As a gun owner and gunsmith in a private shop, I have had my hands on a fair share of the 300 Blackout rifles on the market today. If you are in the market to purchase a new one, my overall favorite in this category is the Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine. However, if you aren’t afraid to put your money where your mouth is, you can’t go wrong with the LWRC ICDI 300 Blackout (best high-end).
The Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine offers its owner build quality, comfort, and performance that is nearly impossible to beat. I’m picky when it comes to my personal firearms, and these qualities make it my top choice for a reason. The match-grade stainless steel barrel delivers exceptional precision, and it is paired with a two-stage trigger that is smooth to pull, making it great for precision and tactical shooting. The only real thing you have to be okay with is that it is a ‘no frills’ firearm and has no iron sights included with it.
If you have the budget, my high-end recommendation is the LWRC ICDI 300 Blackout. The high price tag on this firearm is reflective of its highly superior design. Most of the upgrades made to this 300 Blackout have enhanced performance and minimized the potential points of failure – which is why when it does break, it can be difficult to find replacement parts.
Even though you have so many options to choose from – I don’t think you can go wrong with the Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine or the LWRC ICDI 300 Blackout (if your budget allows). Take a look and see why each of these firearms made the list as being the best 300 Blackout rifle on the market today, and take your pick!
Comparison Table
300 Blackout is a great round, especially in certain defensive and hunting contexts. However, getting 300 AAC to run reliably in the AR-15 rifle can be a little tricky.
For many shooters, getting a complete 300 Blackout rifle is better than building a 300 AAC rifle or converting a 5.56mm AR-15.
Then, which are the best 300 Blackout rifles? That’s a good question.
Here’s what I know, based on shooting a lot of 300BLK rifles and working on them in the gunsmithing shop.
Best Choice
Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine
Specifications:
Barrel steel:
416R stainless steel
Bolt steel:
9310 steel bolt
Receiver set:
7075-T6 aluminum receiver set
Pros:
- Stainless steel barrel– delivers outstanding precision for more accurate shots.
- Capped with Wilson Combat’s Q-Comp– which works as a compensator and muzzle brake.
- The trigger pull is 4.5 to 5 pounds overall, broken into two 2.5 pound stages– That way it’s super easy to press your trigger without moving your muzzle for high-precision shots.
Table of Contents
Is a 300 Blackout rifle worth it?
In most cases, yes, a 300 Blackout rifle is worth it. 300BLK can shoot a broader range of bullet types than 5.56mm/.223. It’s a burly enough round for hunting. Also, 300AAC can be supersonic or subsonic, which makes it an excellent choice for suppressed shooting.
How far will a 300 Blackout shoot accurately?
The technical maximum effective range for 300 Blackout is 460 meters. The bullet is heavier than a 5.56mm bullet. So 300BLK carries its energy to relatively long distances. As long as you use the right ammunition for your barrel length, 300AAC is at least as capable as 5.56mm.
Who builds the best 300 Blackout?
Wilson Combat, Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM), Palmetto State Armory (PSA), Daniel Defense, Stag Arms, LWRC, and Ruger all build some of the best 300 Blackout rifles on the market. You can confidently buy and trust a 300BLK rifle from any of these manufacturers.
Spoiler alert: many of these manufacturers show up in our 300 Blackout rifle reviews. Just so you’re not surprised.
The best 300 Blackout rifle reviews: Fat bullets in a trim gun
These are the best 300BLK rifles I could get my hands on. There’s quite a bit of variation in price and build quality.
However, all of these rifles meet these minimum standards for a good 300BLK rifle:
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Barrel steel | 4150 CrMoV |
| Bolt steel | C158 or 9310 steel |
| Receiver set | 7075-T6 aluminum |
I’d be confident using any of these guns.
1. Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
416R stainless steel barrel
- Bolt steel
9310 steel bolt
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum receiver set
Pros:
- Match-grade stainless steel barrel delivers exceptional precision.
- Wilson Combat Q-Comp delivers good compensation and recoil reduction without crazy muzzle blast.
- 2-stage trigger is smooth and easy to use for precision and tactical shooting.
Cons:
- Stock looks fancy, but isn’t that special.
- No iron sights included.
Verdict: This rifle delivers build quality, comfort, and performance that are nearly impossible to beat.
Wilson Combat is one of the most respected names in firearms. And the Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine shows why people love Wilson Combat guns.
This is a great gun all around. But there are a few standout features.
First, the stainless steel barrel. It’s a match-grade stainless steel barrel that delivers outstanding precision for more accurate shots.
Additionally, stainless steel barrels have a remarkably long service life and wear evenly for minimal shift in point of impact throughout the life of the barrel.
Then, the barrel is capped with Wilson Combat’s Q-Comp, which works as a compensator and muzzle brake. The compensation is solid. This muzzle device definitely keeps your muzzle level during rapid fire.
However, the Q-Comp is only a decent muzzle brake.
Yes, it reduces felt recoil, but it’s not as good as a dedicated muzzle brake. The muzzle blast from the Q-Comp is super mellow, though. So it’s a decent compromise between recoil reduction and comfort.
Lastly, this 300 Blackout rifle comes with a Wilson Combat 2-stage trigger.
The trigger pull is 4.5 to 5 pounds overall, broken into two 2.5 pound stages. That way it’s super easy to press your trigger without moving your muzzle for high-precision shots.
The only real downsides to this rifle are that the stock is essentially just a skeletonized mil-spec stock. It’s good, but not great.
Also, this model comes without sights. For the price, even just a set of backup sights would be nice.Though, if you want an amazing 300 Blackout rifle for defensive or tactical shooting, this is an excellent option that’s reasonably priced, given the quality.
2. PSA 16” Pistol Length 300AAC Carbine
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
4150 CrMoV steel
- Bolt steel
C158 steel bolt
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum
Pros:
- 4150 chromoly vanadium steel barrel delivers exceptionally long service life.
- C158 steel bolt lasts a long time and runs reliably.
- Forged 7075-T6 aluminum receiver set is impressively durable and features an excellent hard coat anodized finish.
Cons:
- Occasionally ships with assembly issues. Mistakes are easy to correct, though. Just inspect this rifle before you fire it.
Verdict: This is easily the best budget 300 AAC rifle on the market. Almost no other manufacturer delivers as much quality and performance for the money.
The PSA 16” Pistol Length 300AAC Carbine is an amazing value. And Palmetto State Armory uses solid components in their builds. There’s just one thing to watch out for.
But, in terms of build quality, this is about as close as you can get to a true mil-spec 300 Blackout rifle.
The barrel is 4150 chromoly vanadium steel. It’s super durable steel that produces solid precision and lasts for a really long time.
Additionally, the bolt is Carpenter 158 steel. That’s the actual steel that’s specified in most military contracts. C158 steel bolts give you a super long service life and excellent reliability.
Lastly, the receiver set is forged from 7075-T6 aluminum. It’s the most durable construction you can get for a receiver set. Also, the hard coat anodizing is smooth and durable, without any chalkiness.
One more thing: this rifle comes with Magpul MOE furniture, which is a definite upgrade over true mil-spec equipment. So this rifle is more comfortable and easier to handle than a full mil-spec model.
The only word of caution about this rifle is that Palmetto State Armory has occasional assembly issues.
I strongly recommend that you thoroughly inspect this rifle before firing. Assembly mistakes are usually easy to correct. However, you could damage your rifle before correcting assembly mistakes.Other than that, this rifle delivers amazing value for the money. It will last for a long time and do everything that most shooters need.
3. Ruger AR-556 300 Blackout
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
Cold hammer forged 4150 CrMoV
- Bolt steel
9310 steel
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum
Pros:
- Cold hammer forged barrel lasts almost forever
- Handguard is well-designed for barrel cooling and accessory mounting
- Excellent finishes on all the metal parts
Cons:
- No anti-rotation tabs on handguard
Verdict: This rifle offers impressive component quality and design for the money. Very few rifles offer as much performance per dollar.
The Ruger AR-556 is one of the best values in the AR-15 market. The Ruger AR-556 300 Blackout is built on the same chassis as the standard AR-556. But it fires the bigger 300 AAC round.
This rifle shows impressive build quality, especially considering the price.
All the internal steel components are finished in black nitride. The aluminum anodizing is smooth and deep black. The finishes are functional, and they look cool (which is important).
However, the barrel is cold hammer forged. It’s the longest-lasting and most consistent barrel construction. Most rifles in this price range do not have cold hammer forged barrels.
The free float handguard is also well-designed, with large venting slots near the upper receiver, and M-LOK slots near the muzzle, to help keep the barrel cool while also giving you plenty of space to mount accessories.
My only concern about the handguard is that there are no external anti-rotation tabs. Though, I didn’t pull the handguard off to see if there was an anti-rotation piece inside.
On visual inspection, it appears that the handguard is simply clamped to the barrel nut. I prefer handguards that interface with the upper receiver to prevent any rotation.However, it’s a minor complaint. Plenty of high quality handguards are mounted to just the barrel nut. The value of this rifle is still hard to beat.
4. Daniel Defense DDM4 Rifle 300 S SBR
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
Cold hammer forged 4150 CrMoV steel
- Bolt steel
C158 steel bolt
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum
Pros:
- Incredible quality control. Every rifle is test fired before it ships.
- Every component is built to the highest mil-spec standards or better.
- Stock and pistol grip are super comfortable.
Cons:
- No included iron sights.
Verdict: Insane quality control and component quality. Daniel Defense rifles perform well and last a lifetime.
Daniel Defense builds incredibly reliable AR-15 rifles. Our Daniel Defense DDM4 is one of the few rifles that has survived being a rental gun for more than a few years.
That’s why the Daniel Defense DDM4 Rifle 300 S SBR is the best budget 300 Blackout rifle, even though it’s not super inexpensive: it’s difficult to find a better rifle at any price point.
I suspect that this rifle’s durability and reliability come from the quality control. Daniel Defense is one of the few manufacturers that test fires all their guns before they ship.
The bolt carrier group and the barrel have been magnetic particle inspected (MPI) and high pressure tested (HPT). Not only can you be sure this rifle will work when you get it, you know that all the components work together.
Additionally, all the other components are manufactured to the highest mil-spec standards:
The receiver set is forged from 7075-T6 aluminum.
The barrel is cold hammer forged from 4150 chromoly vanadium steel.
The bolt is C158 tool steel.
Then, the gas system is built with a 4140 tool steel gas block and stainless steel gas tube.
That’s all table stakes for a mil-spec rifle.
The improvements are in the ergonomics…
The Daniel Defense stock and pistol grip are some of the most durable and comfortable furniture that you can get. This rifle is exceptionally comfortable and easy to handle.
My main complaint with this rifle is the same as some other rifles in this price range: it comes without sights. I’m not super picky about the included sights on any rifle. I just like rifles to come with SOMETHING.You’d probably change out the iron sights anyway. This model is built to such high standards that it’s totally worth buying sights for it.
5. IWI X95 Tavor
Pros:
- Modular design offers impressive configurability for a bullpup rifle
- Can be set up for left-handed shooting
- Incredibly compact
Cons:
- Trigger tends to be kind of mushy
Verdict: May not be THE perfect rifle, but this is definitely the way to go if you want a 300 Blackout bullpup rifle.
The IWI Tavor is largely regarded as one of the best bullpup rifles on the market. Some regard the Tavor as the best bullpup rifle around.
The IWI X95 Tavor is just the 300 Blackout version of the standard 5.56mm Tavor.
The things that make the Tavor a standout among bullpup rifles are the controls and modularity.
The Tavor is one of the bullpup rifles that’s mostly ambidextrous. All of the controls are either organically ambidextrous or they can be configured for right or left-handed shooting.
The controls also do their best to mimic the operation of a standard AR-15 to make the bullpup design a bit more accessible for those who are accustomed to a traditional rifle.
Additionally, both the pistol grip and trigger are modules that can be easily swapped out. The pistol grip can be converted to a traditional pistol grip, more like an AR-15. The trigger pack is also easy to upgrade.
Speaking of the trigger pack, the trigger is probably the biggest area of criticism about the Tavor. There are a lot of connecting parts on a bullpup trigger. So the trigger is a bit heavy — near 6 pounds — and it can be a bit mushy.
It doesn’t bother me. The trigger works. However, if you like smooth, crisp triggers, the trigger might not be your favorite.
It’s a totally usable trigger, though. The Tavor is likely your best option if you want the compact frame of a bullpup rifle.
6. Stag Arms Stag-15 300 AAC
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
4150 CrMoV steel
- Bolt steel
9310 steel
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum
Pros:
- Impressively lightweight
- Comes with Magpul MOE furniture
- Bombroof handguard mounting hardware
Cons:
- Not as many M-LOK slots on the handguard as there could be
Verdict: The Stag-15 is, without a doubt, at the top of the sub-$1000 category.
Stag Arms is one of the most underrated AR-15 manufacturers. They make great rifles. They just don’t have a lot of name recognition.
The Stag Arms Stag-15 300 AAC is definitely worth a look, if you haven’t heard of it.
The thing that makes this rifle strong is that it’s just an all-around solid rifle. The finishes and machining are clean. Also, this rifle comes with Magpul furniture, which is some of the best.
Also, the Stag Arms barrel nut design is excellent. The handguard is fixed to the barrel nut with a set of wedges. The screws are secured with a ratchet-lock system.
However, the anti-rotation tabs on the handguard are huge. The anti-rotation tabs have four points of contact with the upper receiver. It’s a bombproof design.
Unfortunately, Stag Arms does go pretty hard on the cooling vents. There are only M-LOK slots at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. It would be nice to have some diagonal mounting positions near the muzzle, at least.
Complaints about M-LOK slot positioning aside, this is a great rifle for the price.
7. Diamondback DB15 300 AAC
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
4140 CrMoV steel
- Bolt steel
9310 steel
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum
Pros:
- Incredible price
- Mil-spec build quality
- Comes with Magpul MOE furniture
Cons:
- Aggressive gas tuning makes recoil a bit sharp
Verdict: It might not be anything special, but it gets the job done, and the price is hard to beat.
Some people are suspicious of Diamondback rifles because they’re so inexpensive. However, I’ve found that Diamondback AR-15 rifles work really well.
Of course, they’re nothing fancy, but, if it works, it works.
If you’re balling on a budget, the Diamondback DB15 300 AAC is a perfectly good choice.
This is essentially a mil-spec rifle, with a 300 Blackout barrel and a few bonus features.
The Magpul furniture is a notable upgrade over mil-spec, when you consider that most rifles in this price range use a mil-spec stock and pistol grip.
The other standout feature is the handguard… It stands out in good and bad ways.
First, the barrel nut design is good. Anti-rotation tabs interface with the upper receiver. Screws contact the barrel nut to keep the handguard from sliding forward. So far, so good.
On the other hand, there are no M-LOK slots at the diagonal position. There are only picatinny rail sections at the ends of the handguard, with a slick section in the middle.
This is good for barrel cooling. It’s not so great if you want to mount several accessories on your rifle.
One last note about Diamondback rifles: they tend to be pretty aggressively tuned. Based on the recoil, gas ports on Diamondback barrels are probably on the larger side.
That’s fine from a reliability standpoint, because the gun will run through just about anything. However, it produces a slightly sharper recoil impulse.These are minor gripes. As far as budget rifles go, this is a pretty good deal.
8. LWRC ICDI 300 Blackout
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
4140 CrMoV
- Bolt steel
9310
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum
Pros:
- Design improvements produce a more durable, longer-lasting rifle than standard AR-15 parts
- Incredible build quality and finishes
- Excellent stock and pistol grip
Cons:
- Proprietary parts can be tough to replace in the unlikely event that something breaks.
Verdict: This rifle comes with a lot of well-designed upgrades that minimize potential points of failure and extend the rifle’s lifespan.
On the more expensive end of the spectrum, you have the LWRC ICDI 300 Blackout rifle. The quality and design reflect the price. However, there are things to be aware of.
From a build quality and performance standpoint, this rifle is exceptional. The trigger is much smoother and crisper than a mil-spec trigger, and the barrel nut is essentially molded into the upper receiver.
Additionally, the gas key is machined into the bolt carrier, to remove a point of failure. If you need to replace the gas key, the gas key tube can be replaced.
All of the LWRC proprietary parts are undeniably well-designed and are an improvement over traditional parts.
However, they’re all proprietary parts. If something ever breaks on this rifle, you have to get new parts from LWRC. Nobody else manufactures the proprietary parts.
While it seems unlikely that anything will break, nothing is perfect. Being able to get replacement parts is important for even the best rifles.Even so, if you want a really thoughtfully designed rifle that’s unquestionably better than mil-spec, this is one of the best options.
Shooting Out the Barrels
300 Blackout is probably one of the best companion rounds for anyone who owns a .223/5.56mm AR-15.
300 Blackout rifles use the same magazine and bolt carrier as a .223/5.56mm rifle. You can just swap out the upper receiver, if you want to have the same controls, no matter which rifle you’re shooting.
Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine
Key Specs:
- Barrel steel
416R stainless steel barrel
- Bolt steel
9310 steel bolt
- Receiver set
7075-T6 aluminum receiver set
Pros:
- Match-grade stainless steel barrel delivers exceptional precision.
- Wilson Combat Q-Comp delivers good compensation and recoil reduction without crazy muzzle blast.
- 2-stage trigger is smooth and easy to use for precision and tactical shooting.
Cons:
- Stock looks fancy, but isn’t that special.
- No iron sights included.
Having a 300 AAC rifle adds a lot of versatility to your collection, without the headache of having to keep parts and accessories for two totally different rifles on hand. Might as well go ahead and get one now.
If you want to be sure that you’ve made a good choice, the Wilson Combat AR-15 Protector Carbine, Ruger AR-556 300 Blackout, or the Stag Arms Stag-15 300 AAC are affordable, high-quality options.
