300 Blackout at the range

[Hatchdog]

Took my newly acquired Ruger AR 300 Blackout to the range for first shots, zero the scope and do a powder test. I brought a box of inexpensive factory ammo along to zero the scope. I didn’t bore sight it as it’s difficult to do so with an AR platform sighting thru the bore. That was a mistake as it took me the entire box of factory ammo to get it on paper, zero at 50 and then re-zero at 100 yards. But I got there finally.

The rifle shoots fine but of course the AR trigger is awful. I put a Bushnell AR223 1-4x24 scope on it. I ordered it from Optics Planet and selected this scope as it was listed to have MOA turrets. Stupid me I didn’t pay any attention while mounting it and when I made my first adjustment first thing I noticed was the Mil adjustment noted on the turret. This old man struggles with mil adjustments trying to convert to MOA but I got there. Just for the fun of it I sent an email to Optics Planet telling them they should edit the description on the website. I’m not going to return the scope but maybe Optics Planet will send me a coupon or a hat or something.

I had loaded five each of five different powders but ended up using two of each for sighters. I found that between the small bullseye target I was using and the 4x power scope it was a bit difficult to keep lined on center. But in the end it all worked out.

Sadly I found that 2400 did the best. I shouldn’t have even tried it because I only have one pound and it’s my 41 mag powder. Such is life. 296 and AA1680 were close seconds so next I’ll use these three powders with the 110, 125 and 155 bullets I have and see what combination works best.

47 degrees with a brisk wind blowing directly down range. 100 yards rifle on sandbags on a bench. The one hole on the bottom right target was not related to the group test.


My results:

25A5C7B2-34A1-4376-8F62-438F3B124BD9.jpeg (2.97 MiB) Viewed 1334 times

[BigAl52]

I saw your loads but dont recall how much 296 you were using. But mine like it in the 17 grain range with 125 gr bullet. Try some Speer TNT 125 gr hp and see how those do. I chose the Speer to try when I had mine because of good reviews and you can buy them in quantity

[Hatchdog]

I saw your loads but dont recall how much 296 you were using. But mine like it in the 17 grain range with 125 gr bullet. Try some Speer TNT 125 gr hp and see how those do. I chose the Speer to try when I had mine because of good reviews and you can buy them in quantity

I used 17 grains of 296 so I’m right there with you. I looked at the Speer 125 TNT and I see Grafs sells a 500 pack for $98 plus $13 shipping. That’s a great price. I’ll try to find a box of 100 here locally to try. Interesting Speer (on line anyway) doesn’t list this bullet for 300 Blackout but there’s lots of conversions with folks using it like you did. Lots of positive results.

[Sir Henry]

Even though it’s a Ruger and Bushnell I bet if you told Henry your problems they would send you a free hat.

[BigAl52]

I saw your loads but dont recall how much 296 you were using. But mine like it in the 17 grain range with 125 gr bullet. Try some Speer TNT 125 gr hp and see how those do. I chose the Speer to try when I had mine because of good reviews and you can buy them in quantity

I used 17 grains of 296 so I’m right there with you. I looked at the Speer 125 TNT and I see Grafs sells a 500 pack for $98 plus $13 shipping. That’s a great price. I’ll try to find a box of 100 here locally to try. Interesting Speer (on line anyway) doesn’t list this bullet for 300 Blackout but there’s lots of conversions with folks using it like you did. Lots of positive results.

I think I even pushed it a few grains over 17 but dont remember the exact amount. Never did see any pressure signs with the 300

[singleshooter357]

Had a Savage 16.2" barrel in 300BLK and it loved LilGun and H110 with Hornady 110gr VMAX. Load taken at random from Hodgdon reloading data center. Friend had a Ruger like yours and it loved the same load. Made quite a few kills out to 300yds with on southern whitetail and feral hogs. He let a cousin"s 9YO son use it for deer hunting and he killed his first deer with it so he gifted the youngster with it. He replaced it with a CVA Scout and it loves the same load. Best I remember we both were pretty close to MAX with both LilGun and H110. Finally traded my 300BLK as I already had a 308 and it could what the 300BLK would and much more. Course both were bolt guns not AR platform. Loved the caliber, fun to shoot and stupid accurate.

[Hatchdog]

Even though it’s a Ruger and Bushnell I bet if you told Henry your problems they would send you a free hat.

I had a nice back and forth conversation (email) with Optics Planet but in the end all they offered me was a return authorization. As the scope is mounted and sighted in using a full box of factory ammo I chose not to return it. I’ll deal with the mil turret and just try to remember that a full mil equals 3.6”. I was impressed with the communication with OP.

Now the journey continues, thanks for the load input all.

[flat_topp]

Took my newly acquired Ruger AR 300 Blackout to the range for first shots, zero the scope and do a powder test .... The rifle shoots fine but of course the AR trigger is awful.

I bought a Ruger AR556 in 2015 and, like your experience, found the stock trigger to be very stiff. I suffered with it until 2021 when I finally bought and installed a Ruger Elite 452 upgraded trigger. It's a noticeable difference with advertised 4.5 pound trigger pull versus the original 8 to 10 pound trigger pull (I don't have a trigger gage so I can't confirm a precise measurement). There are lots of aftermarket AR triggers out there, I'll be interested to learn which one you select and install.

https://shopruger.com/Ruger-Elite-452-A ... nfo/90461/

[Hatchdog]

^^^^^^^^^^

That’s a good looking setup. Thanks for posting the link.

[Hatchdog]

I saw your loads but dont recall how much 296 you were using. But mine like it in the 17 grain range with 125 gr bullet. Try some Speer TNT 125 gr hp and see how those do. I chose the Speer to try when I had mine because of good reviews and you can buy them in quantity

I used 17 grains of 296 so I’m right there with you. I looked at the Speer 125 TNT and I see Grafs sells a 500 pack for $98 plus $13 shipping. That’s a great price. I’ll try to find a box of 100 here locally to try. Interesting Speer (on line anyway) doesn’t list this bullet for 300 Blackout but there’s lots of conversions with folks using it like you did. Lots of positive results.

I think I even pushed it a few grains over 17 but dont remember the exact amount. Never did see any pressure signs with the 300

I did some more reading on the Speer 125 TNT and read that when used at 308 or 30-06 velocities (3000+ fps) it explodes as designed. But at 300 Blackout velocities (2000 fps) it expands like a normal hunting bullet which makes it an effective whitetail load. That’s good to know as I figured it would be too violent for hunting. Not that I plan to use it for deer but it’s good to know I can.