Best 300 Blackout Ammo: Be Prepared for Any Situation

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Cite this Article

Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

Read More

Wes Littlefield, "Best 300 Blackout Ammo for Your AR-15"
(https://ammo.com/best/best-300-blackout-ammo)

The 300 BLK is touted by millions of shooters because it’s the perfect choice for many applications – so long as you choose the right ammo. Don’t worry about sorting through the endless options of 300 BLK rounds. I’ve done the heavy lifting for you and picked the best 300 Blackout ammo for several situations.

Top 300 BLK Ammo Picks

Best 300 Blackout Ammo Quick Comparison Chart

For velocity, energy, and trajectory numbers at range across these loads and the rest of the cartridge’s lineup, see our full 300 Blackout ballistics charts, or our guide to the best grain for 300 Blackout.

300 Blackout Ammo Reviews

Best Overall - Federal Premium American Eagle 150 Grain FMJ-BT

Federal American Eagle 300 Blackout Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain FMJ Ammunition

• 
• 
• 

$19.99

4 In stock now

Add Review

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10

Add to Cart

Shop 300 Blackout Ammo

Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail
• Bullet Weight: 150 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,900 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,202 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Federal Premium consistently produces some of the best ammo on the market. Federal American Eagle 150 grain FMJ-BT is no exception. It’s accurate, reasonably priced, and reliable. I’ve purchased and fired Federal American Eagle many times and have rarely had a problem with it. It’s my go-to ammo to stock up on in bulk.

This ammo is ideal for a long day on the range because it’s very accurate (thanks to Federal’s uniform FMJ-BT bullets, brass cases, and powder charges) and reasonably priced. When I fire these rounds, I know I will get consistent performance out of them. They’re gonna fire, cycle, and hit where I’m aiming every time. I love that I get this consistency without breaking the bank.

However, I would prefer using a different bullet than the FMJ-BT bullet to put down a bad guy if I were forced to defend my family or myself. It doesn’t expand to inflict a wider wound channel as a self-defense and hunting bullet would have. That reduces its odds of instantly neutralizing the target. It also increases its odds of passing clean through said target, where it may jeopardize an innocent bystander.

Overall, Federal Premium American Eagle 150 grain FMJ-BT is the best 300 BLK ammo. It’s reliable, accurate, reasonably priced, and made by a trusted manufacturer. Don’t hesitate to make a bulk order today!

Best for Home Defense - SIG Sauer Elite Copper 120 Grain SCHP

Shop 300 Blackout Ammo

Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Solid Copper Hollow Point (SCHP)
• Bullet Weight: 120 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,897 fps (6.75” Barrel)
• Muzzle Energy: 959 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

The best 300 BLK ammo for home defense is SIG Elite Copper 120 grain solid copper hollow point (SCHP). It’s made by a trusted brand, accurate, and designed to perform best with short-barreled rifles in close quarters.

If I’m carrying a firearm for self-defense that’s not loaded with Hornady rounds, then it likely has SIG Elite loaded in its magazine. Many other shooters and I trust it to be accurate and pack a punch in defense situations.

The 120 grain SCHP bullet is designed to “retain weight through glass, drywall, and light auto sheet metal, making it ideal for tactical and defensive use,” according to SIG's website. These rounds are designed for full power burn and velocity efficiency in barrels as short as 7”, making them ideal for home defense with an SBR.

Running an even shorter setup? We have a dedicated guide to the best 300 Blackout ammo for a 7.5” barrel.

My only frustration with these rounds is how expensive they are, but that’s normal for home defense ammo. It’s also not ridiculously overpriced compared to many other 300 BLK defense rounds.

SIG Elite 120 grain SCHP ammo is what you should load in your home defense 300 BLK mags. It’s accurate and reliable, and stops bad guys in their tracks.

Best Hunting Ammo - Barnes VOR-TX 120 Grain TAC-TX

Barnes VOR-TX 300 Blackout Ammo - 20 Rounds of 120 Grain Polymer Tipped Ammunition

• 
• 
• 

$40.99

12 In stock now

1 Review

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10

Add to Cart

Shop 300 Blackout Ammo

Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: TAC-TX (Polymer-Tipped Solid Copper)
• Bullet Weight: 120 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,100 fps (16” Barrel)
• Muzzle Energy: 1,175 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Barnes VOR-TX is trusted by countless hunters every hunting season because it’s reliable and packs enough punch to stop any deer.

While Barnes ammo is expensive, it does have high-quality, reliable materials and components to show for it. In this ammo’s case, that includes the TAC-TX bullet. The TAC-TX is exceptionally accurate thanks to its polymer tip. Its all-copper body gives it the fortitude requisite for deep penetration, which it makes all the deadlier via wide and energetic terminal expansion.

You can trust that Barnes VOR-TX 120 grain TAC-TX will perform when you have a trophy buck in your crosshairs. Grab some today!

Chasing hogs rather than whitetail? See our picks for the best 300 Blackout ammo for hog hunting.

Best Subsonic Rounds - Hornady Subsonic 190 Grain Sub-X

Hornady Subsonic 300 Blackout Ammo - 20 Rounds of 190 Grain Polymer Tipped Ammunition

• 
• 
• 

$31.99

102 In stock now

1 Review

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10

Add to Cart

Shop 300 Blackout Ammo

Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Sub-X (Subsonic – eXpanding)
• Bullet Weight: 190 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,050 fps (16” Barrel)
• Muzzle Energy: 465 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Hornady makes the list with their Subsonic 190 grain Sub-X ammo: designed for suppressed shooting by a trusted company. The subsonic Sub-X bullet’s long-range trajectory isn’t great. But in its defense, it isn’t intended to be.

The heavy 190 grain Sub-X is extra quiet when paired with a suppressor, and will still cycle through your AR. It is designed to reliably unleash terminal expansion at low velocities. It’s also plenty accurate within a subsonic 300 BLK cartridge’s conventional 100- to 150-yard effective range.

If you want the best subsonic ammo for your 300 BLK rifle, then you’ve got to check out how well Hornady Subsonic 190 grain Sub-X treats your suppressor.

For a wider field of quiet loads, see our full roundup of the best 300 Blackout subsonic ammo.

Budget-Friendly - Winchester USA 125 Grain Open Tip

Winchester USA 300 AAC Blackout Ammo - 20 Rounds of 125 Grain Open Tip Ammunition

• 
• 
• 

$16.49

55 In stock now

Add Review

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10

Add to Cart

Shop 300 Blackout Ammo

Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Open Tip
• Bullet Weight: 125 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,185 fps (16” Barrel)
• Muzzle Energy: 1,325 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Winchester’s white box ammunition is a staple at ranges because it’s reasonably priced, readily available, accurate, and reliable.

Winchester ammunition has been trusted by shooters for decades, and 300 BLK shooters are no exception. Winchester USA is easy to find and purchase. You can stock up on it and have plenty for multiple trips to the range.

It’s excellent training ammo because it’s accurate and inexpensive, but it’s not ideal for hunting or self-defense due to its open tip bullet. Despite resembling the kind of jacketed hollow point that is designed for terminal expansion, the open tip’s nose cavity is solely a cosmetic byproduct of the method in which it is formed. Incidentally, that method yields an extremely balanced and streamlined projectile.

Order several boxes of Winchester USA 125 grain open tip before your next range trip!

How I Chose My Top 300 BLK Ammo Picks

To pick my top 300 Blackout ammo, I spoke with ammo experts, researched what others had to say, and drew from my own experience.

Self-Defense

When choosing home defense ammo, I look for reliability, accuracy, consistency, and stopping power. Price is the last concern I have, because I’m not willing to put a price on my family's safety.

Training

For training, I look for ammo that performs similarly to my hunting or defense ammo, but costs less. It’s challenging to find an exact match, so I often settle for a less expensive option.

Target Shooting/Plinking

When target shooting, I prefer match-grade ammo’s premium, very accurate bullets. However, when I go plinking with a group of buddies, I often buy the least expensive ammo I can find that won’t jam on every shot.

Suppressed Shooting

Suppressed shooting is best done with ammo designed for that purpose. I most look for heavy-for-caliber, subsonic (i.e., muzzle velocity lower than 1,125 fps) bullets because they don’t produce the sharp, cracking report that a suppressor isn’t designed to suppress.

Carbine Shooting

While 300 BLK carbines can handle traditional 300 BLK ammo, I’ve found that rounds designed for carbines work best. They get a more complete powder burn and better accuracy because of it.

If you’re still deciding which chambering to build your next carbine around, our guide to the best AR calibers lays out how 300 BLK stacks up against the rest of the AR-15 field.

Parting Shots: Best 300 BLK Ammo

After rigorous research and testing, I’ve found that Federal Premium American Eagle 150 grain FMJ-BT is the best 300 BLK ammo overall.

There are many other great options on the market, so be sure to check out the rest of our list for your specific needs. And if you’re ready to stock up, check out our huge selection of 300 BLK bulk ammo!

Want to see how the cartridge measures up against the competition? Read our 300 Blackout vs. 5.56 and 300 Blackout vs. 308 comparisons.

Written by

Wes Littlefield