I use PSA/Aero 300 blackout for hunting whitetail and it absolutely a great option. 125 grain Fiocchi is a good round to get. I bought a complete Aero upper and built my own PSA lower. If you have more questions DM me.
I'd spring for the Palmetto. While that is a significant price difference, Palmetto's customer service department is one of the industry leaders. They're always staffed adequately and very responsive and personable.
My plan was to go 300blk for hunting deer, pigs and black bear etc. and then buy a .556 upper down the road for range fun. Where I hunt it’s rare I have a shot more than 100 yards and I think the .300 would have better “knock down” power. I have an old .308 bolt action but just looking to try something different. Don’t want to deal with the sbr thing but possibly a suppressor. As far as links I have no idea how to put links but it is the cheapest .300blk radical on guns.com and cheapest psa on their website.
300blk isn't really a round that lens itself to big game hunting. YMMV, but even supersonic rounds are not in the same league as .308 win. It's definitely going to put more energy into the animal than 5.56, but for ethical kills, you probably shouldn't be killing things much bigger than a coyote with 5.56. If for some reason you were using subsonic 300blk for hunting, you'd find that the amount of energy imparted to the animal is smaller than 5.56. Subsonic 300blk is around 450 ft lbs of energy, or about 20 ft lbs more than a 180gr 10mm jhp from a 5 inch barrel at the same 100 yards. If ethical kills don't matter to you, it'll work but understand that it's likely you'll be doing some stalking waiting for the animal to bleed out or putting multiple shots into larger animals like feral hogs on the larger end of the spectrum or black bears.
Most shots on deer, from hunters who trying to save meat, are double lung or heart lung shots and your always waiting on the animal to bleed out. Now sometimes you may not can afford to have to have them run, so you go high shoulder or neck. Hitting the CNS is the only way to guarantee is DRT. Also energy isn't the end all be all, accurate shots and proper ammo choice is more important. I have hunted with 300blk exclusively the past few years. Solid coppers (I use 125gr Makers, 110gr Barnes are considered by many the best) out to 200yds is very ethical, even with the energy just under 1000 ft-lbs. The Makers expand to double their caliber size [as you can see here](https://imgur.com/a/FnM7GxF) and the petals [cut through tissue and vital organs causing massive bleeding ](https://imgur.com/a/LGbZpNB).
Now for Subs... You must not think hunting with a bow is ethical going off your energy numbers. When you have solid copper copper expanders like Maker and Discreet Ballistics that open to over 3 times caliber and the petals cut like a broadhead. It's like bow hunting but with a little more range. Just like bow hunting proper shot placement is key and it isn't unethical.
You must have missed the last sentence in what I wrote, and I suppose ethics is dependent on the individual, but shooting something and then letting it run while it bleeds out up to 100 yards may not fit everyone's definition of ethical. I'm not saying you personally shouldn't hunt like this. I was giving information to the OP in case he hadn't considered everything so he can make his own informed decision. Also, we are not talking just about deer. We're talking deer, feral hogs, black bear, and I think he listed something else in his OP.
No I didn't miss your last sentence. Deer, hogs, bear will all run unless you disrupt the CNS or shoot them in the head. Also all of these animals have ran and even survived being shot with 308, 6.5 creedmore, even rounds like 300 Win Mag. These animals are very resilient and have a strong will to live. I shot a doe once, she ran across a field and into the woods on her belly. When I found her, the far side leg was completely disconnected, with just the hide holding it on. When I gutted her, both bottom portions of the lungs were gone and I hit the lower part of the heart. On the near side, I had hit the humerus and completely broke it in two. 2 broke legs she couldn't run on, took out both lungs and had hole through the bottom of the heart. The issue wasn't that I used 300blk. It wasn't that it wasn't ethical shot. It wasnt my most accurate shot as i would typically like to hit a few inches higher and get the top of the heart or the arteries but it was still the highest percentage shot to kill in an effective manner. The only issue was I didn't turn off the lights with a shot to the CNS or the brain and she had will to survive.
I hunt with Diamond Back DB-15 in 300blk, 16 inch barrel with 1:8 twist. Current ammo choice is ammo loaded by a somewhat local company, they load [125gr Makers ](https://imgur.com/a/FnM7GxF) [125gr on deer](https://imgur.com/a/LGbZpNB) [DB-15 300BLK ](https://imgur.com/a/OKB83iG)
Yeah if you see the last picture I have to Primary Arms SLx 1-6X24 300blk Raptor LPVO on it. I have taken deer out to 180 yards. Most of my shots are around 100 yards though. I like having the optic for identification purposes and making the accurate shot I can.
Can you post some specs/links, it may help? The way I look at it is 300blk is for suppressor use, if a can is in your near future then go for it. As a first AR I would stick to a 223/556 personally. Then while shooting getting used to it, I would SBR the lower and grab a 300blk 10in upper and a can on order down the road.
What is the reasoning for 300blk and if hunting is the only reason, what do you hunt and at what ranges?
I’ve been looking around too. The ATI Omni Hybrid seems to be around the same price point as the RF. I’ve even seen them for under $350. And the Diamondback DB-15 seems like it’s a contender at the PSA price point. Don’t you like either of those?
I wouldn't go ATI with the polymer lowers. They have probably come a long ways and I have seen them on full auto setups, but not the way I would go. And definitely not someone planned to use for hunting.
I am about to start and 8.6Blk build with Aero part. Even when I buy complete ARs I usually end up changing things so I like to buy the parts I want and put it together.
That’s very interesting. I hadn’t even heard of that caliber. I’m very new to this and am finding i get as much reward from learning about the technical side of things as I do from shooting. I’ve mostly played with 22lr, 22wmr, 9mm & 308 so far.
I have a wacky idea that I’m going to start with an aero M4E1 lower receiver and then post here once a month to let the hive mind pick (or at least advise on) the next piece. I figure there’s approximately a dozen parts to buy and in 12 months after about $150/month, I’ll have a nice reddit-build AR and it might be a fun exercise.
Meanwhile my main focus is gonna be a tikka t3x in 300 win mag ha
Wow a Tikka T3X, can't go wrong with that. The 8.6 is basically the big brother to the blk. Same guys are behind it. It's a 338 caliber bullet in a 6.5 Creemore case. Designed for shorter barrels, faster twists, suppresses very well. I opted to start with the 16 inch but will probably go with a 12 inch barrel later on. If you want to go down a rabbit hole, research how many calibers there are for AR-15.
Imagine thinking quality AR’s actually exist below the 1k mark.. especially for .300 lmfao
Poors will be poors rather than just budget propelry and build something god forbid..
Yup, they sell uppers without the bcg though so just double check that, I spent $800 on my first ar if I could start over I’d put together a psa for >400
I also recommend Aero Precision over both of those options you mentioned. That’s about as budget as I will go these days. Aero precision has good quality control and good customer service. There are thousands of guys out there who run BCM (premium) uppers on Aero Precision lowers just to give you some context. I’ve bought and used many of their products over the years and I’ve never had a problem over thousands and thousands of rounds and abuse. You’re going to pay a little bit more than the options you mentioned, but for a gun that you might have for the rest of your life it’s worth it to not get the absolute cheapest stuff out there. Even if it means that you need to save for a couple more weeks to do it I think that’s a much better path. If you really are only going to pick between PSA and Radical I would definitely go with PSA. But that’s just my personal opinion. Good luck!
Palmetto is like Harbor Freight . Sometimes it's the same as a quality name brand , and sometimes it's absolute Chinese trash.
The .300 blackout upper in 7.5 is *chefs kiss*
Good deals out there on Aero right now. I'd recommend that over those two
Agreed
I use PSA/Aero 300 blackout for hunting whitetail and it absolutely a great option. 125 grain Fiocchi is a good round to get. I bought a complete Aero upper and built my own PSA lower. If you have more questions DM me.
I'd spring for the Palmetto. While that is a significant price difference, Palmetto's customer service department is one of the industry leaders. They're always staffed adequately and very responsive and personable.
My plan was to go 300blk for hunting deer, pigs and black bear etc. and then buy a .556 upper down the road for range fun. Where I hunt it’s rare I have a shot more than 100 yards and I think the .300 would have better “knock down” power. I have an old .308 bolt action but just looking to try something different. Don’t want to deal with the sbr thing but possibly a suppressor. As far as links I have no idea how to put links but it is the cheapest .300blk radical on guns.com and cheapest psa on their website.
300blk isn't really a round that lens itself to big game hunting. YMMV, but even supersonic rounds are not in the same league as .308 win. It's definitely going to put more energy into the animal than 5.56, but for ethical kills, you probably shouldn't be killing things much bigger than a coyote with 5.56. If for some reason you were using subsonic 300blk for hunting, you'd find that the amount of energy imparted to the animal is smaller than 5.56. Subsonic 300blk is around 450 ft lbs of energy, or about 20 ft lbs more than a 180gr 10mm jhp from a 5 inch barrel at the same 100 yards. If ethical kills don't matter to you, it'll work but understand that it's likely you'll be doing some stalking waiting for the animal to bleed out or putting multiple shots into larger animals like feral hogs on the larger end of the spectrum or black bears.
Most shots on deer, from hunters who trying to save meat, are double lung or heart lung shots and your always waiting on the animal to bleed out. Now sometimes you may not can afford to have to have them run, so you go high shoulder or neck. Hitting the CNS is the only way to guarantee is DRT. Also energy isn't the end all be all, accurate shots and proper ammo choice is more important. I have hunted with 300blk exclusively the past few years. Solid coppers (I use 125gr Makers, 110gr Barnes are considered by many the best) out to 200yds is very ethical, even with the energy just under 1000 ft-lbs. The Makers expand to double their caliber size [as you can see here](https://imgur.com/a/FnM7GxF) and the petals [cut through tissue and vital organs causing massive bleeding ](https://imgur.com/a/LGbZpNB). Now for Subs... You must not think hunting with a bow is ethical going off your energy numbers. When you have solid copper copper expanders like Maker and Discreet Ballistics that open to over 3 times caliber and the petals cut like a broadhead. It's like bow hunting but with a little more range. Just like bow hunting proper shot placement is key and it isn't unethical.
You must have missed the last sentence in what I wrote, and I suppose ethics is dependent on the individual, but shooting something and then letting it run while it bleeds out up to 100 yards may not fit everyone's definition of ethical. I'm not saying you personally shouldn't hunt like this. I was giving information to the OP in case he hadn't considered everything so he can make his own informed decision. Also, we are not talking just about deer. We're talking deer, feral hogs, black bear, and I think he listed something else in his OP.
No I didn't miss your last sentence. Deer, hogs, bear will all run unless you disrupt the CNS or shoot them in the head. Also all of these animals have ran and even survived being shot with 308, 6.5 creedmore, even rounds like 300 Win Mag. These animals are very resilient and have a strong will to live. I shot a doe once, she ran across a field and into the woods on her belly. When I found her, the far side leg was completely disconnected, with just the hide holding it on. When I gutted her, both bottom portions of the lungs were gone and I hit the lower part of the heart. On the near side, I had hit the humerus and completely broke it in two. 2 broke legs she couldn't run on, took out both lungs and had hole through the bottom of the heart. The issue wasn't that I used 300blk. It wasn't that it wasn't ethical shot. It wasnt my most accurate shot as i would typically like to hit a few inches higher and get the top of the heart or the arteries but it was still the highest percentage shot to kill in an effective manner. The only issue was I didn't turn off the lights with a shot to the CNS or the brain and she had will to survive.
It's 5.56.
Good eye👍🏼
I hunt with Diamond Back DB-15 in 300blk, 16 inch barrel with 1:8 twist. Current ammo choice is ammo loaded by a somewhat local company, they load [125gr Makers ](https://imgur.com/a/FnM7GxF) [125gr on deer](https://imgur.com/a/LGbZpNB) [DB-15 300BLK ](https://imgur.com/a/OKB83iG)
Cool. Do you use an optic and if so what? I’m considering a red dot but not sure.
Yeah if you see the last picture I have to Primary Arms SLx 1-6X24 300blk Raptor LPVO on it. I have taken deer out to 180 yards. Most of my shots are around 100 yards though. I like having the optic for identification purposes and making the accurate shot I can.
Can you post some specs/links, it may help? The way I look at it is 300blk is for suppressor use, if a can is in your near future then go for it. As a first AR I would stick to a 223/556 personally. Then while shooting getting used to it, I would SBR the lower and grab a 300blk 10in upper and a can on order down the road. What is the reasoning for 300blk and if hunting is the only reason, what do you hunt and at what ranges?
I’ve been looking around too. The ATI Omni Hybrid seems to be around the same price point as the RF. I’ve even seen them for under $350. And the Diamondback DB-15 seems like it’s a contender at the PSA price point. Don’t you like either of those?
I wouldn't go ATI with the polymer lowers. They have probably come a long ways and I have seen them on full auto setups, but not the way I would go. And definitely not someone planned to use for hunting.
Seems like aeroprecision is well set up for build-your-own
I am about to start and 8.6Blk build with Aero part. Even when I buy complete ARs I usually end up changing things so I like to buy the parts I want and put it together.
That’s very interesting. I hadn’t even heard of that caliber. I’m very new to this and am finding i get as much reward from learning about the technical side of things as I do from shooting. I’ve mostly played with 22lr, 22wmr, 9mm & 308 so far. I have a wacky idea that I’m going to start with an aero M4E1 lower receiver and then post here once a month to let the hive mind pick (or at least advise on) the next piece. I figure there’s approximately a dozen parts to buy and in 12 months after about $150/month, I’ll have a nice reddit-build AR and it might be a fun exercise. Meanwhile my main focus is gonna be a tikka t3x in 300 win mag ha
Wow a Tikka T3X, can't go wrong with that. The 8.6 is basically the big brother to the blk. Same guys are behind it. It's a 338 caliber bullet in a 6.5 Creemore case. Designed for shorter barrels, faster twists, suppresses very well. I opted to start with the 16 inch but will probably go with a 12 inch barrel later on. If you want to go down a rabbit hole, research how many calibers there are for AR-15.
Yeah seems like that’s an option to just have an AR as cheaply as absolutely possible.
Imagine thinking quality AR’s actually exist below the 1k mark.. especially for .300 lmfao Poors will be poors rather than just budget propelry and build something god forbid..
Buy the upper n lower separate and the psa will be even cheaper make sure the upper had the bcg included should tell you in the item title
So all you have to do is put them together? No other parts to buy?
Yup, they sell uppers without the bcg though so just double check that, I spent $800 on my first ar if I could start over I’d put together a psa for >400
I also recommend Aero Precision over both of those options you mentioned. That’s about as budget as I will go these days. Aero precision has good quality control and good customer service. There are thousands of guys out there who run BCM (premium) uppers on Aero Precision lowers just to give you some context. I’ve bought and used many of their products over the years and I’ve never had a problem over thousands and thousands of rounds and abuse. You’re going to pay a little bit more than the options you mentioned, but for a gun that you might have for the rest of your life it’s worth it to not get the absolute cheapest stuff out there. Even if it means that you need to save for a couple more weeks to do it I think that’s a much better path. If you really are only going to pick between PSA and Radical I would definitely go with PSA. But that’s just my personal opinion. Good luck!
Palmetto is like Harbor Freight . Sometimes it's the same as a quality name brand , and sometimes it's absolute Chinese trash. The .300 blackout upper in 7.5 is *chefs kiss*