I don't understand the popularity of the 300ACC Blackout

[Colorado Osprey]

I don't understand the popularity of the 300ACC Blackout but no popularity for the 6x45

Thinking of income tax return and a way to spend some extra dough.

Over the last 20 years I have contemplated the 300/221 aka 300 Whisper, now the 300ACC Blackout and it always looses out.
The new popular interest in this cartridge has me looking at it again... but I can't see why I would build/buy one.

Just for argument sake, I have wildcat cartridges, so oddballs don't bother me. Having something unique or different has always intrigued me, but it must fill a niche.

Comparing the 300ACC to the 223 the gains are obvious. Energy gains thoughout the range due to heavier bullet. The rainbow trajectory doesn't fix the payoff IMHO. Bullet drops even at 300 yards are double the 223; and further out it looks like a sinking anvil off a high rise building. Switch to sub-sonic and the down range energy is still impressive even at extended ranges, but even with high BC bullets there is almost a meter of bullet drop at 200 yards.; almost 10' at 300 yards.

I do need to clarify that all my guns are primarily hunting guns and defensive guns second. Shots where I hunt are normally over 200 yards.

Which brings me to other comparable that will shoot through the AR platform. Everything a gain over the 223, as well as 6mm or larger to be legal.

There are some cool ones like the 243WSSM that just flat out perform everything else. Proprietary parts, expensive ammo still didn't stop me. This is hands down not in the running for this comparison.
Next are the Grendel and SPC. Yeah, both of these are performers too, but with the larger case, different bolt and different mags and more rare brass, I toss these out too.... well maybe.

The 6x45 just seems to jump to the top of the list over and over. Why is this cartridge not accepted by the public?
Cheap brass, only part change in a standard AR is a barrel.
Energy better than the 300ACC (except at the muzzle-but beat by 50 yards out), flatter shooting than the 223.

Since I already have a 6x45, the 300ACC just doesn't get justified. Maybe because you can buy 300ACC ammo over the counter and you can't with the 6x45. But why? Why did the 300ACC gain any popularity so that ammo is even made? When I first considered this cartridge ammo wasn't available in either cartridge, so that wasn't even in my decision process.

Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong. I need a niche cartridge between the 6x45 and the 243WSSM, but the 300ACC ain't it...it would only fill the very, very small space between the 6x45 and the 223; in a hole that doesn't really exist for me.

[ray1970]

I can't speak of the 6x45 as I am not familiar with it. Although, if the only part required is a barrel, I might have to do a little research.

I can tell you why the 300 interests me.

Standard bolt, standard capacity in normal 5.56 magazines were big selling points for me. Also, my 300 was put together for the sole purpose of being a short range, CQB type rifle. Just about any shot I would take anywhere in my current urban environment would be under 100 yards or so anyways so the crazy bullet drop at longer distances wasn't a factor for me.

With the heavy, subsonic stuff it would be awesome as a suppressed weapon which I feel was the original purpose behind the round in the AR platform in the first place.

Would I choose it for hunting? No. Would it be my choice for a long range, precision cartridge? Definitely not. Would I use it to take a shot from an upstairs window on a target out in my yard in a SHTF scenario? Most definitely.

[davsel]

Why not just get a .308 AR and call it good?

[SouthPaw]

Why not just get a .308 AR and call it good?

308 does not have a 30 round mag capacity. 300 blackout has always interested me. I like the idea of everything being the same in a standard AR-15 except the barrel. For now my 30 caliber SHTF gun is my PAP M92 with a sig arm brace and ACE folder.

[Colorado Osprey]

I can't speak of the 6x45 as I am not familiar with it. Although, if the only part required is a barrel, I might have to do a little research.

Very old design. Was used for benchrest before the PPC became popular. It still holds some of the best groups ever recorded in benchrest. It is very forgiving and bullet availability is equal to .224 and .308 calibers.

Due to mag length restrictions most only load the 6x45 with 85 grain and smaller bullets. With the drop off in velocity of the VLD bullets, this round shines in bullet weights from 60-85 grains being the lighter bullets.
Comparing the same weight bullets to the .223 since it is using the same case just necked up, a 60 grain .224 shot in a .223 remington compared to the 60 grain .243 the velocity is higher and energy is almost 30% higher. I know it doesn't make sense. Same case, same weight bullet, so why faster? 1st is the larger diameter bullet which lowers perssure on the bullet by giving it a larger diameter to push against. 2nd, a very slight internal capacity gain due to the shorter bullet in the same weight. 3rd is the reduced bearing surface area for the same bullet weight. All of these factors push the 6x45 to a bout a 30% gain over the 223 in energy.

The 6x45 is a very popular varmint and smaller big game species. It has a very large following in coyote hunters. It stops coyotes with authority compared to the 223.

BUT, this doesn't keep going as the diameter increases. Either the cartridges get too big to fit in the mag like the 7mm TCU (7mm/223) or they run out of case capacity to run the velocity high enough, like the 6.5mm/223. In fact the 25/223 is getting close to running out of case capacity to even compare against the .223
This is why the 6.8SPC wildcats are gaining in popularity. The 6mm and 6.5mm versions of the SPC case also interest me, except they can not perform to the 243WSSM at almost the same cost to shoot.

The 6x45 easily shoots out to 600 yards on steel plates while flatter shooting than the 223 and hitting harder without much recoil.

[ray1970]

When I had my Contender I had quite a few "wildcat" calibers. The 7mm TCU and the 30 Herret were two of my favorites for IHMSA.

Never got too much into them in the rifles.

[earplug]

Has anyone compared penetration on common automobile steel/glass and building material between the two cartridges. I'd think the common 55 grain FMJ would work better to punch holes.

[Hoser]

It all comes down to marketing. AAC has done an outstanding job of marketing this "new" caliber.

And, American being Americans think that bigger is better. 45s and 308s is what real men shoot.

Now you can throw a 30 caliber bullet out of a small frame AR by a simple a barrel change and not having to buy an AR-10.

I like it because it is a very easy caliber to suppress. Then again I have been shooting it since it was called the 300 Whisper.

I am in the middle of building an AK in 300 Whisper. Just because I can.

For a pig killing machine, the Wilson 7.62x40 is awesome. Kinda like a Whisper/Blackout on crack.

[Dave]

308 does not have a 30 round mag capacity. 300 blackout has always interested me. I like the idea of everything being the same in a standard AR-15 except the barrel. For now my 30 caliber SHTF gun is my PAP M92 with a sig arm brace and ACE folder.

That's actually been a plan of mine, 7.62x39 pistol with the brace and folder for the up close and personal. For me, the only thing I would do 300 blackout in is if/when I start getting NFA items and I do a SBR build with a can and shoot the heavy subsonic loads to replace the Draco with brace. I have thought about going with a .300 AR pistol with brace, but I already have AK's and therefore have the ruskie ammo on hand. 123 gr HP's in MOUT conditions will do the job just fine. I saw Bert putting one of them together when I was dropping a few items of my own off for some work and decided to start with one of them the next time I can find one cheap enough that will ship here with our mag laws.

[20X11]

Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong.... in a hole that doesn't really exist for me.

300 BLK isn't for everyone. You either like or you don't. There is no "right" or "wrong"...only fun. I can justify MY 300 BLK...I would not attempt to justify YOURS (or lack thereof).

It's all good...it's the same platform...just a few oddities differentiate each caliber.

But for God's sake...STOP LOOKING IN THE WRONG HOLES.