Courtesy of Tactical Life

It has taken a few years, but the popularity of the 300 Blackout is starting to settle. As the initial hype has faded and ammunition availability increased, its practical value has become more evident.

That process is common in the firearms industry, but it’s more intense today thanks to social media and the immediacy of the news cycle. Items billed as “earth-shattering” and “groundbreaking” come down to earth eventually. Many disappear, but others find their niche after being proven through testing, evaluation and honest use. Many new cartridges have experienced this, and the 300 Blackout is the latest.

The 300 BLK does some things incredibly well. It is currently one of the best choices for suppressed short-barreled ARs. With few exceptions, suppressing barrels shorter than 10 inches in 5.56mm or 7.62mm can be problematic. You can make a short-barreled 7.62x39mm work, but it’s hard to find reliable magazines for these carbines. Terminal ballistics with the 300 BLK remain effective, with barrels as short as 8.5 inches keeping them useful. It’s also the only chambering I know of that will allow an AR to shoot subsonic and supersonic ammo interchangeably without alteration. Properly suppressed, these guns are very quiet—incredibly quiet with subsonic ammunition.

Suppressors designed for this caliber offer sound suppression that’s almost unattainable with other calibers and short barrels. Therefore, my 300 BLK rifles typically remain suppressed. If this option is legal in your state, it’s a great way to go. Integral suppressors are another great option for today’s shooters.

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