300 blk and 224 valkyrie--opinions on the "other" ammo

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PastorOfMuppets

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For someone who buys far too many doubles of guns, I'm pretty practical. I like owning almost enough guns (there's never enough guns) in only a few common calibers. Sourcing ammo gets easier that way, I can buy bulk, mags are often interchangeable, etc. Plus, if zombies attack, or we have to pull a Red Dawn, I might just be able to scrounge or reload enough ammo to keep my guns well fed. Like I say, I'm pretty practical.

Which is why I'm not so sure I should be investing in less common calibers. I'd like to start shooting for distance and accuracy....been reading up on 22 Nosler and 224 Valkyrie as awesome rounds. Sure I could use 308 or 6.5 creedmore, but those are bigger rounds and I love the AR 15 platform. Anyone here have any practical experience shooting these rounds in Canada? How hard (and expensive) are they to shoot? Is it worth it?

Similar situation with the 300 blk. I have a hard on for Sig's MCX pistol and rattler. Managed to shoot them both in the US and loved them. Of course, in Kanuckland we can't shoot suppressed, so 300 blk is possibly a useless cartridge. Subsonic rounds won't even cycle the Rattler without a can, so I'd have to shoot supersonic rounds from a 5.5 inch barrel... the exact opposite of quiet or practical. And its 3k....that's a lot of other guns/ammo. Again, anyone in Canada shoot 300 blackout and are you happy with it? Is it worth the investment as a range gun and new fun toy?
 
Held off for a long time on the 300 Blk. Tried it and I love it. For lack of another word... smooth and least with subs. Cheap as hell to reload... factory is... pricey.

Best application for a short barrelled AR, imo.
 
I've been shooting 300BLK for a few years now and have owned four rifles chambered in it. As a handloader it's a great cartridge for fun plinking. Lot's of projectile options and a very versatile cartridge. I currently own a non restricted 300BLK conversion for my ACR and also a Rem 700 AAC-SD 16 inch 300BLK and both are fun. I have loads ranging from 110gr supersonic up to 168gr supersonic as well as a 150gr and 208gr subsonic loads that all work great.

I'm not sure what you intend to do with it but if you're just going to be target shooting I'd just stick to 223, it has a much flatter trajectory and is cheaper to shoot. If you're a handloader and just want something cool and different that also happens to be an easy conversion or build for an AR platform then go for the 300BLK or maybe try 6.5 Grendel for some better long range performance.

I haven't had a chance to shoot 224 Valkyrie yet but it does look good on paper.

I also own a Modern Hunter and a Rem 700 in 6.5 Creedmoor and am really impressed with the cartridge so far. Again, I wouldn't bother going with 6.5CM over a 308win unless you're regularly shooting past 800 yards because before that range the 308 can do anything the 6.5 can do but just needs a few more clicks of elevation to do it.
 
Valkyrie components are just coming in now but have not seen ammo for sale. Factory ammo isn't great and have not started load development yet. I think it has potential but unless you really want to stretch it out 77g smks will get you to 600 pretty easy.
 
I've got a 10.5" 300 BLK upper that is fantastic to shoot. Great little CQB blaster. I reload so ammo cost is reasonable. Buying factory loads will hurt your wallet for sure.

Thinking about adding a 6.5 Grendel or 224 Valkyrie at some point. Leaning towards 6.5 as it packs a serious punch in the AR15 frame.
 
I have a lot of experience with 300Blk from before I moved up here to Canada and unless you are shooting subs out of a 8" or shorter barrel with a can on it, you're better off with 5.56 or .223 for pretty much any application as well as being less expensive.
 
SBR ( under 9") 300blk is a "niche" item ( or if you are in the US you can have it as a pistol for hunting I guess) if you need something that is under 10", doesn't generate a lot of blast, can defeat soft armour within 100m, hit the target with a thummmmppp ( with a variety of hunting and specialty rounds), and you don't want your round end up 250 away ( the drop is pretty crazy after 200m, almost like a mortar). It is the way to go.

224 Vlk is appealing with the 90gr match king. It starts out slower but begins to out run 77 smk as early as 250m ish. This means it is going to have way less wind drift.
In a field range, less wind drift and drop = advantage. More error in windcall and range/ballistic table error could be tolerated. Unless you are pretty skilled, which I confess I am NOT, I will pick 224 over 5.56 any day. There is almost no recoil trade off, other then logistic issue. I think 224 is the perfect DMR cartridge if it works as advertised. Lots of rounds can be carried....and think of a higher BC 75gr M855A1 version of this!
 
The ballistic properties of supersonic .300 Blk are pretty similar to the 7.62x39mm Soviet cartridge. For non-piston SBR applications under 9" the .300 Blk is optimal, whereas the 5.56mm is an inferior substitute from both a reliability and Blast/flash perspective. Those who "pooh, pooh" the .300 Blk's 300m effective range miss the boat entirely. It was always intended to be an intermediate cartridge with limited range for suppressed PDWs and SBRs, not an all-round substitute for the 5.56mm cartridge. The supersonic .300 Blk provides .30 cal terminal ballistics and barrier penetration out to 300m. The 5.56mm is sadly lacking in both departments. Instead, the 5.56 is optimized for 9" or longer barrels and DI operating systems at ranges extending beyond 300m.

It seems to me that the .300 Blk and 5.56mm are best viewed as complimentary, rather than competing cartridges. Different loads for different applications. As always, determine your required effect first, then select your cartridge to achieve the desired result on your selected target.
 
Lads, thank you very much. I've decided to pull the trigger on the 300 blk for now, and consider the 224 at another time when it is more popular. Loving so much good advice on the 300 blk. Reinforces my decision to buy into that caliber.
 
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