The top half of the heart was gone. Cavity full of blood 1/4 inch entrance hole. We will try using the 110 Barnes even though they didn't pattern as good. Not bad by any means just not as good. In my limited knowledge of bullets and such I thought the heavier 150s would be better. Still going to get the 6.5 anyway if the 110s work for her I get a new gun! Can't really go wrong
AR 15 pistol 300 BO no good
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86alaskan
Well-Known Member
Great idea, I always love a good reason to buy another gun. The 110 Barnes was specifically designed for optimum performance in the 300BO. I think sig loads a lighter hunting round as well, might be worth a look
Thanks for your help. If she gets a shot at another one will let you know how it goes. I guess I can let her use my tag
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
I'm not knocking the 300 Black out because I don't have one. So I was interested in finding out more about this very popular cartridge.
In my research I found that about the best it could do with a 150 grain bullet was just barely over 2,000 ft/sec in a 16 " barrel. in a pistol velocity would be down from that 2 to 400 ft/sec. Add distance (50 yards) and the 150 grain bullet would be at or below the minimum design velocity of 1800 ft/sec for performance, and you could not expect it to perform perfectly every time, or even most of the time.
I also ran the 125s and found that the best velocity you could expect was around 2400 at best. the subsonic velocity was just over 1000 ft/sec for the 125 and 871 for the 150.
So it looks like the bullet does not have much of a chance to perform at these velocities. Full penetration is easy as long as the bullet does not fragment and damage could be compared to an arrow with a lot
less velocity and energy. In fact many times when I was bow hunting a field tip was used for hogs when they were not good to eat and the desire was for them to run off and not mess your deer hunt. (The arrow normally made a complete pass through). but the hog still died.
Again, not knocking the 300 black out but in my opinion you are asking to much of the cartridge and the bullet when hunting larger game like deer and hogs.
Just my opinion
J E CUSTOM
In my research I found that about the best it could do with a 150 grain bullet was just barely over 2,000 ft/sec in a 16 " barrel. in a pistol velocity would be down from that 2 to 400 ft/sec. Add distance (50 yards) and the 150 grain bullet would be at or below the minimum design velocity of 1800 ft/sec for performance, and you could not expect it to perform perfectly every time, or even most of the time.
I also ran the 125s and found that the best velocity you could expect was around 2400 at best. the subsonic velocity was just over 1000 ft/sec for the 125 and 871 for the 150.
So it looks like the bullet does not have much of a chance to perform at these velocities. Full penetration is easy as long as the bullet does not fragment and damage could be compared to an arrow with a lot
less velocity and energy. In fact many times when I was bow hunting a field tip was used for hogs when they were not good to eat and the desire was for them to run off and not mess your deer hunt. (The arrow normally made a complete pass through). but the hog still died.
Again, not knocking the 300 black out but in my opinion you are asking to much of the cartridge and the bullet when hunting larger game like deer and hogs.
Just my opinion
J E CUSTOM
Thanks for your help I really don't know a lot about the caliber. Like I said wanted to make a gun that was light and quick handling for sneaking around the cedar swamps for my wife. So I made it in a AR15 pistol format. Thought the 12 inch barrel work great for that purpose. Wanted to go with 6.5 Grendel and was talked out of it. In your opinion would you go with a longer barrel say 14-16 whether I stay with the 300 bo or go with 6.5 Grendel. If I choose the 6.5 what grain bullet would you run? I suppose that will depend on what length barrel I choose? In my limited knowledge of things I thought the heavier 150's would be better for the planned use of the gun which is under 100 yards probably closer to 50.
The BO and Grendel are totally different critters...In a pistol configuration I don't believe the Grendel would be beneficial.
The BO does well in a short barrel as the pistol powder gets it done with a 9" barrel, it gains little with more barrel length.
The Grendel likes a little more barrel with 18" being a starting point.
Have used both on antelope with good results. The BO with 110 barns or 125 BT Have put a few on the ground and the hits could have been better. The 110 Barns is an explosive bullet specially out of a 308 or 30-0.This is an entrance hole with a 308!
The Grendel with 100 grain BT or eldx Has put a couple right down and the yardage was over 400.
Neither rounds are my first choice, the wind and yardage gets the best of them sooner than their bigger brothers (in my case the 30-06,6.5-284 and 6.5x55 Sweede.
If you are committed to a pistol the 450Bushmaster might be a better choice if your ranges stay below 150 yards?
The BO does well in a short barrel as the pistol powder gets it done with a 9" barrel, it gains little with more barrel length.
The Grendel likes a little more barrel with 18" being a starting point.
Have used both on antelope with good results. The BO with 110 barns or 125 BT Have put a few on the ground and the hits could have been better. The 110 Barns is an explosive bullet specially out of a 308 or 30-0.This is an entrance hole with a 308!
The Grendel with 100 grain BT or eldx Has put a couple right down and the yardage was over 400.
Neither rounds are my first choice, the wind and yardage gets the best of them sooner than their bigger brothers (in my case the 30-06,6.5-284 and 6.5x55 Sweede.
If you are committed to a pistol the 450Bushmaster might be a better choice if your ranges stay below 150 yards?
There is a great deal of difference in wanting a sneak around the swamp rifle and a lets go out west and shoot 400 yards rifle. If I were to want a sneak around the swamp rifle I would get a 16 or 18" AR in 6.5 Grendel. If factory ammo was my only choice I would go with Federal Fusion 120 gr, Hornady 123 SST or ELDM in that order. If hand loading you have a much better bullet to choose from. Even in a 12" pistol the Grendel will be more effective than the 300BO according to those who have used them over on the Grendel web site. Especially if you hand load and use the Nosler 129 Long Range Accubond bullet.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
I think your idea of the Grendel is good for your use and distance, I would also recommend a 16" or 20"barrel in the AR platform.
A light weight barrel contour would do fine in the Grendel, in a barrel no longer than a 16".
You are right about the heavier bullets in a pistol having more energy. lighter bullets often don't get that much better velocity than the heavies and in many cases less energy.
With the Grendel. 120 to 130 grain bullets are about optimum in a 16" barrel. A 20"barrel will pick up a little velocity and would be good if you were planing on an occasional 3 or 400 yard shot.
The 6.8 spc is another good choice that has ballistics as good or better and can also be used in the AR 15 format.
More information
J E CUSTOM
Luke learned
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Man, I shot a deers heart in half with a 7.62x54 and it ripped out the opposite shoulder. Deer ran 150yds before tipping. Next day I shot a doe with a 556 in the lungs with a 55 gr BT and it dropped like Thor's hammer hit it. That's huntin....In general, 300blk is a 30-30 worth of power. Which is fine for deer sized game. That being said, 150 gr is going to have less energy and velocity than the 110 and 125 grain loads. I like BT bullets to ensure the damage gets done. My two cents.
Like I already said the deer running after heart shot is not uncommon what bothers me is no exit wound hence no blood trail. She is going to sit tonight with the 110 Barnes. Will hopefully see what the results of that bullet is. Still going to go with a 6.5 in 14.5 or 16 inch barrel.
I have to give the 300 bo a little bit of apology after butchering the deer today. What she called a broadside shot was actually 1/4ing away from her. She aimed a little farther back to get the right angle and hit a rib going in which turned the bullet took the heart and took rib on far side lodged under hide on far side.still not really impressed for being only 40-50 yards and coming apart. I have 2 pictures of the bullet at top of post. Maybe with that small of round and velocity that is as good as it gets. Hate to think what would happen with a bad shot. Maybe she will have to stay with her 30.06
Kansaswoodguy
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- Messages
- 773
I do not own a 300BO but if I did I would load lighter bullets and push them as fast as I could for hunting. Even in 223/5.56 I load and hunt with 55gr and I've tried 75gr I get better results on game with the lighter faster bullets these where Barnes or GMX all copper style bullets. In my 6.5 Creedmoor I've shot game with 120gr Amax and the damage was so rediculous I would not choose to hunt with that combination to much meat loss on shoulder shoots it would be great for head/neck shoots however.
I don't reload so am stuck with factory ammunition. Will try the 110 Barnes in the holiday hunt we have in December. Still going to try a 141/2 6.5 Grendel. At the worst she gets another gun and maybe she let me use one LOL
Hey buddy I am going with a 6.5 like I should have done. Going with a 18 inch for the velocity and stopping the fluting short so if she wants shorter we can still cut it down.Exspensive lesson but now have 2 guns. I will never get my money back on the 300 bo so going to shoot it suppressed for fun.
