5.56 NATO       300 Blackout

Both of these cartridges are extremely popular for AR-15 rifles but are quite different.  So how do you tell which is the best for you and your purposes?

The main appeal of the 300 Blackout is the ability to effectively fire subsonic and supersonic loads.  There are lots of factory 300 Blackout loads to choose from, bullet weights from 110 grains up to 260 grains.  Often touted as the equivalent of the 30-30 Winchester, it’s substantially less powerful, it’s much closer to the 7.62×39 Russian cartridge.  Due to the 300 Blackout’s compatibility with subsonic ammo and subsonic loads offered, is largely responsible for the current interest in suppressed shooting.

Ballistics

The 5.56 NATO pushes a lighter bullet at faster velocities, while the 300 Blackout pushes heavier bullets at moderate and subsonic velocities.  They are not in the same category.  The 5.56 shoots much flatter and at distance retains more velocity and energy.  Beyond 200 yards, the 300 Blackout cannot compete with the 5.56 NATO.

Ballistics are not enough for a comparison.  Consideration of the gun, distance, target and application must be applied.

If your shooting paper, energy doesn’t matter, and if you’re shooting inside of 100 yards, trajectory matters little as well.  So, since both cartridges are typically fired from the same AR-15 style platform, to compare how they stack up, you need to look at the intended use.

Recreational/Competition Shooting

When shooting paper or steel targets, killing it is not the goal, hits are usually enough.  If this type of shooting is limited to around 150 yards both cartridges will perform equally well, but the 300 Blackout is poorly suited for distances much beyond 200 yards.  Another important factor is the amount of shooting you’re doing, and if your using factory ammo or load your own, the 5.56 is about half the cost of the 300 Blackout.

Hunting

Both the 5.56 NATO and the 300 Blackout can deliver good precision, but once the range exceeds 200 yards, hits with the 5.56 become easier.  Bullet performance at distance is less than ideal with the 300 Blackout because of low impact velocities.  However, some believe the heavier and larger .30 caliber bullet gives the Blackout an edge.  This is true at distances where the bullet will actually deform after impact.

At 200 yards and beyond, the 5.56 hits just as hard and with more velocity to drive the bullet upset and damage tissue.  With a flatter trajectory, the 5.56 is also better for varmints and predators.  However, inside 150 yards, the Blackout might have an edge on larger game.  Plus, there are a few states where the 5.56 NATO is not legal for deer hunting.

Home Defense/Survival

The AR-15 platform is very popular for home defense and survival applications.  At short range, both cartridges are effective for these purposes, the 300 Blackout has the advantage of bullet diameter and weight while the 5.56 has the velocity, if there’s an advantage, it’s the 300 Blackout’s ability to work more efficiently from shorter barrels (only 7″ is needed for complete powder burn) and can fire subsonic ammo and be very quiet when suppressed.

Suppressed Shooting

When comparing these two cartridges, this is where the Blackout has a true advantage.  You can use a suppressor with subsonic or supersonic ammo and noise reduction will be similar.  With subsonic loads, the Blackout is much quieter.  You must be careful when selecting 300 Blackout subsonic ammo if you want to deform on impact.  Some, even the ones advertised for hunting or defense, the bullets will only show minimal upset.

Conclusion

Aside from the 300 Blackout’s quietness when shooting subsonic ammo, the cartridge has only few advantages to offer over the 5.56 NATO.  You can argue the advantage of a bullet that’s larger and heavier, but the velocity advantage of the 5.56 NATO evens a lot of this out especially when shooting at distance.  The 5.56 is also less expensive to shoot.  With the Blackout you have the option of supersonic or subsonic ammo, and with the 5.56 you can also shoot the .223 Remington ammo.  So, both cartridges are, in different ways, versatile.

If suppressed subsonic shooting and close-range defense is your main consideration, or if you cannot deer hunt with a .22 caliber cartridge, the 300 Blackout is the clear choice.  For everything else, the 5.56 NATO is hard to beat.  The beauty of these cartridges is that with a complete upper receiver for each, you can utilize both on the same AR-15 lower receiver.  And if you have a .30 caliber suppressor, it can be used with both also.  However, consider this warning…it’s possible for some 300 Blackout ammo to chamber in a 5.56 rifle.  If that happens and the rifle is fired, the result can be catastrophic to the gun and dangerous to you!!  If you’re going to use both, be sure to keep the ammo separated, and double check what you are loading into your rifle.

I do have both an AR-15 (M4) and a 300 Blackout for sale on my gun store page.

Be Safe Out There