Thread: Seeking300 Blackout Howa 1500 Mini Action Rifle Experts

Hi All,

I recently became the owner of my very first rifle. It's a 300 Blackout Howa 1500 Mini Action Rifle.

I've got a couple of questions:
1). Bullets - does anyone have any recommendations on the brand to go for? What grain would you go for as well? I was given a few different ones including some sub-sonics to go with the rifle, but haven't had a chance to test them out yet... I'll be mainly doing bush hunting with the option of doing some longer shots from time to time, so I don't suspect the shots will be long. I've been comfortable shooting a friend's 308 out to 300m, so I need to figure out what would be a comfortable range for this rifle.
2). Given the above, what's the best range to Zero the rifle scope to?
3). If I'm buying a scope, what would be the best magnification to go for? Is it worth getting something that can go out to 16 on it given I might one day buy a bigger caliber like the 308 or 270?

Thanks in advance to all!

Cheers,
Q

@Joe_90

2 and 3 are very much personal preference.
2) 3-9 is a good scope range for most general purposes hunting sub 300m. x15 - x18 is good for a longer (some people regularly shoot animals at 500m with a 9x) and for smaller animals at long distance x24 is good. But probably won't be intending to do that with 300BLK.

3) depends what your plan is. Sell the 300blk and keep the scope.? To me it makes more sense buying the scope for what your use case is at the time, unless you get a steal on something with more zoom. As you can swap that over then find something again for the 300blk
Do you want to be able to dial? Or have BDC. That will matter as well.

1. Whatever you want. They'll shoot everything from 110gr to 225gr. Pick what's appropriate for the hunting and shooting you will do. I found supers started to lose their rapid killing power past 150-200m.

2. You might find that if you zero with subs at say 50m that your zero with supers will be way too high and vice versa. If you don't get a dially scope, then once your load is sorted, bring up a mpbr calculator and you can use that to figure out the best range to zero at.

3. Entirely up to you and completely subjective. I ran either a red dot or a 1-8x on mine. If you think you might find that a bit limiting then go higher. Again probably depends on the hunting you will do.

Hey Quintin,

I have had a 300BLK for a long time and shot most animals in nz with it with the exception of Thar and wild cattle.

1 - I'd use the 110gr vmax if reloading over a charge of either W296 or Lilgun, the latter being the best powder. I use a 16" barrel but favoured the 12" barreled rifle when I had it.

The 125gr Nosler BT are also ok but I preferred the 110gr for that extra velocity. If you are using Factory ammo you can't go past the federal fusion or blue box 150gr, this is travelling just under 2000 fps and is pretty good.

2 - For bush shooting I would go with a 100m zero and practice some closer shots to work out your holds. I shot goats to 400m and deer to 200m with the BLK and it can be pretty unforgiving if you don't hit them right.

3 - A 3-9 or a 2-7 would be a good do all scope, get a leupold or kahles, swaro, zeiss if your budget allows as the glass is good in dark environments (light transmission). If you think you are going to shoot a mix of supers and subs then Nikko Stirling makes an affordable scope with a dual use reticle.

My advice is to remember the 300blk is a newer version of the 30-30 ballistically, so the best zero range for a 150gr bullet at 1900fps is 2.9" high at 100m which equals a 180m zero and about a 214m 'max point blank range' meaning you can hold on the deer and hit it out to 200m (exact poi is 6.7" low).

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

Hey Quintin,

I have had a 300BLK for a long time and shot most animals in nz with it with the exception of Thar and wild cattle.

1 - I'd use the 110gr vmax if reloading over a charge of either W296 or Lilgun, the latter being the best powder. I use a 16" barrel but favoured the 12" barreled rifle when I had it.

The 125gr Nosler BT are also ok but I preferred the 110gr for that extra velocity. If you are using Factory ammo you can't go past the federal fusion or blue box 150gr, this is travelling just under 2000 fps and is pretty good.

2 - For bush shooting I would go with a 100m zero and practice some closer shots to work out your holds. I shot goats to 400m and deer to 200m with the BLK and it can be pretty unforgiving if you don't hit them right.

3 - A 3-9 or a 2-7 would be a good do all scope, get a leupold or kahles, swaro, zeiss if your budget allows as the glass is good in dark environments (light transmission). If you think you are going to shoot a mix of supers and subs then Nikko Stirling makes an affordable scope with a dual use reticle.

My advice is to remember the 300blk is a newer version of the 30-30 ballistically, so the best zero range for a 150gr bullet at 1900fps is 2.9" high at 100m which equals a 180m zero and about a 214m 'max point blank range' meaning you can hold on the deer and hit it out to 200m (exact poi is 6.7" low).

How do the 110vmax work on deer vs the 125s?
I'd have thought the vmax wouldn't be constructed to work well on deer (a bit explody).

Not an expert, but for factory rounds, Hornady FTX are devastating, maybe even a little too devastating.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

How do the 110vmax work on deer vs the 125s?
I'd have thought the vmax wouldn't be constructed to work well on deer (a bit explody).

They kill well, not moving very fast so don't seem to want to blow up much. I liked them better than both the 125 nbts and ssts which I found a bit slow killing

The best bullet I used was the Barnes 110 tac, expensive though.

if you zero subsonics at 30m you will find that the 135gr supersonic will be zeroed roughly for 140m

I have a Ruger 300BLK, 16", DPT can, and a Nikon Monarch 3 2-8x32 with a BDC reticle.

I shoot 125grain hornady american gunner supers, and some custom loaded 220 grain subs. I zero for 120m (it was the best range for a 1" point blank setup iirc). Dialing to #6 on my scope gives me 50m zero for my subs. With the 125gr I go out to about 250m.

For drop I use strelok, and write the major drops (175/200/250) on my arm in sharpie before I go for a hunt. Turned out I rarely if ever shoot the subs (side by side I've found the 300 supers quieter than 223 supers). I would like to try 110gr sometime.