Ruger American in 300 Blackout

[NoZombies]

I've got one of these on the way to me, Anyone have any advice, favorite subsonic loads etc?

I've got the Lee BLK bullet mold, along with a number of other .30 cal molds from 90-190 grains.

[timspawn]

I am waiting on one too. Mine won't be here until next week.

[BABore]

I've had one for about a month. They have the long, SAAMI spec chamber. I've only been working on sub loads so far. I have a 0.3025 nose 311284 that I'm using with a GC. It engrave firmly with the GC just below the neck. Tried BE, 231, Unique, and AA #5 with the later giving the best groups. They have been running 1/2 -3/4 inches for 5 shots at 50 yards. 100 yard groups have been 1 1/2 inches. This is my 4th RAR and they have all been similar in how they break in. Groups are good to outstanding right out of the box, but 200 shots or a bit of fire lapping makes them more consistent.

[Bzcraig]

If you're talking about the Ranch model I have one in 223 on its way for my wife so I'll be interested in the overall opinion of the rifle.

[2wheelDuke]

I'd like to play around with one of those. I really need to get a trust set up and buy a can already.

[hporter]

BaBore - Would you mind sharing your load for the 311284?

I have been searching through all the threads on this forum and have been collecting load data. I picked up my 300 BO RAR last month and I am interested in subs too. Most sub loads I have run across have been for the Lee and NOE heavies and trying to get them to run through an AR upper.

[NoZombies]

Thanks Guys, especially BABore!

I've got a couple of cans I can use on the rifle while waiting on the one I bought the rifle for (isn't that how everything goes?) including a 9mm can that I can take apart and check for lead buildup. I'm suspecting that with the longer barrel, it won't be too bad.

I'll start working up some experimental loads with QL and see if I can't find low exit pressure loads in the velocity range that I want.

[BABore]

I used reformed and annealed LC cases from Grumpa. Cases were primed with CCI 500 pistol primers. I used QL to look for a load between 1,000 and 1,100 fps using a few favorite pistol powders that I had on hand. I spread the choices from very fast (Bullseye) to Unique. 5.5 grains of AA #5 was the best of the powders tried. While very similar to Unique in speed, #5 came in 1st and a plus is it meters way better. I used 50/50, WW-Pb alloy, air cooled for the 311284's. This bullet was from a mold I made in a past endeavor. It weighed 235 grains.

I have also tried some BRP 30 Silhoutte bullets which weighed 175 grain. While they touch nothing when chambered, they shot just as good as the 311284. I used 6.5 grains of AA #5.

[hporter]

BABore,

Thank you for sharing your load. I have a few NOE molds from recent runs that are in that weight range, and needed a starting point.

What is the advantage of using the pistol primers? I tried something similar with my 45-70 Sharps with BP loads as an experiment. Didn't see any improvements in accuracy, but when I then tried them in my original Trapdoor, it sent the firing pin straight through the pistol primers!

Harold

[BABore]

I've had good luck with them in small capacity case that are relatively low pressure as the BO is when loaded subsonic in a bolt gun. If I ever get around to loading HV loads, I will likely use Rem. 7 1/2 match primers. They work very well in the 357 Max which has a similar capacity.

[NoZombies]

The rifle arrived. It looks very well made, the bolt feels good, the trigger is nice, and everything seems to be up to muster.

I won't get to shoot it for a bit, but I'm hoping when I do it lives up to expectations.

This is literally the first brand new gun I've bought in a number of years.

[timspawn]

Mine came in Friday. I have high hopes too.

[NoZombies]

Tim, I suspect you'll get to shoot yours before I have time to try mine, I look forward to hearing how you fare.

[Four Fingers of Death]

They are a magic rifle, I have a 223 Compact and it shoots the pants off my Tikka T3 Hunter at less than half the price.