(7.62x39) vs. 6.8mm SPC. Which for a Personal Defense Weapon?

[jaholder1971]

I'll take 7.62X39 over 6.8 simply based on ammo availability.

I've seen 6.8 only a Cabela's (Silver State Armory) while every gun shop between home and there has lots of 7.62X39, albeit pricey compared to days of old.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Went to a gun show in Syracuse this spring. One of the things I looked for was 6.8SPC ammo. Wanted to see what the case looked like. Such things interest me; I'm a reloader.

Couldn't find any. No one had any to even show me. There were some Mini-14s in 6.8 available for sale, but no ammo. No brass either.

I wouldn't touch that cartridge with a 10ft. pole. Without ammo, a gun is useless. Without enough to practice with, it's marginal at best.
Bob

 

[amprecon]

I don't like the 5.56, but that's my personal opinion. I really do like the 7.62X39 and like the 7.62X51 even better. 7.62X39 is cheaper, but with the cost of good AK's today, if I were to go shopping for a shtf rifle I'd probably go with the Springfield Armory Scout rifle with 18" barrel.
At one time I was tempted to dump everything I had in favor of a one-rifle-do-it-all rifle in a XCR in 6.8spc. I like the 6.8spc, and would've given up .308, .30-06 and 7.62X39 just to have that one caliber as I felt it could do everything I'd ever need a rifle to do. But I came to realize that the 6.8spc had not gained enough popularity in the civilian ammo market to be able to acquire easily or cheaply.
So of the two calibers you chose, I'd go with the 7.62X39 over the 6.8spc because of price and availability. But if I were you I'd also look at the .308 which clearly outperforms any other caliber mentioned here.

 

[PandaBearBG]

cameron.personel - where are you getting 25c/rnd 5.56?!?!?

RedLion - I stand corrected about indoor penetration on those calibers, I just generally keep a couple mags of M855 for home defense, soley for the off chance a burgler and is wearing body armor and to chew his little burgling car to pieces....hahahahaha.

 

[C-grunt]

cameron.personel - where are you getting 25c/rnd 5.56?!?!?

RedLion - I stand corrected about indoor penetration on those calibers, I just generally keep a couple mags of M855 for home defense, soley for the off chance a burgler and is wearing body armor and to chew his little burgling car to pieces....hahahahaha.

You dont need M855 for soft body armor. But it does work great on cars.

 

[PandaBearBG]

well can't hurt right?. . .. well at least can't hurt me! hahahah

 

[jdh]

The AR platform seems to me to run most reliably on quality brass cased ammo, but I'm open to correction.

When I got my upper I went to the gun shop and ask for the cheapest steel cased crap he had in 7.63X39 to test function with. Three mags (90 rounds) without a hitch. Clean up was no more hassle than normal.

Next test is to get some quality 7.62X39 and shoot for accuracy to see how the AR compares to a Yugo SKS.