The 300 blackout is a revolutionary developed to ramp up the range and hitting power of the venerable AR-15 5.56 rounds.
Especially to compete with the popular 7.62x39 AK rounds. Like these rifles, AR pistols also have a widespread fanbase.
Here we’ll be specifically dealing with the 300 blk and drilling deep into the insights of the topic. While also reviewing the best 300 blackout pistols available today.
Comparison of the Best .300 Blackout Pistols
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Factors to Consider Before Buying a .300 Blackout Pistol
Let’s take a brief look at some design, operational and legal concepts concerning a 300 blackout pistol.
Pistol Brace or Stock
Any long weapon setup (rifle) that has a barrel length of less than 16 inches are considered short-barreled rifles (SBR). Legally, an SBR is an NFA Class III weapon that requires the user to pay a $200 federal tax stamp and a lot of forms to fill before you get possession. Not to mention the other peculiarities that follow regarding ownership, transfer, and transportation. But there’s a catch that can save you all this hectic paperwork and cost.
A 300 blackout pistol can be fitted with a brace instead of a stock. A brace is a pistol-legal version of the stock and is often meant to fire the pistol single-handedly with just the forearm’s support.
There’s one small detail you must also be aware of: You cannot legally convert a rifle into a pistol. But the opposite can be done.
Photo credit: gundigest.com
Barrel Length and Gas System
Pistol barrel lengths usually fall between 7.5 to 11.5 inches. A shorter or longer barrel is your personal preference and also the kind of ammunition your weapon likes. As far as the 300 blk is concerned, a barrel length of nine or ten inches is considered to be ideal, especially when utilizing the full potential of subsonic ammunition. Along with a pistol length gas system.
If you plan on regularly switching between subsonic and supersonic loads. You should get an adjustable gas system or an adjustable bolt carrier group. Ideally, a pistol length gas system works best for this kind of setup, making cycling reliable with sub or supersonic ammo and also with a suppressor.
While deciding the barrel length, keep in mind that a pistol with an OAL less or even more than 26 inches cannot have a vertical grip.
Look for a Rugged Receiver
Pistol length setups have to endure more stress and pressure compared to other longer length systems. Hence, a reliable receiver and other components that do not succumb to heavy pressure shall be the norm when choosing the pistol.
Forged H2 or H3 receivers and BCGs made from carpenter 158 steel that is MPI and HPT tested should be something you look for.
Review of the Best .300 Blackout Pistols
With the 300 Blackout emerging as one of the most popular alternatives AR chambering, we take a look at five quality AR pistols available in that cartridge.
Best AR Pistol:
Springfield Armory Saint .300 AAC Blackout AR-15 Pistol
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The gun shoots perfectly right out of the box, even when operated with a mounted suppressor. The recoil of this pistol is too low to be considered, and the trigger runs exceptionally smooth and crisp. The weapon fires clean and is said to be very accurate by the users.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This 300AAC blk AR pistol is the complete package with the best quality components. The patent-pending, free-float handguard with locking tabs, forward hand stop, and an adjustable stabilizing brace add to the functionality. While the adjustable gas block lets you modify the weapon according to the ammunition you are using.
Who Will Use This Most
The SAINT AR-15 Pistol features a nine-inch barrel made of Chrome Moly Vanadium (CMV) with a Melonite treatment. The 300 Blackout barrel sports a 1:7″ twist rate and pistol-length gas port with pinned, low-profile adjustable gas block.
Tactical operations, home defense, small game hunting, and target practice. Since the gun can be equipped with a suppressor, it becomes more viable for tactical purposes. The overall design makes it perfect for CQB and an amazing single-hand shooting AR pistol. However, the buyer may have to wait for an NFA license since the overall length of the pistol minorly exceeds those prescribed.
The barrel muzzle is topped with the faux suppressor muzzle device, but unfortunately, this package doesn’t include sights. As you would expect in this price range, both receivers are machined from forged aircraft-grade 7075 T6 aluminum. Whereas the upper comes with forward assist, the lower features the company’s premiere Accu-Tite tension system which adds tension between the upper and the lower receivers, overriding any misfitting and minimizing movement.
The upper receiver is equipped with a patent-pending, free-float M-Lok compatible handguard design. The nickel boron (NiB) coated, GI single-stage trigger is an in-house job. Although the manufacturer claims it is an enhanced polished trigger, its travel and pull weight still feel very much like an ordinary GI trigger.
For additional durability, the BCG’s bolt is precision-machined from 9310 steel which is about ~7% stronger than "mil-spec" Carpenter 158 steel. The bolt is shot-peened and magnetic particle inspected and the whole M16 bolt-carrier group is finished in super-hard Melonite.
Instead of a rifle buttstock, the SAINT AR-15 Pistol comes with a carbine H heavy tungsten buffer and rugged SB Tactical SBX-K forearm brace making this weapon compact, fast, and an ideal choice for home defense or CQB.
Bottom Line
Until recently, Springfield Armory has only offered their popular SAINT family of AR-15 rifles and AR-15 Pistol in 5.56. After some critical feedback from customers and the market in general, they released the newest iteration in .300 BLK which represents the next generation of America’s personal defense weapon.
The Saint .300AAC blk offers a lot of customizability options to the user while offering shooting comfort and precision. The pistol has been deliberately designed for CQB uses. Plus the sound diverting capability makes it more efficient with suppressors. Overall, it can be called the best 300 blk pistol for tactical uses.
The Springfield nine-inch barrel is an excellent compact weapon chambered in the battle-proven round and ideally suited for home defense and suppressor work.
With the addition of a rugged SB Tactical SBX-K tactical brace hanging off the buffer tube, it looks and doubles as a sporting type pistol and fills a defensive role also.
Runner-up:
Sig Sauer MCX Rattler
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The users of Sig Sauer MCX Rattler love its compact size, noise suppressing abilities with a suppressor and reliability. The pistol is extremely compact and operates flawlessly no matter how fast you shoot. The weapon is also lightweight and easy to use because of the user-friendly controls.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Like we mentioned in the introduction, the AR platform-based pistols were spawned from a Special Forces request to develop a lightweight, compact rifle intended to be suppress fired in CQB and urban warfare.
Engineers from Sig Sauer designed a specialized miniature iteration of their MCX Virtus series of rifles chambered in .300 AAC Blackout and called it MCX Rattler PSB (Pistol Stabilizing Brace).
Sig Sauer’s Rattler was engineered around a short-stroke gas operating system rather than a traditional buffer tube. Combining a gas piston actuation system and the 5.5-inch barrel in this pistol, Sig has created a heavy, 5.1-pound, 20-inch long weapon of mass destruction.
The MCX Rattler is like a space-age firearm for the user. It’s compact, bold and reliable. The full-size charging handle, safety selector and mag release are all ambidextrous for easy operation. The full-length rail and M-Lok handguard allow you to add accessories. While the ergonomic and textured pistol grip offers perfect control.
However, besides the high price tag, this miniature semi-automatic assault weapon is almost too compact for general plinking and probably isn't the ideal starter AR pistol.
Besides select-fire Rattlers, Sig Sauer also offers a semi-auto only SBR and pistol versions for civilian consumption complemented with a three-position telescoping pistol brace, which allows for an even more compact profile, since the Rattler doesn't require a buffer tube.
Free-floating M-Lok handguards are matched with a PDW mil-spec upper receiver that will fit all mil-spec AR lowers. In order to stabilize the .300 BLK, the Rattler`s hammer forged 5.5-inch barrel features a 1:5 rifling twist.
The free-floating, carbon steel barrel with nitride finish is topped with a two-position, adjustable gas piston system where the muzzle has a three-prong flash suppressor. The modular MCX Rattler’s frame is constructed from 7075 T6 aluminum and uses an enhanced AR-type fire control system and standard USGI-pattern AR-15 magazines.
Who Will Use This Most
Tactical operators. The rifle has an instantly deploying three position-stabilizing braces and a compact design with ambidextrous controls, making it perfect for high-stress situations. The pistol can be squeezed in a very compact carrying space since it doesn’t have a buffer tube. It can also be used for home defense if the situation arises.
Bottom Line
As one of the best 300BLK pistols for sale in 2019, the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler offers rifle-like firepower in a package smaller than most SMGs. The Sig Sauer MCX Rattler is by far the most feature-packed 300 blk AR pistol on our list.
Utilizing operating controls and basic ergonomics similar to the AR-15, this little 300 Blackout pistol is the pinnacle in defensive/tactical scenarios either for elite operators or experienced civilian shooters.
Since it has been designed to ideally suit the needs of a tactical operator. It is definitely an impeccable weapon to have in your inventory.
Best for the Money:
PSA 8.5" Pistol-length 300 AAC Blackout PSA 8.5"
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
According to users, this weapon is exceptionally accurate, reliable and lightweight. The gun is very well made and doesn’t show any failure even after spewing out hundreds of rounds. The recoil is very limited and manageable. Additionally, some users recommend adding a red dot to improve accuracy.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This 300blk pistol is lightweight, accurate and offers exceptional value for money. The chrome-moly barrel has a nitride finish which makes it super easy to clean and resists grime to a good extent. The lightweight M-Lok handguard allows you to add extra accessories to make it more tactical. The barrel is also threaded to let you add a suppressor.
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) is offering many different configurations of AR-15 based pistols from the barrel length, caliber, gas system, stocks, and handguards. Their 300 AAC BLACKOUT pistols come in barrel lengths ranging from 7 to 12 inches.
The PSA 8″ version is running a pistol length gas system matched by a .750" diameter low profile gas block. It is topped off with an A2-style flash hider and finished with 7” PSA handguard which is MLOK compatible with a short Picatinny rail on top for sights or optics.
Additionally, this handguard’s style comes with a modified aluminum KAK Industries Shockwave pistol buffer tube and Shockwave Technologies polymer blade pistol brace stabilizer.
The lower receiver is Magpul and is also made of 7075-T6 aluminum and marked "MULTI" for caliber, meaning it will function with more than one caliber. It is fitted with a comfortable MOE pistol grip.
BCG (bolt carrier group) is mil-spec (military specification) meaning that is made of shot-peened Carpenter 158 steel and phosphate treated for durability. Like other AR-15 offerings from Palmetto State Armory (PSA), this pistol is one of the most affordable on the market.
While some customers complained of occasional coloring issues, the more serious shortcoming is the lack of sights. Of course, you should also be aware of the recoil, which is a little more than a standard 16″ barrel AR, but still acceptable and not so unpleasant to shoot.
Who Will Use This Most
The 300blk pistol is perfect for beginners and people wanting to get a compact and maneuverable weapon for home defense. The accessory compatible rail and handguard allows the user to mount lights, lasers, and optics to improve the overall functionality for different applications. The gun is especially good while moving around corners and shooting with only a 2-3 inch drop.
Bottom Line
The PSA 8.5” blackout pistol is the best, most compact and economically viable option for beginners and people wanting a reliable home defense weapon. Plus the 1:7 twist rate and nitride coated barrel is ideal for AR pistols and the perfect value to maintain accuracy.
Due to its very short barrel, it is maybe not an "entry-level" firearm, but for sure an indispensable part of every gun collection regardless of income-level or experience.
4. PSA 16" 300 AAC Blackout MOE M-Lok Rifle
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost every user seems satisfied with this rifle. With some even naming it the ‘bang for your buck’ rifle. The rifle is sturdy, accurate and reliable. Plus its heavy build allows it to fire quick rounds for longer durations. The fit and finish of the rifle are exceptional, whereas the forged receivers add to its durability.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is a normal length rifle with a heavy profile barrel with a 1:8 twist rate and utilizes a pistol length gas system to offer reliability when using a suppressor (common with 300blk rifles). The Magpul stock and grip, along with an accessory-ready rail, handguard and extra BUIS make it a complete pistol package in regular rifle dimensions.
PSA’s rifle with 16" barrel is another product intended for a budget conscious buyers who want to stay into the world of normal length AR-15 offerings and in short you get what you pay for. That said, the PSA’s nitride 16" barrel is made of 4140 steel and chambered for 300 AAC Blackout cartridge and an M4 barrel extension. The heavy profile barrel features a 1 in 8" twist rate and muzzle with an A2 flash hider.
Interestingly, this rifle configuration firearm utilizes a pistol-length gas system instead of a carbine gas system, because the shorter pistol gas system is most preferred for reliability and when using a suppressor, which the .300 AAC Blackout was made for. This model boasts a PSA 13.5" Lightweight M-Lok free-float handguard and low-profile gas block.
Both forged receivers are quality made using 7075-T6 aluminum and machined to mil-specs. While the lower is marked "MULTI" for caliber, the flat top upper is A3 style receiver which includes forward assist and dust cover. Whereas the shot-peened bolt is made from mil-spec Carpenter 158 steel, the full-auto, M-16 profile bolt carrier is built from 8620 steel, chrome-lined and phosphate-coated.
The PSA 16" 300 AAC Blackout MOE M-Lok rifle is fitted with a Magpul carbine stock, Magpul pistol grip, and the package includes a Magpul MBUS sight set. The buffer tube is made of 7075-T6 aluminum to the mil-spec diameter with six adjustment positions.
Who Will Use This Most
The rifle is great for target practice and hunting. There are just a few other rifles which can beat it on the price and quality. The gun is very comfortable to shoot and allows you to add accessories and attachments to enhance your performance.
Bottom Line
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) offers affordably-priced firearms with excellent mil-spec quality that adhere to the standards set forth by the U.S. military. While the mil-spec finished, single-stage fire control group complements this PSA budget option, many first time buyers will get double duty with this firearm designed as standard “gunfighter” rifle and/or home defense rifle.
This 300blk rifle falls no short of a regular AR-15 except for the fact that it has a pistol-length gas system to precisely suit the caliber. The full-auto M16 profile bolt carrier is the best in its class and offers exceptional performance along with the other quality components. Overall, it's the best 300blk weapon for the price.
5. PSA 7.5" Pistol-Length 300 AAC
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Users seem baffled by the maneuverability and reliability of this weapon. The brace works perfectly both on the arm and shoulder and helps with managing the recoil. While many users suggest adding a reflex or red dot sight to improve accuracy, some also warn about the noise. But eventually, the pistol gets appraised by every user.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The pistol is compact enough to let you mount accessories on that 9-inch rail and use it for the purpose of mid-range accuracy. The bolt carrier profile is full-auto, whereas the adjustable pistol brace helps with handling. It is perfect for one-handed shooting, while the heavy profile barrel and forged receivers hold it up perfectly for years to come.
Who Will Use This Most
Ideally, this pistol is an amazing weapon for tactical operations. Plus it can also be used for home defense situations, especially in cramped corners. The full-length rail allows the user to mount accessories and make the pistol as tactical as possible. Considering its price, the weapon is also good for beginners and casual shooters just wanting to add a 300blk pistol to their inventory.
The short-barreled AR pistols were designed for the Special Forces and represent an absolute weapon of war. If you decide to go for a 300 BLK AR pistol with very short 7.5" barrel, you will get rifle levels of stopping power at close range and almost pistol compactness at 24.5" in overall length. The PSA 7.5" pistol features an SBA3 adjustable stabilizing brace fitted to create a more manageable and accurate AR-pistol platform.
The PSA 7.5" barrel pistol is chambered in 300 AAC and its barrel is machined of 4150V Chrome Moly Vanadium steel. On the manufacturer’s website the twist rate of this barrel was improperly listed as 1:7, actually, it has a twist rate of 1:8.
As you may expect, this heavy profile barrel is matched by the pistol-length gas system and attached to forged 7075 T6 aluminum receivers. Although both parts feature a durable hard coat anodized finish, there are some complaints about sloppy fitting with side to side play.
The specific pistol 7075-T6 buffer tube is fitted with an SB Tactical SBA3 Adjustable Pistol Brace, but its strap may be really tight for average user`s arm. This model comes with upper A3 receiver-type equipped with a lightweight M-Lok free-float nine-inch rail.
As a standard, PSA built in the full-auto profile bolt carrier group with a shot-peened bolt machined from mil-spec Carpenter No. 158 steel. Using a common muzzle thread of 5/8-24, the pistol is equipped with a PSA Fluted Flash Can muzzle device and single-stage, Enhanced Polished Trigger (EPT).
Bottom Line
The PSA 7.5” 300blk pistol is the ideal weapon for home defense, target practice, and training. The 7.5-inch barrel is compact enough to offer maneuverability while not compromising on accuracy over mid-range. The pistol shoots flawlessly and is an affordable 300blk pistol with a durable build and reliable design.
This 7.5" barreled AR pistol in 300 AAC is another great budget option from PSA, which offers a decent balance of features at a low price with few minor issues. Though this Palmetto State Armory AR pistol is really a tactical solution for operators, it will also be a lot of fun and is a serviceable home defense weapon, too.
What’s Makes the 300 Blackout So Great?
Taking into account the fact that the 300 Blackout, or 300Blk, ammo reaches its max potential in barrels as short as nine inches, it makes 300Blk weapons the ideal CQB and home defense gun.
Another 300 Blackout advantage is flawless functionality with a wide variety of ammo including both supersonic and subsonic loads. The ability to shoot subsonic ammo creates the optimal platform for sound and flash suppressed firearms and provides an AR-15 platform ideal for tactical use, self- defense, and having fun.
Photo credit: tactical-life.com
Hunters will also appreciate this cartridge because the .223 Remington is illegal to use on deer in some states. For deer hunting, you can think of it as like a .30-30, but in an AR, because the AR-15 upper receivers chamber in the more powerful .30 caliber, it is more suitable and ethical.
Specifying the expensive ammunition as the main downside, some opponents suggest pistol caliber carbines (PCC) as an alternative to the .300BLK pistols and SBRs (short-barreled rifles). However, with the Blackout pistol, you can shoot supersonic ammunition with over 1,000 ft-lbs of energy, which is unimaginable with PCC.
Pistol-Length vs Rifle - What’s The Difference?
The 300 BLK or .300 AAC Blackout cartridges are designed to be chambered in a standard multi-caliber lower receiver of AR-15 by merely changing only the barrel. Since the .300 BLK is intended to function in much shorter barrels, it uses powders that are suited to burn in the shorter barrel lengths.
The original AR-15 concept was conceived as an assault rifle and was built with a lightweight 20-inch barrel. Shortly after that, to make handling easier, the new military standards required a shorter M4 carbine with the 14.5″ barrel.
As for law-abiding citizens, most civilian rifle barrels are generally required to be 16″ or longer, since the short-barreled rifles (SBR) belong to an NFA Class 3 that requires a citizen to fill out a BATFE Form 4 and pay a $200 tax stamp.
Photo credit: itstactical.com
The longer barrel provides a somewhat higher velocity and during testing, it was determined that each inch of barrel lost would cost 25-50 feet per second (fps) in velocity, but didn’t mean that the shorter barrel is not as accurate.
The 300 Blackout cartridge owes its popularity and versatility due to the fact that it can be equally efficient in rifles and pistol-length barrels. Anyway, because of the excessive drop, the max effective range of this ultimate short range thumper is estimated at 300 yards.
If you are hunting medium or large game such as hogs on typical hunting ranges, a hard-hitting, short, light, and quiet rifle chambered in the .300 BLK is far superior. On the other hand, the AR pistol in .300 BLK is a great way to have an SBR without the tax stamp. It also provides you a compact and handy weapon at the same time, while still being a respectably accurate AR platform weapon at 100 yards.
Furthermore, the pistol barrel sizes of 7 or 10.5 inches give the shooter a vast amount of flexibility in confined space shooting making this a great home defense firearm.
How to Choose a New 300 Blackout Pistol?
Nowadays, one popular trend that can't be dismissed is the uptick in popularity for AR-platform pistols, particularly those chambered in a 300 Blackout. As earlier mentioned, the AR pistol category encompassed the guns with barrels shorter than 16 inches and no stock, i.e. they have a different, "pistol" buffer tube that protrudes from the rear of the receiver and does not allow for the attachment of traditional stock.
There are a few things you should consider before choosing a new 300 Blackout pistol. Number one is a pistol-length gas system. Since the 300 AAC Blackouts don't have the pressure of a 5.56 NATO, a pistol-length gas setup will be the most reliable for firing subsonic and supersonic ammunition with or without a suppressor.
However, this shorter gas system causes the firearm to be over-gassed, generating more recoil and louder operation. You can slightly overcome that problem using specialized H2 or H3 buffers that are intended to offset harsh operation.
Photo credit: wikipedia.org
As the AR pistols endure much higher labor than a standard length gas system, you should look for higher-grade parts than what you would have within a rifle-length system, in order to extend the life of your pistol. The shot-peened bolt and Carpenter No. 158 steel are common in quality BCGs.
Moreover, it means that you should opt for a more durable mil-spec lower receiver machined of 7075-T6 aluminum, which is nearly twice as hard on the Rockwell scale as a commercial 6069-T6 aluminum receiver.
Finally, there is one thing often overlooked and it is ergonomics. Some manufacturers offer a pistol arm brace that enables you to put your arm through the brace and hold it like a pistol. While providing great comfort and function, these braces are essentially a pistol-legal version of the stock, offering shooters the look and feel of an SBR, but without the cost and fuss of a tax stamp.
Conclusion
Rifle-caliber pistols are the trend that can no longer be ignored as the more PDW style firearms find acceptance with the military and consumer audience. Started initially as the elite operators’ chosen full-auto weapon of war, today a number of AR-type semi-automatic pistols have found their place in the hands of civilians.
This genre of weapon is particularly effective when paired with a 300 BLK cartridge which is built from the ground up to be fired in suppressed short-barreled firearms. The 300 AAC Blackout pistol can also be used without a suppressor to shoot full-bore supersonic monsters with AR-15+ impact.
People Also Ask
While the 300blk is a popular cartridge, using it for different purposes does require some clarification. Here we’ll answer a few general but important questions for curious minds who are just planning to adopt this amazing caliber for hunting, practice or even competitions.
Which is Better .556 or .300 Blackout?
The 300blk uses a bulkier projectile which delivers more penetrating power and punch at close ranges, with outstanding accuracy. On the other hand, a 5.56 is comparatively a lightweight cartridge with a better range but lesser penetration. 300 blk rounds fit easily into 5.56 mags and are the perfect hammer for taking down a target in fewer rounds.
Does the Military Use .300 Blackout?
No. The military doesn’t use 300blk caliber generally, but it is used to some extent by special forces. Other countries such as the UK and the Netherlands also use this caliber in a limited capacity for their special operatives. While the 300blk was specially designed for the military in the 1960s to compete with the AK caliber, it’s limited range and velocity might be a negating factor for acceptance.
Can a .300 Blackout Kill a Bear?
Yes, a 300 blackout can kill a bear with the right shot placement. There’s no point doubting that, taking the heavy projectiles(110-240 gr) used with these bullets and the punch it packs on short ranges. Although, you might want to have a 10 plus round 300blk magazine with you if you encounter a large grizzly unexpectedly.
