Most 8.6 Blackout attention goes to the subsonic side, which undersells what the cartridge does with the suppressor off. Supersonic loads turn the same rifle into a legitimate medium game gun with roughly 2,000 ft lbs at the muzzle and useful trajectory to 300 yards.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chambering | 8.6 Blackout (8.6x43mm) |
| Barrel | 16 inches, 1:3 twist |
| Platform | AR-10 pattern or short action bolt |
| Primary load | 210gr supersonic, roughly 2,100 fps |
| Muzzle energy | roughly 2,055 ft lbs |
| Drop at 200 yards | roughly 8 inches with a 100 yard zero |
| Practical range | roughly 300 yards |
| Intended use | hogs, deer and black bear class game |
The advantage of building around this rather than a dedicated hunting cartridge is that the same rifle drops to whisper quiet by changing magazines. Zero it with your supersonic hunting load, keep a magazine of subsonics for close and quiet work, and record both zeroes because they will not match.
Compare it against the alternatives in our 8.6 Blackout vs 338 ARC and 8.6 Blackout vs 45-70 breakdowns, run your exact load through the ballistics calculator, and stock it from the 8.6 Blackout ammo range.
