I've been tossing around the idea of just canceling my 16" Vanguard order and just using the $2400 from that to also order the 300BlackOut Compressor. My only concern is ammo. I have always stuck to standard ammo sizes and am VERY stocked up on 5.56, 5.45,7.62,9mm, and 45ACP because of that. All of these sizes are readily available, and sizes like 7.62 and 5.45 are crazy cheap since they are Russian. The 300 Blackout does interest me, but is that looking like a round that will actually stick around as well as prices drop to at least that of 5.56? Someone who works at ST perhaps knows this kind of information better than I? Thanks for any help.

I will start by saying that this is my personal opinion, just so that it is clear.

Nobody ever knows if a new caliber will last. I always use 6.8SPC as the example. When the military was reviewing it, everyone wanted it. After it got canned in favor of the 5.56 SOST round, companies pulled back from wanting to do it. They expected people wouldn't want a round that wasn't being massed produced for the military and wouldn't pay the higher premium associated with lower production runs.

This caused supply of ammunition for the round to shrink and only high priced names jumped on it - like Black Hills and Silver State. Then Remington shrank their capacity for it and raised their published prices. For its price, people started going to .308 instead.

Now we have 300AAC, which is essentially a blending of the AR-15 and AR-10 at its simplest and lowest cost to produce - which should make it very attractive to consumers from a cost to own or cost to convert stand point. The big question still looming is whether the ammunition market will ha e a high adoption rate for the caliber in order to reach its highest potential.

A caliber is only useful as long as it is being widely made. The 300AAC is the easiest one-off cartridge to make because it is a 5.56 case necked out for a 7.62 bullet. One thing that I think tarnished this is that one of the first producers of the round, after Remington, literally pulled apart 5.56 rounds to remake them into 300AAC. The performance and reliability was crap compared to fresh factory Remington ammo.

I will say this. Wolf is not a very loved company, but the factories they have make their ammo are collectively the biggest makers of ammo in the world. They put LCAAP to shame in terms of volume. If Wolf offers a particular cartridge, then it has truly "arrived" and will survive the long haul.

For 300AAC is to make it in the market, it needs more than a lot of buzz. It needs ammo makers to take the chance and throw weight behind it... not just test the waters and deliver at high prices that do not come close to competing with 5.56. After all, this was developed for the AR platform and the AR buyer judges value in comparison to M193.

Also, more companies will start buying additional .308 AR barrels to make 300AAC rifles if the ammo is plentiful, and priced attractively enough that consumers begin gobbling it hand over fist.

The other step is that once that happens, more companies means more innovation and improvements to the platform or round over time. Do you see Magpul making 6.8, 5.45, or 300AAC Pmags yet?

Let's just say that any evolved caliber could become a force to reckon with in the market if you online retailers able to sell cases of the ammo at 250$/1000 for Wolf MC or 350$/1000 for PMC Bronze. At just 50$ more per 1000, for a harder hitting round that is massively produced, I think every civilian owner, and maybe even a number of LEA's, would spend to upgrade or replace some of their 5.56 AR's.

It all starts with fuel. Ammo is the fuel of weapons. And it requires fuel to make any drive.

So to recap, the cycle of life for a successful cartridge starts with the ammo makers committing to it. More than wild media hoopla and more than rifle makers saying they will offer to build them.

the uppers the uppers/handgurds, when can we see the light of the end of this rifle build!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! getting anxious about it

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spike's rules

Thanks for your response, Mike. That was as honest an answer that could be provided given what you've been told from your previous and most recent communication when checking the status of your own order. I thought it best to inquire on this forum so as to not broache the policy that JaxChris announced in Feb. Besides, it's understandable how a direct call or email to them would really be unproductive at this juncture anyway. I hope you take possession soon and look forward to seeing you demo full auto once you do.

IMO, Spikes is pretty smart to choose to delay order fulfillment with the uppers in lieu of lowering the quality of their spec's. On close observation, the upper and lower are seamless and Seekins would not ship Spike product that is obviously out of spec, so this is a huge credit to Spikes adherence to specification tolerances.

I'm sure it was a tough, but otherwise the right decision to make.

Made up my mind......I'm gonna call in a month or so, and go ahead and order the AACBlackout Compressor as well. With this long of a wait, I might as well get the matching set right?

I would hate to let go of the Vanguard to offset the 300 Compressor because it serves an entirely different mission profile, so personally I really like the way you're going with this. Congratulations on you're decision and it certainly was not one made in haste as you obviously were thoughtful about it for some time.

Now if we can only get these to ship earlier than we expect, we may have them by 1st the quarter 2013!

There is no way at all we will have them first quater. Even if they were to be done in July, which they won't, our in state dealers wouldn't get them until atleast August; maybe even September. After that, the current wait time is roughly 7-8 months for forms mailed today, so that would be April or May of 2013. Sucks, but it is what it is.

I have an ST Compressor on (back)order. It looks like I'll have plenty of time to prepare before receiving my rifle. So...

Is there any literature on care/maintenance or User's/Armorer's Manual available from Spike's?

I am particularly interested in information about how and when to clean the suppressor. I have heard that .308 ammo is hot enough to burn off most residue, making suppressor cleaning a non-issue. I imagine this is not the case for 300 BLK, especially with subsonic ammo. What's the preferred maintenance and schedule?

Thanks.

Suppressor is sealed, factory service only. You will be able to achieve a high round count without issue. If you ever have a problem or your performance drops, you can send it into ST and the internals will be replaced under warranty.

What is the twist rate of both the 5.56 version, and the 300 Blackout version?

Both calibers use 1:8 twist on the Compressor.

Here's one for JaxChris:

In 2012 Jan, I fell in love with this unique and well regarded/reviewed SBR and finally made up my mind to purchase the 300 version on 30 April via an order through my local FFL in Monroe. But I have always viewed (trust me when I say viewed a lot!), referenced and ultimately based my decision to make my purchase for this fine piece of craftmanship from this very same forum from which this post is made. It is an absolutely amazing development and I'm sure all that were involved with R&D are deservedly proud of this accomplishment.

My question is:

What is different from Tom's opening statement on the first page of this forum regarding specs/what is included with the
Compessor from what I can expect to receive with my order? I understand there will not be a stippled magazine. Is there any deviation from the specs/included list below?

ST Compressor specs:
-- 25.5 inch overall length -- 7.5 lbs with unloaded PMAG magazine

Features of the ST Compressor upper include the following:

-- ST Billet upper receiver -- 8.1" Lothar Walther Barrel *Fluted with Nickel Boron extension* -- ST 9" BAR rail with 5 QD attachment points -- Nickel Boron bolt carrier group with Ion-bond gas rings -- 303 stainless low profile gas block pinned to barrel. Gas block is fluted with intergrated OPS/AE collar. Melonite finish (inside and out) -- Melonited gas tube (inside and out) -- BCM Mod 4 charging handle -- Smith Vortex flash hider (Threaded for OPS/AE suppressors) -- Allen Engineering M4-ST Suppressor -- Troy Back up iron sights (BUIS) -- Magpul AFG II *Custom Stippled*

Features of the ST Compressor lower include the following:

-- ST Billet lower receiver with integral, intergrated trigger guard and Ambidextrous bolt release -- ST Battle trigger group -- KNS Gen II Mod I Anti-Rotation pins -- ST Billet magazine catch button -- ST Ambidextrous modular safety (NiB coated drum and detent) -- Norgon Ambidextrous magazine release -- Spike's T2 Buffer system -- 17-7 recoil spring -- Magpul ASAP sling attachment -- Magpul MOE grip *Custom Stippled* -- Magpul Enhanced butt pad -- Magpul CTR Stock with 2 QD attachment points

Other accessories included with every ST Compressor include the following:

-- Magpul PMAG 30rd magazine -- Magpul Multi-Mission MS3 sling -- ST 36" Soft Modular rifle case with Spike's patch

Prices for the ST Compressor:

-- Retail $2,600 -- LEO $2,470 -- Department purchase *please call*

Original post is actually very old and some things changed since then. Updates are in Bold.

Just curious. Any updates on this gun?

I have not heard any updates on the upper receivers.