Here we check out the latest cartridge announced by Hornady, 338 ARC, a round specifically designed to deliver powerful subsonic performance.
.300 Blackout has grown increasingly popular in recent years, but it has a new competitor on the block to contend with—Hornady’s 338 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). Initially being offered in two loads, 338 ARC looks like it will have a lot of potential benefits over .300 BLK.
Hornady says that the new subsonic 338 ARC load is capable of delivering more than 1.5 times more energy than subsonic .300 BLK loads, and due to being loaded to more consistent pressures, it should ensure reliable cycling with both supersonic and subsonic loads without the need for adjusting your gas system (both when shooting suppressed and unsuppressed). Hornady is initially offering 338 ARC in its Subsonic line featuring a 307-grain SUB-X bullet as well as in its BLACK line featuring a 175-grain HP Match bullet. The round is compatible with AR-15s and micro-action bolt guns, and several prominent barrel manufacturers such as Faxon and Aero Precision will be offering barrels for it.
338 ARC is slated to be released in 2025, but that’s not all that Hornady recently announced. The company’s new product lineup for next year also includes Backcountry Defense handgun ammo, a 109-gr ELDM load of Hornady 6 GT, a High Speed 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer, new bullet options for reloaders and more.
To see all of Hornady’s new products for 2025, visit hornady.com.
Raise Your Ammo IQ:
Beyond The 6.5 Creedmoor: The Other 6.5 Cartridges
The Lonesome Story Of The Long-Lost 8mm
Why The .300 H&H Magnum Still Endures
.350 Legend Vs .450 Bushmaster: Does One Win Out For Hunting?
Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack
Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.
Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.
I don’t know what “more than one 1.5 times more energy” actually means, but it implies to me 150% more energy and I believe this new cartridge actually produces about 50% more energy than 300 BLK (because the subsonic velocity is similar and the bullet weight is about 300 grains compared to about 200 grains.