Thread: 300BLK on AR Platform for Bush Hunting

toys.....LOL.

I have shot a few animals with 125 gr nosler ballistic tip out of my 300 whisper. They penetrate very well and do enough damage to kill a deer cleanly, but they don't have the grunt of a 308 or 270. So beware if you are going to try neck shot, YOUR bullet will need to touch the vitals!
As for subsonics (220 gr/240 gr smk and 208amax), despite all the internet rag about them,( as said above )they do not clean animal well. They fly through with out stoping, inflicting wounds sometime not wider than the bullet diameter, living the animal in pain till you finish it properly .

I run Targex 125 match as a super load in my Blackout, and Sierra 240 MK's for subs. I've shot a few stinkies with the supers, they drop well, I really rate the Targex pills. My mate was using it and dropped a stinky with a neckshot at 180m, offhand. I shot a fallow with the subs, it dropped, but the pill went straight through. I think @Spanners was working on pills with cuts in them that would peel back, probably be better. Thought about loading a MK backwards so it hits blunt end first but haven't tried it yet. Took a bit of finesse to get the subs to cycle, but she goes good now.

I make brass here. Have a dedicated machine setup.
Expanding Proj have tested well - it's a time thing to make them with the other 50 projects I have going

I would be hesitant to use subs on anything larger than goats. The energy levels just aren't there. Typical sub loads have the same energy at the muzzle that a good 5.56 load has at like 400m. I bet they are fun to shoot with though.

Agree, of you really want subsonic then they are great but for deer I'd pick a 6.5 grendal or ar10.

The attraction IMO is getting a competent close range hunting round in an AR without needing funky bolts or magazines. Use the same mags as your 5.56

I have only shot one deer with 300blk ao my sample size is not huge!
Seemed to work well,and getting the performance out of a very short tube-something I like in the bush.
Have shot a fair number of goats and a few bunnys with the subs and to be honest .45apc works better-even tho 300bkl gives a lot longer effective subsonic range.

Honestly I would go with 6.8spc for a bush ar,still works with a short tube and better ballistics than 300blk.

buy a cheap 2nd hand 308 or 7mm08 , plenty out there, and chop down the barrel to 18in. Much better, lighter option for bush bashin and lower costs to run imo. And much more effective in terms of knock down power.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

buy a cheap 2nd hand 308 or 7mm08 , plenty out there, and chop down the barrel to 18in. Much better, lighter option for bush bashin and lower costs to run imo. And much more effective in terms of knock down power.

Been there done that. Just sold a 7-08 bush pig I built. Looking at something different, that's all. And always wanted an AR so trying to justify it

Sell ya bolt 223 and get a couple of uppers, then it will be justified

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

Sell ya bolt 223 and get a couple of uppers, then it will be justified

Could never part with it. Too much sentimental value.

Why do you need to justify it? Just get it

Originally Posted by Toby

Why do you need to justify it? Just get it

I know Toby, it really is that simple. But when buying something new I always try to learn as much about it as possible so I can make a informed decision on whether it'll be suitable for the purpose I intend to use it for. Hence asking all of you wise men your opinions on the calibre for NZ bush hunting

Its not the best tool for the job. Its that simple. But they are fun and something a bit different