By John Farnam
Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- I talked today with a friend who works in nuclear security at a major installation.
He is proposing to his superiors converting all existing ARs, currently chambered in 5.56×45 (223), to 7.62×35 (300 Blk) caliber.
It will involve swapping barrels only. Existing magazines will all work, as will existing bolts and bolt-carriers. The entire project can be accomplished quickly, and at modest cost, when compared with buying new rifles.
Selling points are significantly increased range and penetration. They’ll be using a new, 112gr copper/tungsten bullet, designed to easily penetrate car doors, car glass, cinder block, and most body armor, even that which is currently “rifle-rated!”
Penetration is efficacious, out to 300m!
Naturally, there is some institutional push-back from those up the food-chain who need additional convincing, but advantages over conventional 223 ammunition are so significant that I predict this “trend” (if that is the right word) will prove unstoppable!
This is all what the 6.8mmSPC was supposed to do, and probably would have! But, for whatever reasons, the 6.8mm never gained traction. The 6.8 currently has a small following in the civilian shooting community, but major institutional buyers, like the Pentagon and other big, federal consumers, never displayed much more than casual interest.
And, the 7.62×51 (308) still has a substantial following within the active services, and many secretly long for the return of the M14 in general-issue. However, that is not in the cards! The 308 will not make a major ” comeback,” absent an epochal philosophical shift at the highest levels. Right now, that is extremely unlikely!
By contrast, the 7.62×35 is rapidly “catching-on!”
Currently, I don’t have a rifle chambered for it, but I will soon!
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent and unlawful lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance, if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
Just my “2 cents”, 300 BLK is superior out of short barrel platforms, (performs best in 9″-10 1/2″ barrels, sub-sonic or super-sonic), to the 5.56… It is technically a .308, in a small cartridge; available in much larger grain projectiles than the 5.56. It provides substantially more energy transfer, (= stopping/knock down power), than the 5.56. Both rounds have their particular place. But for shots made 300 yards and inside, home defense, small game, etc, I’ll take my Sig PM400 Scorpion w/9″ barrel, in 300 BLK, over my Colt M4 in 5.56… Heres proof… Round Weight Barrel length Muzzle velocity… Read more »
I’m a ar15 Builder/Enthusiast and own a 7″ pistol and 16″ carbine chambered in 300 Blackout and put several thousand rounds through them! There powerful, accurate, dependable, fun to shoot, and the most versatile platform in the ar15 lineup! As far as filling the most roles (sport, self defense, hunting, military, law enforcement) it is my opinion that this is the best the ar15 has to offer at the moment. Currently newly manufactured rounds can be found for 46 cents each and hand loads for about 27 cents in a overwhelming offering of styles and configurations! The 300 Blackout is… Read more »
I have a 300 blackout in pistol form, I went with it because of the cartridges performance from ahort barrels and the interchangeable parts with 223/5.56 mags,bcg. I do think the 6.8 is probably the best of both worlds. I have read 80% of a 308, it may be on my list soon! Economics were my main reason for 300bo.
I have hunted for over thirty years with single shots. I also have been raised around the bench rest tables. I learned to and have shot for fun, hunting and self defense. When it was still legal in Montana to shoot all game animals with a 22 caliber, I used a .223. I chose it for the same reason i chose the single shots, sport and the challenge….hit or miss. Then i designed a predator decoy and my world changed to need more than one bullet, so i bought an AR Remington r-15 when first out. Changed the trigger and… Read more »
Kneauxla, I’m not going to say 40+, but my Ranch rifle has accounted for more than 10 blacktails in the neighborhood of 150-200 pounds. Not one of them went anywhere but down. Every shot was in the heart so bullet placement has a lot to do with that, but if you can’t hit what you’re aiming at, maybe you should pass and wait for a better shot. I have a .300 Win Mag for larger game, like elk, but again, it comes down to putting the bullet where it does the most good, or you’ll be tracking it too. More… Read more »
I am a big fan of the 5.56. The cartridge has been adopted by armies all over the world for reasons that have nothing to do with “keeping up with the Jones”. Problem is, the cartridge was originally designed for full length rifles; being shot out of carbine length rifles, the bullet exits before the powder is completely burned so the bullet is not travelling in the extra high velocity it needs to fragment and tumble in the way it was meant to. It’s still at a high velocity but it’s pretty much going to just drill a hole right… Read more »