page_title: .300 AAC Blackout
section_title: Performance
hierarchical_section_title: .300 AAC Blackout / Performance
caption_attribution_description: English: 300 AAC BLACKOUT(7.62×35mm) gel test, 110-VMAX
context_page_description: The .300 AAC Blackout, also known as 7.62×35mm is an intermediate cartridge developed in the United States by Advanced Armament Corporation for use in the M4 carbine. Its purpose is to achieve ballistics similar to the 7.62×39mm cartridge, or even more similarly, the 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge in an AR-15 while using standard AR-15 magazines at their normal capacities. 300 BLK ammunition cannot be used in a rifle chambered for 7.62×40mm Wilson Tactical. It is mainly derived from the .300 Whisper concept, but differs in having been submitted to the SAAMI.
context_section_description: Supersonic ammunition muzzle velocities and muzzle energies by barrel length:
  The 300 AAC Blackout was designed to achieve energies similar to the 7.62×39mm Soviet in an AR-15 while using standard AR magazines at their full capacity.  The 7.62 Soviet's cartridge taper prevented reliable feeding in AR magazines and created wear on the bolt.  From the 14.5 in (370 mm) barrel of the M4 Carbine, the M855 5.56×45mm round has an effective point target range of 500 meters.  The bullet has significant drop, drift, and energy loss at that distance.  From a 16 in (410 mm) barrel, a 125 gr (8.1 g) 300 BLK round has a lower velocity and similar bullet drop and drift at shorter distances.  However, it has the same amount of energy at 700 meters that the M855 has at 500 meters.  In terms of hit probability, the Blackout has an effective range of 460 meters.  From a 9 in (230 mm) barrel, the 125 gr BLK round has the same muzzle energy as the M855 from the M4, and 5 percent more energy at 440 meters.  In comparison with 7.62×39mm rounds, 300 BLK rounds with varying loads have a better ballistic coefficient and more energy out of similar length barrels. 300 BLK rounds like the Barnes TAC 110 grain, have "barrier blind" performance, being capable of penetration through several inches of different hard targets. 300 BLK allows a user to have one firearm with the capability of switching between subsonic, supersonic VMAX or barrier penetrating ammunition all with just the change of a magazine. It is able to replace the H&K MP5 for close quarters, and with just a magazine change, bring the fight to longer distances, outperforming the M4 carbine.   The .30 caliber cartridge has an 89.1 percent increase in frontal bullet area over the 5.56×45mm, and so leaves a larger wound cavity in soft targets.  It also penetrates deeper and initially yaws faster.  300 BLK rounds are effective out of barrels as short as 4.5 in (110 mm).  Weapons chambered for the round can be as light, compact, and quiet when suppressed as submachine guns like the 9×19mm MP5, 5.7x28mm FN P90, and 4.6×30mm MP7 while having more energy and accuracy at longer range.
  Compared to the 6.8×43mm Special Purpose Cartridge, another round made to have increased stopping power over the 5.56 NATO, the 300 Blackout has different capabilities.  The 300 BLK was designed with a specific shorter-range focus to have equal or more energy than the 7.62 Soviet and work reliably with suppressors.  The earlier 6.8 SPC was simply designed to have more energy at all ranges than the 5.56×45mm.  It has a relatively small projectile with a high velocity that maintains performance at range.  At 200 yd (183 m), the 300 BLK drops 2 in (51 mm) lower than the 6.8 SPC, while it drops 30 in (760 mm) lower at 500 yd (457 m).  The 115 gr (7.5 g) 6.8-round has a higher muzzle energy of 1,694 ft⋅lb (2,297 J) due to its greater velocity, while the 125 gr (8.1 g) 300 BLK round has a muzzle energy of 1,360 ft⋅lb (1,840 J).  Both rounds were made to be used in an easily converted AR-15.  The 6.8 SPC has a more difficult conversion because it was designed around the obsolete .30 Remington cartridge, requiring a different bolt and decreasing standard magazine capacity.  The 300 BLK was made specifically for ease of conversion, so the standard bolt will work and a magazine can be used to its full capacity, so the only change needed is the barrel & gas system.
caption: Example of a .300 AAC Blackout shot in a block of gel
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