The Rise of the .300 Blackout
How a Purpose-Built Cartridge Changed the Game .300 Blackout Cartridges If you're anything like me, you’ve spent time lugging around everything from .30-06 hunting rifles to M4-style carbines chambered in 5.56 NATO. Each cartridge has its purpose—but every now and then, something new comes along that makes you take notice. That’s what happened with the .300 AAC Blackout , also known as .300 BLK . To the uninitiated, it might look like a chopped-down .308 or a necked-up 5.56. But the story behind the .300 Blackout is a bit more nuanced—and its role in both civilian and military shooting circles has only grown over the past decade. Let’s dig into how this cartridge came to be, why it exists, and what makes it so popular among AR-15 enthusiasts, hog hunters, and suppressed rifle fans alike. The Problem with 5.56 NATO Let’s go back to the early 2000s. The 5.56x45mm NATO had long been the standard for AR-15/M4 platforms. Lightweight, low recoil, flat shooting—it checked a lot of ...