Thoughts on the staying power of 8.6 blackout? Is it around to stay? Do you think Hornady will offer an alternative that will replace it?

LilGucci · Tuesday at 4:30 AM

I tend to build my rifles from receiver sets, but I want to buy a complete rifle and I was looking at 8.6 blackout. Do you all think it has staying power? Only because I don't intend to reload my own ammo so I'm going to rely on buying factory ammo. Do you see Hornady offering an alternative to 8.6 like they did with their 338 Arc as an alternative to 300blck out?

My intentions for this rifle is to be a short barrel rifle that is fired suppressed. I'm considering 300blkout, 338 Arc, and 8.6. My attraction to the 8.6 is that it's a caliber for a large frame rifle, and it would be nice to have a large frame SBR that shoots quietly since I don't have that in my collection. Also... I have like 3 AR15's in 300blk out, a few non AR's in 300blkout, and I will be getting 338 ARC guns soon too.

45-90 · Tuesday at 5:25 AM

The 8.6 Blackout is a difficult caliber to like, especially in its 3 twist form, it's very limited with lead and expensive to shoot because for supers ya have to use all copper bullets, so they don't explode soon as they leave the co fines of the barrel.
Damaging your muzzle device and magneto speed bayonet chronograph.

I spent thousands on it. Took off the 3 twist Faxon it was a galled and torn rifled barrel, with horrible accuracy in the AR 10.

Bought a 6.5 twist and chambered it for 8.6 blackout for Rem 700 bolt gun.
This was a much better combination.
Cheap lead bullets can be used as fast as your rifle can shoot them. No problem with any bullet blowing up with the 6.5 twist...unfortunately most barrels are the horrible 3 twist.

The problem with tbe 8.6 Blackout is that it has too much case capacity for subsonic shooting and too little for supers. A compromise that is made worse with the 3 twist and its dangerous limitations with respect to muzzle velocity on jacketed lead and some copper specialty bullets.

If you go with the 8.6 blackout you must be a reloader. And buy a special made 6.5 twist barrel for your rifle to get accurscy and full potential out of this cartridge.

Case for the AR 15, light weight, better accuracy with the slower twists, and does the same job with subs.

I have a 338 Spectre which is almost the same as the 338 ARC.
Hornady calls the 3 twist on the 8.6 blk ridiculous...I agree. They use an 8 twist on the 338 ARC.
The 338 Spectre has a 6.5 twist, which has been excellent for me...but I believe the 8 twist will do fine in the 338 ARC.

So my advice especially if your gonna shoot factory loads, mostly subs. In short barrel suppressed, go with the 338 ARC, ammo already available. It will be more accurate and more consistent in velocity, important as your range increases with subs.

Check out the 338 Spectre if you reload, as factory loads are very limited.

Pic of 338 spectre the slightly shorter length vs the 338 ARC. These two are better performing cartridges for subs, excellent accuracy and low velocity spreads.
The 338 Spectre every bullet has been accurate from 160 gr Barnes supers to 350 gr Maker (handloads) with single digit standard deviations...this should be very similar to what the 338 ARC will do.

LilGucci · Tuesday at 5:41 AM

45-90 said:
The 8.6 Blackout is a difficult caliber to like, especially in its 3 twist form, it's very limited with lead and expensive to shoot because for supers ya have to use all copper bullets, so they don't explode soon as they leave the co fines of the barrel.
Damaging your muzzle device and magneto speed bayonet chronograph.

I spent thousands on it. Took off the 3 twist Faxon it was a galled and torn rifled barrel, with horrible accuracy in the AR 10.

Bought a 6.5 twist and chambered it for 8.6 blackout for Rem 700 bolt gun.
This was a much better combination.
Cheap lead bullets can be used as fast as your rifle can shoot them. No problem with any bullet blowing up with the 6.5 twist...unfortunately most barrels are the horrible 3 twist.

The problem with tbe 8.6 Blackout is that it has too much case capacity for subsonic shooting and too little for supers. A compromise that is made worse with the 3 twist and its dangerous limitations with respect to muzzle velocity on jacketed lead and some copper specialty bullets.

If you go with the 8.6 blackout you must be a reloader. And buy a special made 6.5 twist barrel for your rifle to get accurscy and full potential out of this cartridge.

Case for the AR 15, light weight, better accuracy with the slower twists, and does the same job with subs.

I have a 338 Spectre which is almost the same as the 338 ARC.
Hornady calls the 3 twist on the 8.6 blk ridiculous...I agree. They use an 8 twist on the 338 ARC.
The 338 Spectre has a 6.5 twist, which has been excellent for me...but I believe the 8 twist will do fine in the 338 ARC.

So my advice especially if your gonna shoot factory loads, mostly subs. In short barrel suppressed, go with the 338 ARC, ammo already available. It will be more accurate and more consistent in velocity, important as your range increases with subs.

Check out the 338 Spectre if you reload, as factory loads are very limited.

Pic of 338 spectre the slightly shorter length vs the 338 ARC. These two are better performing cartridges for subs, excellent accuracy and low velocity spreads.
The 338 Spectre every bullet has been accurate from 160 gr Barnes supers to 350 gr Maker (handloads) with single digit standard deviations...this should be very similar to what the 338 ARC will do.

I can't thank you enough for this. It was so thorough. You covered so much in it. I think I'll stick to 338 ARC for my next purchase then.

Old Man with Gun · Tuesday at 10:11 AM

I can't see it getting big like 300BO for several reasons. First is there is a lot of development that has produced good hunting subsonic bullets in 300 BO. I question if a 338 will get results noticably better, or if bullet makers will put in the effort with such a small market.

Second issue is practicallity, costs more to shoot, needs 338 suppressor, etc. I think most people will start with 300BO and only a tiny group would want to go beyond.

Assuming the main market here already has a 300BO, 8.6 is not the only choice. I went 458 SOCOM AR-15 over 338 Specter long before the 8.6 was out. There are bigger kids on the block, lever guns, bolt guns etc. crowded market space and small.

My 458 SOCOM is in the same boat. Love it, but it will never get a date to the prom.

Longshot85 · Tuesday at 10:50 AM

I've debated a 8.6 build .....paused it for all the reasons mentioned above.

If 6.5+ twist starts becoming a product offered by most barrel mfgs as an off the shelf option....maybe it stays long term....if not I'd say the chance of it fading is significantly higher.

As far as reloading......it may seem daunting and yes takes time.......but I would recommend spending money on reloading tools, powder, primers and bullets for pew pews you already have vs spending that money on an 8.6 rifle.

Everyone has their own thoughts and logic, I'd rather have the capability to reload several thousand rounds for tools already in the safe vs having a useless paperweight 8.6 rifle if things ever went south

Longshot85 · Tuesday at 10:55 AM

Not trying to bash your ideas, it's a free country and do as you please.

Here's food for thought when money's literally worthless and nobody is coming to help.

Imagine how much better off you'd be with the capability to reload in this situation......I'd also add that owning the night would be a level above most

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TonyTheTiger · Tuesday at 1:03 PM

LilGucci said:
Do you see Hornady offering an alternative to 8.6 like they did with their 338 Arc as an alternative to 300blck out?

You've got that all wrong. 338ARC pretty much is the 8.6 alternative. Except it fits in a small frame AR. The large frame only 8.6 doesn't make that much sense for subsonic velocities.

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Thoughts on the staying power of 8.6 blackout? Is it around to stay? Do you think Hornady will offer an alternative that will replace it?

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