Thread: 8.6 Blackout

Hi, Is anyone loading 8.6 Blackout .Thanks

Yep what do you want to know.

Hi, Have you tried it on deer, Are reloading components easy to get. What are you shooting them in, accuracy and range. thanks

Suggest you visit Owl Optics website and have a chat with them

Originally Posted by Friwi

Yep what do you want to know.

What subsonic (if any) projectiles are you using?

Well I am actually waiting for some 338 maker bullet due in April from Owl optics. So until I got these and shoot them I can’t tell you what it does on deer.
So far i have shot 300 gr sierra MK subsonic .( I will probably never use them on deer, as they will more likely pencil through)
I have started by reforming brass from Sako 6.5 creedmoor, and it is serious hard work with the neck turning.
Despite getting the brass annealed with an amp I can feel some irregularities in the neck tension . Which results in irregularities in velocity. At 100 the groups are around 1moa but at 300meters I had like 40cm of vertical on the same vertical plan over three shots.
So for the moment I left the subsonic part of it aside.

I have also worked out a supersonic load with 160 gr Barnes and that looks way more promising. Very accurate as well.
To give you a starting load:
With CFE black:
300smk = 14.5 grains. 900fps

With Reloader 7:
300 SMk = 14.5 grains 900fps.
Barnes 160 = 30 grains 1984fps that is a starting load in an 18” barrel. Your speed will differ in a shorter barrel so don’t expect as much.

I m still exploring with other powders .I have managed to push up to 2600fps the 160 but it is too hot . 2500 fps will be a better and safer speed I think.( in my long barrel again).

At the moment the project is sitting aside , as I have my head around other projects.
My feeling is that cartridge is a bit of a bastard of a thing, doing supersonic allright but not quite as good as a 338 federal, and doing subsonic ok ish but maybe not as good as a 338 br .( the shorter case capacity might help for better load density and regular speed. And Lapua make excellent 6br brass).
I will play a little bit with the maker bullets when I get them, but it is a high price to pay every time you press that trigger.
And honestly the current situation with the brass offering make me a bit dubious on the validity of the project . Maybe when good brass is available and others have burned their wings I ll reconsider my view. Till then I have a 450bm that does good work up to 150m with factory hornady sub. ( although a bit noisy…big holes not being easy to suppress )
And I have also a a 300 bo with makers bullet to play with .a bit quiter than the 8.6 and more accurate.

Yes. Taken mine out to 800m on gongs with subs. I'm getting nice uniform necks and extremely good ES/SD numbers with both subs and supers.

Wildly varying groups by switching powders though. E.g. Alliant Red Dot gave horrible groups with subs and CFEBLK was barely minute of barn door with supers, whereas with ADI powders I've gotten things grouping very nicely.

I have built 2 one for myself and one for a mate he sourced the barrels
One of which was 1-3” and the other is 1-1”

He kept the 1-3” and can shoot a larger range of projectiles
Where as I have to stick to copper mainly in supers out of 1-1” 16” barrel
On game I used a 210gr reaper projectile from the states for supers or a hornady cx
225gr both worked great on some culling over Xmas

Subs is what it was set up for and this has been a issue getting hold of
The good copper ones at a decent price until recently when I set
Up to make my own when the flash ones that worked the best went 4 USD each
Have tried 5 different designs and finally found one that will open up
And kill effectively latest design will open up into 2 petals in the front
It put down a red at 255m instant drop and a fellow at 360m
That walked about 15m the other day

I found the same issue with some neck tension and got a form die
In from the states to rough form the case up before running them through the reloading die
This made a night and day difference
For subs I use starline 6.5 creed brass and open up the primer pocket
use a fed mag primer then crimp the necks with a modified 338 fed
Lee crimp die
Am now getting sub 1” at 100m with no more flyers
Unique and 296 have been powders that have worked well
For me

I've been wanting a 8.6blk years ago went Kevin Brittingham at Q was playing with the idea of a 8.6. Was waiting for it to be SAAMI spec. Got some gear and donor rifle (tikka t3) just need a brass neck turner and a barrel.

What barrels are you guys using? Mostek, Faxon or other?

Hardy rifle are suppose to stock imported barrels for the 8.6 a customer came through
With one the other day on a tikka looked like a prefit but didn’t get that close of a look

I think from what I've read on the net , Mostek are the only make that make tikka prefit barrels a shouldered and barrel nut version. Then there's Faxon for prefit Rem and Savage or barrel blanks.

I'm after a 12" barrel as 99% of the time will be subs.

Originally Posted by Friwi

At the moment the project is sitting aside , as I have my head around other projects.
My feeling is that cartridge is a bit of a bastard of a thing, doing supersonic allright but not quite as good as a 338 federal, and doing subsonic ok ish but maybe not as good as a 338 br .( the shorter case capacity might help for better load density and regular speed. And Lapua make excellent 6br brass).
I will play a little bit with the maker bullets when I get them, but it is a high price to pay every time you press that trigger.
And honestly the current situation with the brass offering make me a bit dubious on the validity of the project . Maybe when good brass is available and others have burned their wings I ll reconsider my view. Till then I have a 450bm that does good work up to 150m with factory hornady sub. ( although a bit noisy…big holes not being easy to suppress )
And I have also a a 300 bo with makers bullet to play with .a bit quiter than the 8.6 and more accurate.

I'm not convinced the 8.6blk is worth the effort, compared to 308win or 300blk it doesn't seem to be worth burning a bunch more powder and having more expensive projectiles.
Super sonic all your are gaining over 308 is a tonne more energy, and unless you need you are shooting dangerous game unnecessary.
Subsonic your are still stuck using expensive bullet specifically designed for subsonic use.

IMO it sits in a weird spot between 300blk and 308, having "better" super sonic options than 300blk but more expensive to load than 308.
Subsonic it's similar performance (ease of reloading and powder selection) as 300blk, so better than 308 (but limited to trailboss more or less). But still stuck using expensive projectiles.

My dream subsonic centerfire needs to have a good selection of pistol projectiles that will expand at subsonic velocities.
450bm and 458socom seem to offer the best selection of pistol bullets, 450bm stands out as you can get Hornady ammo for it. Interesting that you said its not particularly quiet.

so....it sort of fills the same niche as the 358w..think thats the .308 case necked up to use a .357 sized projectile????....been around a long time and folks have been using pistol bullets sucessfully as well as the rifle ones....
rather surprised it hasnt been given new lease of life in the suppressed age

there is also 375 Jaguar (375-08)
I think 8.6Blk is interesting but you need to run expensive solid machined projectiles to get the best from it.
More a specialist cartridge for a special job...........................looks fun though

I m using a trueflite 1 in 9 twist. Talking to Anthony, the owner, he might get a button to make something around the 1 in 6 “ twist at some stage.
The 300 gr SMk stabilise fine with that twist.
I wonder if it would not have been easier to form the case from hornady or starline as mentioned above rather than a hard thick brass like Sako or lapua.
It looks like that intermediate forming die could help as well. And changing the powders I m using I guess. I have Lee 8.6 black out dies, so there is a crimping tool with them, which I shall use next time.