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
| Best Overall | Hornady Subsonic 190 Grain Sub-X |
|---|---|
| Best for Hunting | Nosler 220 Grain Ballistic Tip |
| Budget-Friendly | Winchester Power-Point 200 Grain JHP |
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
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
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted brand | A little too costly for plinking |
| Designed for optimal subsonic performance | |
| Reliable | |
| Accurate | |
| Low recoil |
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
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Ballistic Tip
- Bullet Weight: 220 grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,020 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 508 ft-lbs
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted brand | Expensive |
| Designed for hunting | |
| High-quality components | |
| Accurate |
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.
Continue reading Best 300 Blackout Subsonic Ammo: Quiet Rounds To Meet All Your Low-Velocity Needs on Ammo.com