The 300 Blackout emerged from the 5.56 NATO cartridge as a specialized caliber ideal for suppressed use during spec ops.
It didnโt take long for it to catch on among shooting enthusiasts and it is now a fairly popular option for the AR-15 platform. Evolving from its military roots, the 300 Blackout has developed into a versatile cartridge that is useful for hunting, home defense, and target shooting both competitive and non.
Keep reading to learn about some of the best 300 Blackout ammo options available today.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for 300 Blackout Ammo
- OUR TOP PICK: Aguila - 300 AAC Blackout 150gr FMJ Rifle Ammo
- BEST BULK BUY: Magtech 300AAC Blackout 200gr, 50rds
- โHORNADY SUBSONIC 300 BLACKOUT 190-GR, 20-RDS: Hornady Subsonic 300 Blackout 190gr, 20rds
Comparison Chart of the Best 300 Blackout Ammo
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What to Watch For When Buying 300 Blackout Ammo
Having a solid base of knowledge and a firm grasp on your own shooting needs and requirements is important when shopping for any type of ammo and 300 Blackout is certainly no exception. Keep the following things in mind when shopping for 300 BLK ammo and your decision-making process will be a breeze.
This Section Written By:
Brian Belko
Expert Author
Brian is an experienced freelance writer and technical writer who has previously written for publications such as Wide Open Spaces, Bigfoot Gun Belts, Alien Gear Holsters, and Kampgrounds of America. He brings both a passion for writing and a love of the outdoors to his published content.
Aside from writing and the outdoors, Brian enjoys gardening, being a co-host on The Nostalgia Blast Podcast, and learning to code.
Right Tool for the Job
The idea of evaluating your personal shooting needs is a recurring theme when getting advice on ammo selection. While it sometimes seems redundant to mention often, it still always bears repeating. It is just that important and helpful. You might think that of course, you know what you need from your ammo, but a finer degree of detail can really help you zero in on the best option.
The best 300 Blackout ammo for home defense isnโt going to be the same as the best 300 Blackout ammo for hog hunting. That isnโt to say you have to buy a specific type of ammo for everything you want to do with your 300 Blackout rifle. There are plenty of options that match the versatility of the rifle. However, if you want premium performance for a specific application then really digging into those needs is extremely helpful.
Make a list of your expectations for your application. This will help you to figure out which features to look for when shopping for ammo. Is it precision for long range target shooting? Then ballistic coefficient and velocity will be important. Is it sufficient stopping power for hog hunting? Then bullet weight and bullet style will be key factors to consider.
Suppression Friendly
If you have ever been interested in adding a suppressed firearm to your arsenal, the 300 Blackout platform is ideal. When suppressed, the 300 Blackout is relatively silent while still maintaining hard-hitting ability. This makes a suppressed 300 Blackout really useful for...well everything a non-suppressed one is good for but less harsh on the hearing. Home defense and hog hunting, however, are two standouts to excel with suppression.
Spotlight on Home Defense
Rifles are not always the best choice for home defense weapons, but that is also largely dependent on the environment, location, and other key factors. However, if a rifle fits your home defense needs and situation, a short-barreled 300 Blackout AR-15 with a suppressor is an excellent option. Pair it with some subsonic ammo with a polymer tip or hollow point bullet.
Review of the Best 300 Blackout Ammo
We have done the research so that you don't have to. Follow our guide below for a detailed list of the best 300 Blackout ammo on the market today.
Best Overall:
Aguila - 300 AAC Blackout 150gr Fmj Rifle Ammo
Pros
Cons
Aguila hails from Morelos, Mexico. The company started out in 1969 and since then they have distinguished themselves with innovative products such as the Aguila mini shells. Although this ammo is not manufactured in the U.S.A. but just south of the border, don't fret, Mexico knows what it's doing with guns and ammunition.
This line of Aguila rifle ammo has been designed to offer high performance with low recoil. It is ideal for tactical use cases, self-defense AR pistols, or even bolt action hunting rifles. This ammo expands upon the inherent reliability advantages of the 300 Blackout to offer excellent impact and accuracy.
The weight of the cannelured lead-core full metal jacketed bullets is a bit higher than the above option at 150-grains. This contributes to a combination of both accuracy and terminal performance. The primers are high quality staked and nickel-plated units.
All together, this package gives you a .30 caliber wallop with no more recoil than a standard 5.56. The muzzle velocity is 1900 fps and the muzzle energy is 1203 foot-pounds. This ammo is available boxes of either 50 or one thousand rounds.
Bottom Line
Aguila is remarkable for the value for money they offer given their excellent reliability. The top features of this ammo are the quality bullets and primers. If you want to save a bit of money and don't mind buying foreign ammo, you can't go wrong with Aguila.
Best Bulk Buy:
Magtech 300AAC Blackout 200-Gr, 50_Rds
Pros
Cons
Magtech is a Brazilian ammunition manufacturer that was founded in 1990. In the time that they have been in operation, they have adopted some of the most cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.
These are impressive full metal jacketed bullets loaded for subsonic performance. They weigh in on the heavier side at 200-grains. They come with standard brass shell cases small rifle primers. The projectile has a ballistic coefficient of 0.56. The muzzle velocity is listed at 1017fps and the muzzle energy is 459 foot-pounds. These rounds are designed to fire and cycle smoothly through suppressed modern sporting rifles.
These rounds work best with a pistol-length gas system and an adjustable gas block. Given the subsonic performance and heavy bullet, the ability to fine-tune your setup will give you the best results. This ammo comes in boxes of fifty rounds. If you don't mind buying ammo that was not manufactured in the U.S.A., Magtech is a great option at a decent cost. This is the ideal hard-hitting ammo for suppressed shooting in urban tactical environments.
Bottom Line
This young Brazilian company has exploded onto the scene with great ammo for a reasonable price. The top features of this subsonic 200-grain 300 Blackout ammo are the performance when suppressed and the heavy bullets. If you have a suppressed AR in 300 Blackout and want to stock up on affordable ammo, this is a great option.
Best Subsonic Ammo:
Hornady Subsonic 300 Blackout 190-Gr, 20-Rds
Pros
Cons
Hornady of Nebraska is one of the best ammunition makers in the world. It has proven its reputation for innovation by developing excellent rounds such as the .17 HMR, the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .204 Ruger. This subsonic 300 Blackout ammo is designed for accuracy and performance.
The projectiles are Hornady's proprietary Sub-X (subsonic expanding) bullets with a lead core. They weigh a hefty 190-grains. The bullets feature a unique design. Hornady's patented Flex Tip insert in the hollowpoint cavity helps to provide reliable expansion at low velocities. These rounds have been tested to meet or exceed the FBI's terminal ballistic test requirements.
Long grooves in the gilt metal jacket combine with the bullet's flat profile to guarantee expansion. The bullets are also cannelured for a solid case crimp. This increases reliability with semi-automatic firearms. The bullets' ballistic coefficient is .437. These rounds are quiet even if fired without a suppressor. They also provide a low flash signature to keep your position concealed. The muzzle velocity is 1050 fps and the muzzle energy is 465 foot-pounds.
Bottom Line
You can't really go wrong with Hornady. These are very well-designed cartridges using top quality, innovative components. The top features are the various innovations in the projectile design. These include the Flex Tip and the grooves in the gilt metal jacket. If you need a subsonic round from a company with a top reputation, you can't go wrong with these.
Best Hunting Ammo:
Sig Sauer 300 AAC Blackout 120-Gr, 20-Rds
Pros
Cons
Manufacturers don't tend to appear more than once in our guides without reason. Sig Sauer is one of those names in the firearms industry that you just can't argue with. You can rest assured that whatever Sig Sauer product you get, you are getting the best in quality and innovation.
These are high-end hunting rounds that are designed to provide 1.8 times their diameter in expansion. They are also designed to function perfectly with AR style feeding systems. The nose geometry and elite nickel-plated shell cases give you the best in consistency, reliability, and accuracy.
These are 120-grain bullets that clock in with a muzzle velocity of 2250 fps and a muzzle energy of 1349 foot-pounds. That much energy gives you the best in downrange stopping power for mid to large game.
Although the 300 Blackout was originally designed just for urban tactical situations, developments such as cartridges like these prove that the caliber is capable of almost anything you throw at it. These rounds are great for hunting deer with an AR-15 in states where the .223 is too small to be allowed. Even if allowed on deer, the 300 Blackout will perform better anyway.
Bottom Line
The top features of these rounds are the great expansion and knockdown power. You simply cannot find better 300 Blackout ammo for hunting.
Best Ballistic Ammo:
Hornady Frontier .300 Blackout 125-Gr, 20-Rds
Pros
Cons
It is hard to ignore Hornady when so much of the ammo they produce is a game changer in performance and value for money. Ballistics can be a tricky thing to judge because any judgment will be contingent upon your intended use case. Nevertheless, these rounds stand out because you can't find a round with more consistent ballistics.
Hornady employs some state-of-the-art loading techniques and quality control methods. This ensures the uniformity and reliability of every round in their Frontier line. These cartridges are designed to perform well in practically any use case including plinking, target shooting, hunting, self-defense, or law enforcement.
The full metal jacketed bullets have a non-steel core (we're guessing that means lead). The shell cases are brass and they come with military-grade boxer primers and propellant. The muzzle velocity is 2175 fps and the muzzle energy is 1313 foot-pounds. The ballistic coefficient of the projectile is .250 and the sectional density is .188. One major benefit of these cartridges is how cost effective they are for target practice or plinking.
Bottom Line
Hornady is a hard company to ignore. These rounds give you great performance no matter what use case you subject them to. Their best features are their consistency and versatility. If you need a 300 Blackout round with consistent ballistics, you can't beat this option.
Best from Hornady:
Hornady - Black Ammo 300 AAC Blackout 110-Gr
Pros
Cons
Hornady appears more times in our guide than any other manufacturer for a reason. For high-quality ammunition at a reasonable price, they are very hard to beat. Plus, by buying Hornady you are supporting a great American company.
Hornady's Black line of ammunition is optimized for use with a variety of platforms, but mainly with modern sporting rifles, the most popular rifles today. This ammunition is proudly made in the U.S.A. It is designed to work no matter whether your AR features direct impingement, a gas piston, a suppressor, or a variety of other options.
The shell cases are high-quality, as are the primers and propellant. The muzzle velocity for these 110-grain bullets is a snappy 2375 fps and the muzzle energy is 1377 foot-pounds. The ballistic coefficient is .290 and the sectional density is .166. If you don't mind paying a bit extra for top performing ammunition for your modern sporting rifle, this is an excellent option. They come in boxes of twenty or two hundred.
Bottom Line
Once again, Hornady asserts their alpha dominance in the ammunition field. These light, high-velocity rounds are perfect for tactical situations and varmint hunting, the traditional purview of the AR-style rifle. The top features of these rounds are optimization for ARs and the velocity. These rounds are sure not to disappoint.
Best from Remington:
Remington - Premier Match Ammo 300 AAC Blackout 125-Gr
Pros
Cons
Remington is the oldest firearms manufacturer in the country and the top producer of long guns. They have developed more cartridges than any other company and enjoy some of the most contested military contracts in the industry.
Remington Premier Match ammunition uses all match-grade bullets. They use unique, cutting-edge loading methods to ensure top-class performance and consistency. This match-grade ammo is nothing, if not accurate. These rounds work perfectly in either modern sporting rifles or bolt action hunting rifles.
Each round features a proprietary 125-grain, Open Match Tip bullet. These are apparently actually Hornady A-max match grade bullets. They are jacketed, tipped, and cored for the best possible ballistic coefficient. Remington rates the muzzle velocity at 2215 fps and the muzzle energy is 1360 foot-pounds.
For match-grade ammo, this is a relatively affordable option. This makes it a good option for a standard tactical round to tune your AR around. Not only is this ammo accurate and reliable, but it also offers superior consistency for tighter groups without flyers.
Bottom Line
Remington is generally a safe option for good quality, reliability ammo. The top features of this 125-grain 300 Blackout ammo are the consistency and the match-grade projectile. Another big benefit is how widely available they are.
Cheapest Ammo:
Fiocchi Ammunition - 300 AAC Blackout 150-Gr, 50/Box
Pros
Cons
Fiocchi was founded in 1876 in Italy. Well-known and respected in the shotgun community, Fiocchi produces some excellent ammo at a great price. This 150-grain 300 Blackout ammo has been designed specifically for use with America's favorite type of gun, the modern sporting rifle.
These mid-weight full metal jacketed bullets give you excellent supersonic performance. They have a military-type boat tail design to really squeeze out the best ballistics from the round. Don't be deceived by the low price, this product made our list for very good reason, the quality is impressive for the price. Fiocchi uses precision-formed brass cases.
Once you see the quality you will want to save the shells for reloading if that's your thing. The powder used in these rounds burns cleanly and the primers are reliable. Despite the price, this Fiocchi full metal jacketed ammo gives you outstanding consistency and reliability.
This is a great option if you need a decent cheap round to run through hundreds of shots for practice, but it is great for any shooting scenario too. The muzzle velocity is 1950 fps and the muzzle energy is 1266. All things considered, this ammo is a great middle-of-the-road option in 300 Blackout specifications.
Bottom Line
The top features of this ammunition are the affordability and the reliability. This would be a great option to stock up on for a SHTF prepper kit.
9. Hornady 300 AAC Blackout 125gr, 50 Round Box
Pros
Cons
Hornady is one of the nation's most recognized ammunition brands. They are based in Nebraska and have been around since 1949. Some of their bullet and cartridge designs have reached legendary status.
Hornady's HP American Gunner 125-grain, 300 AAC Blackout ammo comes in a standard box of fifty rounds. The HP American Gunner line of ammunition includes a series of proven, versatile loads that have proven popular for target shooting, hunting, and self-defense. The HP American Gunner line is completely made in the U.S.A. using top quality materials and components. Hornady markets the line as the culmination of ballistics expertise with modern technology.
The bullets are match-grade hollow points that are great for a huge range of applications. If you are a reloader, you know that Hornady brass is prized in the reloading community. All the components, including brass and primers, are about as high quality as you will find. Overall, this ammo is designed to be versatile, reliable, and standard, giving you consistent shooting at conventional velocities. The muzzle velocity is 2175 fps and muzzle energy is 1313 foot-pounds.
Bottom Line
Hornady is one of the top ammunition manufacturers worldwide. Their HP American Gunner line offers great versatility at standard velocities. The top features of this ammo are the quality components and the versatile hollow-point bullets. The value for money factor is also high with this one, it is a great type of ammo to stock up on.
10. Sig Sauer 300 AAC Blackout 125Gr, 20-Rds
Pros
Cons
Sig Sauer is a name that is immediately associated with quality and innovation. It is a Swiss-German collaboration founded in 1979. Since then it has revolutionized handguns and won some of the most desirable military contracts.
These are supersonic rounds with 125-grain bullets. The bullets are Sierra Match King projectiles. These give you outstanding accuracy and only slight dispersion when they are suppressed. Each bullet is tested for consistency in weight and quality. They provide fantastic downrange terminal performance.
Overall reliability and accuracy are aided by high-quality shell cases and primers. All together, this package will give you excellent consistency in velocity. Even the loading process uses advanced technology for the highest precision. Each round is loaded using cutting-edge electromechanical monitoring for perfect alignment and concentricity.
This line gives you 2200 fps of muzzle velocity and 1343 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. They come in boxes of 20. With Sig Sauer, you know that the attention to quality and precision can't be beaten. It is hard to find more precise factory ammunition.
Bottom Line
If there is any company you can rely on for quality, it is Sig Sauer. They have paid attention to every possible detail of the manufacture of this ammo to give you the best accuracy and dependability. The best feature is the quality of all the components used.
Ideal Situations for the 300 Blackout
The 300 Blackout was originally designed to provide similar performance to the 7.62x39mm Soviet round in an AR-15 with a standard magazine and bolt. This was based on real combat experience in which the standard 5.56x45mm NATO round did not provide sufficient knockdown power at the short ranges of urban combat. Similar problems have been experienced with 9mm submachine guns.
An agile, short-barreled M4 carbine in 300 Blackout addresses the deficiencies of both. This makes the 300 Blackout an outstanding home defense round. However, since its development ten years ago, the caliber has been developed and tested for hunting at mid to long-range with outstanding results thanks to its 30 caliber knockdown power.
It works perfectly on varmints and mid-sized game. Bullets with good expansion will take care of large game, too. In fact, it is difficult to find a more versatile rifle round.
Qualities of Great 300 Blackout Ammo
Several qualities go into a really reliable, great round for this weapon. Here are a few to keep in mind.
Intended Use
One important quality of any ammo is that it should be suited to your intended use. With 300 Blackout, you have options from low subsonic rounds to high-powered long distances ones. The former are great for tactical situations with a suppressed rifle. The latter are more suited to long range shooting and hunting.
Feeding
The best ammo will feed reliably in your firearm. Most ammo tends to work fine, but sometimes you get an ammo and rifle pairing that just don't like each other. One mag of testing should be enough to see if there is a problem.
Reliability
The best ammo will also fire safely and reliably. Misfires can be dangerous as they may go off after a short delay, while Bubba is peering down the bore to see what went wrong. Always go with reputable manufacturers to avoid this problem. You will want to take your ammo to the range to test the accuracy. No matter how reliable it is, if shot placement isn't consistent and you can verify that the problem isn't you or your rifle, you are not shooting the best 300 AAC ammo.
Conclusion
With so many options in ammunition, it can be hard to choose the best type. It is best to experiment with a few options for each of your intended use cases. Our list is a great place to start. Remember to shoot safely and enjoy the process of finding the best 300 Blackout ammunition for you.