While they are both alternate chamberings, they really are different from a commercial standpoint, the blackout is better for the high volume shooter and as such they aren't interested in running to wal mart to grab 2 boxes or pay premium prices at Cabelas. However many 6.8 owners are relatively low volume shooters and hunter types that may well be happy with just a couple boxes and won't be as bothered sending a couple extra bucks.
Huh?
It may be early, but this paragraph isnt clear to me
Why do you say the 300BLK is better for the high volume shooter, vs the 6.8?
Case 1 - The reloading crew
If you are a reloader, the 300BLK and the 6.8 shooter can both shoot volume economically
I reuse my brass, and expect to get 10-15 loads
If I pay for used brass (6.8) at 35 to 40 cents a piece, my net price is 3-5 cents per shooting
For plinking rounds, I get 110PH Sierras blems that cost 11-13 cents per round
I shoot for around 16 to 25 cents per round
The hornady Bullet I like for hunting is 35 cents or so as a component
If I reloaded the 300blk, I would count my brass as free (pickups), there is some labor in
cutting, lubing, and resizing these (but you might count that as free as well)
You still have the same primer and similar powder costs(300blk uses less powder), and with the
pulldowns of 147g (used by many shooters of 300blk as plinkers) becoming harder to get, and approaching
15-20 cents per round, the cost, even with the brass difference, is nearly equal
A premium hunting bullet 110g to 120g is going to run .50 at least
To be fair, if you cast your own bulets, the 300BLK is going to offer more cost advantages
Case 2 - The Non-reloader
The promised cheap 300BLK ammo is almost never available.
There is almost never 300blk on any store shelf
6.8 seems to be increasing on the shelf
On the web, there is growing availability of both, and prices are not that far apart.
(Sometimes 300blk is higher, sometimes 6.8 is lower)
A quick search on gunbot has the cheapest within 7 cents of each other
I really think the 300BLK is an awesome round. It has many positive attributes.
I looked at both, but because I hunt, I wanted the extra power and distance the 6.8 gives
I try very much to stay at 1000 ft/lbs as a minimum for hunting mid sized animals
(Of course, shot placement trumps energy)
I use the SST from Hornady, and it carries 1kft lbs to 275 yards
The best bullet I could find in 300BLK, carried 1kft lbs to 126 yards
That decided it for me - It doubles the distance for 1kft lbs
If you hunt under 150 yards, you will be fine with either
I will say again, the 300BLK, seems to be a great round
Some of the issues listed above are because the round is growing in popularity
(I believe the 6.8 is growing as well, but with the headstart on the 300, maybe not as
fast)
I wish I could slow down the 6.8 so that I could shoot suppressed
I may buy one at some point, but the misinformation passed on the web by the fanboys
of both cartridges is amazing.
Buy what works for you