The Success of Open Standards - 300 AAC Blackout vs 300 Whisper

For those that spend a lot of time paying attention to developments in firearms technology, and have done so for any length of time, it's always interesting when new cartridges come out. What is more interesting is when these new cartridges become run-away successes. Such is the case of the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge.

While an in-depth discussion of the history of the 300 BLK as it's known officially is splattered all over the web, there is at least one point that gets completely lost: what about 300 Whisper?

If you don't know, 300 Whisper is the brain child of JD Jones of SSK Industries fame, arguably one of the most prolific and interesting cartridge designers of late. JDJ (his initials, but also a common suffix to cartridges he's created) has necked up/down just about every cartridge in regular commerce, his cartridges cover everything from .20" caliber through .950" caliber.

With that kind of track record, why is there are 300 BLK?

To draw attention the relevant history of the 300 BLK, Freedom Group went on a buying spree not too long ago, buying Remington, Mossberg, Barnes, AAC, Para, Bushmaster, DPMS and a few dozen others. They are a manufacturing conglomerate the firearms industry barely recognizes outside military circles. Why exactly they put development dollars into developing a new cartridge I can only guess, but AAC being a principle part of the development and having suppressors as a principle product, the 300 BLK was a natural fit for such investment.

Freedom group did something interesting after spending all that money, they published standards for the cartridge and then proceeded to make arms and ammunition in quantities that made it affordable for everyone, in very stark contrast to the business practices of SSK Industries.

At this point, most commercial barrels that are chambered for the 300 BLK will also accept 300 Whisper, the reverse is likely not true, however, as 300 Whisper is a wildcat cartridge it has no official standing with SAAMI, and is not included in the "unsafe cartridge combinations list".

It will be interesting to see if there is any further development or standardization of 300 Whisper, but this is a key example of the fundamental tenets of business. That being: There are three ways to make money at manufacturing, you can make something cheaper than everyone else, you can make something better than everyone else, or you can make something no one else does. It seems under the circumstances Freedom Group has changed the paradigm somewhat, you can make something cheaper and better than someone else when everyone makes it!