300 AAC BLK barrel length

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gunnuts

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Hi everyone!
I've been researching for a while about the 300 AAC blackout, and almost all the informations I found were from the US and the 9in seems to be the consensus, but they use silencers and subsonic ammunition.

now, considering I'll shoot it unsupressed with supersonic rounds, would a 12.5'' barrel be better than a 9'' barrel for reliability, accuracy and longer range, or the 9'' is better or equivalent?

right now, NEA only sells 7.5'' (too short) or 12.5''. They are working on a 9-9.5'', but it might take a while. If the 9'' is better I might wait for it, plus the short barrel looks really cool, but I would prefer not to choose look over performance. I want to get NEA for the bang for the buck, but if someone knows another company selling a quality barrel in the 200-250$, please tell me!


Did anyone ever experienced with both length, and what were your impressions, and did you notice any difference between the 2?
 
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The next step up is DD 10.3" at $319. but those NEA barrel prices are pretty attractive. I picked up the 12.5" barrel but have not fired my build as yet. Best person to get 300BLK info from would be Suputin.
 
Barrel length on a BLK is mostly a consideration of the configuration you are after. Many of the US guys are running silencers and longer silencers work better than short ones on the BLK. So a 12"+ barrel with a 6" suppressor on it ends up at 18" OAL. This is why the 8-9" length is popular down south.

Without a suppressor there is no reason you won't be happy with a 12" barrel .... which is why I think NEA chose to make that length. A 12" will give you a little more velocity which will produce a better trajectory and a bit more range.

Barrel length has SFA to do with reliability or accuracy. I have both 7" and 10" ARs and they both work fine. While short barrels are indeed cool, they are not a steady in the hands and are more difficult to shoot accurately.

For the price I don't think you can beat the NEA bbl.
 
thank you for this excellent answer, best I had so far!

One last thing, considering I went with some of the best parts I could find (mur upper, nickel boron carrier, spike buffer tube kit.., would I be better going with a DD barrel that is cold forged and chrome lined, not to sacrifice on quality, or the NEA is almost as good and would not be a downgrade? I would be happy to save 100$ but not if it's compromising on quality.
But then again, the DD is only 10.3, so less velocity than the 12.5.
Such a dilemma!!!
 
gunnuts said:
But then again, the DD is only 10.3, so less velocity than the 12.5.
Such a dilemma!!!
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If you're punching paper on the range, I don't think this will make a big difference in 300BLK. I'll chrony my 12.5" NEA barrel next time I'm at the range and I'll do the same when my DD 10.3" barrel comes in and post my findings.
 
PEI ROB said:
Suputin, what barrel length would you go with for subsonic 230gr bullets without a suppressor?
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I wouldn't bother with anything heavier than 200gr. The extra weight doesn't get you anything useful and those bullets tend to be considerably more expensive.

For subsonics, pretty much any bbl length will work. I run a 7" and a 10".
 
I have a few 300 Blks 9" and have been shooting them for a couple of years. 9" is the AAC optimal barrel length. I shoot primarily supersonic out to 300 meters with MOA accuracy. 220 SMK subsonics are good to about 150 meters, although once you have your dope on, 300 meters is accessible with them as well (although about a 14 foot POI drop difference over the supers). My setups are ATRS uppers and barrels with pistol length gas tubes.
 
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