will need at least a 16" minimum. I wnet down that road back when it was called a 300 Whisper. I had 240 Sierra SMK's at 950 fps. Very quite in my rifle. Would shoot through a 11" pine tree, but was terrible on deer. If a bone was not struck on bullet entry which would allow the bullet to tumble, and tumble it did. If not, it was a 30 cal ***** in one side and out the other. The bullet would tumble if it hit a blade of wheat, because you could hear it tumbling through the field. The BO has a place, and with the right ammo,can be a efficient killer. It came from a special purpose requirement by some elite warriors and it done what it was suppose to do. Match it up right, and a deer does not have a chance. It also is great for smaller stature folks with little recoil, mild report, and as the kids at the club said, "that was awesome".

 

[MudRunner2005]

I agree, the 6.5 Grendel would be great, but not for subsonic use. You'll be going down the same path, just from different ends of the road.

That's why I said if you want to do subsonic stuff with a suppressor, hang onto that .300 BLK and build you 6.5 Grendel for the wife to hunt with. I wouldn't use subsonic loads in it. I'd use 120-130 grain hunting loads.

 

[troupe]

The new flex tip Hornadys are made for suppression, but of coarse would not have to be shot with a can. They were shot out of 16" Ruger Ranch's. The faster the better for sure.