All About 8.6 Blackout
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to be talking about
8.6 Blackout. This new cartridge has been increasing in popularity since its recent introduction to the market. Firearms and
ammunition offerings supporting the caliber are gradually showing up on the market as well as time goes by. Our goal here is to provide a brief overview of the cartridge while discussing some of its use cases and traits. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
What is 8.6 Blackout?
The
8.6 Blackout was developed by Q, LCC in 2022 and is the brainchild of Kevin Brittingham. The cartridge is optimized for use in short barrels, specifically those ranging from 9” to 12”. The round has often been described as the bigger brother to the
.300 Blackout as it is also designed with suppression in mind and is larger. Essentially, the round provides some of the key benefits and features of the
.300 Blackout in full-size rifle cartridge form. The cartridge utilizes a modified
6.5 Creedmoor case with a .338 projectile. The result is a high degree of kinetic energy transfer and improved ballistic capabilities from the
.300 Blackout. Recently, the cartridge has garnered attention from government and military entities in multiple countries. The cartridge has also been rapidly establishing itself as an effective and optimal round for suppressed shooting and hunting uses.
Purchase 8.6 Blackout Ammo
Availability of Ammunition
At the time of writing, the availability of
8.6 Blackout ammunition is still pretty slim. The cartridge is seeing support from companies such as Gorilla Ammunition and Fort Scott Munitions. The cartridge is also seeing some support in the way of reloading components such as reloading dies and brass. Both subsonic and supersonic loadings are available for this cartridge, making it easy for shooters to easily select a round which best fits their desired method of shooting. While supply of
8.6 Blackout is overshadowed by more conventional rounds, the increasing support the cartridge is seeing will surely promote a healthier supply.
Firearms Chambered in 8.6 Blackout
Currently, there are a few factory firearm options produced in
8.6 Blackout. The developers of the round, Q, plan on bringing an
8.6 Blackout chambered version of their Honey Badger to market while also offering their Fix line in the cartridge. Additionally, Faxon Firearms offers bolt action and semi-automatic pistols and rifles in the cartridge in addition to barrels for AR-10 style firearms. Gorilla Ammunition, one of the most prominent providers of
ammunition for the cartridge, is also offering firearms chambered in the
8.6 Blackout. In some firearms such as AR-10 rifles, traditional magazine options originally intended for use with
.308 Winchester or
6.5 Creedmoor can be used with the
8.6 Blackout. Notably, there is also no loss in capacity when used in these magazines. This is thanks to
8.6 Blackout utilizing modified
6.5 Creedmoor casings.
How Does 8.6 Blackout Suppress?
The
8.6 Blackout has developed a reputation as an excellent round to suppress. The high grain weights available for the cartridge, specifically those in the 200 to 300 grain range, are optimal for suppressed shooting. These heavier weights help keep the velocity of these loadings in the subsonic range. These heavy weights paired with shorter barrels truly allow for some quiet and efficient suppressed shooting. Some of the subsonic loadings are also optimal for hunting use, such as the 342 grain Pork Shredder load from Gorilla Ammunition which features a specialty expanding bullet. Gorilla Ammunition also specifically manufactures subsonic
ammunition optimized for specific barrel lengths, allowing users to tailor their
ammunition for suppressed shooting to their particular firearm. Q, the developers of the round, have also developed a suppressor intended for use with the cartridge, the Porq Chop. The new cartridge is building a reputation as a reliable and high-performance round which excels at being suppressed.
How is the 8.6 Blackout for Hunting?
The round has been developing a reputation as an effective hunting cartridge, with both supersonic and subsonic loadings. The
8.6 Blackout has proven itself effective at dispatching larger sized game. Kevin Brittingham himself has personally dispatched game such as zebra, lion, kudu, and even Cape buffalo with the cartridge. As of now, most of the data and information about the
8.6 Blackout and its performance as a hunting round come from Kevin Brittingham’s multiple hunting expeditions in Africa. Over the course of these hunts, he utilized Fix series rifles with 11”, 12”, and 16” barrels. Reportedly, the variant with an 11” barrel proved to be effective as a portable rifle capable of dispatching game at over 200 yards. Short barrels are already beneficial in the field due to their increased portability and decreased weight. These short barrels also allow and end user to keep a compact rifle package even when using a suppressor. It should also be noted that the 16” barrel Fix rifle was utilized to dispatch the cape buffalo. While not as established as the other mainstay hunting calibers, the
8.6 Blackout is building its reputation and beginning to establish itself as a viable and potent option.
Purchase 8.6 Blackout Ammo
Conclusion
All in all, the
8.6 Blackout is an up-and-coming round which has garnered a lot of attention and popularity in the last year. The round may not currently be as prolific or common as some of the mainstay rounds on the market, but it is rapidly garnering support and gaining popularity. Whether you are wanting to stock up on
8.6 Blackout or something else, we here at True Shot have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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