FAXON FX7 MATTE DLC BARRELED ACTION - 16" 8.6 BLACKOUT MEDIUM SPORTER PROFILE

Suppressed Performance • Rifle-Length 8.6 BLK

Faxon FX7 8.6 Blackout Barreled Action

16" Medium Sporter • 1:3 Twist  |  ArmorLube™ Matte DLC  |  SKU: FX700SA-308-01-7F1B863N16NMQ

The Faxon FX7 8.6 Blackout barreled action is a rifle-length, build-ready foundation for a suppressed bolt-action rifle optimized for subsonic terminal performance. This package includes the FX7 short action with bolt and a 16" 8.6 BLK Medium Sporter barrel — already installed, headspaced, and verified in-house at Faxon before shipment. At 16 inches, this is the shortest NFA-compliant rifle barrel length: no tax stamp, no SBR paperwork, just a straight rifle build. The 1:3 twist rate is the original 8.6 BLK specification, designed to maximize wound-channel effectiveness at subsonic velocities. Add your preferred Remington® 700-pattern trigger, drop it into a compatible stock or chassis, and you’re ready to shoot.

$1,114.00  |  Rem 700 Footprint  |  AICS/AW Magazine Compatible  |  Faxon Lifetime Guarantee  |  Made in Cincinnati, Ohio

What Is the Faxon FX7 8.6 Blackout Barreled Action?

A barreled action is the core of a bolt-action rifle: the action (receiver), bolt, and barrel assembled together. The Faxon FX7 8.6 Blackout barreled action includes the FX7 short action, the complete FX7 bolt assembly, and a 16" 8.6 BLK Medium Sporter barrel — all factory-assembled and headspaced before shipment. This is not a complete rifle; you will still need a trigger, stock or chassis, and magazine to complete your build.

The FX7 action is machined from 416 stainless steel and finished with ArmorLube™ Matte DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) — the mil-spec coating designated MIL-PRF-32711. The bolt is machined from 4340 carbon steel with the same ArmorLube™ treatment and features Faxon’s signature flame fluting, an M16-style extractor (S7 tool steel), a plunger-style ejector, and a 17-4 PH stainless steel firing pin heat-treated to H900 condition. The six-lug bolt design (two rings of three) provides a 70-degree throw for faster cycling and greater clearance under low-mounted optics.

The 16" barrel is machined from 416R stainless steel in Faxon’s Medium Sporter contour. The bore is 5R button-rifled with a 1:3" twist rate (right-hand) — one full rotation every three inches — then honed and lapped to a smooth finish. This extreme twist rate is the original 8.6 Blackout specification: at subsonic velocities, the bullet enters the target at maximum RPM, causing it to yaw and fragment violently for wound channels far beyond what velocity alone could produce. The barrel is finished with salt bath nitride for additional corrosion resistance and is magnetic particle inspected (MPI). Muzzle threads are M18×1.5 RH with a tapered shoulder per the 8.6 BLK standard (not 5/8x24). A taper adapter is included.

Every FX7 receiver includes an integrated 20-MOA Picatinny rail and an integrated recoil lug. The FX7 barreled action is built on the Remington® 700 short-action footprint for compatibility with Rem 700 triggers (TriggerTech, Timney, Bix’n Andy), stocks and chassis (KRG, MDT, Magpul, XLR, Manners, McMillan), and AICS/AW pattern magazines. Learn more about the 8.6 Blackout cartridge and Faxon’s full 8.6 BLK ecosystem on our 8.6 Blackout landing page.

What’s Included

Why Choose a 16" 8.6 Blackout Medium Sporter?

8.6 Blackout was designed from the ground up for suppressed subsonic performance. The cartridge fires 210–300+ grain .338-caliber bullets at subsonic velocities (below 1,050 fps) through a standard .308 bolt face — delivering dramatically superior terminal effect compared to 300 Blackout at the same velocities. The 1:3 twist rate is what makes the difference: at subsonic speeds where velocity cannot do the work, extreme spin causes the bullet to yaw and fragment on impact, creating permanent wound channels that far exceed what slower-twist barrels can achieve.

At 16 inches, this barrel is the shortest NFA-compliant rifle length — no tax stamp, no SBR registration, just a standard rifle build. The extra 4 inches over a 12" barrel provides meaningful benefits: additional velocity on supersonic loads for extended effective range, a longer sight radius, and improved handling balance when running a suppressor. For shooters who want the versatility of both subsonic and supersonic 8.6 BLK loads in a single platform, 16" is the optimal barrel length. Add a Faxon Harmonix®, CoreSync®, or Basilisk® suppressor rated for .338 caliber and you have one of the most capable suppressed bolt-action platforms available.

The Medium Sporter profile balances rigidity and weight for a barrel that handles well in the field without excessive mass. At 4.85 lbs for the complete barreled action and 23.5" overall length, the 16" configuration is still compact enough for field carry and suppressed hunting while delivering the ballistic advantage of a full rifle-length barrel.

8.6 Blackout Cartridge Overview

8.6 Blackout (8.6 BLK, 8.6×43mm) was developed by Q LLC and Kevin Brittingham as a large-bore suppressed cartridge optimized for the AR10 and .308-bolt-face platforms. It starts with 6.5 Creedmoor brass necked up to .338 caliber, giving it exceptional case capacity for heavy subsonic projectiles while maintaining the standard .308 bolt face.

The cartridge fires 210–300+ grain .338-caliber bullets. At subsonic velocities (950–1,040 fps), the combination of large bore diameter, heavy bullets, and 1:3 twist creates terminal performance that far exceeds 300 Blackout. For supersonic use, lighter 150–180 grain loads extend effective range — and the 16" barrel maximizes velocity from these loads.

Faxon was the first company to commercially produce 1:3 twist 8.6 BLK barrels via button rifling — a technically demanding achievement given the extreme twist rate. Learn more about 8.6 Blackout ›

8.6 Blackout cartridge dimensional reference

⚠ Ammunition Compatibility Advisory

8.6 Blackout is a relatively new cartridge, and commercially available ammunition may vary in dimensional consistency across manufacturers. Some factory loads may not chamber, feed, or extract reliably in all 8.6 BLK firearms. This is not a defect of the barrel or action — it reflects the current state of ammunition standardization in the 8.6 BLK market.

Faxon recommends that shooters verify ammunition compatibility before purchasing large quantities. If a specific load does not chamber smoothly, try ammunition from a different manufacturer. As the 8.6 BLK SAAMI standard gains broader adoption, ammunition consistency is expected to improve.

This barrel is chambered in 8.6 Blackout (1:3 twist), not 8.6 BLK SAAMI (1:6 twist). Both cartridges share the same chamber dimensions, but the twist rate differs. Verify your ammunition is appropriate for 1:3 twist barrels.

FX7 Action Specifications

Barrel Specifications

Engineering Highlights

Producing a 1:3 twist barrel via button rifling is a technically demanding process — Faxon was the first company to do it commercially for 8.6 BLK. Every barrel is inspected in-process per Faxon’s MBR (Manufacturing Build Record) protocol across 11 operations — from initial blank turning through bore drilling, reaming, honing, button rifling, OD profiling, breech threading, muzzle threading, chambering, nitride coating, and laser engraving. The barrel bore is inspected at multiple stages by air gage, profilometer, and borescope to verify bore diameter (.3315" ±.001"), rifling groove diameter (.3390" ±.001"), twist rate (1:3 5R confirmed), and surface finish (no tool marks, reamer marks, or button tearing). The chamber is cut to the 8.6 BLK specification and headspace is verified at .8830" +.0005"/-.0010" using an 8.6 BLK GO gage on the CMM.

The muzzle end is threaded M18×1.5-6g — a metric thread specified by the 8.6 BLK standard for its larger bore clearance compared to 5/8x24 UNEF. Thread dimensions are verified 100% with Go/No-Go gages. The barrel OD profile is verified by Marshaft at multiple stations from breech to muzzle. During final assembly, the bolt interior is greased, firing pin travel is verified, ejector and extractor function is confirmed, the bolt handle is secured with red Loctite, and the firing pin screw is secured with blue Loctite. The barrel is torqued to 65 ft-lbs with headspace verified before packaging.

Muzzle Threads & Suppressor Compatibility

This barrel uses M18×1.5 RH muzzle threads with a tapered shoulder — the standard thread specification for 8.6 Blackout barrels. This is not the same as 5/8x24 UNEF threads found on .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor barrels. A taper adapter is included with every 8.6 BLK barreled action.

Any suppressor rated for .338 caliber or larger is compatible with 8.6 BLK. Faxon’s Harmonix® Sentry, ION, and Ti•CONEL suppressors, the CoreSync®, and the Basilisk® are all rated for .36 caliber (9.1mm bore), covering the .338 bore of 8.6 BLK. Faxon also offers M18×1.5 direct-thread hub adapters (stainless or titanium) and MuzzLok® Plan B muzzle devices in M18×1.5 for quick-attach suppressor mounting.

Dimensions & Weight

Remington® 700 Compatibility

Barrel Swap Capability

The FX7 platform is designed for user-serviceable barrel changes. If you want to swap to a different caliber, barrel length, or twist rate in the future, the FX7 accepts FX7 Prefit barrels (headspaced at the factory, thread directly onto the receiver — no gunsmith required), RemAge-style barrels, and profiled barrel blanks for custom gunsmith work. Faxon offers 8.6 BLK barrels in both 1:3 twist and 1:6 twist (SAAMI), plus barrels in .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, and other calibers on the same .308 bolt face. Faxon offers the FX7 Action Wrench for barrel installation and removal. Always follow proper installation procedures and verify headspace when changing barrels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Complete Your FX7 8.6 BLK Rifle Build

Add a Rem 700 trigger, drop into your chassis, add a .338-rated suppressor, and start shooting.