It is no secret that I am a M1 Carbine fan, going back to my be a kid in the 19502, hearing my dad talking about carrying one on Iwo Jima, and subsequently carrying one my self as a law enforcement patrol carbine. This fondness for M1 Carbines evolved into a fondness for Mini-14 (which are essentially a 5.56 M1 Carbine on steroids).
Well, enter the 300 Blackout, a 5.56 case, shortened and neck out for a spire point 110/125 grain bullet at 2400/2200 fps... (500 fps more than the 30 Carbine). The 125 grain bullet 300 BLK is a ballistic twin to the 8mm Kurz (7.92x33) used in the STG44 Sturm Gewehr. Sometimes new is really another look at something old...
I have alway maintained that the Mini-14 was a natural development of the M1 Carbine idea, but now Mini-14s available in 300 BLK, and a step beyond that. I picked up a 2020 production Mini-14, Blue steel and wood stock, in 300 BLK. It uses the same 5.56 magazines as the 5.56 Mini.
My Carbine:
My Carbine with a Viagra stiffy! IN it poly stock, it was 6.5 lbs, but it is about 6.75 lbs in the wood set.