Phaedrus/69
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Almost no round ever totally goes away.
6.8 spc or .300 ham'r?
- Thread starter MISportsman
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Steve in Allentown
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Not sure if this is what you're looking for but they're popular in some circles: https://www.cavitybackbullets.com/product-p/cb-pri-mod-mag.htm
Steve in Allentown
Member
I have a rifle built around an 18" ARP barrel and it is truly a tack driver. Ten rounds of S&B 110gr FMJ into half an inch at 100yds while zeroing the scope. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. When the current political climate changes for the better I'll get busy working up handloads to see if I can get even smaller groups - just for fun.
I'm a 6.8 fanboy. It sits midway between the 5.56 and .308 in terms of effective range and power which is perfect for the terrain here and the rifle's expected use.
BreechFace
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I know about the PRI modified magazines and CBB, great options for those of us running regular milspec sized lowers.
The LWRC Six8 lower is not milspec it has an oversized mag well to allow for the 6.8 SPC Magpul magazines.
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MISportsman
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I am seeing a bit on here about oversized magazine wells on the lwrc for the 6.8. If I go that route, I already have a lower, but its a mil spec stag arms. Would I have any issues with the 6.8?
mokin
Member
Best of luck replicating that. I had a similar experience. Put nine rounds, three shots each from three different loads, into a spot I could cover with a quarter. I've been trying to do that again for over ten years now. Not to say I haven't come close on a few occasions...
mokin
Member
A mil spec lower will limit you to loading cartridges that will fit the magazine. I believe to maximize the potential of the 6.8 SPC you need heavier bullets and more powder, something you're not going to be able to do with a mil spec lower. When I built my 6.8, there weren't nearly the options available there are today. I went with a Stag lower an lots of mil spec parts. I believe I have about maxed out the capabilities of my rifle. All I can do to improve performance is to improve my own skills. By that I mean if I can be sure to do my part, given the game and terrain, the rifle will do it's part.
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MISportsman
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So pretty much I would be limited to factory loads and hand loads up to 120gr?
someguy2800
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From what I’m reading the six8 receiver just has a slightly larger mag well that allows for a wider magazine to let the cartridges stack better in the mag. The mags they use have the same internal length as the existing steel magazines so I don’t see how it’s going to change anything. So no you would not be limited to anything other that what your twist rate will stabilize.
BreechFace
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No issues with a standard milspec lower just stick with 6.8 SPC specific metal magazines and your good to go. Don’t buy the magpul 6.8 SPC mags as they only work with the LWRC Six8 lower.
There is some ASC mags that I mentioned previously that allow for longer loading by design than others. But I’ve had good luck with all my 6.8 SPC specific mags I’ve used.
mokin
Member
While this is true, when you start loading bullets heavier than 120 grains you start to take up space inside the case. So far, my rifle performs best with 115 -110 grain bullets loaded near maximum case capacity/published data limits. When I back off on the charge, the groups open up. Might be worth trying. I haven't tried 130 grain bullets.
Gtscotty
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Don't know, mine feeds fine from 15 Rd Grendel mags and honestly I usually use 10 rd for most Grendel and ARC shooting. My 6mm ARC is set up for longer range and my Grendel is set up for hunting, neither of those activities are high rate of fire propositions for me.
Phaedrus/69
Member
Almost no round ever totally goes away.
That makes sense. In my mind- and this is just my personal view- any AR that I buy will potentially have a role in defense so I like the idea of 30 round mags. Obviously lots of folks use the AR in many different ways though.
That makes sense. In my mind- and this is just my personal view- any AR that I buy will potentially have a role in defense so I like the idea of 30 round mags. Obviously lots of folks use the AR in many different ways though.
horsemen61
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I believe the .25-45 sharps ar round is gone and same with the Remington 30 AR! It’s a shame for the Rem 30 AR because I thought it would make a dandy deer rifle!
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MISportsman
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I read somewhere that 6.5 grendel mags work for 6.8 spc, is there any truth to that?
BreechFace
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Not sure, I know one can use STANAG mags loaded to about 6-7 but then they start to bind.
Well, I won't fault anyone for considering safety issues first, but I've never heard of an AR chambered in x39 blowing up. It's not so much about hot rodding, but rather bringing the cartridge up to it's full potential. The SAAMI standard for x39 is anemic... just plain wrong. Can't put it in any clearer terms. SAAMI is different than Europe's C.I.P. in that SAAMI is voluntary/advisory, while C.I.P. is mandatory.
The C.I.P. countries that import and allow citizens to posses AR type firearms in 7.62x39 could not do so unless that firearm passes the more rigorous C.I.P. pressure testing in one of the many proof houses in Europe.
After it passes it is then stamped with the mark of the proof house it was tested in. The pressure threshold is far... and I mean FAR above SAAMI for 7.62x39 and many other cartridges. If an AR chambered in x39 is going blow to pieces it would be during C.I.P. pressure tests, but the reality is they don't blow up over there either. Jamming and feeding problems are a real thing in x39 ARs. Success or failure depends on one's knowledge and skills.
Yeah true, I've heard the horror stories... mostly feeding and cycling issues with x39 in the AR. On the other hand I've seen the success stories.
I would be happy with about any of the calibers mentioned in this thread. If/when a person might want to experiment with x39 in an AR, the failures and successes combined present a wealth of knowledge and guidance when selecting components for a successful build. There's a certain satisfaction in being part of an elite that has success, when the naysayers are standing around scratching their heads wondering how you did it, because they insisted it couldn't be done.
The issues with an AR x39 are primarily gas port, feed ramp, and magazine quality related, and easily remedied. Of course the guys who give up before they start are never gonna know the thrill of it all.
Oh by the way, I like the SKS. I remember seeing nice Yugos advertised in Shotgun News back in the day after I'd bought my Mini-30. I still kick myself for not buying one back when they didn't cost much more than a tank of gas for my Chevy Blazer.
Phaedrus/69
Member
I'd rather have an extra tank of gas than to have my old SKS back.
I'd rather have an extra tank of gas than to have my old SKS back.
Too each his own I guess
someguy2800
Member
.25-45 is still available as loaded ammo and easy to make from 223 brass.
30 AR is not completely extinct yet but it’s in hospice. Remington still makes the brass every few years. It’s a real shame that one fell by the wayside because I would love to have one along with about 500 cases. I think that one was about 10 years ahead of its time. People weren’t quite ready for the idea of deer hunting with an AR15 it seams but that idea has truly come of age.
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someguy2800
Member
Well, I won't fault anyone for considering safety issues first, but I've never heard of an AR chambered in x39 blowing up. It's not so much about hot rodding, but rather bringing the cartridge up to it's full potential. The SAAMI standard for x39 is anemic... just plain wrong. Can't put it in any clearer terms. SAAMI is different than Europe's C.I.P. in that SAAMI is voluntary/advisory, while C.I.P. is mandatory.
The C.I.P. countries that import and allow citizens to posses AR type firearms in 7.62x39 could not do so unless that firearm passes the more rigorous C.I.P. pressure testing in one of the many proof houses in Europe.
After it passes it is then stamped with the mark of the proof house it was tested in. The pressure threshold is far... and I mean FAR above SAAMI for 7.62x39 and many other cartridges. If an AR chambered in x39 is going blow to pieces it would be during C.I.P. pressure tests, but the reality is they don't blow up over there either. Jamming and feeding problems are a real thing in x39 ARs. Success or failure depends on one's knowledge and skills.
Yeah true, I've heard the horror stories... mostly feeding and cycling issues with x39 in the AR. On the other hand I've seen the success stories.
I would be happy with about any of the calibers mentioned in this thread. If/when a person might want to experiment with x39 in an AR, the failures and successes combined present a wealth of knowledge and guidance when selecting components for a successful build. There's a certain satisfaction in being part of an elite that has success, when the naysayers are standing around scratching their heads wondering how you did it, because they insisted it couldn't be done.
The issues with an AR x39 are primarily gas port, feed ramp, and magazine quality related, and easily remedied. Of course the guys who give up before they start are never gonna know the thrill of it all.
Oh by the way, I like the SKS. I remember seeing nice Yugos advertised in Shotgun News back in the day after I'd bought my Mini-30. I still kick myself for not buying one back when they didn't cost much more than a tank of gas for my Chevy Blazer.
I’ve had a total of 4 7.62x39 barrels mounted in 2 different uppers and 3 different lowers and have never had a feed or ejection issue in any of them. I’m mean not a single malfunction ever. I have far more troubles getting 223 uppers to work cycle and eject. The only mags I use are 10 round C products mags. For the purpose I use them for 10 rounds is plenty for me. No desire for a bigger one.
horsemen61
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I think if a man can still find .25-45 then I wouldn’t worry about finding 6.8 spc or 300 hamm’r in a few years if your truly worried buy 1,000 rounds and enough stuff to reload 5,000 rounds and you should be good to go
in all seriousness as a hand loader I do think about these things and try to buy stuff in bulk when I can!sixgunner455
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Use the 6.8 magazines designed for mil-spec lowers with your mil-spec lower, and you’ll be fine.
The bullets you can get between 85-120gr can do so much, I don’t really see them as limiting. If I want to shoot subs, I can go on up in bullet weight to the max available in .277 bullets. I am pretty sure my ARP 1:11 barrel isn’t optimized for that use, but it should do fine at least at close range with them.
Handloads are what I use for most hunting in most weapons, and exclusively that in the 6.8. I’m not aware of any factory loads heavier than 120.
ASC magazines work very well in a mil-spec lower.
85gr TSX and 95gr TTSX are very good (95gr was specifically designed for optimum performance at 6.8 velocities with an extremely forgiving low velocity expansion rating), 110gr TSX, VMax, Prohunters and various HPBT, plus many 120gr projectiles have all performed at least adequately at the range, and most quality bullets have a great rep on the 6.8 forums for game performance.
The 6.8 development also helped broaden the .277 bullet market in the variety of projectiles that are available for the various .270 cartridges.
I built my 6.8 upper on an ARPerformance 16” Scout barrel for my scrawny son when he was too small to hold up any rifle longer or heavier than a very light 16” AR, but I wanted him to have better terminal performance than the 5.56 offers. He hunted with it for a few years, but hasn’t had any interest in hunting or shooting since he started college. I keep hoping someday he’ll come back to it. In the meantime, I get it out and mess with it once in a while, but mostly hunt with other things. Last year, I used light bullets I’d purchased years earlier for load development with the 6.8 in my .270 Winchester for low recoil hunting in my Model 70, and they worked great at the range and on my deer. All of that is to say, I don’t think support for the 6.8 is going away any more than for .30 caliber AR cartridges because we will still have the more common/mainstream use hunting cartridges in those diameters, so the only thing remaining that might be a limiting factor would be brass. Eventually, that might become a problem for some of the less popular cartridges, but there are so many 6.8 uppers and barrels out there, I doubt that will be a problem in any real sense for the 6.8 in the near term - like, the next two or three decades.
someguy2800
Member
I think if a man can still find .25-45 then I wouldn’t worry about finding 6.8 spc or 300 hamm’r in a few years if your truly worried buy 1,000 rounds and enough stuff to reload 5,000 rounds and you should be good to go
yeah I typically buy what I think will be a lifetime supply of brass for everything I buy. For some rifles that’s 50, for others it’s 1000+
Guess I'm late to the party. LOL
I've got 6 ARs chambered in 6.8 and 5 ARs chambered in x39(I'm retired and like to build stuff.) All of them run flawlessly. I mostly use 10 round ASC mags. I reload for all of them. I've thought about building a 300 HAM'R, but one of my x39 AR's has a .308 bore, so I get to use all the .308 bullets for it. I don't think the 300 HAM'R could touch that one. So I feel like it might be a step backward for me to get the HAM'R.
I never knew the x39 could be so accurate till I built an AR chambered in one.
The 6.8 isn't dead. Just about everybody who wanted one has at least one, or 6. LOL
I've got 6 ARs chambered in 6.8 and 5 ARs chambered in x39(I'm retired and like to build stuff.) All of them run flawlessly. I mostly use 10 round ASC mags. I reload for all of them. I've thought about building a 300 HAM'R, but one of my x39 AR's has a .308 bore, so I get to use all the .308 bullets for it. I don't think the 300 HAM'R could touch that one. So I feel like it might be a step backward for me to get the HAM'R.
I never knew the x39 could be so accurate till I built an AR chambered in one.
The 6.8 isn't dead. Just about everybody who wanted one has at least one, or 6. LOL
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