The .300 AAC Blackout (also known as .300 BLK or 7.62×35mm) is a rifle cartridge developed by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) for use in the M4 carbine. It was designed to achieve similar ballistics to the 7.62x39mm Soviet cartridge in an AR-15 platform, providing increased versatility.
Key features include:
- It uses a .30 caliber (7.62mm) bullet.
- Compatible with standard AR-15 magazines (although with reduced capacity).
- Supersonic and subsonic loadings are available, the latter often used with suppressors for quiet operation.
Use cases:
- Military and law enforcement: Offers improved stopping power and effectiveness at short to medium ranges compared to 5.56mm NATO rounds.
- Civilian: Popular for hunting medium-sized game, home defense, and target shooting.
Designed for short-barreled rifles (SBRs) and suppressor use, the .300 AAC Blackout provides enhanced performance in compact firearms, combining the stopping power of larger calibers with the modularity of the AR-15 platform.