Anyone reload 300 blackout?

[Hilikus89]

Hi all, I have been mulling around the idea of picking up a 300 blackout upper. I have been wanting a versatile 30 caliber round, one that I could take deer/hog with, but also use as a home defense weapon if needed. Of course in California I have no access to suppressors and it will be a 16 inch barrel. Has anyone had any luck reloading 300 blackout for a non suppressed 16 inch ar?

The second part I am having difficulty with is the powder. I have seen one of the most recommended powders is Hodgdon 110 pistol powder. I have never reloaded this powder, and of course cant find any for sale, but I do have a ton of Titegroup as I have reloaded it for years. Does this mean I could use Titegroup to reload the 300 Blackout?

I have done a ton of Googling and most of what I find is for suppressors and SBRs. I guess I am just having a hard time getting started here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[tabascoz28]

Blackout is even easier than 556 to load. The h110 powder goes through any dropper. I've been told, haven't verified in my guns, that W296 is the same powder. I have been able to find h110. It is fun shooting blackout on steel closer than 100 without damaging steel.

I did sell my upper because I know I'd make a mistake one day. It is possible to load a 556 in the mag and chamber of a 300 and have it go off. Bought a 9mm instead for close steel play.

I decided that if I needed a .30 for an AR platform I could use x39. It can be reloaded with h335, same as my 308 and 556. But I guess I have an AR308 so that solves that.

[Rob454]

I had a friend who loaded 300BO. He used Lil Gun powder. I actually have 4 cans of it. I use it for my 44

[sigstroker]

I don't know if H110 is the same as 296, but it can be used for the same type of loads. It's a pistol powder used mostly for .357 and .44 Magnum loads. Titegroup sounds a bit too fast, but I don't know for sure.

If you like the idea of heavy bullet loads, like around 200 gr, be aware that most loading manuals show loads only up to 1000-1050 to stay subsonic. They can be pushed closer to 1500 fps. Those bullets have high BC's so are actually usable at 300 yards or more.

[walkonmars]

300BO, Lil'Gun, 300-MP, CFEBLK

The best supersonic loads use Hodgdon Lil'Gun or Alliant 300-MP.
I have used both with good results. Hodgdon 300BLK is also promising and seems to be designed for that caliber in mind.
Supressed loads I have no experience with. Some barrels with a 1-7 twist rate or faster will make light bullets (~120 grain or less) go unstable and keyhole when shot supersonic.
I have a Black Hole Weaponry polygonal rifled barrel that acts that way with light bullet factory Fiocchi ammo. Every shot will keyhole.
I recommend a 1-8 twist barrel for supersonic but they have been more difficult to find lately. Many only offer the 1-7.
I have shot more than 8000 rounds out of a single stainless Wilson Combat barrel but they also stopped offering it in the 1-8 twist.
There is a chance a 1-7 barrel will work OK with supersonic loads but this is not always the case. Wilson Combat claims it is OK so my keyhole issue may be a result of the polygonal rifling.

[MongooseV8]

300BO is a very fun round to experiment with. Very versatile and cheap on powder and brass. As already mentioned H110 and LilGun are a great place to start for both performance and current powder availability.

[fnlrun]

I learned how to reload on 300BO. I really like 1680 powder. Subsonic 225 ELDs and 10gr. 168 I run 18 gr

[kelvin232]

I might be consolidating calibers. If you want to buy a nice upper and sizing cutter and die set, pm me.

[edgerly779]

I have a lot of new old stock ww680 7 pounds in 1 lb cans .I wonder if it would work for 300 bo

[Hilikus89]

The best supersonic loads use Hodgdon Lil'Gun or Alliant 300-MP.
I have used both with good results. Hodgdon 300BLK is also promising and seems to be designed for that caliber in mind.
Supressed loads I have no experience with. Some barrels with a 1-7 twist rate or faster will make light bullets (~120 grain or less) go unstable and keyhole when shot supersonic.
I have a Black Hole Weaponry polygonal rifled barrel that acts that way with light bullet factory Fiocchi ammo. Every shot will keyhole.
I recommend a 1-8 twist barrel for supersonic but they have been more difficult to find lately. Many only offer the 1-7.
I have shot more than 8000 rounds out of a single stainless Wilson Combat barrel but they also stopped offering it in the 1-8 twist.
There is a chance a 1-7 barrel will work OK with supersonic loads but this is not always the case. Wilson Combat claims it is OK so my keyhole issue may be a result of the polygonal rifling.

Thanks for the in depth response. With those loads, what gas system is your upper? I have seen that pistol length is the way to go even with a 16 inch barrel to make sure all loads cycle, but also that carbine length gas tubes work fine. BCM sells 16 inch blackout uppers and they're all carbine gas systems from what I can see, so they must be OK. I am essentially looking for the round to be a 200 yard gun at the most, and most realistically only 100 yards. Was really hoping I could use Titegroup to reload, but that would be too good to be true,

[Spafxer]

I enjoyed cutting, forming, and trimming 556 cases to make 300 BO cases.

Used IMR4227 powder and 150 grain bullets 30 cal. Used these bullets for 308 reloading too! Very versatile

[Hilikus89]

Thank you all for your responses. 300 blackout is definitely an interesting caliber. I do think it has a lot of benefits and works for my needs so I will be going down this rabbit hole. Unfortunately unable to find any of your powder recommendations in stock, Ill have to keep an eye out and see what's available then go from there.

What length gas tubes do you guys use? And what ranges do you typically shoot at? Looking at subsonic vs supersonic, and is there anything in between?

[Sandspider500]

Nobody mentioned accurate 11fs yet.

[Spafxer]

I shoot 100-400 yd and enjoy the solid whack of 150 vs 55 grain on steel.

Thought about going suppressed now that I'm out of Commiefornia but never pulled that trigger so to speak!

[sigstroker]

I enjoyed cutting, forming, and trimming 556 cases to make 300 BO cases.

I would enjoy saving the money. I can't imagine enjoying doing it.

How did you cut them? I've seen one way is to get a cheap Harbor Freight chop saw thing with a carbide disk blade.