The recent surge in AR platform aka, Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR), and the request for a better option than the .223 or 5.56 NATO rounds for our Military has brought some new faces to the caliber cache. Two of my favorite are the 6.8 Rem SPC and the 300 AAC Blackout. These two options fill the void between the .223 and the .243 very nicely. Both are available in heavier bullet weights than the .223 and .243 and are both low pressure rounds that have more manageable recoil. The smaller of the two is the 300 Blackout. It is essentially a .223 case necked up to .30 Caliber. It was designed specifically to be fired out of suppressed MSR but is also available in bolt action rifles. It is capable of firing a 130 Grain bullet at about 2,000 FPS and has similar ballistics to the old 30-30 lever action rifles of days gone by. The 6.8 Rem SPC is a little hotter round and is capable of firing a 120 grain .27 Caliber bullet over 2,200 FPS.
While both of these rounds do have their limitations and are at most 200 yard deer rifles, I am anxious to get out in the field this year and do some real life testing with these two cartridges. If nothing else, they are excuses to get another rifle, you know for Jr.
Rounds Pictured Left to Right
55 Grain .223 Rem
130 Grain 300 AAC Blackout
120 Grain 6.8 SPC
100 Grain .243 Win
170 Grain 30-30
Rifle - Remington Micro 7 in 300 AAC Blackout
