I'm sorry but I feel like you're comparing apples to oranges here.

 

What is your intended use, Joe? Range toy? Ultra maneuverable deer slayer? Suppressor host?

What distances do you want to use it for?

With .45 being a blowback operated gun (in an AR platform), barrel length is more important for reliable operation.

 

.300 wins in all categories in an SBR/AR platform IMO. Only advantage .45acp may have is slightly lower cost of ammo, but it's not that much anymore. For a reloader it's moot.

Also, how much does it cost to build a .45 AR? A lot more than a 300blk

 

300blk dominates all angles unless you don't reload....

 

What is your intended use, Joe? Range toy? Ultra maneuverable deer slayer? Suppressor host?

What distances do you want to use it for?

With .45 being a blowback operated gun (in an AR platform), barrel length is more important for reliable operation.

Range toy, badass gun for gunporn pics, SHTF. Suppressor host in either caliber as neither appeals to me but for the potential for suppression.

100 yards would be the max distance I'm thinking. Most likely the bulk of the shooting would be much closer than that, say 25 yards and in.

I thought I had read about some .45 ACP setups using gas impingement. But if that's not possible, then good point about barrel length. slacker was telling me his goes trans/super in a 6" barrel.

.300 wins in all categories in an SBR/AR platform IMO. Only advantage .45acp may have is slightly lower cost of ammo, but it's not that much anymore. For a reloader it's moot.

Also, how much does it cost to build a .45 AR? A lot more than a 300blk

Is factory .45ACP only slightly cheaper than 300? I thought it was less than half the cost. The steep price of 300BLK ammo is the only reason I'm looking at .45ACP. Agreed that cost difference is negligible for a reloader, but that ain't me.

Yep, a .45 AR is pricey - even more pricey than a 9mm AR I would imagine given that the caliber specific AR parts are probably fabricated in smaller quantities for .45 than for 9mm. And even after spending all the money, it seems you're still not assured the same level of reliability as you'll have with a quality 300BLK setup.

300blk dominates all angles unless you don't reload....

Hmmm. Seems I better do the math on ammo cost difference vs build cost difference, including price of mags (I have lots of 5.56 mags, but none of the mags used in typical AR-45 setups).

 

I look at this from a different angle.

If you're just shooting paper in matches at less than 100 yds, might as well get the 9mm AR and save a bunch on ammo vs the less-efficient .45 ACP round (that is to say, less efficient in terms of cost, not trying to start THAT argument again).

If you're going to go shoot deer, pigs, or defend your house, or shoot > 100 yards then the 300blk wins because it's an actual rifle cartridge (with associated energy and ballistic benefits), and is "almost" the same as the 5.56mm in terms of how the rifle is set up. (bigger hole, of course, but same BCG, same mags, etc.)

By the way - with 230gr ball, I don't know if you have to ever worry about a .45ACP round going supersonic, even in a long barrel....

Ammo cost today on SGAmmo.com:
.45 ACP ball (Magtech): $0.43/round
300 blk - 1.24/rd
9mm (Magtech): $0.34/rd
5.56 = $0.42/rd (Hey, that's the same as .45ACP...)

 

I look at this from a different angle.

If you're just shooting paper in matches at less than 100 yds, might as well get the 9mm AR and save a bunch on ammo vs the less-efficient .45 ACP round (that is to say, less efficient in terms of cost, not trying to start THAT argument again).

If you're going to go shoot deer, pigs, or defend your house, or shoot > 100 yards then the 300blk wins because it's an actual rifle cartridge (with associated energy and ballistic benefits), and is "almost" the same as the 5.56mm in terms of how the rifle is set up. (bigger hole, of course, but same BCG, same mags, etc.)

By the way - with 230gr ball, I don't know if you have to ever worry about a .45ACP round going supersonic, even in a long barrel....

Ammo cost today on SGAmmo.com:
.45 ACP ball (Magtech): $0.43/round
300 blk - 1.24/rd
9mm (Magtech): $0.34/rd
5.56 = $0.42/rd (Hey, that's the same as .45ACP...)

My interest in either .45 or 300 is based on the potential for effective suppression; supersonic calibers, while they have their advantages, can only be suppressed so much.

Thanks for the cost comparison - that's about what I'd figured, i.e., .45ACP is less than half the price of 300BLK. If they were anywhere near the same price, this would be a no-brainer in favor of 300BLK.

 

If you buy a reloading press the ammo cost point is moot. Seems like an easy decision.
Panty dropping plated 45acp rds are in stock at lucky13. Git ya sum.

 

It's right at twice the cost I suppose if you buy factory ammo. Neither is a cheap plinker. Period. Both are easy to reload. Get a cheapo press setup like mine. It pays for itself in the 1st few hundred rounds literally...

 

It's right at twice the cost I suppose if you buy factory ammo. Neither is a cheap plinker. Period. Both are easy to reload. Get a cheapo press setup like mine. It pays for itself in the 1st few hundred rounds literally...

Yeah, I may have to suck it up at some point - and if I do, 300BLK is the no-brainer choice. Gah. Reloading setups require so many friggin parts and bins.

 

Not really. You can easily reload in a small corner. You don't need to get fancy and complicated to reload. A single stage press, a couple of potato salad containers and a table will get you started. Mount the press to a wood base and you can then clamp it to the table when ready. Get a rubbermaid tub to keep it in and you are all set.

 

Not really. You can easily reload in a small corner. You don't need to get fancy and complicated to reload. A single stage press, a couple of potato salad containers and a table will get you started. Mount the press to a wood base and you can then clamp it to the table when ready. Get a rubbermaid tub to keep it in and you are all set.

Hmmm. I have a Black & Decker Workmate I could use as a bench. So I could mount the press to a base and clamp it to the Workmate.

But then you've got the tumbler and media. I just remember when I bought a full Lee classic turret press setup that it was a ton of parts along with the tumbler, and that doesn't count all the bins for components (multiplied by # of calibers). Just seems like a lot to haul out and put away every time you want to reload a couple of hundred rounds.

Next time I'm at Phil's, I'll have to take a closer look at his setup - seemed pretty compact. I just know that if setup and takedown/put away is a pain, I'll never motivate to do small runs and will just wait for a big block of time to do a massive run, which may or may not materialize.

 

My interest in either .45 or 300 is based on the potential for effective suppression; supersonic calibers, while they have their advantages, can only be suppressed so much.

Thanks for the cost comparison - that's about what I'd figured, i.e., .45ACP is less than half the price of 300BLK. If they were anywhere near the same price, this would be a no-brainer in favor of 300BLK.

Right- that's what 147gr 9mm is for, right? Subsonic... I'm pretty sure, though I'm not a suppressor guy.

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You don't need a tumbler to start. Unless your brass is nasty. If it is you have enough friends who may take pity on you.

A small digital scale and a pair of caliphers don't take much space.

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Right- that's what 147gr 9mm is for, right? Subsonic... I'm pretty sure, though I'm not a suppressor guy.

Good point. Though I think typical commercial 147gr 9mm may be getting in that transsonic area between subsonic and supersonic.

I think ultimately I need to suck it up and reload, and that makes the caliber choice really easy - 300blk.

 

You don't need a tumbler to start. Unless your brass is nasty. If it is you have enough friends who may take pity on you.

This apartment dweller will gladly accept the pity of you homeowning reloaders.

A small digital scale and a pair of caliphers don't take much space.

True. And I already have a set of Harbor Freight calipers (so useful they are!).

 

When I was in college (lo those many, many years ago) I had a tumbler in the apartment. We kept it one of those big storage tubs. (like a larger version of this http://www.officedepot.com/a/produc...e=c&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=28889959796&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=40292034836)

Ran it in there too, with the lid on, to keep the noise and dust down. Worked OK.

 

Joe, I use a wet tumbler/SS system. It's very compact and works fast. You could keep it under a cabinet in your kitchen. My reloading gear fits in two milk crates, a big ammo can, and that shooters box you saw. I could shrink it a good but too if I organized a bit better and didn't have a bunch of extra random powders for experimenting.

My press kit, a set of dies and the misc stuff to round it out was under $200. That's 200rds of 300blk factory. I roll my cast subs for .05 each. Do the math. Paid for the 1st few times I shot even with the Handi Rifle...

Each new caliber cost you another $50 max. If you do 9mm, again in 200rds you're flush.


The BIG consideration is time. I know you and how you value yours. You may want to spend a bit more and get more high speed setup. You'll likely only be making about 3-4 different rounds, maybe just 2. A little bigger press, but the rest is the same gear.

 

Joe, I use a wet tumbler/SS system. It's very compact and works fast. You could keep it under a cabinet in your kitchen. My reloading gear fits in two milk crates, a big ammo can, and that shooters box you saw. I could shrink it a good but too if I organized a bit better and didn't have a bunch of extra random powders for experimenting.

My press kit, a set of dies and the misc stuff to round it out was under $200. That's 200rds of 300blk factory. I roll my cast subs for .05 each. Do the math. Paid for the 1st few times I shot even with the Handi Rifle...

Each new caliber cost you another $50 max. If you do 9mm, again in 200rds you're flush.

The BIG consideration is time. I know you and how you value yours. You may want to spend a bit more and get more high speed setup. You'll likely only be making about 3-4 different rounds, maybe just 2. A little bigger press, but the rest is the same gear.

Probably just 3 calibers - 9mm, 5.56 and 300. The fact that factory 9mm prices haven't returned to 'normal' like most of the other centerfire calibers have is another incentive to reload.

Definitely something to think about . . .

 

Good point. Though I think typical commercial 147gr 9mm may be getting in that transsonic area between subsonic and supersonic.

I think ultimately I need to suck it up and reload, and that makes the caliber choice really easy - 300blk.

Georgia Arms 147gr Subsonic 9mm works very well. No issues at all going supersonic. I've had similar thoughts as you on .300BLK and .45ACP. If I was shooting further I'd build a .300BLK but then I'd have to reload and I'm not interested in that except for shotgun shells where I shoot 1500/month.

 

I was under the impression that 300 blkout was for rifles only??

 

I was under the impression that 300 blkout was for rifles only??

Yeah; this thread is about .45ACP vs 300BLK in AR rifle platforms (or AR pistols with maybe the Sig brace).

 

Oooo, Thx @drypowder

 

If you reload and only concerned with subsonic only I'd consider 10mm. Can throw the heavy bullets and kind of in the middle as far as wound channel and penetration.