The 8.6 Blackout bolt action rifle offers great suppression and precision for hunters and tactical shooters. It works well with heavy subsonic bullets, making it quiet and accurate. This new caliber is changing how people hunt and shoot tactically. It’s designed to work best in short-barreled rifles, which is why many shooters are starting to like it. Let’s look at what makes the 8.6 Blackout special and why it’s becoming popular among serious shooters.
Key Points: 8.6 Blackout Bolt Action Rifle
- For hunters seeking unmatched suppression and precision, the 8.6 Blackout bolt action rifle delivers exceptional performance with heavy subsonic loads.
- Designed for short barrels (8-12 inches) with a unique 1:3 twist rate
- Optimized for subsonic performance, allowing for quieter shots and reduced recoil
- Uses heavy bullets (285-350 grains for subsonic loads) for improved energy transfer
- Effective range of approximately 300 yards for most shooters
- Ideal for hunting medium to large game at short to medium ranges
- Compatible with existing AR-10 platforms with minimal modifications
- Offers both subsonic and supersonic ammunition options
- Provides excellent suppressor performance for tactical and hunting applications
- Best suited for close-quarters self-defense and short-range big game hunting
- Limited long-range performance compared to traditional hunting cartridges
- Currently considered a niche or “boutique” cartridge with growing popularity
- Requires specialized suppressors designed for .338 caliber
- Offers versatility for different hunting scenarios and tactical uses
- Potential for improved terminal performance due to high rotational velocity
What Makes the 8.6 Blackout Bolt Action Rifle Unique?
The 8.6 Blackout is special for several reasons:
- Designed for Suppressed Performance: It works great with subsonic rounds, making it very quiet when using a suppressor. This is really helpful for hunters and tactical shooters who need to be stealthy.
- Short Barrel Efficiency: It works well in short barrels, which is good for tight spaces or using in vehicles.
- High Mass, Low Velocity Rounds: The bullets are heavy but move slower, which is great for hunting big animals.
- Fast-Twist Rifling: The barrel has special grooves that make heavy bullets fly straight.
The 8.6 Blackout’s barrel spins bullets really fast, about 500,000 times per minute. This makes the bullets hit harder when they reach the target, even when they’re moving slowly. This is why it’s better than other quiet bullets – it hits harder without making more noise.
Why Hunters and Shooters Are Choosing 8.6 Blackout
Subsonic Hunting Advantage
The 8.6 Blackout is great for quiet hunting:
- It makes less noise, so you can shoot more than once without scaring away other animals.
- It doesn’t kick as much, so you can aim better and shoot again faster if you need to.
- Even though the bullets move slowly, they still hit hard enough to take down big animals.
These things make it really good for hunting in places where you need to be extra quiet or when you might need to shoot more than once.
Versatility for Different Game
You can use the 8.6 Blackout to hunt different kinds of animals:
- It works well for deer, pigs, and big predators.
- You can use it to hunt big animals when they’re close.
- The bullets can go through bushes and trees without getting thrown off course.
Compared to other popular hunting bullets, the 8.6 Blackout is quieter than some but still powerful enough for big animals. This makes it a good choice if you want one gun that can do different things.
Precision Shooting Benefits
For people who need to shoot very accurately, the 8.6 Blackout has some advantages:
- It’s very accurate up to about 300 yards, which is good for shooting in cities or other close areas.
- It works really well in bolt-action rifles, which are known for being very accurate.
- You can use it in some guns that were made for other types of bullets, which saves money.
Best Rifles Chambered in 8.6 Blackout
Even though the 8.6 Blackout is new, some companies are making rifles for it:
- Q LLC: They make both bolt-action and semi-automatic rifles for this bullet.
- Faxon Firearms: They make parts for these rifles.
- Gorilla Ammunition: They make both rifles and bullets for the 8.6 Blackout.
- Bear Creek Arsenal: They make cheaper rifles that use this bullet.
Some people like to build their own rifles using parts from different companies. This lets them make the rifle exactly how they want it for hunting, tactical use, or target shooting.
Choosing the Right Suppressor for 8.6 Blackout
Picking the right suppressor is important for the 8.6 Blackout:
- Look for suppressors made for .338 caliber or bigger bullets.
- Titanium suppressors are lighter, which is good for keeping the gun balanced.
- Make sure the suppressor can handle both slow and fast bullets if you want to use both kinds.
Remember to check what the law says about suppressors where you live. Always follow the rules for buying and registering suppressors. The rules can be different in different places, so make sure you follow all the laws.
Ammo Considerations: Subsonic vs. Supersonic
You can use two main types of bullets in the 8.6 Blackout:
Subsonic Loads
- These are heavier bullets that move slower than the speed of sound.
- They’re very quiet when used with a suppressor.
- Good for hunting or shooting when you need to be extra quiet.
- Work well for shooting at closer targets.
Supersonic Loads
- These are lighter bullets that move faster than the speed of sound.
- They can shoot farther and stay accurate over longer distances.
- Better for shooting at targets that are further away.
- Can be used for hunting bigger animals at longer distances.
Choose your bullets based on what you’re doing. Subsonic bullets are best for being quiet and shooting close by. Supersonic bullets are better for shooting far away. Many people like having both kinds so they can use the right one for different situations.
Is the 8.6 Blackout Right for You?
Here are some good and bad things about the 8.6 Blackout:
Good Things:
- Very quiet when used with a suppressor.
- Hits hard at close and medium distances.
- Can be used for both hunting and tactical shooting.
- Can be used in some guns that were made for other types of bullets.
Not-So-Good Things:
- Doesn’t work as well for shooting very far away.
- The bullets can be more expensive and harder to find than other types.
- Not many companies make rifles for this bullet yet.
- It’s still a new type of bullet, so it might be harder to find help or information about it.
The 8.6 Blackout is great for people who want to shoot quietly and hit hard at closer distances. It’s good for hunting in quiet areas or for tactical use where being quiet is important. It also works well in shorter guns, which is good if you want a gun that’s easy to move around with.
But it might not be the best choice if you want to shoot really far away or if you want to use cheaper, easy-to-find bullets. If you often shoot at targets more than 300 yards away, you might prefer a different type of bullet.
Conclusion
The 8.6 Blackout bolt action rifle is a new and interesting option for quiet hunting and tactical shooting. It’s really good at being quiet while still hitting hard, especially at closer distances. While it might not replace other hunting bullets for everything, it’s great for people who want a powerful, quiet option.
As more people start using it, we’ll probably see more rifles and bullet choices become available. This will make it even more useful for different kinds of shooting.
If you’re a hunter who needs to be quiet in dense woods, or a tactical shooter who needs a quiet but powerful option, the 8.6 Blackout might be a good choice. It offers some advantages that you can’t get with more traditional bullets, especially when it comes to quiet shooting and working well in shorter guns.
Before you decide to buy one, think about where and how you’ll be using it. Consider things like how far away you usually shoot, what the hunting rules are where you live, and if you can easily find the bullets you need.