Sig Sauer 300 Blackout Spear LT vs Rattler vs Canebrake Comparison
3rd Oct 2023
Sig Sauer has been producing a lot of really great options for the 300 Blackout community. Here we are comparing 3 different models. The Spear LT, the Rattler, and the Canebrake.
They share many similarities. The twist rate is 1:5 for all three options, but the Spear LT has a 9" barrel and the Rattler and Canebrake have 5.5" Barrels. The Canebrake and Rattler are both actually physically the same gun with different hand guards. The Canebrake comes with an "SD" hand guard meant to shroud a suppressor. It is designed to be shot suppressed only, and it comes with an inert training device "faux suppressor" place holder that can be used until your suppressor becomes available.
The Rattler and Spear LT are designed with narrower hand guards that are shorter than the barrel, allowing the gun to be shot suppressed or unsuppressed.
The 9" barrel creates a little more bullet velocity than the 5.5" barrel can, which could help with bullet drop for shots at the far end of the round's capability window.
Sig introduced a really nice feature on the 9" Spear LT with the ambidextrous bolt catch and release. It takes a little getting used to but once I got used to it, I started to miss it when I shot guns without it.
Spear LT
9" barrel and hand guard. Can be shot suppressed or unsuppressed with a mostly extended support arm.
Rattler
The most compact of the 3. 5.5" hand guard and barrel makes it the smallest to conceal in a bag when folded.
Canebrake
Similar to Rattler, but with a hard guard that allows you to extend your support arm without lengthening the gun itself overall.
Making the decision
Do you ever want to shoot it unsuppressed?
If shooting unsuppressed is not important to you and the gun is going to only be shot in suppressed configuration then I recommend the Canebrake as it can be the shortest in suppressed configuration without compromising ergonomics by forcing your support hand to be too far back.
If unsuppressed shooting is an important criteria, then I would get the Spear LT. That way you can have comfortable support arm hand placement even while shooting without a suppressor.
Does it need to fit in a backpack or small space?
If concealability is a top priority, then I would get the Rattler as it can be the smallest of the 3 when folded without a suppressor. I will note that you can turn a rattler into a Canebrake if you can get your hands on a Canebrake hand guard. The hand guards swap without any tools by just popping out the front takedown pin and sliding the handguard off.
Clay's personal opinion
I love my Canebrake but I had to get rid of the grip immediately. The Canebrake and the Rattler both come with this unusual grip with a short back strap that just doesn't feel right in my hand (you can see them below if you scroll down). So I upgrade that first. The Canebrake handguard is oversized to allow for the suppressor to fit inside, and that takes some getting used to. It feels kind of like you are pointing a beer can. But being able to get your support arm out there without having to make the gun longer is really nice.
The concealability of the Rattler is really cool. I would get the Rattler over the Canebrake if the Canebrake wouldn't fit in the bag or pack I was hoping to carry it in.
The Spear LT probably feels the best in the hand out of all 3. The hand guard feels the most like what your hand would expect. You get good arm placement for controlability even when unsuppressed. If overall size while suppressed is not a concern, I feel the Spear LT is the most comfortable and controllable to shoot. And even though it is not at all a necessary feature, i've grown quite fond of the ambidextrous bolt catch/release.
| - | Spear LT | Rattler | Canebrake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber | 300 Blackout | 300 Blackout | 300 Blackout |
| Barrel Length | 9" | 5.5" | 5.5" |
| Twist Rate | 1:5 | 1:5 | 1:5 |
| Adjustable Gas Block | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ambidextrous Bolt Catch/Release | Yes | No | No |
