300 Blackout for hunting Hog & Deer (hunting noob?)

[edgerly779]

I just picked up a .300 aac pistol barrel to build an upper. Doing a bear creek side charger. I assembled a rifle upper couple weeks ago.

[Bainter1212]

I will say that the 300 blk would be awesome in my niche role. I'd like to shoot deer from a tree stand or ladder without my neighbors hearing. Of course I could do that with a crossbow but there is an increased risk of that wounded deer running off and collapsing on the front porch of one of my bleeding heart neighbors. Way less chance of that if I can hit it with a 30 cal slug, maybe another in quick succession if circumstances permit.

I have 2.5 acres that butt up to 35 wooded acres that I have access to. Suppressor on the way but it has been 7 months and I am getting antsy.

[NapalmCheese]

I will say that the 300 blk would be awesome in my niche role. I'd like to shoot deer from a tree stand or ladder without my neighbors hearing. Of course I could do that with a crossbow but there is an increased risk of that wounded deer running off and collapsing on the front porch of one of my bleeding heart neighbors. Way less chance of that if I can hit it with a 30 cal slug, maybe another in quick succession if circumstances permit.

I have 2.5 acres that butt up to 35 wooded acres that I have access to. Suppressor on the way but it has been 7 months and I am getting antsy.

I would agree that .300 blk is probably adequate and potentially even well suited for suppressed close range hunting in urban or semi-urban environments; particularly with somewhat fragile fragmenting lead bullets. Subsonic (and slow supersonic) rounds however open up a new can of worms in that they are highly unlikely to do anything but drill a .50 caliber hole (if you have appropriate bullets) through an animal. While an animal with a .50 caliber hole through both lungs won't run for very long, it can get a long way out; similar to getting a 1 inch slice through the lungs from an arrow (though with a gun you have a much better chance of breaking both shoulders or the spine thereby immobilizing it).

I've been trying to figure out a good way to hunt a somewhat narrow by long 10 acre plot with similar limitations. I think it's going to be slugs for me. I mean 50 caliber holes from 30 caliber bullets are great but 75+ caliber holes from 45 caliber sabot slugs are better IMO.

[CVShooter]

300 Blackout isn't great but isn't terrible either. Keep your shots within 100-150 yards, be patient & wait for those easy-peasy shots. Ideal? No. You're barely at expansion velocities at 150 yards and not getting the full force of something in the 2200+ fps range. But I can think of worse. Treat it more like a muzzleloader or bow -- pass up on any shot that's not on a calm, still animal and get out there.

For me, it would also depend a lot on the size of pig you're chasing. If you're chasing sierra foothill hogs that often barely creep past the 75 lb mark, then I wouldn't sweat it a bit. I've taken my .223 on those little meat pigs without a second thought (though I've never taken a shot at one). But if you're on a guided trip on the coast where hogs are running 150+ lb on average, it's do-able but far from ideal. Certainly, a .308 would do much better and has proven itself to me, even with marginal shots. With the 300 Blackout, your guide better be able to put you on calm, feeding hogs & not jump-shooting them as they run off.

Some people want to give newbs the best chance of success in hopes that they stick with it. So they advise getting the best gear. Personally, I learned with marginal gear -- only had a .30-30 until I was in my ...30s. Marginal gear teaches you to stay within your limits, slow down a little & be more patient. That pays high dividends later. A buddy of mine has killed more deer than I ever will (whitetail in his case). He hunts with an old 30-30 with a fixed 4x scope. I once asked him what grain bullet he uses and he said, "I dunno. Blows a big hole out the back the size of my fist is all I know."

I met up with an old college buddy (different guy) years ago at a triathlon race. He was sort of embarrassed about his clunky old aluminum bike that he rode. I didn't care in the least but he thought he needed to explain himself. He said that he thought about getting something lighter -- maybe a carbon fiber time trial bike that would save 10 lb of weight. But then he decided to keep his clunker because if he really wanted to save weight, he could just drop 10 lb off his gut by cutting the beer for a while. Made perfect sense to me. If I remember correctly, he actually beat me in that same race... with me on my lightweight carbon fiber bike...

Both these guys impressed upon me the importance of focusing on the game, not the gear. Use what you have and stay within its limits. But don't let it ever keep you from getting out. You can specialize later.

[edgerly779]

I killed a hog last monday with 6.8 spc.I am building a .300 aac now.

[taperxz]

When hunting in CA we have to use copper. Due to being limited to copper, the 300 BO is going to put you at a disadvantage due to the 1300 FP at the muzzle and only 2000 FPS. Not a lot there to open up a copper round and drop the hog in it’s place depending on shot placement. Not dropping a hog in its tracks means lots of tracking in undesirable places.

[taperxz]

Choose a caliber that cleanly and ethically kills the largest the species your hunting has to offer at the furthest distances your competent shooting.

I had no problem dropping one in 204 Ruger. Remember?

[chris]

Choose a caliber that cleanly and ethically kills the largest the species your hunting has to offer at the furthest distances your competent shooting.

This ^^^^^^