6.8 SPC as a hunting cartridge?

[IndianaBoy]

There is so much ignorance on display here on this thread. For once and for all, .243 and .260 Rem etc. do not work in an AR15. When most people refer to an AR or the AR platform they are talking about AR15s not the bigger heavier and much more expensive AR10. They are two different platforms altogether.

So one last time, .308 Winchester class cases are too long to fit in the AR15 magazine well. If you want to hunt big game with your AR15 at realistic distances the 6.8 SPC is a godsend. If you want to play with your online ballistic calculator, shoot zombies at 1000 meters or think anything under .30 caliber isn't...manly enough for you, shoot whatever you enjoy.

Kindly quote the post where someone suggested that it did. I saw one reference to the Remington R25, which is an AR-10. Everyone else is talking about bolt guns or a BAR, because they comprehend that the OP is not interested in an AR-15.

 

[Float Pilot]

In a 16 inch semi auto carbine: With the best boat-tails

110 grain Accubond 6.8 x43mm...............125 grain Ballistic tip 7.62x39mm
Muzzle vel 2,550 fps........................................2,300 fps
300 yards 1,884 fps.......................................1,670 fps
Marginal for anything over 100 pounds at 300 yards.

From a 20 to 22 inch bolt gun: using best boat-tail bullets with similar B.C.s

110 grain Nolser Accubond 6.8SPC...................125gr Ballistic tip 7.62x39mm
Muzzle vel: 2,725 fps............................................2,650 fps
300 yards: 2,009 fps.............................................1,961 fps

 

[Don Gordon]

What, nobody ever hear of the .30-30?? With Hornady's new Leverevolution ammo, the .30-30 is a 200+ yard rifle, is low recoil, and is handy. You don't have to question whether it's capable do you???

If he's waiting till next season, Savage is introducing the .250 Savage in a couple of their Bolt guns for 2009 which would also be ideal.

Otherwise pick up a .243 and shoot premium bullets in it.

 

[Shawnee]

"What, nobody ever hear of the .30-30?? "

Amen Don !

I suggested it thinking maybe the OP would like an excellent deer caliber that he could buy ammo for at Walmart and for which factory rifles are easy to find.
I have no idea why it is so fashionable to recommend off-the-beaten-path calibers that do nothing better than the common calibers.

 

[ArmedBear]

an INSANE 1700fps

Insane?

125 grains at 1700 may be a max load for a revolver, but the same load in a Marlin carbine is good for close to 2300 fps at the muzzle.

 

[ArmedBear]

If you want to hunt big game with your AR15 at realistic distances the 6.8 SPC is a godsend.

That's true.

But if you don't, it's a superfluous exotic. The OP apparently has no intention of using an AR-15 to hunt big game.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Insane?

125 grains at 1700 may be a max load for a revolver, but the same load in a Marlin carbine is good for close to 2300 fps at the muzzle.

I omitted to add that this calculation was based on a 180grn XTP

sorry

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

It's a fine, fine choice for deer hunting. Almost perfect in some ways for whitetails - a goldilocks caliber of sorts. As krochus mentions, a tad expensive, but overall an excellent choice. Much has been written on bullet performance for this round - a veritable plethora of info - so choosing a very effective loading/bullet combo for deer sized game would be a breeze.

 

[IndianaBoy]

6.8 SPC.

Ammo: hard to find.

Ammo: expensive.

Ballistics: decent, but nothing special.

Advantage over 243 or 260 or 7mm08 or 250 Savage in a bolt action. Nonexistant.

The 6.8 SPC is a solution in search of a problem for anyone who is NOT seeking to hunt deer with an AR.

The 30-30 is fine but I have seen a lot more bolt guns with good butt pads than I have lever actions.

The 6.8 SPC is worth a look only if you are hung up on hunting with your AR. Even then the Grendel outclasses it and if you are going to shoot either you better handload.

 

[woof]

+1 Premium Sauces

 

[420Stainless]

The 6.8 SPC is worth a look only if you are hung up on hunting with your AR. Even then the Grendel outclasses it and if you are going to shoot either you better handload.

The 6.8SPC was designed as a battle cartridge for situations in which it was felt that the NATO cartridge does not have enough ooomph. That it could also work as a deer hunting caliber in a semi-auto carbine might be seen as an advantage to some folks (myself included - just got a Mini 14 in 6.8). The idea of having a semi-auto carbine that can do duty as a defensive weapon, hunting tool, and all around family fun to shoot gun appeals to me even if you think it senseless. Yes, a 30-30 lever gun or the Ruger .44 Mag. carbine can do all of those things too, but you can't slap a 20 round magazine into them like you can an AR (and maybe the Mini 14 someday).

I use my 10/22 for hunting small game as well. I'm sure some will say a bolt gun would serve the purpose better, but my 10/22 is extremely accurate and makes a much better range gun for the non hunters in my family to enjoy. My thinking is that the 6.8SPC will do as well, albeit much more expensive as many have pointed out.

 

[nathan]

I d say get the .243, very light and cheap ammo to boot. Leave the newer 6 .8 for military application.

 

[rbernie]

Advantage over 243 or 260 or 7mm08 or 250 Savage in a bolt action. Nonexistant.

I disagree that the benefit is nonexistant. The imtermediate chambering will use less powder, and even when recoil is similar it has far less flash/BOOM. That can sometimes be important.

Having said that, I largely concur with the notion that a downloaded 7mm08 is probably a better solution for most folk when considering a new bolt-action.

 

[IndianaBoy]

I don't think the 6.8 cartridge is senseless. Far from it. It makes perfect sense in an AR or a Mini.

Ammo cost and scarcity alone is a good reason to avoid it in a bolt action.

 

[420Stainless]

Sorry IndianaBoy - senseless was a poor choice of words on my part and I apologize. I understand your point - I just think the original question as to whether or not the 6.8SPC is a decent choice as a deer hunting cartridge was overridden by folks pointing out strengths of other calibers vs. it for certain specific conditions. I was trying to make the point that there may be some advantages to the 6.8SPC over the other calibers from a different perspective. While I like to use the best tool for a specific job, I also apreciate that sometimes one that can do many things well can also be enjoyable. In my case, I'd been eyeing a compact .260 Remington bolt gun for some time when I became aware of the Mini in 6.8SPC. They weigh about the same and have ballistic characteristics that are not all that far apart. I realized that my wife and kids, who don't hunt, would probably enjoy the semiauto more than the bolt. As a side bonus, if they get proficient with it, it could become a family home defense weapon as well. I'm not counting on that last part, but it is in the realm of possibility.

 

[BullpupBen]

If 6.8 is an option then how about 6.5 Grendel?
It is inherently a far more accurate cartridge and better for hunting, since it can take heavier bullets than the 6.8 and has a much flatter trajectory. They have about the same recoil, but I think 6.5 will be far more versatile. If you buy factory ammo then your old man could use Wolf ammo for practice which is cheaper than any 6.8 ammo, and Alexander Arms rounds for hunting, which have been known to get down below .5 MOA in good rifles. If he relolads then its a very easy cartridge to work with since you can use the supply of readily available 6.5 caliber hunting bullets, less so with the 6.8 since it only goes up to 115 grains.
CZ will hopefully come out with a 527 in 6.5 Grendel in 2009, if he doesn't want to use an AR.

Before anyone asks it, no I don't work for Alexander Arms..