The 300 Blackout is really two cartridges in one case. Light bullets run supersonic, close to 7.62×39 power. Heavy bullets run subsonic, quiet enough for a suppressor to shine. That split is why 300 Blackout ballistic gel results look so different from one video to the next. A 110-grain copper bullet and a 220-grain subsonic hollow point are built for different jobs.
This guide explains how to read those tests and how the expanding loads at Bulk Ammo Vault compare. We have not run our own gel tests. We don’t quote penetration or expansion figures for specific loads. Velocity and energy below come straight from our catalog.
Gel Testing in Plain Terms
Testers shoot calibrated 10% ordnance gelatin. The block is kept cold and checked with a steel BB first. If the BB depth is off, the block is not used. This keeps results fair from lab to lab.
Three numbers come out of every good test:
- Penetration: how deep the bullet went.
- Expansion: how wide it opened.
- Weight retention: how much of the bullet stayed together.
The FBI protocol looks for 12 to 18 inches of penetration in gel. It was made for handgun duty ammo, but rifle shooters use it as a shared reference. It is the one depth window you will see quoted most.
The protocol also uses barriers: heavy clothing, wallboard, plywood, sheet steel and auto glass. Bare gel shows best-case results. Barrier tests show how a bullet holds up in the real world.
Supersonic 300 Blackout: What to Look For
Supersonic loads use bullets from about 90 to 150 grains. At these speeds most expanding bullets open well, at least at short range. Here’s what we carry:
| Load | Bullet | Grain | Velocity | Energy | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes VOR-TX 300 Blackout 110 Grain TAC-TX | Barnes Tipped TAC-TX Polymer Tip (lead-free copper) | 110 | 2,350 fps | 1,349 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Hornady Custom 300 Blackout 110 CX | Hornady CX Polymer Tip (monolithic copper) | 110 | 2,285 fps | 1,275 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Sig Sauer 300 Blackout Hunting HT 120 Grain Copper | Sig HT Solid Copper Hollow Point | 120 | 2,250 fps | 1,349 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Lehigh Defense 300 Blackout 115 Grain Controlled Chaos | Lehigh Controlled Chaos Solid Hollow Point (lead-free) | 115 | 2,350 fps | 1,410 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Hornady .300 Blackout Black 110 Grain V-Max | Hornady V-Max Polymer Tip | 110 | 2,375 fps | 1,378 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Federal Power Shok Copper 300 Blackout 120 Grain | Solid Copper Hollow Point (lead-free) | 120 | 2,100 fps | 1,175 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Winchester Silvertip 300 Blackout 150 Grain Defense Tip | Winchester Defense Tip Polymer Tip | 150 | 1,900 fps | 1,202 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Federal Fusion 300 Blackout MSR 150 Grain | Bonded Round Nose | 150 | 1,900 fps | 1,202 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Deer Season XP 300 Blackout 150 Grain Extreme Point | Winchester Extreme Point Polymer Tip | 150 | 1,900 fps | 1,202 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
The Barnes VOR-TX 110 Grain TAC-TX lists 2,350 fps and 1,349 ft-lbs. It’s a lead-free copper bullet. Copper bullets usually hold close to full weight, so in gel you should see a clean, petaled bullet at the end of the track.
The Winchester Silvertip 150 Grain Defense Tip lists 1,900 fps and 1,202 ft-lbs. It is a heavier, slower bullet built for defense. Heavier bullets tend to keep driving after they open.
Fragmenting versus bonded designs
The Lehigh Defense 115 Grain Controlled Chaos is a solid hollow point designed to shed parts of its nose while the base keeps going. In gel, look for a few small fragments near the start and a solid base deeper in. The Federal Fusion MSR 150 Grain is a bonded round nose. It should show a single mushroom with high retained weight.
Polymer tips
The Hornady Black 110 Grain V-Max is a varmint bullet. It opens fast and can break up. That is great on coyotes. It is a poor match for deer, where you want more depth.
Subsonic 300 Blackout: Read It Differently
Subsonic loads run near 1,000 fps. Most standard rifle bullets will not expand at that speed. Ammo makers solve this with bullets that open at low velocity. When you read subsonic gel results, compare them only to other subsonic loads.
| Load | Bullet | Grain | Velocity | Energy | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady 300 Blackout Subsonic 190 Grain FTX | Hornady FTX Polymer Tip | 190 | 1,050 fps | 465 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Lehigh Maximum Expansion 300 Blackout 194 Grain Subsonic by Underwood | Lehigh Maximum Expansion Solid Hollow Point (lead-free) | 194 | 1,025 fps | 453 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Federal Fusion Tipped 300 Blackout 190 Grain Subsonic | Bonded Polymer Tip | 190 | 1,050 fps | 465 ft-lbs | 20-round box |
| Winchester Super Suppressed 300 Blackout 200 Grain JHP | Jacketed Hollow Point | 200 | 1,060 fps | 499 ft-lbs | 200 rounds (10 boxes of 20) |
| Federal 300 Blackout Subsonic American Eagle 220 Grain JHP | Jacketed Hollow Point | 220 | 1,000 fps | 488 ft-lbs | 500 rounds (25 boxes of 20) |
The Hornady Subsonic 190 Grain FTX lists 1,050 fps and 465 ft-lbs. Its soft tip is designed to start expansion at low speed. The Lehigh Maximum Expansion 194 Grain uses a solid copper hollow point made for subsonic expansion. The Federal Fusion Tipped 190 Grain Subsonic is a bonded hunting bullet.
Budget subsonic hollow points, like the Winchester Super Suppressed 200 Grain JHP, are great for quiet range sessions. If a test shows they did not open, that’s not a surprise at subsonic speed.
What Changes 300 Blackout Gel Results
Barrel length
Many 300 Blackout rifles and pistols wear 8- to 10-inch barrels. Factory velocity may come from a longer test barrel. Short barrels lose speed. For supersonic loads, that can mean less expansion. The Sig Sauer 120 Grain Short Barrel SHP is made with short barrels in mind and lists 1,897 fps.
Range
A bullet slows as it travels. A 110-grain bullet that opens wide at 25 yards may open less at 200. Good tests note the distance or use reduced loads to mimic it.
Clothing and barriers
Heavy clothing can clog a hollow point. Polymer tips help prevent this. If you plan to use 300 Blackout for home defense, look for tests that include clothing.
Suppressor use
A suppressor can add a small bit of velocity. It rarely changes gel results much. It does change how loud the shot is, which is why many owners pick subsonic loads in the first place.
Choosing a 300 Blackout Load by Job
- Home defense: a supersonic load built for expansion, like Silvertip Defense or a copper hollow point.
- Deer and hogs: a bonded or copper supersonic load such as Fusion MSR or TAC-TX, at modest range.
- Suppressed hunting: a subsonic bullet made to open at low speed, like the 190-grain FTX or Fusion Tipped Subsonic.
- Varmints: a light V-Max load.
Laws on hollow points, suppressors and hunting calibers vary. Check your state and local rules before you buy or use any of these loads.
Want to see how the Blackout compares with the AK round? Read our 7.62×39 ballistic gel guide. If you also shoot the 8.6 Blackout, the 8.6 Blackout ballistic data guide covers its loads.
Shop 300 Blackout Ammo
Browse our full 300 Blackout ammo category for supersonic, subsonic, match and training loads. Use 300 Blackout ballistic gel tests to build a short list, then confirm the load runs and groups in your rifle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 300 Blackout subsonic?
It can be either. Light bullets, roughly 90 to 150 grains, run supersonic. Heavy bullets, often 190 to 220 grains, are loaded to stay below the speed of sound. Check the box. Subsonic loads are labeled, and their listed velocity sits near 1,000 fps.
Is 300 blackout better than 556?
Neither is better across the board. The 300 Blackout fires a heavier .30 caliber bullet and works well subsonic with a suppressor, especially from short barrels. The 5.56 shoots flatter, recoils less and costs less per round. Pick based on barrel length, suppressor use and your main job.
Do subsonic 300 Blackout bullets expand?
Standard rifle bullets often do not expand at subsonic speed. Loads designed for it, such as the Hornady 190 Grain FTX subsonic or the Lehigh Maximum Expansion, use bullets built to open at low velocity. Read subsonic gel tests only against other subsonic loads.
Is 300 blackout good for deer?
At sensible ranges, yes, with a bonded or copper supersonic bullet made for game. Subsonic hunting loads work at short range if the bullet is designed to open at low speed. Hunting caliber rules vary, so check your state’s regulations before the season.
Does 300 Blackout fit in a 5.56 magazine?
Yes, 300 Blackout uses standard AR-15 magazines, though some heavy subsonic bullets feed better in certain mags. Never mix the two rounds. A 300 Blackout round can chamber in a 5.56 rifle and cause a dangerous failure. Mark your mags and keep ammo separate.
