New For 2024: Bear Creek Arsenal 8.6 Blackout Rifles & Pistols

Two things that could sum up trends in the firearms’ world over the last decade are “modern sporting rifles” and “suppressors.” The domination of AR-15-type rifles for everything from competition to hunting, is matched only by the civilian world discovering the value of suppressors for the same activities. These two factors have lead to a slew of new cartridges designed for use in semi-automatic rifles with suppressors. One such cartridge is the 8.6 Blackout. New for 2024, Bear Creek Arsenal is adding the chambering to their line of handguns and rifles.

The 8.6 Blackout is a cartridge designed to fit in an AR-10-size firearm, like this Bear Creek Arsenal rifle.

The 8.6 Blackout cartridge came from the innovative workshop of Q, LLC in 2022. It was created by taking a 6.5 mm Creedmoor case, shortening it, and then necking it up to handle a .338” diameter (8.585 mm) bullet. The resulting cartridge can fit in a large-frame, AR-10-size semi-automatic rifle, use magazines designed for the Creedmoor or .308 Win., and has the ability to launch bullets at subsonic speeds optimal for use with a suppressor.

In addition to rifles, Bear Creek is offering pistols in 8.6 Blackout with three barrel length options.

Bear Creek Arsenal is a leader in innovative and affordable firearms products. Quick to embrace new trends, Bear Creek is currently offering firearms chambered in 8.6 Blackout in four formats. There are pistols with 7.5”, 10.5” and 12.5” barrels and a 16”-barrel rifle is also offered. All four use a DPMS Gen 1-style AR-10 lower receiver and flat-top billet upper receiver with a BCA Gen 2 fixed, right-side charging handle. Handguards have both an upper Picatinny rail and M-Lok slots. Barrels have an ultra-fast 1:3” twist rate optimized for the 8.6 Blackout cartridge. 

Bear Creek Arsenal 8.6 Blackout pistols have an MSRP of $995 and $658 for rifles. The company is also offering complete 8.6 Blackout uppers for those who have compatible AR-10-type firearms. For more information about Bear Creek’s 8.6 Blackout products, visit the company’s website.