300 whisper vs 300 fireball

[glucas]

Okay. Wheres Hoser and TroublCO? You guys have these. Or anyone else with experience. I think I want one. But have some questions.

Whats the difference?
Is it just the 223 vs 221 brass?
Why would I want one over the other?
Can I just buy a barrel and convert an existing 223 upper?
What else should I know?
Any reason I wouldnt want one?

Edit: By the way. I would be shooting only subsonic loads through a suppressor with this setup.

[Colorado Osprey]

The only way to get a "Whisper" is through SSK. They use 221 fireball brass to form the 300 Whisper. If you use 223 brass in a "Whisper" you will need to neck turn your brass. Most of the other Fireballs or 300/223 will not require this step. A barrel swap and gas port location change will be the only change from a traditional 5.56/223 AR.

SSK makes a great firearm but you pay for that developement and reliability.

Most non SSK guns require a little tweaking. Make sure you get yours with the gas port in the pistol location if you plan to shoot sub-sonic. This will require a gas block under the forward handguard like the "Dissipator".

Personally I can't justify paying SSK for a propietary design that has been available long before they "Designed" it.

I also did not go with a 300/221. I just couldn't justify a neutered super-sonic round and I don't like the energy numbers on the sub-sonic rounds.
I went with a 7.72x39 for super-sonic and if I wanted a sub-sonic I would get a 458 SOCOM. If more 30 cal energy and velocity is needed, Olympic is making a 30 OSSM which is a 30 cal version of the WSSM which exceeds 30-06 in velocity and energy with a 180 grain bullet.


If you need more info on the "Whisper" or it's equivalents, www.quarterbore.net is probably the net's leading source of unbiased information. In the forum there is a whole section dedicated to these designs.

[glucas]

Thanks Osprey. Ive been on quarterbore but still couldnt find exactly what I was looking for.

I found barrels at model one but they all seem to be carbine gas systems. Is this ok?

So I can just buy this barrel, put it on any upper and go shoot 300 fireball? Thats Awesome!

Anyone make bolt guns setup like this?

Also, I dont reload yet allthough I keep wanting to. And I figure this will make me go buy all the equipment. Im shooting enough to justify it anyway. Ive just been lazy.

[Hoser]

To run a 300 Fireball in a semi, without a suppressor, does not make much sense. The main goal of the 300 is heavy, slow bullets and lots of energy.

I have a few pieces of SSK manufactured Whisper brass. One mics out as 221 brass. The others are cut down 223. The difference in neck thickness is minimal. I have heard some people say SSK barrels/chambers require 221 brass necked up and others have said cut down 223 brass works just fine.

I have a bolt action in 300 Fireball. Its actually 300 Hush as that is what Pacific Tool and Gauge calls their chamber reamer. With 220 Sierra Matchkings going about 1100 fps it sounds like an air rifle or a suppressed 22.

My AR has a Noveske 9.5 inch barrel with the gas port in the pistol location. If you get a 16 inch barrel you should be fine with a carbine gas port location. But if you go the SBR route and cut down the barrel, you will/could run into issues.

If you get a Whisper barrel, it will go right on any AR upper without any issues.

Some mags may take some tweaking, but its easy.

I use 223 brass and run it through my 1050. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of it if you want some. I also have 500 pcs of virgin 221 necked up. That stuff aint cheap...

I have not used a SSK barrel and never will. JD Jones is a class act jerk. I called him asking about the 302 Whisper aka 30 BR. He was by far the most unprofessional business man I have ever run across.

[glucas]

Hoser

I will be running this suppressed. I was thinking 16" at first but now Im thinking I might want to go the SBR route. I just really think this is gonna be a lot of fun to play with. And it will make me purchase all the reloading stuff Ive been putting off forever. I may take you up on some brass later though, as well as some reloading advice. Also, what is your bolt gun built on? What barrel length on that one? I will want a bolt gun in this down the road also Im sure.

[Hoser]

Also, what is your bolt gun built on? What barrel length on that one? I will want a bolt gun in this down the road also Im sure.

My bolt gun is built on a Remington 700. Its a 16.5 inch barrel.

Its also a switch barrel gun. 300 Fireball and 223 Ackley.

[Troublco]

I have a 16" Fireball. I've heard the various opinions/arguments about the Whisper vs. the Fireball, and Colorado Osprey and Hoser already hit the differences pretty well. I went with the fireball because I wanted the flexibility of being able to use cut down .223 brass without any question of neck fit. Also didn't want to pay JD for something someone else had already come up with. And it didn't hurt that I got a good deal on the upper.....

I originally got mine with the intent of putting a suppressor and a night scope on it for feral hog hunting. Then I wound up going with a .458 SOCOM for the pigs. I still think I'll put a can on the Fireball, just 'cause it seems like the thing to do.

[glucas]

My bolt gun is built on a Remington 700. Lizard built it. Did an outstanding job. Its a 16.5 inch barrel.

Its also a switch barrel gun. 300 Fireball and 223 Ackley.

Who is Lizard and how do I get a hold of him? Hes not in the member list. Anything you would change or have hime do different? 1 in 8" twist?

[Hoser]

Who is Lizard and how do I get a hold of him? Hes not in the member list. Anything you would change or have hime do different? 1 in 8" twist?

Lizard is a local gunsmith down in Pueblo. Specializes in varmint guns. He is not accepting any work right now.

I used a Lilja 1-8 stainless, Remington Varmint Contour and Holland thick recoil lug. SF can adaptor and SF 338 can.

I am going to have a Badger bolt handle and Sako extractor installed later this summer.

I will try to get some pics up tonight.