Finally, Subsonic Factory .300 BLK is Affordable
The phrase “game-changer” might well be the most overused descriptor of the past decade. However, this new ammunition offering from Sellier & Bellot does fall in that category. Several retailers (including SGAmmo as pictured above) have recently listed S&B’s new 200 grain, subsonic .300 Blackout (BLK) load, and the price per round is just $0.55.
In recent years, the explosive popularity of silencers has driven .300 BLK into the mainstream. Essentially a standardized version of the .300 Whisper developed by J.D. Jones in the 1990s, .300 BLK was first brought to market by Advanced Armament in 2011. It’s unique because it is one of the few rounds to offer subsonic and supersonic loads that can cycle in semi-automatic and fully-automatic rifles. It also fits comfortably inside standard AR-15 magazines.
Historically, the problem with the cartridge has been cost. Because companies often use .308 projectiles in their .300 BLK offerings, heavier, subsonic rounds typically sport unnecessary match-quality bullets. Made to be fired at supersonic velocities, these bullets offer few advantages in a subsonic load, but they drive the cost up considerably. Up to now, even the cheapest .300 BLK subsonic rounds have sold for $0.75 per or more.
S&B’s new load is the first factory option to bring subsonic .300 BLK to reasonable levels finally. No, it isn’t as cheap or as widely available as brass-cased 5.56mm or even cheap .308, but it is far better than what has been available to this point. Frankly, I can’t wait to get my hands on some.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.