TFB Review: Q Honey Badger 5.56 - First 200 Rounds

Q LLC, a firearms manufacturer known for its bold "Live Q or Die" ethos, was founded by industry veteran Kevin Brittingham in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. At just 19, he incorporated Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) in 1997, transforming it into a suppressor powerhouse with rapid growth. In 2009, he sold AAC to Remington Arms for approximately $18 million, but clashing with Remington's leadership led to his ouster in 2011 and a lawsuit that sidelined him until 2014. Briefly serving as president of SIG Sauer's suppressor division, Brittingham departed in 2015 amid frustrations with corporate bureaucracy, reuniting with key alumni from AAC and SIG to establish Q.

The Honey Badger, Q's flagship personal defense weapon (PDW), traces its roots to a 2011 AAC prototype developed under Brittingham's guidance to meet a U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) call for a compact, suppressed replacement for the MP5SD, chambered exclusively in the newly adopted 300 AAC Blackout cartridge for versatile subsonic and supersonic performance. This integrated-suppressor short-barreled rifle (SBR) featured a minimalist gas system and AR ergonomics but stalled post-Remington acquisition, losing to SIG's MCX and never reaching commercial production. Revived by Q in 2017 as a semi-auto civilian version—complete with a 7-inch barrel, 1:5 twist, and two-stamp NFA compliance—the 300 Blackout Honey Badger weighed just 4 pounds 8 ounces. In 2023, Q expanded the line with a 5.56 NATO variant, boasting a 9.69-inch barrel for enhanced velocity while retaining the PDW's 4-pound-9-ounce featherweight build. This past summer, I was lucky enough to build my own Honey Badger in 5.56 at Q, and here are my impressions on my first 200 rounds through the rifle.

The Q Honey Badger in 5.56 and the Q South Paw Suppressor were provided for this article, and while I am allowed to keep these products indefinitely, this will not influence my opinions on any current or future offerings from Q.

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Initial Setup and Impressions

The Honey Badger felt exceptionally light and balanced when I first picked it up. The machined aluminum construction gives it a solid heft where it counts, but still agile. The adjustable gas block was tuned from the factory, and I’m yet to touch it as I was told by Q that it should be good to work with and without a can attached. I mounted my Eotech for testing and ran it with standard AR-15 magazines from Magpul and Surefeeds. Lastly, I attached the Q Southpaw suppressor, their dedicated steel 5.56 can. I tried the gun in both configurations: running unsuppressed and then throwing the can on.

Shooting Unsuppressed

Starting unsuppressed, the Honey Badger cycles smoothly, yet there is a snappiness from the short barrel. On the other hand, the blast from the 9.96-inch barrel was anything but subtle. Ear pro is non-negotiable when shooting this gun without a can attached. Zero gas blowback to the face, and I'm happy to report the gun cycled with no jams. The reset on the trigger is incredibly short, and if you have a quick finger, you can definitely burn it down with this gun.

Shooting Suppressed

Attaching the suppressor transformed the experience from fine to downright fun. According to Pew Science, the South Paw has a rating of 30.6 and an average DB of 143.3 out of a 10.3 “ barrel, and shooting Federal XM193 ammunition. While not exact, this is close to what I was shooting. It's not the whisper-quiet subsonic magic of the 300 Blackout version, but for 5.56, it's respectable and reduces the concussion significantly indoors or in confined areas.

Recoil softened further, and the gas system handled the backpressure well, with minimal overgassing to the shooter. Heat buildup on the suppressor became evident after only about 15 rounds, and I would highly recommend having gloves around whenever shooting with a can attached.

No malfunctions across the board, which is a solid considering I shot the gun suppressed and unsuppressed. Disassembly is straightforward, while a bit different. You need to take out both of the receiver pins at the same time to get the upper and lower to separate without too many issues. If you try and disassemble the gun like a standard AR and hinge it open, the recoil spring will get in your way. Once I cracked the Honey Badger open, man, was this gun dirty! No noticeable wear at this round count, and that's what I anticipated.