Best 300 Blackout Subsonic Ammo: Quiet Rounds To Meet All Your Low-Velocity Needs

Firing subsonic rounds is fun and less damaging to your hearing. But what is the best 300 Blackout subsonic ammo for hunting, home defense, and plinking? You’ve come to the right place to figure that out.

My top pick is Hornady Subsonic 190 grain Sub-X ammo because it’s manufactured by a trusted brand, designed for reliable terminal expansion at low velocities, and ultra quiet (especially when paired with a suppressor).

Don’t worry if this round isn’t what you want. I gathered several other subsonic options below.

Top 3 300 Blackout Subsonic Ammo Options

Testing Procedure

To determine which subsonic ammo is best, I spoke with experts, took what appeared to be my best options to the range, and looked at several criteria:

• Brand reputation
• Design
• Price
• Overall performance (recoil, reliability, accuracy, etc.)

I occasionally buy custom ammo from small companies, but I mostly order factory loads from larger companies that have built good reputations over the decades.

My picks for best subsonic 300 BLK ammo aren’t just subsonic (i.e. loaded to a muzzle velocity lower than ~1,125 fps). They also have to be optimized for compatibility with a suppressor.

I selected reasonably priced cartridges. I also selected reliable cartridges with consistent recoil, predictable accuracy, and appropriate terminal ballistics for hunting and defense.

My Top Picks for Subsonic 300 Blackout Ammo

Hornady Subsonic 190 Grain Sub-X - Best Overall

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

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$29.99

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Specs

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

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

I’ve trusted Hornady ammo for years, and their Sub-X rounds give me no reason to stop. This ammo isn’t just intensely reliable. It is also loaded with a bullet that is specifically designed for low-velocity hunting and defense.

This round owes its relatively low 1,050 fps muzzle velocity (~75 fps slower than the speed of sound) to its hefty 190 grain projectile. It is the “Subsonic - eXpanding” (Sub-X), which features an aggressively grooved jacket and Flex Tip polymer insert that enable it to initiate terminal expansion following impact at velocities as low as 900 fps – a rate that the 190 grain Sub-X surpasses at any point within 300 yards (assuming a 16” or longer barrel). Of course, whether you’ll actually be able to hit a 300-yard target is a whole other story.

Since Hornady uses high-quality primers, propellant, cases, and bullets, you can trust that each round will go “pop” (because they’re subsonic) and strike where you’re aiming when you pull the trigger.

The 300 BLK already has low recoil. These subsonic rounds kick even softer than any supersonic alternative.

The only drawback I encountered was the price. These rounds are by no means expensive, but they will empty your wallet quickly if you use them for plinking.

Whether you’re looking for a home defense or hunting round, Hornady Subsonic 190 grain Sub-X ammo is the best choice overall. It’s accurate, reliable, and designed for excellent terminal performance at lower velocities.

Nosler 220 Grain Ballistic Tip - Best Hunting

Nosler 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo - 20 Rounds of 140 Grain Ballistic Tip Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Ballistic Tip
• Bullet Weight: 220 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,020 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 508 ft-lbs

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

Nosler ammunition is known for being high-quality, and these 300 BLK 220 grain Ballistic Tip rounds are no exception. I’ve found them to be accurate and reliable.

Nosler’s own Ballistic Tip bullet can ethically take deer-sized game at low velocity thanks to its heavy jacketed base, fully tapered jacket with ultra-thin mouth, and polymer tip – all features which promote wider expansion following lower-velocity impact.

I appreciate that Nosler uses high-quality components when manufacturing these rounds. That also increases the price, of course, so this is not the 300 Blackout subsonic hunting ammo you want when you’re on a tight budget.

Its price tag aside, you can’t go wrong with Nosler 220 grain Ballistic Tip ammo. It’s reliable, accurate, and made by a trusted brand.

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Winchester Power-Point 200 Grain JHP - Budget-Friendly

Winchester Subsonic 300 AAC Blackout Ammo - 20 Rounds of 200 Grain Open Tip Ammunition

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$19.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 200 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,060 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 499 ft-lbs

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

Winchester is another brand I’ve preferred for decades because its ammo is inexpensive, reliable, and does what it is meant to.

The Power-Point round’s 200 grain JHP is designed to expand reliably within game at subsonic velocities, regardless of whether the shooter is using a suppressor or not. The bullet offers enough knockdown power for varmints and deer within 150 yards.

Winchester uses quality components. Their JHP isn’t as accurate as a polymer-tipped bullet, though it’s still perfectly serviceable for hunting.

Most hunters choose Winchester Power-Point because it’s inexpensive compared to other hunting ammunition. That’s why many of my buddies and I initially started hunting with it.

If I were in a pinch, I wouldn’t hesitate to use Winchester Power-Point 300 BLK 200 grain for varmint or close-range whitetail deer hunting.

Fort Scott Munitions 190 Grain SCS TUI - Honorable Mention

Ammo Inc. 300 AAC Blackout Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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$17.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Solid Copper Spun (SCS) Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)
• Bullet Weight: 190 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 960 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 389 ft-lbs

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

Fort Scott Munitions 190 grain SCS TUI is a must-mention. It’s an alternative to lead and designed for subsonic performance by a trusted smaller brand.

The Solid Copper Spun (SCS) TUI bullet isn’t just lead-free (and therefore acceptable for hunting in jurisdictions that prohibit lead projectiles). It is also designed not to undergo terminal expansion. Instead, it lives up to its name by tumbling around within whichever soft tissue it penetrates, thereby excavating a wide and thoroughly harmful wound channel in the process.

Fort Scott Munitions’ ammo is reliable, although some shooters have reported inconsistent accuracy from these rounds out of a 16” barrel.

If lead bullets are prohibited in your area – or if you would prefer to defend your home with bullets that can’t become ineffective as a result of failing to initiate terminal expansion – try Fort Scott Munitions 190 grain SCS TUI.

Underwood 194 Grain Maximum Expansion - Honorable Mention

Hornady 300 Blackout Ammo - 200 Rounds of 190 Grain Subxonic Polymer Tipped Ammunition

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$284.99

$264.99

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Specs

• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Maximum Expansion
• Bullet Weight: 194 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,025 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 453 ft-lbs

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

Underwood 194 grain Maximum Expansion rounds are reliable and extraordinarily effective for hunting and self-defense.

The monolithic (i.e. solid copper) bullet is designed to fan out three long, curved petals as it enters the vital zone of the target, and is effective when fired from a pistol-length barrel at subsonic velocity. It is also acceptable for hunting wherever lead bullets are officially nixed.

Underwood might not be a big brand like Winchester or Hornady, but it's developed a positive reputation for producing high-quality ammo. That does mean this ammo is pricey, even compared to other top-shelf hunting and self-defense rounds.

Some shooters have reported inconsistent groups using a 16” barrel at 50 yards, but Underwood clearly states these rounds are optimized for pistol-length barrels (i.e. shorter than 16”).

If you have the coin and need to launch solid copper projectiles from your AR pistol, check out Underwood 194 grain Maximum Expansion ammo.

Parting Shots: Best 300 Blackout Subsonic Ammo

I recommend testing several brands and types of ammo in your firearm before you order any in bulk. There’s no better way to discern which ammo works best for you and your gun than firsthand experience.

My top recommendation is Hornady Subsonic 190 grain Sub-X ammo because a trusted brand makes it, it performs incredibly well, and it is ultra quiet with a suppressor.

Written by

Wes Littlefield