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Talk to me like I'm a 3 year old (but eligible to own a rifle..lol)

I find the 300 blackout cartridge very interesting, but have never shot it or seen it shot in person.
I like what I have read......but am interested in the opinions of those that have a AR pattern rifle chambered in this cartridge or have shot it more than a few times.
Im not concerned with ammo availability. I understand in the apocalypse I will not find this caliber in every home or bunker for the scavenging.. should it come to that, there will be plenty of weapons laying about for the taking.
Unless the copious write ups are hooey, Im satisfied with the ballistics, the down range accuracy and the impact energy.
I like the common AR platforms chambered in this cartridge.

What upper? and lower or complete rifle do you have or would you recommend?
What upper? lower? or complete rifle would you stay away from?
What issues if any have you observed with this cartridge? be it rifle , ballistics, mags, other?

I am still a fan of 'build yer own' ARs. It really is not going to matter much what upper or lower you choose, although I would stay away from the $45 special table. Barrel quality is also up to you. Buy enough quality that the barrel won't be burnt out after only a couple thousand rounds. Pick a twist that will best suit the ammo you are planning to use most (sub or supersonic). I suggest an adjustable gas block for the same reason - it will also keep wear down instead of letting the supersonic loads beat it to death early. I like my heavy subsonic loads for close targets. May be slow but packs a pretty healthy thump of .30 cal. Supersonic loads are way faster and can reach out to 500 yards with 1/2 moa. If you suppress your rifle (and that was the original design of the cartridge) then that adjustable gas block is probably mandatory. Ammo may seem an issue but the case cutter and neck resizing tools are small and there is a bunch of .223/5.56 cases available.

CSM,

I got a chance to really play with the 300 Blackout (courtesy of the guys with the funny green hats). If I could afford to actually shoot it to its limitations, then I would love to have a 300 Blackout. I like what couzin was saying, but (like most people) I have my own opinion.
In short, I would go one of two routes. Either A)10-12in SBR with a good suppressor OR B) a integrally suppressed upper that just barely reaches the legal 16 inch mark. My reasoning?
A) Flexibility to easily jump between supersonic w or w/o ear pro while still being able to easily maneuver your SBR anywhere you want. And still make good hits at about 300m. AND the ability to go quiet with either super or sub sonic ammo.
B) No need for more than one tax stamp. Still able to shoot sub and super sonic ammo. AND still get the benefit of maneuverability for a 30 cal. And good accuracy and range.

I do not know exactly which brand I was shooting, but I do know a few things. It was integrally suppressed. Shot both sub and super sonic ammo, without adjusting a gas block. I heard the bolt cycle and the round impact the target over the report of the round (after awhile I could hear over the supersonic ammo too). Recoil was negligible for a 30 cal. And it was A LOT of fun.

My dream build would be a matched upper and lower (Rainier Arms has some nice sets), a MP5 like PDW stock, a good Nickel Boron BCG, quality barrel, and a (relatively) large diameter free float hand guard system. Combine that with a Gem-tech suppressor and quick detach flash hider (or a good integrally suppressed barrel). The problem with that is thats a good chunk of change. Sure would be fun though

Good luck with the decision!

kind of like this
http://www.rainierarms.com/rainier-arms ... ch-pdw-sbr

Thank you both
Yes it will be suppressed, I have not yet decided on SBR.... Id like it, but not mandatory.

This is a home defense weapon that will do inside the house on a moments notice (suppressed so I might retain some hearing without finding earplugs before engaging) Yet be capable of reaching out to the edge of my property if needed without having to transition from a handgun to rifle.

I have "some" experience with an M4 14.5 barrel length in QCB use and longer ranges..as well as M16 20" so going with a 16" non SBR is not a stretch for me (pun intended;;lol)
Build my own... while I've been a small arms armor in a previous life, we were regulated to very limited parts replacement, more an inspection gig then repair (build)
No doubt I can do it, just need to do the research on components, tools and the like. If going that route, I may do a 80% lower and finish machining it myself.

I've built a bunch of ar platforms. This last one, the .300 blk, I built for me as I wanted it and it is as you described - home and short range rifle. Building is easy, don't be intimidated by the task. If you are planning on the 80% lower route you might want to hurry before the feds ban them...

AAC MPW 9 - SBR. Then if /when you go suppressed, you are looking at something around the size of a standard 16" barrel on an AR. With subsonic ammo, it is very quiet. I haven't seen any issues with the factory build I shot.

Radical Firearms has some very good prices, I bought the 8.5" pistol and love it.

I have a Hardened Arms .300 Blackout upper on a Bushmaster lower. I bought the 16" Hardened Arms upper because it was the cheapest I could find. I have a Gemtech HVT on it and have shot about 500 rounds through it with no problems. It shoots about 2 inch groups at 100 yards on average with everything , and that is 10-20 shot groups. I'm sure I could get a 1" group with a very careful 5 shot string and a better trigger in the lower. I mainly shoot subs in it, but had to start handloading to get ammo that was truly subsonic in my gun. All the factory stuff I bought cracked the speed of sound. It is very quite, even firing supersonics it sounds like i'm just shooting a un-suppressed .22 rifle. The one improvement I will do soon is buy the captured buffer spring , the buffer spring really sounds loud when you are shooting suppressed. The best factory ammo I have found for this gun is the 110 gr. Barnes Vortex. The bummer is it has a 14 inch higher point of impact the my sub handloads. Lot of elevation adjustment when going back and forth.

I got to shoot one recently - I largely didn't even know what it was and wouldn't have pursued it personally, due to the nature of the ammo.
It was suppressed. Owner did his own reloads, which I understand are a variation on a standard ammo case.

Interesting gun, that's all. The suppressor kicked back a lot of gas in my face - so I didn't care for it that much.

That's my next AR build. I have three ATF Form 1s submitted to machine three suppressors, .22, 5.56 and .30 calibers. Have a lower waiting on a .300 upper.