9 Best .300 blackout rifles in 2022

AAC’s .300 Blackout cartridge has become one of the most popular calibers in recent years, especially among AR-15 enthusiasts.

The best .300 Blackout rifles can stand right alongside their 5.56 counterparts, and you can even get some cool .300 BLK rifles that aren’t ARs at all if that’s what you want.

If you’re looking to add an AR-15 rifle to your safe, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve built and tested a variety of rifles in .300 Blackout, and today we’re going to go over the best ones and give you a good idea of how to choose the perfect .300 BLK rifle.

Here are the Best .300 blackout rifles (Our Picks) 

1. Aero Precision M4E1 Complete Rifle

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Over the past few years, Aero Precision has made a name for itself, especially among AR-15 builders. If you don’t want to complete a build, however, Aero Precision also sells completed rifles.

One of those rifles is my top pick, the Aero Precision M4E1 Complete Rifle. 

The M4E1 is built with Aero Precision’s already-beloved Enhanced Series Upper Receiver. With this rifle, you get all the benefits of that upper, but without the hassle of completing the build yourself. 

With the upper, you get a Chrome Moly Vanadium barrel with a QPQ coating, an A2 flash hider, and an Enhance Series Handguard. When it comes to the handguard, you can choose from M-LOK, Key Mod, and Quad Rail handguard options, and each in 12” or 15” options.

Related Article: 15 Best Long Range Rifles | Ranked by a Marine Sniper

As I said, though, it’s not just the upper. You also get a Magpul STR stock and MOE grip. The lower features a flared magwell that accepts Magpul PMAG magazines. It comes with a single 30 round magazine. 

Rounding out the build are Aero Precision’s Standard AR15 Lower Parts Kit and a mil-spec AR-15/M4 buffer kit.

You can get the complete Aero Precision M4E1 rifle in Anodized Black and Magpul FDE Cerakote finishes.

Key Specs

• Weight: 6.9 lbs
• Barrel Length: 16”
• Overall Length: 36”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny, plus M-LOK, Key Mod, or Quad Rail
• Operating System: Direct impingement

Take Away

Aero Precision has a great reputation among AR builders and the Aero Precision M4E1 lives up to that reputation. You get all the benefits of the popular Enhanced Series Upper Receiver plus high-quality lower parts made by Aero Precision and Magpul. 

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2. Howa M1500 Mini Action Oryx

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Looking for the most comfortable shooting experience possible? Then look no further than the Howa M1500 Mini Action Oryx by MDT. 

The stock allows you to adjust both the length of pull and the comb height for more comfortable, personalized, and ergonomic shooting. 

That’s not all this bolt action rifle in a sea of semi-autos has going for it, though. It also has a monolithic aluminum chassis, a three-position thumb safety, and a two-stage HACT trigger. The barrel is threaded to accept the muzzle device of your choice.

The Oryx has a 10+1 round capacity and comes with one magazine. It uses AICS pattern magazines, which is the same pattern as military standard sniper rifles.

It’s drilled and tapped for sights, but they’re not included.

This rifle comes in three furniture color options: Gray, FDE, and OD green. The metal bits have a matte blue finish.

Finally, Howa covers this rifle with a lifetime warranty. 

Key Specs:

• Weight: 8.8 pounds
• Barrel Length: 16.25”
• Overall Length: 35”
• Accessory Rail: None, but tapped and drilled for sights
• Operating System: Direct impingement

Take Away:

Most .300 BLK rifles are semi-auto, so the fact that the Howa M1500 Mini Action Oryx is bolt-action makes it a little bit different. The adjustable length of pull and comb height make this rifle incredibly comfortable and ergonomic as well. 

The 10+1 capacity is lower than a lot of the other rifles on this list, but that does make it legal for states with capacity limits. It’s still a great hunting option, and won’t let you down in the field.

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3. Bravo Company RECCE-16 MCMR

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Bravo Company is well known for the quality of their parts. In fact, they provide parts to many other companies, who use them for their own complete rifle builds.

That quality is to be expected though. Bravo Company, or BCM, was started by a former US Marine who wanted to create arms for private security contractors in Iraq. Bravo offers that same quality to products bought by the general public, meaning you.

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Like Aero Precision, they don’t just offer parts though. The RECCE-16 is a complete rifle with a hard coat anodized aluminum receiver, carbine length gas system, manual safety, and tapered, fluted barrel.

The RECCE-16 also features a bunch of the BCMGUNFIGHTER upgrades that Bravo Company is known for, including:

• A BCMGUNFIGHTER MCMR Handguard
• A BCMGUNFIGHTER Charging Handle
• A BCMGUNFIGHTER Mod 1 7.63 Compensator
• A BCMGUNFIGHTER Buttstock
• A BCMGUNFIGHTER Mod 3 Pistol Grip 
• A BCMGUNFIGHTER QD End Plate
• A BCMGUNFIGHTER PNT Trigger, and 
• A BCMGUNFIGHTER Trigger Guard.

Key Specs

• Weight: 6.1 pounds
• Barrel Length: 16”
• Overall Length: 32.5” – 35.5”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny
• Operating System: Direct impingement

Take Away

The Bravo Company RECCE-16 MCMR reflects the quality you’d expect from a company that was started to supply private security contractors. At just 6.1 pounds, it’s one of the more lightweight options available and it features tons of Brave Company’s popular BCMGUNFIGHTER parts. 

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4. Barrett REC7 DI 300 AAC Blackout

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Most people know Barret from the M82A1/M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle to the point where “Barret .50 Cal” has entered the pop culture zeitgeist and you can find the gun in everything from cartoons to the latest Call of Duty.

Barret is certainly no one-trick pony, however, and their REC7 DI has quickly proven that the legendary gunmaker can whip up one mean AR-15 too. 

While the REC7 is designed with tactical (read: military and police) use in mind, it’s a great gun for hunters and those looking for an AR to defend hearth and home with as well.

Out of the box, the gun comes with an excellent Barret high-precision barrel and three-pronged flash hider. The full-length, free-float handguard is M-LOK compatible and the excellent ALG QMS trigger is great for the range, or for defensive scenarios.

Rounding things off, you have an ambidextrous Radian Raptor charging handle, Magpul MOE grip and stock, and a matching Cerakote finish over the forged aluminum receivers.

Key Specs:

• Weight: 6.2 lbs
• Barrel Length: 16”
• Overall Length: 33.3”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
• Operating System: Gas piston

Take Away

All in all, this is a deadly-accurate, reliable, and well-equipped rifle that is well suited to everything from hog-hunting to home defense. Barret truly hit it out of the park with the REC 7 line, and while we think the direct impingement offering is the better value, the piston version is worth the money too. 

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5. Palmetto State Armory PSA 15 in 300 blackout

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Next up, we have something that will make you feel better if you got a little bit of sticker shock from the Barret and the BCM options up there. Palmetto State Armory is the go-to option for building or buying an AR-15 on a budget.

And now they have a .300 Blackout option.

You can go with a pistol, carbine, or rifle version, all of which come with an improved mil-spec trigger, an M-LOK handguard, and MOE pistol grip and stock. The main one we recommend is going to be the 16” barrel version, but obviously, that’s up to you and what you’re going to try to do with the gun.

You’re probably not going to win any precision sharpshooting contests with this one, but that’s not really what .300 BLK is for anyway. For shooting suppressed, especially hunting, this thing is just about perfect, and it won’t blow a hole in your wallet either.

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It’s also affordable enough that it’s a good option for those who want to try the .300 Blackout life out before they commit a grand or two to the cause. In terms of sheer bang for your bunk (pun intended), it’s hard to beat PSA.

You can also snag a .300 BLK upper if you want to convert a standard AR-15 into a .300 BLK AR-15. All you have to do is pop the takedown and pivot pins out, slap the new upper on top of your existing gun, and you’re good to go. The whole process takes maybe 30 seconds.

Key Specs:

• Weight: 6.75 pounds
• Barrel Length: 16”
• Overall Length: 32”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions
• Operating System: Long stroke gas piston

Take Away:

If you’re looking for a quality .300 BLK AR-15 that won’t break the bank, and will still hold up to regular hog hunts or something similarly taxing, the PSA 16” in .300 Blackout is a phenomenal option. 

This gun frequently can be had for around $600, and the value you get is worth so much more. 

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6. IWI Tavor X95

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If you’re looking for something a little different from the standard AR-15’s, then IWI has you covered with their Tavor X95. This rifle in 5.56 is the preferred assault rifle of the Israeli Defence Forces, and it has quickly earned a reputation as an absolute beast.

The bullpup design gives you all the benefits of a full-size rifle, but in a package that’s about half a foot shorter than a typical AR-15 with a 16” barrel. This makes the rifle a great option for a suppressor host and keeps it maneuverable in close quarters.

In short, if you’re looking for a compact weapon that you can wield in close quarters, like say, inside your home if that something goes bump in the night, then this is the option to go with.

It’s a bit heavy at just under 8lbs, but it’s balanced well thanks to the bullpup design. It’s also got a fairly heavy trigger in the 6.5lb range, which means you’re never going to win a precision shooting competition with this, but it’s plenty accurate for the short ranges of .300 Blackout.

The barrel is a 16.5” cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined, barrel that’s as durable as just about any rifle barrel on the planet, and more than accurate enough for defensive shooting. The piston-driven gas system helps keep the rifle clean and reliable as well.

The Picatinny rails at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions give you plenty of room to mount whatever lights, lasers, grips, and other accessories you want, and IWI gives you some removable rail covers to cover the sections you don’t end up using so you don’t cheese grater your hand on them.

Lastly, the Tavor takes standard NATO STANAG-compatible mags, so you won’t have any trouble feeding this beast. You’ll definitely have to practice a little to get the hand of reloading a bullpup though, but it’s more than worth it.

Key Specs:

• Weight: 7.95 pounds
• Barrel Length: 16.5”
• Overall Length: 26.125”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions
• Operating System: Long stroke gas piston

Take Away:

IWI has had a hit on their hands for over a decade now with the Tavor, and the new .300 BLK version improves on what has quickly become a classic. This bullpup rifle may be a bit unconventional by the standards of most US rifles, but its effectiveness is hard to deny.

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7. Desert Tech MDRX 300 Blackout

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Next up, we have another bullpup rifle, the Desert Tech MDRX 300.

This is the slightly upgraded and tweaked version of Desert Tech MDR, which has become a popular choice for a US-made bullpup in recent years. This version has an adjustable gas block, a butt pad on the stock, and an improved trigger with a 4.7lb pull.

This trigger is much better than the Tavor and feels remarkably good for a bullpup, which have notoriously bad triggers as a rule thanks to all the mechanics involved for a trigger at the midpoint of a gun to fire a round chambered at the rear.

The folks at Desert Tech have done some mechanical witchcraft to make the MDRX 300 much nicer to shoot, and that leads directly to some much better accuracy. 

It also has some ergonomic improvements over the original and feels very well balanced and easy to aim. We had no problem running some inventive 3-Gun courses with this bad boy.

Like the Tavor, the MDR is fully ambidextrous and makes a great suppressor host. The forward eject has to prevent some of the gas and powder blowback that you can get with some other suppressed rifles, and the barrel is pre-threaded from the factory.

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The only problem is that as of the time of writing, the complete rifle is back-ordered due to supply chain issues (isn’t everything), but if you’re reading this after February 2022, you should be able to get one no problem.

And if you can’t get one, you can always get the conversion kit to put one together safely, easily, and legally on your own.

Key Specs

• Weight: 8.85 lbs
• Barrel Length: 16”
• Overall Length: 26.02”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
• Operating System: Piston

Take Away

The Desert Tech MDRX is another great bullpup option, and it’ll serve well for hunting in heavy brush or home defense use. It’s American-made, and it has one of the best stock bullpup triggers on the market right now.

It’s also piston-driven and has a threaded barrel from the factory, making it a truly awesome suppressor host.

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8. Sig Sauer MCX Rattler PCB

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Okay, so the SIG Sauer MCX Rattler PCB is technically a pistol, but it’s a pistol designed for rifle enthusiasts. 

It has a 5.5-inch rifled barrel with a built-in flash suppressor and instead of a traditional stock, the MCX Rattler PCB has a pivoting contour brace (hence the “PCB” in the name). The PCB folds down for discretion and portability.

This is a lightweight alternative to a rifle that lets you use a very short barrel, giving you a very compact overall package that can be stored easily, and is a cinch to maneuver with indoors. The short barrel also makes it a near-perfect suppressor host.

Shooting the Rattle PCB is a dream too, with the excellent SIG Enhanced trigger making rapid and accurate strings of fire nice and easy. We had no problems hitting steel at 100 yards, or with putting super rapid hits in the A-zone of paper targets at ten meters.

The gun is also extremely reliable, and we experienced no failures to feed, fire, or eject of any kind while we had it in our hands for testing.

Key Specs

• Weight: 5.1 pounds
• Barrel Length: 5.5”
• Overall Length: 23”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
• Operating System: Gas piston

Take Away

The Rattler PCB is a real winner for those who want an AR-15 pistol rather than a rifle and is a great choice for self-defense, or for the range. You could even turn this little guy into a backcountry hunting or survival rifle for hunting in dense brush at close ranges.

Hog hunters who like to stalk through the undergrowth, this is a good one to take a look at. And if you just want a compact truck gun, this will kick ass in that role too.

Its main purpose though is for defense. This is a great gun to have tucked away in a go-bag, secreted away inside a vehicle, or in a quick-access safe by the bed to be ready to go in case something goes bump in the night and you might need to bump back.

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9. Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 P 300 Blackout

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Finally, we have another “pistol” in the technical sense, but it’s still the same basic AR-15 design, this time from Daniel Defense. The DDM4 V7 is designed primarily with military and police customers in mind, but civilians love it too.

This is one of the best performing guns on this list, and it has literally never had a failure to cycle in our testing.

It’s also very accurate, even out of the short 10.3-inch chrome-moly vadium steel barrel. The barrel is cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined, and has a mil-spec heavy phosphate coating to keep it safe from the elements.

That barrel is also threaded from the factory, making this a great option for a suppressor host, especially if you’re looking for something to use for home defense that won’t blow out your eardrums.

Like all the pistols on this list, it comes with a brace, but this time we get the excellent SBA3 pistol brace. This brace is more or less the industry standard, and for good reason. It’s 5-way adjustable and very comfortable to use.

Beyond that, you get all of the great features of the DDM4 series, including quick-detach points to mount a sling to as well as Daniel Defense’s flash hider/muzzle brake combo. 

The handguard is a pistol-length M-LOK arrangement so you slap whatever lights, lasers, handstops, coffeemakers, and what have you that you could possibly want.

Key Specs

• Weight: 5.31 pounds
• Barrel Length: 10.3”
• Overall Length: 28 ⅝”
• Accessory Rail: Picatinny, M-LOK
• Operating System: Direct impingement

Take Away

The Daniel Defense DDM4 is a phenomenal series of firearms and the V7 P in .300 Blackout is no exception. It has a name that was clearly distilled from a can of alphabet soup, but the heart and soul of this rifle is a strong military design that works great for regular civilians too.

Things to Consider When Buying a .300 Blackout Rifle

There are a few things to keep in mind when buying a .300 Blackout rifle. Let’s talk about the most important ones.

Intended Purpose

First and foremost, you need to think about what your intended purpose for the rifle is going to be.

Are you going to be running a suppressor? Do you want to get an SBR or pistol so you have something short and compact for home defense? Or are you going to be hunting hogs and want to go for the longest barrel you can get to get the most velocity possible?

This is something that only you can decide, and at the end of the day, this should be your biggest deciding factor. There’s a .300 BLK rifle for just about every possible need, so you should be sure to find something that works for your overall purpose.

If you’re just going to be hunting with this, do you really need a $1500+ AR-15? Probably not, unless you’re actually trying to bag 30 to 50 feral hogs.

That said, if you want a high-end AR-15 for hunting with .300 Blackout, go for it. Just know that there’s going to be diminishing returns over something like the Howa bolt-action up above.

Finally, if you’re looking for a home-defense or suppressed-shooting option, we strongly recommend going with a bullpup or AR-15 pistol. The “pistol” format guns get the most out of the capabilities of the .300 BLK and make for excellent self-defense options in close-range situations.

Performance

You also need to keep in mind all the usual factors that impact a rifle’s performance. The trigger and the barrel are going to be the two biggest factors dictating your accuracy, and then the general quality of the machining will dictate your reliability.

It seems like just about every fly-by-night AR-15 manufacturer makes a .300 Blackout rifle these days, so some of what’s out there is going to be poorly-machined crap that won’t run through a full-mag without a stoppage.

In general, go with a name you know, or that you see on this list and you’ll probably be okay, but if you see some no-name AR-15 at your local gun store with a quarter-inch of light showing between the upper and lower receiver, maybe leave that one on the shelf.

Barrel Length

Barrel length is pretty important with a .300 Blackout. The round is designed to burn all of its available power in a short, 9” barrel, so you don’t need the full 16” barrel most standard AR-15s come with. 

This makes an AR-15 pistol a great option for .300 BLK, and while it’s not quite a rifle legally speaking, you get most of the same functionality, with the added benefit of having a nice short weapon that you can put a suppressor on and still have an overall length similar to a standard AR with a 16” barrel.

For home defense, these short-barreled options really make a lot more sense.

On the other hand, if you’re going to be hunting, particularly in fairly open areas like you’ll find out in the Western US, then the longer barrel makes sense to give the chunky .300 BLK round a little more velocity on its way to the target.

Remember, .300 BLK burns all of its powder in about a 9” barrel, so anything over that is really going to be of limited benefit at the end of the day. And if you’re adding a suppressor to your gun, you’ll definitely want that shorter barrel to keep your gun from being overly cumbersome. 

Upgrades and Accessories

Finally, you’ll want to consider the upgrades and accessories you can take advantage of with your rifle.

Most .300 BLK rifles are going to be built on an AR-15 platform, which means the sky is the limit as far as customization goes. If you go with the bolt-action options, the bullpups, or even another semi-auto like the Mini-14, you’re going to have fewer options when it comes to tweaking things.

That said, if you’re looking for something you can just slap an optic on and have it be ready to go out of the box, this isn’t really an issue. On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes to fiddle and improve things here and there, maybe go with one of the AR-15-based options.

FAQ’s

How far will a 300 Blackout shoot accurately?

.300 Blackout is a mid-range round and performs best under about 200 yards. This is because 300 Blackout has a big, heavy bullet. Plus, most 300 Blackout rounds are subsonic, which doesn’t help the range. 

If you’re looking for a round that will work for long-range, check out the 15 Best Long Range Rifles instead. You could also check out our list of the best .30-06 rifles if you’re looking for something in .30 caliber that you can really reach out and touch something with.

Now, does that mean you can’t hit paper or steel at several hundred yards? Of course not. But you’re going to be fighting wind drift and drop due to gravity/air resistance roughly twice as much as you would with something like .308. 

Who makes the most accurate 300 Blackout barrel?

The two best-performing, accuracy-focused barrel makers are Proof Research and Carbon Six. These are manufacturers that make precision, carbon fiber-wrapped barrels that will stand up to long strings of fire that build a lot of heat.

These barrels are designed for precision work, and though they’re a little on the pricey side, they’ll give you the absolute best possible accuracy out of your .300 Blackout. 

Final Verdict

.300 Blackout is a great cartridge and there are a lot of great rifles out there chambered for it. Whether you’re looking for something for home defense, slaying the occasional wild boar, or just having fun with a suppressor at the range, there’s a .300 Blackout rifle for you.

Our overall pick is still the Aero Precision M4E1 Complete, but any of the rifles (or “pistols”) will serve you well and give you a great bang for your buck. 

All in all, .300 BLK is a great cartridge that deserves a great rifle, and you should now know everything you need to know in order to pick the very best one to meet your needs.