The 7.62×40 WT (Wilson Tactical) is here! When I asked my question yesterday about what gun you could have if you could only have one a fella named Troy commented on the Facebook Page that he wanted an AR in 7.62×40 WT, which I had never heard of.
Wait, WHAT was that?!
That’s right, I’m talking about another .30 cal round that’s been developed specifically for use in standard AR style platform rifle with capabilities of being supersonic with lightweight (110-120 grain) bullets and subsonic with the heavier bullets. Apparently just like the .300 Blackout this new “Project” from Wilson Combat has taken the dainty little (sorry if you’re offended) 5.56x45mm round originally created for use in the M16 rifle and still in widespread use today in and used in so many other platforms under the moniker of the .223 Remington and turned it into a legitimate 175-200 yard threat for man sized targets and medium sized game.
The 7.62×40 WT is made from standard AR brass with the case length trimmed down a bit then sized up/necked out in one fell swoop on the 7.62×40 WT resizing die. Unlike the .300 Whisper & .300 AAC Blackout the WT round was SUPPOSEDLY created with the intention of creating an AR round with a heavier bullet that would hit harder out at distance. Can someone remind me what the 6.8 SPC was for again?
Wikipedia claims a release date of 2011 for the 7.62×40 WT round, which means just like the .300 Blackout it came AFTER the .300 Whisper created by JD Jones in the early 1990s for primary use for a heavy bullet fired from single shot pistols like the Thompson Center Contender. The .300 Blackout was invented by Advanced Armament Corp. which was created with SUPPRESSION as a main purpose rather than an afterthought like the Wilson Tactical claims and had its SAAMI specs approved on January 17, 2011. This leads me to believe the 300 Blackout was primarily imagined in 2010 and the 7.62×40 WT came shortly after. All this is a bit speculative, but it seems suspicious that these were created in such close proximity. Then again it could just be a “chicken or the egg” type debate.
The full story about development of the 7.62×40 WT can be found on Wilson Combat’s website along with their tales of purpose and mucho pictures along with product links provided by Wilson themselves.
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6 Responses to .300 Whisper vs. .300 AAC Blackout vs. 7.62×40 WT
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FIND US HERE TOO!
Looks like I will have to try this out.
The only downside I see to this is the proprietary magazine. Otherwise, I’m intrigued too.
I know I’ll get a 300BLK barrel and I might get a 300WA barrel and 2-3 magazines as well. Probably all from Wilson, too.
If any modified(by you or anyone else) AR poly magazine or already made 7.62×40 mag is your idea of proprietary then yeah its a huge downside.
The 300 BLK or 300 AAC Blackout is the better of the rounds. People can argue the ballistics and such, but it comes down to two factors:
1. 300 BLK requires only one adjustment to a standard AR, a new barrel. Same mags, same lower, same everything… The best way to convert is to buy a new upper, but that isn’t mandatory.
2. Who is behind the 300 BLK… Advanced Armament Corp which is part of the largest ammo and AR production company in the world (The Freedom Group). With backing like this I would be willing to bet this round is here to stay, plus the per unit cost has continued and will continue to get more affordable.
I am 100% sold on the 300 BLK.
[...] If you’re into the .300 AAC Blackout round (or maybe the obscure 7.62×40 WT?), then you’re a fan of Wildcatting. So before you dismiss the topic as archaic and [...]
If any modified(by you or anyone else) AR poly magazine or already made 7.62×40 mag is your idea of proprietary then yeah its a huge downside.