6.8 SPC vs. 7.62x39?

[GunTech]

I was wondering when 300 Blackout would be mentioned. The marketing engine is really working overtime on this one and I've noticed there a lot of buzz on a lot of gunboards about how this is THE next AR round . I am seeing it being recommended as the best AR round for SD even.

Who's actually seen a loaded round, let alone shot one.

The 6.8 seems to have earned a place as a legitimate round. It has real utility particularly for those who want to hunt with the AR but can't or won't use 223 on medium game animals. Quite a number of manufacturers build rifles, and it's even offered in a non-AR platform.

300 Blackout might succeed, if it can fill a similar niche. As a cheap plinker, it will never be able to compete with 7.62x39, 5.45x39 or even milsurp 5.56. As a game or SD round its competition is the 7.62x39 and while the 300 can use standard magazines, this isn't a particularly compelling argument since ammo is by far the largest cost over the life of a firearm and 7.62x39 AR magazines are available. The AR in 7.62x39 also gives the owner the option to shoot premium ammo, or cheap blasting ammo.

 

[jimmymorocco]

I killed a nice buck @ 250yds with a Saiga 16" bbl. this year, open sites brown bear ammo. He was pretty dead alright. The x39 has its limits like any other caliber but all of them can be pushed to find what their extreme limits are. I really don't care what kind of weaponry my enemy has all I care about is can he use it to the extreme limits? If so I better be better with mine!!

 

[Tirod]

In mentioning the .300 BLK, accessory cost and availability come to mind. Not everyone shoots so much ammo 25c a round becomes their upper limit. With .300 BLK, the standard bolt and GI mags will do. With the 6.8, a specific bolt and mags must be used, increasing the acquired costs. With the 7.62x39, again, a specific bolt, and frankenmags to feed tapered cases into the straight mag well are required. That means losing a major reliability factor for the AK round, the superior mag feeding system.

Some do ok, many report that alone is what turned them off 7.62x39 in the AR. Guaranteed reliable money back magazines don't exist. Talk of ballistics advantages forget the case has to feed into the chamber reliably. Mess that up - like hollowpoints in a 1911, it's a dog. Feed ramps, polishing, tweaks, whatever it takes, but it's a compromise to get it to work.

6.8 or .300 BLK works in the gun with less mods, ammo cost isn't everything when the end result is superior ballistics. If blasting ammo is the goal, don't bother with them. It's contradictory. High round count guns don't usually need uber ballistics pinging off steel plates or punching paper.