Reloading for 300 blackout

[Lwstarks]

I’m just checking to see if anyone here has reloaded for the blackout using round nose bullets. I’m going to be shooting out of an ar platform, so really I’m worried about feeding. I’ve got both 150grain and 170. The weights I’m not too worried about, mostly the feeding. If you have success, I can get data off of hodgdon website for spire point.

 

[was21]

Either should work fine. You may have to play with seating depth for feeding. May also want to look at whether they are engaging the rifling due to the rounder long nose. That will depend on how much lead is cut in your chamber. If it is cut for supers only it may be a bit short for the longer roundnose stuff.
FWIW
YMMV

 

[High Standard]

Speer has a 130gr Hotcor JHP bullet that looks really odd in the 300 Blackout. The cavity is large for the bullet but it feeds reliably in my rifle. They also have a 130gr Hotcor flat point with the same silhouette as the JHP. It works just as good. Both are the most accurate round I have tried in my rifle so far. I have also loaded several different Sierra and Hornady bullets in the 125gr-135gr range, all pointed. They all worked reliably. Then I found some load data in the Lyman AR reloading manual for lead boolits. I couldn’t help but play around with a few. As I recall I tried a 110gr Spire Point and a 150gr round nose. Both were gas checked. While they were all reliable in my rifle, accuracy was less than stellar. The powder I used was H335. Weird, but it worked.

Added:
I also have some Hornady FMJ ball type bullets that are 110gr. I have not loaded thee yet.

 

[Gatsby]

FWIW I loaded Hornady 150 gr Spire points with CFE BLK and they fed fine. I wasn't happy with accuracy but I did zero load development with them. I am sure I needed to play with seating depth. But they were good enough for what I needed. I run 220 gr plated or 217 gr coated exclusively now.

 

[Harrier]

This may be a little long but... for documentation purposes...
I tested the following out of a 16" CMMG barrel, 5 shot groups at 50 to 200 yds. The best was about 1.2 MOA at 200. All of them fed fine- but I only loaded 5 into the mags. I wasn't impressed with any of the groups, compared to what I'm used to...

b.Gr b.Type Brand pType pGR Avg.FPS
110 JHP.FP Speer AA-9 15.0 2005
110 JHP.FP Speer AA-9 16.0 2119
110 JHP.FP Speer Lil'Gun 16.0 1971
110 JHP.FP Speer Lil'Gun 17.0 N/A
110 JHP.FP Speer Lil'Gun 18.0 2090
110 JHP.FP Speer W296-H110 18.0 2286
110 JHP.FP Speer W296-H110 19.0 2276
110 JHP.FP Speer W296-H110 19.8 2329
115 LRN Hunter Supply AA-5744 12.5 1421
115 LRN Hunter Supply IMR-4227 17.5 2095
115 LRN Hunter Supply IMR-4227 18.0c 2127
115 LRN Hunter Supply IMR-4227 18.5c 2210
115 LRN Hunter Supply Lil'Gun 15.0 2096
115 LRN Hunter Supply Lil'Gun 15.5 2152
115 LRN Hunter Supply Lil'Gun 16.0 2128
115 LRN Hunter Supply Lil'Gun 16.5 2102
115 LRN Hunter Supply Lil'Gun 17.0 2124
115 LRN Hunter Supply W296-H110 18.5 2255
115 LRN Hunter Supply W296-H110 19.0 2266
115 LRN Hunter Supply W296-H110 19.5 2378
122 FMJ x39 resized .308 A-5744 17.0 1805
122 FMJ x39 resized .308 A-5744 17.5 1845
122 FMJ x39 resized .308 A-5744 18.0 1919
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 AA-5744 19.0c 2032
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 AA-5744 19.5c 2056
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 AA-9 13.5 1849
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 AA-9 13.8 1948
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 IMR-4227 16.8 2007
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 IMR-4227 17.3 2039
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 Lil'Gun 16.0 2101
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 Lil'Gun 16.5 2024
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 Lil'Gun 16.8 2099
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 Lil'Gun 17.1 2035
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 Lil'Gun 17.5 2098
125 JHP.bt x39 resized .308 Lil'Gun 17.8 2113
130 JSP.bt Norma AA-5744 18.0 1964
130 JSP.bt Norma AA-5744 18.0 1959
130 JSP.bt Norma IMR-4227 18.0 2042
130 JSP.bt Norma IMR-4227 18.0 2063
130 JSP.bt Norma Lil'Gun 18.0 2110
150 FMJ Hornady AA-1680 20.0 2028
150 FMJ Hornady AA-5744 18.0 1914
150 FMJ Hornady IMR-4227 15.9 1809
150 FMJ Hornady IMR-4227 17.0 1923
150 FMJ Hornady Lil'Gun 16.4 1976
150 FMJ Hornady Lil'Gun 19.0 2097
150 FMJ oem.American Eagle OEM OEM 1957
150 FMJ Hornady W296-H110 15.8 1893
150 FMJ Hornady W296-H110 17.0 1983
150 FMJ Hornady W296-H110 17.3 1999
155 LSP Cast- Lee 312155 Re-7 17.0 1614
155 LSP Cast- Lee 312155 Re-7 17.0 1616
155 LSP Cast- Lee 312155 Re-7 17.0 1660
155 LSP.gc Cast- Lee 312155 Re-7 17.0 1598
155 LSP.gc Cast- Lee 312155 Re-7 17.0 1603
173 LFP.gc Cast- Lee 309170 AA-1680 17.3 1731
173 LFP.gc Cast- Lee 309170 AA-1680 17.3 1713
173 LFP.gc Cast- Lee 309170 Lil'Gun 14.8 1743
173 LFP.gc Cast- Lee 309170 Re-7 16.0 1528
230 LSP Lee TL309230 IMR-4227 11.0 1255
230 LSP Lee TL309230 IMR-4227 12.0 1324
230 LSP Lee TL309230 IMR-4227 12.5 1365
230 LSP Lee TL309230 IMR-4227 13.0 1403
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Lil'Gun 8.0 1119
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Lil'Gun 8.5 1170
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Lil'Gun 9.0 1213
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Lil'Gun 9.25 1222
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Re-7 10.0 955
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Re-7 10.5 1001
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Re-7 11.0 1059
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Unique 5.0 930
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Unique 5.4 969
230 LSP Lee TL309230 Unique 5.8 996
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 AA-1680 10.5 1014
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 AA-1680 11.0 1123
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 AA-1680 11.5 1182
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 AA-1680 12.0 1240
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 Lil'Gun 9.25 1231
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 Lil'Gun 9.4 1221
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 Re-7 11.2 1117
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 Unique 6.1 1031
230 LSP.gc Lee TL309230 Unique 6.1 1042

Use at your own risk... this load data is not endorsed by the board or the poster.

 

[TheAccountant]

Based on the weights listed, I assume these are 30-30 bullets? The round nose, especially those meant for 30-30, have a tendency to get hung up on feed ramps. Load about 5 dummy rounds and see how they cycle. Check for excessive setback as well. I suspect you'll have to seat them fairly deep to clear your mags and will be leaving some performance on the table.

Obviously now isn't a great time to be buying components, but the Speer 125 TNT are great for supers and work well as light loads in the 308 too. Missouri bullet co has some coated 200+grainers designed for 300blk if you want subs.

 

[Lwstarks]

Okay well I’m trying some 170gr with 14.9gr h110. I’m just going to try them for feeding and operation, not reaLly worried about Anything else right now. Effectiveness is for next time.

 

[Lwstarks]

These did feed in my ar for the most part. A few hung up, but not bad.

 

[Gatsby]

What did you use for the OAL?

 

[Hammer 35]

Looks like a mean cartridge! What powder did you use, and what was your velocity?

Get decent accuracy out of them?

 

[Old Jeff H]

Rather than start a new thread, I thought I'd just tack onto this one.

I built a really nice 16" 300 BO a couple of years ago, but changed my mind about wanting one and sold it before I even shot it.

Now I've decided again that I want to take a run at it. Just waiting for my Larue trigger so I can finish this build.

My reason for getting into the caliber is a little unconventional - I have an obscene amount of 30 Cal projos because I couldn't stop buying 'em every time I came across a good deal. The intention was to load them all for the 308's, but I'm kinda digging the idea of a "Baby 308". So I'm thinking I'll reserve the 165-178 grain bullets for the big brothers, and feed the 110-155 and 190-220 stuff to Junior. But since I don't ever intend to shoot suppressed, using the heavies might be kinda pointless? I dunno. :think:

I'm already preparing myself to be disappointed (like Harrier) with groups. Just hoping it turns out to be a fun caliber to shoot.

Anywho - these are the bullets and powders I have and intend to try:

110gr V-Max/Z-Max
125gr TNT (Even though I've never seen anyone get good groups in 300BO)
135gr FTX
150gr FMJ
150gr Interlock
155gr Custom Competition
190gr Custom Competition
220gr Scenar

CFE BLK
1680
W296
Lil' Gun
Possibly AA#9

Harrier, if you happen to stop in here, how did those resized X39 bullets shoot for you, and what bullet/powder combination gave you the 1.2 MOA groups?

 

[Bigfoot]

I enjoy shooting and loading the caliber. So far I've only loaded 125's, but have some 155 and 175's to try.

 

[xerts1191]

Makes me want to get in to 300 with all the great info you guys posted

 

[Old Jeff H]

My cutoff jig and WFT arrived, and I picked up the saw from Harbor Freight, so it's time to start making some brass.

 

[Bigfoot]

My cutoff jig and WFT arrived, and I picked up the saw from Harbor Freight, so it's time to start making some brass.

Like this? LOL

 

[Old Jeff H]

Definitely the same saw, but I think your jig is an upgrade over the one that I have.

 

[Bigfoot]

Definitely the same saw, but I think your jig is an upgrade over the one that I have.

This is the one I got. It's pretty cool because it "locks" into place for you to do the cut. Then, when you push in the next piece, it "ejects" the one you just cut. Not saying it's better, just kind of cool.
https://www.amazon.com/ZepReloading-Vonzep-Blackout-Cutting-Ejection/dp/B07TZ6B2J9

 

[Old Jeff H]

Yeah I might upgrade to that one. Does it support the brass on the correct angle so you get a square cut?

The one I bought seems to work just fine, but I don't like having to keep my fingers that close to the saw blade.

 

[Bigfoot]

Yeah I might upgrade to that one. Does it support the brass on the correct angle so you get a square cut?

The one I bought seems to work just fine, but I don't like having to keep my fingers that close to the saw blade.

No, it will allow a little tilt as you cut. But I run it through the sizing die first to neck neck down the brass, then cut, then trim. I saw it on youtube of course, but it works out really nice and easy and reduces steps.

 

[Old Jeff H]

I'm glad you brought that up. I've been going back and forth on which operation I wanted to do first.

Which resizing die are you using? I have both the Hornady and RCBS SB AR, and I'm leaning towards the RCBS.