I have been testing the 6.8mm SPC for Alaskan use for the last few 6 months now. I have handloaded and fired about 1,200 rounds, as well as fired about 150 rounds of factory loads. I keep all the brass form my experiments seperate and I use two chronographs in tandem for velocity testing.
I have been able to consistently load accurate ammunition for the 6.8mm which falls into the power range appropriate for anti-personnel use and light game.
90 grain (270 caliber) Sierra Hollow Points at 2,895 fps from a 16 inch barrel and 3,000 fps from a 20 inch barrel.
110 grain Sierra soft points, Nosler 110 grain boat-tails and Horady Boat tails loaded to 2,550 fps from a 16 inch barrel and 2,645fps from a 20 inch barrel.
130 grain Sierras to 2,230 fps from a 16 inch and 2,310 from a 20 inch.
I even loaded some 150 grain round nose bullets to 1,950 fps from the 16 inch barrel and had to single load them. They actually shot a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards.
All the factory loads were 100 fps slower than advertised. And not nearly as accurate as my handloads. The factory ammo seeming to avergae about 2.5 inch groups while my best handloads are 0.50 to 0.75 nch average at the same distance. Some handloads group even better.
The case size, which is restricted by the action size, means all these loads are top end and showing a good deal of pressure. Basically there is no room for improvement other than imaginery.
Hunting:
The problem is that here in Alaska, the only (four legged) game animals of the proper size for this cartridge are Sitka Black Tail Deer and Caribou. Both of which happen to live in areas with rather large Brown Bears. That is why many folks up here like the 458 SOCOM or 50 Grendel.
So maybe a winter (bears asleep) Caribou hunt would work with the 6.8mm SPC, but caribou are not as easy to kill as some folks would like to think.
Island deer hunts would be asking for trouble since the 6.8mm SPC is marginal for anything over 250 pounds, much less a half ton of grizzley who takes a liking to your smell.
I even though about Mountain Goats since they are not all that heavy. They too are rather hard to put down with marginal calibers and most shots I have taken over the last 40 years of shooting have been fairly long.
All in all the 6.8mm SPC is ok for anything up to about 250 pounds within 300 yards.
