FAXON 18" 8.6MM/.338 BORE MEDIUM SPORTER PROFILE 1:3T BARREL BLANK

Rifle Barrels › Profiled Barrel Blanks › 18″ 8.6mm Medium Sporter  |  Prefer a finished barrel? Bolt action barrels

What a Profiled Blank Is

A profiled blank is a barrel that has had all of its bore work and its outside contour done, but none of the fitting. Faxon drills, reams, hones, button rifles, stress relieves, profiles, and laps the blank, then magnetic particle inspects it. What is left is the part that depends on your rifle: the chamber, the tenon and shoulder for your action, the finished length, the crown, and the muzzle threads. That is gunsmith work, so plan on a qualified gunsmith with a lathe and the right reamer to finish it.

If you would rather skip the lathe work, Faxon makes finished 8.6 BLK FX7 Prefit, RemAge®, and Savage® barrels on the same 416-R, 5R foundation.

8.6mm / .338 Bore, 1:3 Twist

The extremely fast 1:3 twist is the original 8.6 Blackout spec. It spins heavy .338 subsonic bullets fast enough to expand at subsonic speed. Because of that twist, Faxon advises against chambering this blank in anything other than 8.6 Blackout.

The Medium Sporter Profile

A classic sporter contour that balances weight and stiffness for rifles you carry and still want to shoot well from a bench. As profiled, this blank measures 1.200″ for the first 2.505″, tapering to .765″ at the muzzle, at 18″ overall. The full-diameter section at the breech leaves material for your gunsmith to cut the tenon and shoulder for most actions.

How It’s Made

1. Drill and ream: 416-R stainless bar gun-drilled and reamed
2. Hone: Bore honed to 8 Ra before rifling
3. Button rifle: 5R button rifled, 1:3 twist
4. Air gauge: Bore air gauged
5. Stress relieve: Stress relieved after rifling
6. Profile: Medium Sporter contour turned and cut to 18″
7. Lap: Bore lapped
8. Inspect: 100% wet magnetic particle inspected, laser-engraved with the bore and twist, and final inspected

5R rifling uses five lands with sloped sides instead of sharp corners, which deforms the bullet less and fouls less. The blank ships in the white, with no nitride or other coating, so you or your gunsmith can choose the final finish after machining.

How We Inspect It

Faxon barrels are built to a written control plan, and each run is logged on inspection sheets. Here is what this blank goes through before it ships.

What’s in the Box

Intended use: because of the extremely fast 1:3 twist, Faxon advises against chambering this blank in any cartridge other than 8.6 Blackout. Learn more in the 8.6 Blackout guide.

Compare Faxon Profiled Blanks

18″ 8.6mm Medium Sporter Blank FAQs

Is this blank chambered or threaded?

No. It ships unchambered and unthreaded. Your gunsmith cuts the chamber, tenon, shoulder, crown, and muzzle threads to fit your action and build.

Is it coated?

No. Profiled blanks ship uncoated, in the white, so you can choose the finish after machining. Faxon’s finished bolt action barrels are salt-bath QPQ nitrided inside and out.

Is the bore honed and lapped?

Yes. The bore is honed to 8 Ra before 5R button rifling, stress relieved, and lapped. Every blank is 100% wet magnetic particle inspected.

What can I chamber it in?

This 8.6mm / .338 bore 1:3 blank suits 8.6 Blackout only. Have your gunsmith confirm the twist suits your cartridge and bullet weight. Faxon advises against chambering it in anything other than 8.6 Blackout.

What actions can it fit?

Any action your gunsmith can fit it to. The 1.200″ breech section leaves material to cut the tenon and shoulder for most actions. For a Remington 700®, Savage® 110, or the Faxon FX7 without lathe work, see Faxon’s finished bolt action barrels.

Does it come with a barrel nut or thread protector?

No. Blanks ship as the barrel only. Thread protectors, nuts, and adapters come with Faxon’s finished bolt action barrels.

Where is it made?

In Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, from 416-R stainless.

Remington 700® and Savage® are trademarks of their respective owners; Faxon is not affiliated with Remington or Savage. Barrel blanks must be finished and headspaced by a qualified gunsmith. Know and follow all federal, state, and local laws.