Someone skool me in the pros and cons of 556 vs 300blk in an AR pistol. I'm going to make one, most likely 556, but have seen a lot in 300blk and am wondering what, if anything, would make it a better choice.
That's the only thing that's really holding me back from 300 is the price of ammo.As mentioned above...
As far as ballistics
<10.5 inches go with .300
>10.5 inches go with 5.56/223
Though, realistically, even at the speeds you get out of a 5.56 under 10.5 inches it will be pretty darn devastating to anything/anyone under 100 yards. I love everything about .300 AAC except the price of the ammo.
That's the only thing that's really holding me back from 300 is the price of ammo.
Imaywill eventually move to 300blk I just don't have the money for a "decent" amount of ammo, and by decent I mean at least 2k rounds. With .40c being the average for the "good" stuff that's $800+ and I just can't do it right now. Eventually, absolutely, been wanting to for a bit. I don't feel like getting random 20rd boxes here and there either. Plus I gotta get my rifle skills back up to par.
I’ll play devils advocate here...
I say go for it: you don’t >need< 2,000 rounds on hand. At least not all at once.
I’ll explain...because I have time and feel like playing the “what if game”.
This .300AAC you are putting together is a truck gun. It is meant to be the gun you grab when things go south. So what are the main scenarios you would need it:
1. Immediate pew pew/active shooter/self defense: a full military combat load is like 200-300 rounds...so, just keep 10 mags loaded and in a gear bag in the car.
2. SHTF get home Gun: as above...with your get home bag and everything you will have 10 mags in the car, so carry whatever you want to get home. Once home, if it is truly a SHTF scenario, then grab your ballistically superior full sized AR for social work. This pistol is meant to be stop gap between pistol and rifle. Not a replacement for them.
Practice? Shoot it enough to ensure zero, ensure reliability, and then practice with your cheaper 5.55/223. It’s the same as carrying .357 magnum and practicing with .38 special. The platforms are going to be identical in their manual of arms.
So...start off with 300 rounds...get your 10 stocked up, and then from there just replace what you shoot and buy more when you feel like it.
Personally, I really only keep 4 dedicated .300 AAC mags loaded. I am too fat to be firing and maneuvering for too long, so I have no illusions of surviving a long lasting running gun battle. And if it happens at home, I have other options.
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Sorry bro, my wife got me distracted lol i read your very thorough post, and I considered a lot of things in it especially the muzzle velocity of 556 out of particular barrel lengths. I think I'm going to go with a 12" version of my gas piston. I like how it operates and it's 1:7 so it'll still give good velocity to the bullet. Thoughts? @Michael458
She called me while she was in on lunch and I totally forgot what I was doing. LolGotta luv it when your wife distracts you huh?
HEH....... Well, that is a point. Just feed them a lot of them to equal one of mine........! That's how I figure it. Ain't math good!
I will stand with Handloading for anything worth feeding in my stuff..........
Of course, I love hand loading ammo, so you gotta love it. And, it don't have anything to do with being cheaper, its more expensive...........
I use Processed Brass from Everglades
This 5.56 Processed Military Brass is fully processed. Cleaned, resized, deprimed, swaged and trimmed. Ready to load. Brass is once fired military auction brass in excellent condition. Appears to be predominantly Lake City and FC. $265 per 2500 pieces or .106 each........
50 Raptor Cutting Edge $56/50..... but I buy BULK, and I get a hell of a discount because I helped design it........I believe the last 2500 I bought were around $0.80 each........
That is basically $0.90 each without the powder/primer..............
Roughly the 300 BLK is about the same...........
But I know without any doubt at all, it is #1 top of the list in Terminal Performance in that cartridge.
Now one does not need several 1000 of these on hand unless you are totally OCD like me. You can get by with far less and then go to other bullets for bulk, but FMJ is not hitting on much of anything.... Have to use a lot of those to equal up..........