Range Report: Handi-Rifle in 300 AAC Blackout

[dbuffington]

Here’s a quick report on my new Handi-Rifle chambered in 300 AAC Blackout …

Everyone says the 300 Blackout Handi-Rifle is small … and they’re right. When I picked mine up -- from the good folks at Lanco Tactical in Elizabethtown, Pa. -- I was stunned by how tiny it is. Even after the Lanco guys screwed on the flash-hider/quick-disconnect muzzle piece, it looked like a toy.

Attaching my YHM Phantom suppressor gave it a bit more visual heft … and a lot more actual weight. With the stock stock and the suppressor, it’s a bit front heavy, but not terribly so.

At the range? Well, there’s no confusing the Handi-Rifle for a toy. After just a few shots to get the red dot sighted in, here’s the grouping I got at 50 yards:



And I’m sure it will do better with a more appropriate optic for target shooting. (I’m thinking of some kind of extended-eye-relief -- i.e., pistol -- scope in the classic “Scout” configuration. That would also eliminate the clearance problems you’d have with the hammer and a conventional scope.)

Out of the box, the trigger pull was a bit heavy -- 6 pounds, 4 ounces on the Lyman scale -- but it breaks very cleanly. I suspect use will lighten the pull, and so, I’m not inclined to muck with the trigger.

Of course, the whole point of this exercise is to produce a quieter gun, one without the action noises built into the AR platform. You judge whether it does that …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dsm9H2JnrM&feature=youtu.be

Complaints? The buttstock is too light and too short. However, there are lots of aftermarket choices for Handi-Rifles. Anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks!
Dave

[Jason F]

Looks like its gonna be a shooter.  My stubbed blackout shoots great with subsonic 220 grain loads.

[dbuffington]

Looks like its gonna be a shooter.  My stubbed blackout shoots great with subsonic 220 grain loads.

Hi Jason!


Yup. These were handloads using Hornady AMAX 208 grain bullets.


Thanks!
Dave

[eskimo36]

Glad to see its a shooter after many pundits saying if Savage couldn't do it, there was no way H&R could do it.  I really enjoy my blackouts.

[hoytcanon]

I used a Boyd's Sterling stock set on my Black Russian combo (.300 AAC BLK & 7.62X39)... I lightly sanded the butt stock and forearm and sprayed them with 2 coats of flat black Krylon and then with five coats of Black textured satin Krylon... it looks great on the gun... I mounted a Mueller 2-7X32 Multi-Shot on the 7.62 and a Mueller 3-9X40 Sport Dot on the Black Out... both scopes are in DNZ Gamereaper mounts... it is a very nice combo and great fun to shoot...

[dbuffington]

I used a Boyd's Sterling stock set on my Black Russian combo (.300 AAC BLK & 7.62X39)... I lightly sanded the butt stock and forearm and sprayed them with 2 coats of flat black Krylon and then with five coats of Black textured satin Krylon... it looks great on the gun...

I suspect so, but you know, we need photos for proof 


Thanks!
Dave

[twoshooter]

I am very pleased that now one has actually hit the field it turns out well. The assets I look at are the size and weight, and especially length. As I walked around my place the other day with my wood stocked Hornet, which I do love, that after my mile circumference (around the 40) it was getting a bit heavy. If it will shoot at all with some 110 gr SP's for small stuff I will feel completely vindicated. So many her are/ were nay sayers about this cartridge, it does EXACTLY what it was supposed to- provide enjoyment. It will probably account for a lot of small game, pests , varmints, some cans, and maybe an occasional deer if the circumstances are right. YESSSSSSSSSSS !

[dbuffington]

Glad to see its a shooter after many pundits saying if Savage couldn't do it, there was no way H&R could do it.  I really enjoy my blackouts.

I heard the same chatter, but I couldn't understand it ... There's nothing inherently exotic or problematic about the 300 Blackout cartridge. Yes, if you want to stay subsonic, there's a limited velocity range to work in, but hey, people have been dealing with that successfully with .22 Long Rifle for 100 years.


And the principles of making good cartridges and good barrels are hardly a secret either. So I suspect Savage bailed for financial reasons (not enough projected sales), and I'm just glad H&R stayed in the game. I hope they sell a ton of these things 


Thanks!
Dave

[45-70.gov]

BOYDS


has the laminated thumb hole on sale now

[dbuffington]

If it will shoot at all with some 110 gr SP's for small stuff I will feel completely vindicated.

Consider yourself vindicated ...





The target above shows a five-shot group shot at 50 yards with my AR (CMMG) chambered in 300 Blackout using Remington Premier Match 125 grain. I've also had very good results with the 110 gr Hornady and (believe it or nuts) the 110 gr "White Box" Remington UMC.


Enjoy!
Dave

[FPH]

If it will shoot at all with some 110 gr SP's for small stuff I will feel completely vindicated.

Consider yourself vindicated ...





The target above shows a five-shot group shot at 50 yards with my AR (CMMG) chambered in 300 Blackout using Remington Premier Match 125 grain. I've also had very good results with the 110 gr Hornady and (believe it or nuts) the 110 gr "White Box" Remington UMC.


Enjoy!
Dave

Can you load a subsconic round for your AR that won't cycle the action and will still group?

[dbuffington]

Can you load a subsconic round for your AR that won't cycle the action and will still group?

Oh, that's easy. It's finding a subsonic round that WILL cycle the action and still group that's the problem. My recipe for that is:


Buffington Handload #32
- Resized Remington 300 AAC Blackout Brass
- CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primer
- Hornady 208 gr AMAX Bullet
- Vihtavouri N110 Powder 8.4 gr
- COL at SAMMI max (I forget what that is at the moment.)


That cartridge is:
- consistently subsonic
- very accurate
- feeds properly in USGI magazines (Magpul mags can be a bit problematic.)
- very quiet with very low flash and smoke


Feeding? At first, in my AR, that would cycle reliably about 75 percent of the time. After much experimentation, I ended up cutting four turns off the recoil spring, and now, it cycles reliably 100 percent of the time.


So, if you really don't want it to cycle, you could go to a heavier spring or cut back the powder a bit. (If I recall correctly, 8.0 grains was still accurate, but wouldn't cycle at all.)


A disclaimer ... AR uppers, lowers and parts may be interchangeable, but that doesn't mean they're the same. Minor variations in gas ports, spring rates, hole spacing, moon phases could produce different results. And when you're trying to use an AR to propel a 200 grain bullet at subsonic speeds, you're on the ragged edge of the original Stoner design. Your mileage may vary.


Enjoy!
Dave


P.S. I erred in an earlier post. The Remington UMC cartridges have 115 grain bullets.

[26-t]

Are you using a Carbine length gas tube or a Pistol length tube on the Ar barrel? 26-t

[dbuffington]

Are you using a Carbine length gas tube or a Pistol length tube on the Ar barrel? 26-t

Carbine. I wanted to maintain compatibility with supersonic loads. Thanks!

[26-t]

The pistol length will give you more gas at the key/ faster cycle time. If you have trouble with the carbine length you can enlarge the gas port in barrel ,it will help out a bunch. 26-t

[twoshooter]

SUPER! My modern day 32-20 is a reality! I will begin to finagle my way around to one. The 115 grainers clenched it. I am no AR fan, but the little handi makes my day. Thanks guys.

[dbuffington]

The pistol length will give you more gas at the key/ faster cycle time. If you have trouble with the carbine length you can enlarge the gas port in barrel ,it will help out a bunch. 26-t

I think I'm OK as I'm rigged now, but I'm waiting to see how it behaves in colder weather. Many thanks!
Dave

[dbuffington]

SUPER! My modern day 32-20 is a reality!

Indeed 

[FPH]

Can you load a subsconic round for your AR that won't cycle the action and will still group?

Oh, that's easy. It's finding a subsonic round that WILL cycle the action and still group that's the problem. My recipe for that is:


Buffington Handload #32
- Resized Remington 300 AAC Blackout Brass
- CCI Small Rifle Magnum Primer
- Hornady 208 gr AMAX Bullet
- Vihtavouri N110 Powder 8.4 gr
- COL at SAMMI max (I forget what that is at the moment.)


That cartridge is:
- consistently subsonic
- very accurate
- feeds properly in USGI magazines (Magpul mags can be a bit problematic.)
- very quiet with very low flash and smoke


Feeding? At first, in my AR, that would cycle reliably about 75 percent of the time. After much experimentation, I ended up cutting four turns off the recoil spring, and now, it cycles reliably 100 percent of the time.


So, if you really don't want it to cycle, you could go to a heavier spring or cut back the powder a bit. (If I recall correctly, 8.0 grains was still accurate, but wouldn't cycle at all.)


A disclaimer ... AR uppers, lowers and parts may be interchangeable, but that doesn't mean they're the same. Minor variations in gas ports, spring rates, hole spacing, moon phases could produce different results. And when you're trying to use an AR to propel a 200 grain bullet at subsonic speeds, you're on the ragged edge of the original Stoner design. Your mileage may vary.


Enjoy!
Dave


P.S. I erred in an earlier post. The Remington UMC cartridges have 115 grain bullets.

You don't want the action to cycle if you want a truly silenced round.

[Ranger99]

saw and handled one today.
neat, but not the direction i want
to go. i'm trying to cut down on having
so many different calibers instead
of adding any new ones. i
tried to wish it into a 30/30 , but
it didn't work


neat gun though. . . . . .

[dbuffington]

You don't want the action to cycle if you want a truly silenced round.

It’s difficult -- perhaps impossible -- to stop all the movement in the AR action. Even if it doesn’t cycle, the bolt can still move. Even if you cut off gas flow tube completely, the suppressor causes back pressure which moves the bolt.

Worst of all is the recoil spring, which sounds like a cheese grater on aluminum foil. Even if the bolt only moves the spring a bit, you still hear it.

So that’s why I jumped at the opportunity to test the Handi-Rifle. The only noises it makes is the trigger mechanism (essentially silent) and the hammer fall (audible, but not far).

Enjoy!
Dave

[FPH]

I saw a suppressed 10/22.....only sound you heard was the fireing pin dropping.