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In this article, we’ll explore the top .300 Blackout rifles of 2024, evaluating their features, performance, and suitability for different purposes like hunting and defense. We’ll discuss key aspects such as accuracy, barrel length, and customization, helping you make an informed decision.
AAC’s .300 Blackout cartridge has become one of the most popular calibers in recent years, especially among AR-15 enthusiasts.
The best .300 Blackout rifles can stand right alongside their 5.56 counterparts, and you can even get some cool .300 BLK rifles that aren’t ARs at all if that’s what you want.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For .300 Blackout Rifles in 2024
- Editor's Choice: Ruger AR-556 .300 Blackout
- Most Comfortable: Wilson Combat AR-15 Ranger
- Best Quality: Savage Arms 110 Carbon Predator
- Best for Hunters: Ruger American Ranch Rifle
- Most Affordable: Palmetto State Armory PSA 15 in 300 blackout
If you’re looking to add an AR-15 rifle to your safe, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve built and tested a variety of rifles in .300 Blackout, and today we’re going to go over the best ones and give you a good idea of how to choose the perfect .300 BLK rifle.
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
---|---|---|
Editor's Choice | Ruger AR-556 .300 Blackout
| Buy on Brownells → |
Most Comfortable | Wilson Combat AR-15 Ranger
| Buy on Brownells → |
Best Quality | Savage Arms 110 Carbon Predator
| Buy on Brownells → |
Best for Hunters | Ruger American Ranch Rifle
| Buy on Sportsmans → |
Most Affordable | Palmetto State Armory PSA 15 in 300 blackout
| Buy on Palmettostatearmory → |
Here are the Best .300 blackout rifles (Our Picks)
1. Ruger AR-556 .300 Blackout
I’m an absolute sucker for Rugers, so it’s no surprise, at least to me, that a Ruger is first up on this list.
The Ruger AR-556 is based on the AR-15 platform, with a sleek black finish and collapsible stock, so it should feel quite familiar and intuitive for those of you who are used to MSRs. And for those of you who aren’t, it’s a very easy-to-learn platform, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting into the swing of things.
Either way, the Picatinny rail on top and M-LOK handguard make this rifle incredibly easy to customize and adjust to suit your preferences and needs. It’s very well-balanced and the weight is manageable for long shooting sessions. Overall, the Ruger AR-556 is an all-around great gun for hunting, home defense, and recreational shooting.
Key Specs
- Weight: 6.4 lb.
- Barrel Length: 16.10″
- Overall Length: 33″ – 36.25″
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
- Operating System: Direct impingement.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Versatile design
- AR-15 platform
- Picatinny and M-LOK options for adding accessories
- Ruger’s excellent reputation for durability, accuracy, and reliability
Cons
- Doesn’t come with sights, so you’ll need to provide your iron sights or optic
2. Wilson Combat AR-15 Ranger
The Wilson Combat AR-15 Ranger is a premium, meticulously crafted firearm. The AR-15 Ranger combines exceptional craftsmanship with cutting-edge features to deliver a rifle that’s perfectly tailored for serious shooters.
Perhaps the most important feature of this .300 BLK rifle is its accuracy. It’s built to tight tolerances and uses high-quality materials and components to ensure precise, consistent shot placement. This attention to detail is absolutely essential for precision shooters, especially in competition. Wilson Combat has optimized the direct impingement operating system for smooth, reliable cycling.
Additionally, the Wilson AR-15 Ranger has an M-LOK free-float handguard and is topped with a Picatinny rail, allowing you to attach all kinds of different accessories, including optics, lights, bipods, and more. This makes the AR-15 Ranger super adaptable for all kinds of different
Key Specs
- Weight: 6 lbs, 6.5 oz
- Barrel Length: 16”
- Overall Length: 33.25″
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
- Operating System:
Pros
- AR-15 platform
- Picatinny and M-LOK options for adding accessories
- High-quality, premium components and materials
- Precision craftsmanship
- Easy customization
Cons
- Premium price point
3. Savage Arms 110 Carbon Predator
The Savage Arms 110 line is well-known in the gun world, with a reputation for reliability, accuracy, and versatility in the field of long-range precision shooting. The Carbon Predator holds up that reputation easily.
For one, the barrel is carbon fiber-wrapped, making it lightweight but very strong. The barrel is also free-floating, which helps improve consistency and accuracy. The strong action provides a solid foundation, further improving shot consistency.
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Another cool feature is the AccuFit stock system. This is an adjustable stock that allows shooters to customize the length of pull and comb height on their rifle, ensuring a perfect, ergonomic fit. As you probably already know, if you’re comfortable while shooting, you can shoot more accurately, especially over extended shooting sessions.
The 110 Carbon Predator also comes equipped with Savage’s AccuTrigger, which features a light, crisp pull with an adjustable pull weight and ensures that the rifle won’t fire if jarred or dropped.
Key Specs
- Weight: 6.59 lb.
- Barrel Length: 16”
- Overall Length: 36.625”
- Accessory Rail: Weaver-style bases
- Operating System: Bolt action
Pros
- Highly accurate
- Adjustable AccuTrigger
- Adjustable AccuFit stock
- Carbon fiber wrapped-barrel
- Great value for your money
Cons
- Not as many options for mounting accessories
- Not as much aftermarket support as some other rifles
4. Ruger American Ranch Rifle
I’ve already said that I love Rugers, and the Ruger American Ranch Rifle is a personal favorite of mine. This versatile and compact—not to mention very affordable—bolt-action rifle is perfect for a variety of shooters, from hunters to sport shooters.
The Ranch Rifle is known for providing accurate, consistent performance, especially for a rifle at its price point. A major contributing factor to the precision is the high-quality, cold hammer-forged barrel. The muzzle is threaded, allowing you to pair this great rifle with your muzzle device of choice.
Ruger’s Patented Power Bedding integral bedding block system holds the action securely within the stock and free-floats the barrel, further helping with accuracy. The detached rotary magazine
Key Specs
- Weight: 5.9 lb.
- Barrel Length: 16.12″
- Overall Length: 36″
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny
- Operating System: Bolt action
Pros
- Ruger’s excellent reputation for durability
- Modular stock
- Affordable price point
- Compact design
- Picatinny rail for easy attachment of sights, optics, and other accessories
Cons
- The low weight makes recoil less manageable
- Not as much aftermarket support as some other options
5. Palmetto State Armory PSA 15 in 300 blackout
Palmetto State Armory is the go-to option for building or buying an AR-15 on a budget.
And now they have a .300 Blackout option!
You can go with a pistol, carbine, or rifle version, all of which come with an improved mil-spec trigger, an M-LOK handguard, and an MOE pistol grip and stock. The main one we recommend is going to be the 16” barrel version, but obviously, that’s up to you and what you’re going to try to do with the gun.
Related Article: 15 Best Scopes for 308 Rifles | Ranked by a Marine
You’re probably not going to win any precision sharpshooting contests with this one, but that’s not really what .300 BLK is for anyway. For shooting suppressed, especially hunting, this thing is just about perfect, and it won’t blow a hole in your wallet either.
It’s also affordable enough that it’s a good option for those who want to try the .300 Blackout life out before they commit a grand or two to the cause. In terms of sheer bang for your bunk (pun intended), it’s hard to beat PSA.
You can also snag a .300 BLK upper if you want to convert a standard AR-15 into a .300 BLK AR-15. All you have to do is pop the takedown and pivot pins out, slap the new upper on top of your existing gun, and you’re good to go. The whole process takes maybe 30 seconds.
Key Specs
- Weight: 6.75 pounds
- Barrel Length: 16”
- Overall Length: 32”
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions
- Operating System: Long stroke gas piston
Pros
- AR-15 platform
- Budget-friendly price point
- Versatile design
- Highly reliable
- Plenty of aftermarket support
Cons
- Quality isn’t up to the same standard as more expensive rifles
- No M-LOK or KeyMod attachment points
6. Savage Arms Axis II
Another excellent option from Savage Arms is the Axis II. This bolt-action rifle has a budget-friendly price point, but it doesn’t skimp on performance. It’s great for beginners or more experienced shooters who want an affordable yet high-quality .300 Blackout rifle.
Like the Savage Arms 110, the Axis II features Savage’s AccuTrigger, which allows for user-adjustable trigger pull, ensuring a crisp and consistent trigger break.
The Axis II also has a fairly lightweight build, making it easy to carry and maneuver, plus it has a durable, weather-resistant synthetic stock. These features combine to make a budget-friendly rifle that’s ideal for hunting and other outdoor shooting pursuits.
Key Specs
- Weight: 6.62 lb
- Barrel Length: 16-1/8″
- Overall Length: 36-3/4″
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny
- Operating System: Bolt action
Pros
- The affordable price makes this rifle a great entry-level option
- Adjustable AccuTrigger
- Excellent accuracy, especially for the price
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Weather resistant
Cons
- Limited customization options
7. Desert Tech MDRX
This is the slightly upgraded and tweaked version of Desert Tech MDR, which has become a popular choice for a US-made bullpup in recent years. This version has an adjustable gas block, a butt pad on the stock, and an improved trigger with a 4.7lb pull.
This trigger is much better than the Tavor and feels remarkably good for a bullpup, which have notoriously bad triggers as a rule thanks to all the mechanics involved for a trigger at the midpoint of a gun to fire a round chambered at the rear.
The folks at Desert Tech have done some mechanical witchcraft to make the MDRX 300 much nicer to shoot, and that leads directly to some much better accuracy.
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It also has some ergonomic improvements over the original and feels very well-balanced and easy to aim. We had no problem running some inventive 3-Gun courses with this bad boy.
Like the Tavor, the MDR is fully ambidextrous and makes a great suppressor host. The forward eject has to prevent some of the gas and powder blowback that you can get with some other suppressed rifles, and the barrel is pre-threaded from the factory.
The only problem is that as of the time of writing, the complete rifle is back-ordered due to supply chain issues (isn’t everything?), but if you’re reading this after February 2022, you should be able to get one no problem.
And if you can’t get one, you can always get the conversion kit to put one together safely, easily, and legally on your own.
Key Specs
- Weight: 8.85 lbs
- Barrel Length: 16”
- Overall Length: 26.02”
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
- Operating System: Piston
Pros
- Picatinny and M-LOK options for adding accessories
- Incredibly modular, so it’s easy to make upgrades
- Compact design
- Ambidextrous controls
Cons
- On the heavier side
- Bullpup design can take some getting used to for shooters who aren’t already familiar
- Shorter barrel limits long-range accuracy
8. Sig Sauer MCX Rattler PCB
Okay, so the SIG Sauer MCX Rattler PCB is technically a pistol, but it’s a pistol designed for rifle enthusiasts.
It has a 5.5-inch rifled barrel with a built-in flash suppressor and instead of a traditional stock, the MCX Rattler PCB has a pivoting contour brace (hence the “PCB” in the name). The PCB folds down for discretion and portability.
This is a lightweight alternative to a rifle that lets you use a very short barrel, giving you a very compact overall package that can be stored easily and is a cinch to maneuver indoors. The short barrel also makes it a near-perfect suppressor host.
Shooting the Rattle PCB is a dream too, with the excellent SIG Enhanced trigger making rapid and accurate strings of fire nice and easy. We had no problems hitting steel at 100 yards, or with putting super rapid hits in the A-zone of paper targets at ten meters.
The gun is also extremely reliable, and we experienced no failures to feed, fire, or eject of any kind while we had it in our hands for testing.
The Rattler PCB is a real winner for those who want an AR-15 pistol rather than a rifle and is a great choice for self-defense, or for the range. You could even turn this little guy into a backcountry hunting or survival rifle for hunting in dense brush at close ranges.
Hog hunters who like to stalk through the undergrowth, this is a good one to take a look at. And if you just want a compact truck gun, this will kick ass in that role too.
Its main purpose though is for defense. This is a great gun to have tucked away in a go-bag, secreted away inside a vehicle, or in a quick-access safe by the bed to be ready to go in case something goes bump in the night and you might need to bump back.
Key Specs
- Weight: 5.1 pounds
- Barrel Length: 5.5”
- Overall Length: 23”
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
- Operating System: Gas piston
Pros
- Picatinny and M-LOK options for adding accessories
- Compact size
- Highly modular
- Suppressor-ready
- Ambidextrous controls
Cons
- Low weight makes recoil less manageable
- Shorter barrel limits long-range accuracy
9. Windham Weaponry SRC-300
Finally, we have the Windham Weaponry SRC-300. This company is perhaps not as well-known as some of the others on this list, but hold that against it. Windham was actually started back in 2011 by the same guy who started Bushmaster, Richard Dyke. You can rest assured that they’re manufacturing quality arms and they’re doing so right here in the US.
As for the SRC-300 itself, this is a versatile, reliable firearm that’s built on the AR-15 platform. As we’ve said before, this makes the rifle great for people already familiar with the platform but is also very intuitive for newcomers to learn.
It also makes it very easy to find compatible accessories, like sights and optics. However, I would have liked to see an M-LOK are KeyMod handguard instead of just the Picatinny rails along the top of the receiver and on the barrel.
Finally, the SRC-300 has a quite lightweight design, making it maneuverable and comfortable to carry.
Key Specs
- Weight: 6.15 lbs.
- Barrel Length: 16”
- Overall Length: 36.125”
- Accessory Rail: Picatinny
- Operating System: Gas Impingement
Pros
- Budget-friendly price point
- AR-15 platform
- Manufactured in the United States
- Highly customizable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Shorter barrel limits long-range accuracy
- Not as many aftermarket options as some other platforms
Things to Consider When Buying a .300 Blackout Rifle
When buying a .300 Blackout rifle, consider its intended purpose, performance, and barrel length. Also, think about potential upgrades and accessories. These factors ensure you choose a rifle that suits your specific needs, whether it’s for hunting, tactical use, or recreational shooting.
There are a few things to keep in mind when buying a .300 Blackout rifle. Let’s talk about the most important ones.
Intended Purpose
First and foremost, you need to think about what your intended purpose for the rifle is going to be.
Are you going to be running a suppressor? Do you want to get an SBR or pistol so you have something short and compact for home defense? Or are you going to be hunting hogs and want to go for the longest barrel you can get to get the most velocity possible?
This is something that only you can decide, and at the end of the day, this should be your biggest deciding factor. There’s a .300 BLK rifle for just about every possible need, so you should be sure to find something that works for your overall purpose.
If you’re just going to be hunting with this, do you really need a $1500+ AR-15? Probably not, unless you’re actually trying to bag 30 to 50 feral hogs.
That said, if you want a high-end AR-15 for hunting with .300 Blackout, go for it. Just know that there’s going to be diminishing returns over something like the Howa bolt-action up above.
Finally, if you’re looking for a home-defense or suppressed-shooting option, we strongly recommend going with a bullpup or AR-15 pistol. The “pistol” format guns get the most out of the capabilities of the .300 BLK and make for excellent self-defense options in close-range situations.
Performance
You also need to keep in mind all the usual factors that impact a rifle’s performance. The trigger and the barrel are going to be the two biggest factors dictating your accuracy, and then the general quality of the machining will dictate your reliability.
It seems like just about every fly-by-night AR-15 manufacturer makes a .300 Blackout rifle these days, so some of what’s out there is going to be poorly-machined crap that won’t run through a full-mag without a stoppage.
In general, go with a name you know, or that you see on this list and you’ll probably be okay, but if you see some no-name AR-15 at your local gun store with a quarter-inch of light showing between the upper and lower receiver, maybe leave that one on the shelf.
Barrel Length
Barrel length is pretty important with a .300 Blackout. The round is designed to burn all of its available power in a short, 9” barrel, so you don’t need the full 16” barrel most standard AR-15s come with.
This makes an AR-15 pistol a great option for .300 BLK, and while it’s not quite a rifle legally speaking, you get most of the same functionality, with the added benefit of having a nice short weapon that you can put a suppressor on and still have an overall length similar to a standard AR with a 16” barrel.
For home defense, these short-barreled options really make a lot more sense.
On the other hand, if you’re going to be hunting, particularly in fairly open areas like you’ll find out in the Western US, then the longer barrel makes sense to give the chunky .300 BLK round a little more velocity on its way to the target.
Remember, .300 BLK burns all of its powder in about a 9” barrel, so anything over that is really going to be of limited benefit at the end of the day. And if you’re adding a suppressor to your gun, you’ll definitely want that shorter barrel to keep your gun from being overly cumbersome.
Upgrades and Accessories
Finally, you’ll want to consider the upgrades and accessories you can take advantage of with your rifle.
Most .300 BLK rifles are going to be built on an AR-15 platform, which means the sky is the limit as far as customization goes. If you go with the bolt-action options, the bullpups, or even another semi-auto like the Mini-14, you’re going to have fewer options when it comes to tweaking things.
That said, if you’re looking for something you can just slap an optic on and have it be ready to go out of the box, this isn’t really an issue. On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes to fiddle and improve things here and there, maybe go with one of the AR-15-based options.
Also Read: 15 Best Scopes for 300 Blackout
FAQ’s
How far will a 300 Blackout shoot accurately?
.300 Blackout is a mid-range round and performs best under about 200 yards. This is because 300 Blackout has a big, heavy bullet. Plus, most 300 Blackout rounds are subsonic, which doesn’t help the range.
If you’re looking for a round that will work for long-range, check out the 15 Best Long Range Rifles instead. You could also check out our list of the best .30-06 rifles if you’re looking for something in .30 caliber that you can really reach out and touch something with.
Now, does that mean you can’t hit paper or steel at several hundred yards? Of course not. But you’re going to be fighting wind drift and drop due to gravity/air resistance roughly twice as much as you would with something like .308.
Who makes the most accurate 300 Blackout barrel?
The two best-performing, accuracy-focused barrel makers are Proof Research and Carbon Six. These are manufacturers that make precision, carbon fiber-wrapped barrels that will stand up to long strings of fire that build a lot of heat.
These barrels are designed for precision work, and though they’re a little on the pricey side, they’ll give you the absolute best possible accuracy out of your .300 Blackout.
Also Read: 5.56 vs. 300 Blackout: Which Caliber is better?
Final Verdict
.300 Blackout is a great cartridge and there are a lot of great rifles out there chambered for it. Whether you’re looking for something for home defense, slaying the occasional wild boar, or just having fun with a suppressor at the range, there’s a .300 Blackout rifle for you.
Our overall pick is still the Aero Precision M4E1 Complete, but any of the rifles (or “pistols”) will serve you well and give you a great bang for your buck.
All in all, .300 BLK is a great cartridge that deserves a great rifle, and you should now know everything you need to know in order to pick the very best one to meet your needs.