Testing the Lethality of 8.6 BLACKOUT - The Most violent Subsonic available

Published on April 14, 2024
Duration: 20:55

This comprehensive guide details the testing of the 8.6 Blackout caliber's lethality, drawing insights from Garand Thumb's expert analysis. It covers ammunition selection, velocity and suppression testing, ballistics gel performance, and full-scale dummy testing, highlighting the caliber's extreme rotational energy and specialized applications in hunting and tactical scenarios.

Quick Summary

The 8.6 Blackout caliber is distinguished by its heavy subsonic projectiles and a fast 1:3 twist rate, generating extreme rotational energy (over 500,000 RPM). This results in devastating terminal ballistics, massive temporary cavities in gel, and exceptional suppression, making it ideal for specialized hunting and tactical applications.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to 8.6 Blackout
  2. 01:45Ammunition Selection
  3. 02:41Velocity and Suppression
  4. 04:32Ballistics Gel Testing
  5. 11:14Lethality on Human Dummies
  6. 15:42Barrier Penetration and Semi-Auto Testing
  7. 18:24Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the 8.6 Blackout caliber unique?

The 8.6 Blackout is unique due to its heavy subsonic projectiles (often over 350 grains) and a fast 1:3 twist rate, which imparts extreme rotational energy (over 500,000 RPM) for devastating terminal ballistics and excellent suppression capabilities.

How does the 8.6 Blackout perform in ballistics gel tests?

In ballistics gel, the 8.6 Blackout creates a massive temporary cavity due to its high rotational energy. Heavy subsonic rounds show significant expansion and tumbling, while supersonic variants exhibit violent fragmentation, leading to extensive wound channels.

What are the practical applications for the 8.6 Blackout caliber?

The 8.6 Blackout is best suited for specialized roles like large game hunting where deep penetration and high energy transfer are needed, or in tactical applications demanding extreme subsonic performance and suppression, such as urban sniping.

What velocity do subsonic 8.6 Blackout rounds typically achieve?

Subsonic 8.6 Blackout rounds typically travel between 950 and 980 feet per second (fps), which is well below the speed of sound, allowing for significantly reduced noise when suppressed.

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