There are people who are fueling their flamethrowers as you read this. The title alone will get their ire chain on the big sprocket and they’re reading to burn anyone on the other side of this discussion to the ground. I have to admit, I have deeply held opinions myself. But when it comes to the firearms industry, there don’t seem to be as many absolutes as you’d think other than safety measures. There used to be plenty of black and white, but through industry innovation, continual sidestepping of law, codification, or ignorant rule, and the desire for niche performance, we have plenty of grey areas today.
When I was pitched the idea of writing about the 300 Blackout in comparison to the 5.56NATO, I assumed it would be a walk in the park. I’ve built countless weapons for customers, my corporate collection, and my personal collection in both. I’ve used both of these chamberings for everything from target shooting, training, and practice, to home defense, hunting, and carry. Why would writing a series of articles be a problem? Well, as I found out, making a choice of one over the other isn’t as simple as you’d think.
We should start at the beginning, or a brief history, of both in order to grasp their originally intended uses. After all, I learned long ago in church that the most vital thing to seek in scripture is context. If you don’t have the context of the subject matter, you’re in real trouble.
