8.6 Blackout? Tell me more...

There’s been a noticeable uptick in conversation around 8.6 Blackout, and for good reason. Developed by Q, the same team behind the Honey Badger and other standout designs, this round is shaping up to be more than just another niche cartridge. Built for suppressed shooting and short barrels, 8.6 BLK is designed from the ground up to deliver serious performance where it counts—without needing long barrels or excessive velocity.

At its core, 8.6 Blackout takes a 6.5 Creedmoor case, cuts it down, and necks it up to accept .338-caliber bullets. That alone makes it stand out. But what really sets it apart is the 1:3 twist rate barrels the round is designed around. That’s not a typo—these barrels spin the bullet at an incredibly fast rate. According to Q, this rapid spin increases the bullet’s rotational energy, leading to more disruption on impact, even at subsonic speeds. They’ve published ballistic gel tests and other data to show what that looks like in practice, and the results speak for themselves.

Ammo is available from companies like Gorilla Ammunition, which offers both subsonic and supersonic options, and Discreet Ballistics, known for their 288-grain subsonic rounds tailored for suppressed shooting. These aren’t mass-market loads yet, but they’re readily available for those interested in trying the caliber. Both manufacturers also note that their loads require fast twist-rate barrels to stabilize properly—another reminder that this round is doing something very different. For the reloaders among us, reloading supplies like cases, primers, projectiles, and powder are all readily available from places like Brownells. Load data, though, is harder to come by due to how new the round is currently.

Q offers complete rifles for 8.6 BLK like the Fix and Mini Fix, both designed to take full advantage of the round’s performance profile. For AR fans, the round works with AR-10 lowers, needing only a new upper and barrel, which keeps things modular for those already invested in that platform.

As for what it’s used for—manufacturers and early adopters point to suppressed hunting, short to mid-range precision, and home defense-style applications. It’s not a flat-shooting round built for long-range engagements, but it was never supposed to be. Instead, it’s designed to hit hard, make the most of subsonic velocities, and stay quiet doing it.

The caliber is still gaining traction, and while it’s not as common as 5.56 or 300 BLK, it’s no longer obscure either. Forums like Sniper’s Hide and AR15.com are full of reloading data, gel test videos, and field reports from hunters and precision shooters alike. If you’re interested in quiet, heavy-hitting performance from a short barrel, 8.6 Blackout is worth keeping an eye on.