MONA, Utah — Barnes Bullets, LLC is proud to announce its entry into the rapidly growing 8.6 BLACKOUT market with two all-new factory ammunition offerings: a 200-grain Barnes TAC-TX® loaded in VOR-TX® ammunition for supersonic hunting performance and a 300-grain Sierra MatchKing® loaded in Barnes Suppressor Series ammunition for subsonic applications.
Together, the two offerings give hunters and shooters factory-loaded solutions across both ends of the 8.6 BLK performance spectrum as the cartridge enters its next stage of growth.
The launch follows the formal acceptance of 8.6 BLK by SAAMI in January 2026, giving Barnes the foundation to move aggressively from product development into full-scale factory ammunition.
"We're excited for Barnes to be an early adopter of 8.6 BLK and to help support the cartridge as it continues to grow," said Dale Evans, Barnes Bullets Marketing Manager. "We knew our internal team was capable of setting the bar high right out of the gate, and working directly with Q gave us the opportunity to push development even further. We felt it was paramount to get these two loads into shooters' hands by fall."
Throughout development, Barnes worked directly with Q, LLC, the company responsible for developing and introducing 8.6 BLK. Prototype ammunition was supplied to Q for evaluation and testing as Barnes refined both factory loads.
"Q really helped us fast-track this project," said Mitchell Kukson, Barnes Bullets Product Specialist. "We have a very thorough development process at Barnes, but working directly with Q let us combine resources, move quickly and come out with something we're really proud of. Both loads feed exceptionally well and have been extremely reliable in testing. The 200-grain TAC-TX® was built to expand at lower velocities from short-barreled platforms, while the 300-grain Sierra MatchKing® is just a tack-driving subsonic load that's a lot of fun to shoot. Subs or supers, we wanted Barnes to have a strong answer on both sides."
For hunters looking to take advantage of 8.6 BLK at supersonic velocities, the new 200-grain TAC-TX VOR-TX load brings Barnes' all-copper bullet technology to the platform, delivering controlled expansion, deep penetration and high weight retention. Along with the loaded offering, they will also offer the new .338-caliber, 200-grain TAC-TX® as a standalone reloading component.
For suppressed applications, the new 300-grain Sierra MatchKing Suppressor Series load provides a purpose-built subsonic factory option for target shooting, training and shooters prioritizing consistent suppressed performance.
Rather than treating 8.6 BLK solely as a subsonic cartridge, Barnes developed ammunition around both sides of its capability — giving shooters a supersonic hunting load and a dedicated subsonic offering from the same manufacturer.
Available Now
The new Barnes 8.6 BLK 200-grain TAC-TX VOR-TX, 300-grain Sierra MatchKing Suppressor Series ammunition, as well as the 200-grain TAC-TX® reloading component is now available beginning September 8, 2026.
For additional product information and availability, visit BarnesBullets.com.
About Barnes Bullets: Since 1932, Barnes Bullets has pioneered projectile technologies built around terminal performance, accuracy and reliability. From its renowned all-copper hunting bullets to factory-loaded ammunition for hunting, defense, suppressed shooting and precision applications, Barnes continues to develop products for shooters who demand performance when it matters most.
Barnes Bullets products are manufactured in Mona, Utah.