by Richard Mann - Tuesday, February 10, 2015
The .300 AAC Blackout cartridge continues to gain traction with hunters. Its primary appeal is its ability to offer ballistics on par with the .30-30 Winchester—from an AR-15. New ammunition offerings continue to extend this appeal. For example, Nosler just introduced a varmint-capable 110-grain Varmageddon load that reaches 2150 fps and a 125-grain Ballistic Tip load at 2250 fps that is intended for deer.
But, the most unique and appealing feature of the .300 Blackout is possibly its suitability as a subsonic hunting cartridge. Until now, subsonic hunting loads capable of providing much-needed expansion have been nonexistent. Noveske, long known for its precision ARs and components, has partnered with Nosler to correct this shortcoming. Here are five things you need to know about the new subsonic load.
1. Nosler loads this ammunition for Noveske using brass that has been precision sorted for consistency.
Every case receives black nickel plating that improves feeding and extraction reliability. And, every cartridge is hand-inspected.
2. The newly designed .30-caliber bullet used for the load weighs 220 grains.
Matched with a high-performance powder, it delivers a consistent subsonic muzzle velocity of around 1020 fps from a 16-inch barrel.
3. With a 100-yard impact velocity of slightly less than 1000 fps, this radically unique bullet expands to about twice its original diameter.
Plus, it penetrates 18 inches in 10-percent ordnance gelatin.
4. The new bullet is called the Ballistic Glow Tip RN and has a greenish-colored tip that, when charged with a flashlight, glows in the dark.
This makes the ammunition monumentally cool, instantly identifiable and easy to get your hands on in the dark when hunting feral hogs at night.
5. All Nosler and Nosler-loaded Noveske .300 Blackout ammunition is optimized for rifles with a 1:8-inch twist.
The loads come in 20-round boxes. Suggested retail for a box of the 220-grain Ballistic Glow Tip RN load is $ 42.95.
