300 Blackout vs 5.56: Ballistics From Maker Tables

By Cole Harlan, EditorChecked Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standardsCorrections

Read this first

Test barrels differ. Hornady measured the 300 Blackout load from a 16 in barrel and the 5.56 load from a 20 in barrel, so these velocities are not like-for-like. This page shows no differences between the two loads. See barrel length vs velocity, the 300 Blackout page and the 5.56/.223 page.

Velocity (fps)

Hornady velocity in feet per second. 300 Blackout test barrel: 16 in; 5.56 NATO test barrel: 20 in. — means Hornady lists no value at that range.
Load (test barrel)	Muzzle	100 yd	200 yd	300 yd	400 yd	500 yd
Hornady 300 Blackout 110 gr V-MAX BLACK Test barrel: 16 in	2375	2094	1834	1597	—	—
Hornady 5.56 NATO 62 gr FMJ BLACK Test barrel: 20 in	3060	2714	2394	2095	1820	1571

Energy (ft-lb)

Hornady energy in foot-pounds. 300 Blackout test barrel: 16 in; 5.56 NATO test barrel: 20 in. — means Hornady lists no value at that range.
Load (test barrel)	Muzzle	100 yd	200 yd	300 yd	400 yd	500 yd
Hornady 300 Blackout 110 gr V-MAX BLACK Test barrel: 16 in	1378	1071	821	623	—	—
Hornady 5.56 NATO 62 gr FMJ BLACK Test barrel: 20 in	1289	1014	789	604	456	340

Trajectory (inches, 200 yd zero)

Zero: 200 yd (Hornady table: 0 at 200 yd). Negative numbers are below the line of sight.

Hornady trajectory in inches, zeroed at 200 yd. 300 Blackout test barrel: 16 in; 5.56 NATO test barrel: 20 in. — means Hornady lists no value at that range.
Load (test barrel)	Muzzle	100 yd	200 yd	300 yd	400 yd	500 yd
Hornady 300 Blackout 110 gr V-MAX BLACK Test barrel: 16 in	-1.5	3.2	0	-13.7	—	—
Hornady 5.56 NATO 62 gr FMJ BLACK Test barrel: 20 in	-1.5	1.6	0	-7.7	-23.4	-49.7

SAAMI maximum pressure

SAAMI Z299.4 maximum average pressure (MAP), transducer.
Cartridge	MAP (transducer)
300 AAC Blackout	55,000 psi
5.56 NATO	—

The Z299.4 Section I velocity and pressure table lists transducer pressure in psi/100; GunReleases multiplied by 100. Source: SAAMI Z299.4. For 5.56 and .223 see 5.56 vs .223.

More on these cartridges

Loads and maker figures: 300 Blackout ammo and 5.56 and .223 ammo.

Which to pick (on paper)

If you want to see how barrel length changes the numbers: Hornady’s 300 Blackout table uses a 16 in barrel and its 5.56 table a 20 in barrel, so start with the barrel length hub before comparing.
If you want data out to 500 yd: the 5.56 62 gr FMJ table runs to 500 yd; the 300 Blackout 110 gr table ends at 300 yd. Hornady 5.56 page.
If you want the 300 Blackout figures as published: 2375 fps and 1378 ft-lb at the muzzle from a 16 in barrel. Hornady 300 Blackout page.
If you want the 5.56 figures as published: 3060 fps and 1289 ft-lb at the muzzle from a 20 in barrel. Hornady 5.56 page.
If pressure is the question: SAAMI Z299.4 lists a 55,000 psi transducer MAP for 300 AAC Blackout. SAAMI Z299.4.

We have not range-tested these; facts below are from the makers.

Frequently asked questions

Can I compare 300 Blackout and 5.56 velocity from these tables?

Not like-for-like. Hornady measured the 300 Blackout load from a 16 in barrel and the 5.56 load from a 20 in barrel, so we show no differences between them.

Why does the 300 Blackout table stop at 300 yards?

Hornady's table for the 110 gr V-MAX BLACK lists 4 ranges, Muzzle to 300 yd. We show a dash at 400 and 500 yd rather than fill them in.

What is the SAAMI pressure for 300 AAC Blackout?

SAAMI Z299.4 lists a transducer MAP of 55,000 psi. The PDF prints 550 in psi/100; GunReleases multiplied by 100.

Where can I see how barrel length changes velocity?

See our barrel length vs velocity hub, with pages for 300 Blackout and 5.56/.223.

Sources

Last checked 2026-11-04.

300 Blackout vs 5.56 NATO: Velocity, Energy and Drop Compared