It’s a 220-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip (round-nose) hunting bullet. This represents an example of the “bigger is better” approach. As a matter of fact, there’s a slight edge with the 190-grain. Neither of these is moving fast enough to exploit any such. 437, both G1) might mean some advantage downrange, but it doesn’t. Not much difference, but it’s a difference.īefore running any numbers, I suspected that the significantly higher ballistic coefficient (BC) of the A-MAX (.648 compared to. The 208-grain has more muzzle energy (480 foot-pounds, compared to 465). I had no malfunctions with either while firing 40 rounds of each through my gun. The very “pointy” profile of the BLACK load’s A-Max is an asset to smooth feeding, no doubt, but the Sub-X fed and cycled crisp and clean. Short course: It’s my choice, and it’s what’s in its magazine now. There are other effectively similar bullets out there (greater expansion at lower velocity), but the Sub-X is an example of a purpose-built bullet for a specialized application, and that’s usually going to work better. The cavity is capped and filled by a flat-nose polymer insert. This is different: “Subsonic eXpanding.” This bullet is designed to expand at subsonic velocity, and that’s made possible via a hollow cavity flanked by extra-long grooves on the jacket. The same can be said for most other bullets of a similar profile, like the Sierra 220-grain. The A-MAX is not engineered for expansion, just good flight. The BLACK 208-grain subsonic is 1020 fps from a 16-inch barrel. Most factory subsonic loads follow this same formula, which, again, is to fit an existing 200+ grain bullet into this little case at a velocity of just over 1000 fps. Hornady chose it for a subsonic blackout load because, as suggested, it’s the right weight to maximize energy at subsonic velocity, and at a functionally reliable pressure level. This bullet is designed for competitive use, primarily, and follows the high-ballistic coefficient formula that’s proven to give less drop and drift at extended distances. Those, of course, were loaded to just as supersonic as I could get them! I have launched many, many A-MAX bullets at distant targets. 300 Blackout 208-Grain A-MAX® Hornady BLACK®. That combination of needs means that subsonic usually has a ballpark 200-grain bullet. Additionally, there has to be enough pressure to function the gun, but not exceed the velocity limit. To be subsonic, muzzle velocity limit is just over 1000 feet per second (fps). These each also show the two essential approaches to subsonic blackout. There are not nearly as many options shopping for subsonic factory ammo, and I chose to evaluate two from the same manufacturer. It’s decidedly made from a different component mix.The subsonic application is more specialized, meaning: (By the way, the whole motivation for this wasn’t to do an article it was to figure out what to load in my new gun! I chose one, and more in a short bit.)

300 Blackout is effective or not depends on what your opinion is of that round for a defensive application. Impact performance, based on energy figures, puts most subsonic loadings at beyond routine. I chose subsonic blackout because of its low “blast” (sound and flash) and also its impact performance at closer distances.

I got interested in subsonic Blackout after finishing a project for my last book, and that was building a specialized home defense gun. 300 Blackout? The object of my attention and the motivation for this article: my “house gun,” a purpose-built. Technically, Blackout can be a little higher pressure, which mostly only affects supersonic loadings.) Why. Advanced Armament Corporation secured production-cartridge status, which means it got SAAMI-certified and called it. The main distinction is only a formality. (By the way, there’s no real difference in. If it functions with subsonic, it will greatly “over-function” with higher-pressure supersonic. 308-caliber bullet doesn’t produce much gas to operate the system.Īnd, clearly, it’s not possible to run sub- and supersonic loads through the same gun without undue compromise. I’ll do another entire article on that topic in these pages later on this year, but the reason is that the small amount of fast-burning propellant needed to launch a relatively heavy.

Hornady subsonic blackout expanding