Q Boombox: Lightweight 8.6 Blackout Rifle at SHOT Show 2026

Kevin Brittingham, founder of Q and the original creator of the Honey Badger and 300 Blackout cartridge at AAC, built the Boombox around a simple observation: while the industry obsesses over 1,000-yard capability, 99% of actual shots in hunting and combat occur within 300 meters.

The Boombox targets this real-world engagement envelope. Instead of building another long-range precision rifle, Q focused on creating a lightweight, versatile weapon system optimized for the distances where shots actually happen.

Q's philosophy is explicit: they're not building a Tacoma; they're building a Ferrari. The Boombox represents their attempt to create a platform that can replace multiple weapon systems: submachine guns, M4s, and even sniper rifles in appropriate roles, all in a single lightweight package.

The 8.6 Blackout cartridge is designed to fit in standard SR-25 magazines while delivering three times the range and lethality of 300 Blackout. It excels in both subsonic and supersonic configurations, a critical requirement for suppressed operations.

The cartridge uses heavy 300-400 grain projectiles with blunt, round noses: a significant departure from traditional streamlined bullets. This design required Q to completely rethink feed ramp geometry during development.

The 1:3 twist rate is the key to 8.6 Blackout's terminal performance. This spins the bullet three to four times faster than standard rifles, creating massive wound cavities. Q validated this through extensive ballistic gel testing and hunting large game including buffalo and hippos.

Professional hunter Rad Robertson, who tested the platform on African game, summarized the terminal performance simply: "You do not want to be on the receiving end of that bullet... it's a killing machine."

The Boombox leverages material science unavailable when the original AR-10 was designed in the 1950s. High-yield strength steels and alloys like Maraging steel allow Q to squeeze maximum performance from a compact package.

Two-Piece Bolt Carrier

Project lead Mitch Brusie redesigned the bolt carrier as a two-piece assembly. This allows for tighter manufacturing tolerances, better heat treatment of individual components, and the integration of tungsten buffer material directly into the carrier.

Pinch Barrel System

The pinch barrel system is a breakthrough in accuracy. The receiver "pinches" the barrel extension, eliminating clearance and ensuring the barrel returns to the exact same position after every shot. This provides monolithic-level repeatability in a lightweight package.

Balanced Bolt Catch

In lightweight guns, standard bolt catches bounce under impact, causing malfunctions. Q added mass below the pivot point to counterbalance the catch, keeping it still during the firing cycle.

Slim Handguard Design

The handguard clamps directly to the receiver, eliminating bulky barrel nuts. This provides a stiff platform for lasers and optics while minimizing weight and profile.

Charging Handle Innovation

The high recoil impulse of short-barrel .308/8.6 configurations caused standard charging handles to unlatch and hit the shooter. Q designed a balanced latch around the pivot point with a rubber damper to absorb recoil energy and keep the latch preloaded.

Q's development philosophy centers on what they call "destructive testing": intentionally pushing components to failure to identify weak points in geometry and material science. The Boombox development included tens of thousands of rounds fired.

Extractor Crisis

Endurance testing with short-barrel .308 revealed significant extractor failures. High residual pressure in the chamber caused cartridges to stick, leading extractors to tear through brass rims. Q iterated through various heat treatments and geometries until finding a version that lasts at least 5,000 rounds.

High-Speed Ejection Analysis

Q used high-speed cameras to analyze ejection patterns of subsonic rounds. This led to a minimal shell deflector design that supports the case throughout the ejection cycle for clean brass throw.

Real-World Validation

On Day 684, Q field-tested prototypes at the "Moons Out Goons Out" match with Ian McCollum (Forgotten Weapons). The prototype ran reliably in 30-degree weather and pouring rain with zero malfunctions.

Solving Feed Issues

The heavy 8.6 Blackout projectiles with blunt noses created feeding challenges. Chief Engineer Mitch Brusie explained their priority: "Step one is always get the cartridge into the chamber. If you can't do that, I don't care how cool your bullet looks when it shoots into gel."

Q redesigned the feed ramp insert multiple times to reliably handle the unique projectile geometry. The final design feeds both subsonic and supersonic loads without adjustment.

At SHOT Show 2026, Q displayed the Boombox alongside several related products in the 8.6 Blackout ecosystem.

Launch Box SD

A compact bolt-action rifle in 8.6 Blackout featuring a thermal/mirage mitigation shield and new compact silencer. The complete package fits in small cases for easy transport.

Boombox SD

The suppressed variant features a one-piece rail design for improved rigidity and weight reduction compared to earlier prototypes.

Dedicated Silencers

Q's silencer lineup for 8.6 Blackout includes the Pork Chop, Short Chop, and new Tallboy, each optimized for different use cases and barrel lengths.

Mega Fix

Q's long-action bolt rifle is designed for heavy calibers like 7 PRC, 300 Win Mag, and 375 Ruger. It features Q's first proprietary magazine specifically designed for reliable long-action cartridge feeding, and comes standard with Proof Research carbon fiber barrels.

The Lefty Silencer

Q's entry into the reduced backpressure silencer market. Initially launching in 5.56, it features a 3D-printed core and Cherry Bomb mounting system compatibility. Q plans Lefty XL, Lefty CQB, and 30-cal variants.