300 Blackout powder

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PepNYC

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Hey everyone. Been a while. Hope everyone is doing good under the current state of affairs.
So I'm starting to reload 300 blackout. I need advice on powder. I'd really like one that I can use for 300 and 223. Would Varget work? BLC-2? H335? IMR 4198? I have some of those that's why I ask. I don't want to go with a 300 blackout specific powder because I'd like it to serve more than one purpose than just blackout like the CFE BLK isn't advised for 223 because of the burn rate. Or so I've read.


I've seen some using magnum pistol powders but I don't have any of those and they recommend magnum pistol primers which again I don't have any of. Basically just trying to use what I have.


Also, do I just need a 308 diameter projectile for these? 110gr, 125, etc. I know they go heavier but what's a good weight for 300? Range and defense. Most likely going to be used in a 8in or 10.5in barrel.

Side note. These are supersonic not subs.
 
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H110 and Accurate 1680 work well in my 8” sbr, using 200 to 220 grain Hornady or Sierra bullets. That is assuming you want to shoot Subsonic speeds. 2400 is ok, as long as you obey the loading manuals.
.308 Diameter bullets only should be used, unless you are trying Lead bullets and want to go very slightly larger.
if you don’t have a loading manual, print load data off of Hodgdons web page. You can get in trouble with the Blackout if you use the wrong powder.
 
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I use H110 with my 110 grain supersonic loads. I shoot either the Barnes tac-tx, Hornady vmax, or nosler varmageddon. I have taken some decent size wild pigs and deer with those loads, they are very effective and would have no qualms using them for self defense.
 
It would be one thing if you were trying to shoot subs in 300BLK, but if you want supers for both…that’s a tough ask
 
Ok so seeing that most powders recommended for 300 are for magnum pistol loads do I need to use magnum rifle primers?
 
To your specific question, no you shouldn't be using any powders you'd use for 223. Its burn rate is too slow.

I personally use Shooters World Blackout, basically a CFE Black clone. Thing is, just a pound will go a long way. I only use 11.2 gr in my 220gr subs. As far as primers, I use CCI 41, but otherwise my most recipes seems to call for small rifle mag.
 
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IMR 4227 will work for both supers and sub loadings.
It may not deliver the fastest speeds in supers but does suffice, I use it for subs and like the results.
 
PepNYC said:
So I'm starting to reload 300 blackout. I need advice on powder. I'd really like one that I can use for 300 and 223.
Click to expand...
PepNYC said:
Side note. These are supersonic not subs.
Click to expand...
Those two cartridges are just not conducive at all with interchanging powders.

I have several years of data on both cartridges, along with Pressure Data and various powders. For 300 BLK and supersonic, nothing works as good as WW 296. You do NOT need magnum primers, standard small rifle primers do just fine, I use Winchester and Federal here.

I use 100 Flat Base Raptors from Cutting Edge Bullets as my number one load with 20.3/WW 296 54000 PSI. Common bullets available is the excellent 110 Barnes TAC with 19.5/WW 296 slightly higher pressures at 56000 PSI. A good less expensive bullet is the various Hornady 110s with 19/WW 296 53000 PSI.

I do not use heavier bullets than 110 gr on any regular basis in 300 BLK, however I have done some test work with 125 gr and LilGun holds a small edge over WW 296 with velocity at lower pressures. But at this point you are getting low on the scale for terminal performance with that weight class and designs.

223 powders are way too slow to work properly in 300 BLK. And, 300 BLK powders too fast to work in 223...............
 
I don’t think there are any powders that will work well for both .223 and 300BLK. You’d be making quite a compromise to make something work. Not worth it.

I like H110/W296 for 110-125gr bullets and they perform very well in my 8.5-10.5” barrels.

1680 is pretty much the standard for 200gr+ subs. I don’t shoot subs much but it does work very well.

I’ve also loaded some 147gr supers using Lil Gun and H110, for cheap plinking, and Lil Gun does better at that weight.

As for primers, I use SRP for all 300BLK.
 
I use H110 for my 300blk 8" AR. :) CCI #41 primers just so I'm consistent between 300blk and 5.56. But the powder is utterly not interchangeable. Totally different pressure curves you're working with between the two.
 
Projectile question now. I've seen some say the lower grains are better for hunting., self defense, etc. 110-125. Anything above that is for plinking. And I know the really heavy stuff is mostly used for subsonic. 200, 220, etc. I'm strictly loading supersonic for now. Thoughts?
 
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Lighter weight is required to attain the necessary velocity for reliable expansion of most 30cal bullets since were usually talking about bullets designed for .308.

125gr Speer TNT’s just barely get up to speed in my 10.5” barrel, but are too slow in my 8.5”s. 110gr Vmax and similar do just fine in 8.5” and perform well in 300BLK. Arguably the best defensive and hunting round is the 110gr Barnes TTSX.
 
The Single most Terminally Effective projectile in production for this application currently is the 100 Flat Base Raptor from CEB (Cutting Edge Bullets), and its been tested thoroughly in the field up to and including Black bear.

Next in line for Terminal Effect is either the 110 or 115 gr Lehigh Chaos

Next in line is the Barnes TAC.

These are for serious duty.
 
I love my 300 BO. I have both bolt and AR (both rifle and pistol) variants.

For hunting, I have 125(TGK) and 150 grain(SP) loads. For plinking, I have 147 grain FMJ. I'm still working up subsonic loads up to 240 grain.

My established loads have powders of: Trailboss (90 grain), H110, AA1680, CFE BLK, A 5744 (ARs).

You're right- it's really a 'pistol' in that it needs to burn within 8" or so.
 
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Everyone might not agree with me on this! I have awesome results with cfe223 and imr3031 using it in 223 and 308. Haven’t loaded any 300bo but I’m curious about it with those powder’s! Has anyone tried either of these with 300bo? If so what was the results?
 
I've really liked LilGun with subs, but I recall the Freedom Arms head honcho making a stink years back about that powder destroying barrels and it always gives me a little pause... that said it hasn't melted any of my rifling yet.
 
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