Any 6.8 SPC shooters?

[Big Bad Bob]

Wanted to get some thoughts from you guys who shoot the 6.8 and like the round. I am looking at getting a new AR-15 for some fall and winter 'yote hunting, not set on .223, I want to have some power if a deer just so happens to come along to drop it.

Ballistics look ok, seems to fall between 5.56 and 7.62x51. I know its a .277 caliber bullet so it should shoot pretty flat.

I have read some of the articles online about it, seems really popular, just wanted to get some 2 cents from guys who shoot it.

Thanks

 

[nyc71]

Best source it's here:
http://68forums.com/forums/forum.php

 

[68wj]

It may be a .277, but that doesn't mean that it shoots flat like the .270 Win. The shorter, lighter bullets and AR magazine length limitations should not be confused with long barreled, long action rifles. That said, out of a carbine barrel, it will take deer and yotes with 120 gr down to 85 gr weights from available factory loads.

On the light/fast end, the Barnes 85 TSX has gotten great results on deer and hogs. Factory loads are claimed to be 2828 fps from a 16" barrel. Nosler is scheduled to release an 85 gr eTip pill this fall, but you will probably need to handload for this option. The 90 gr Speer TNT would be great for yotes, but not recommended for deer.

In the middle, the 95 TTSX, 100 and 110 Accubond, and Sierra ProHunter would work well. Some have taken deer with VMax and match rounds, but I am not a fan of these for larger game.

The 120 SST came out this year post-season, so no deer yet. There are at least a few hog hunters that have made this their go-to round.

 

[rbernie]

I shoot 6.8SPC a fair bit, predominantly for smaller Texas deer. I prefer 5.56/223 for training and general use due to its much better economy, but I prefer the 6.8SPC for walkabout hunting use.

 

[Float Pilot]

I have been shooting a 16 inch Stag 6.8spc for about 3 years. Mostly conducting load experiments.
Within a few days the 16 inch Stag will be transformed into a 24 inch Black Hole Weaponry
6.8 spc with poly rifled 1 in 11 twist...

Here are examples of how she did with the old 16 inch 1 in 10 twist barrel, With the new barrel I am hoping for 200 fps more....

Rifle: Stag 16 inch flat-top, 1 in 10 twist SPCII chamber, A2 buttstock with Tubbs flat spring
Sights: Fixed 6 power Leupold. FXIII 42mm Heavy Duplex
Range 100 yards
Temp: Minus 3 F to Positive 05 degrees F , Negative 15 C average
Light: Flat fading light on snow.


110 Grain NOSLER ACCUBOND.

1:
Bullet: 110 grain NOSLER Accubond, boat tail
Powder: 26.6 grains, RL-10x compressed.
Primer: Remington 7 1/2 bench rest small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.245 inch med roll crimp.
Velocity average: 2,329 fps 29 fps ES
1 inch group with last shot flyer no pressure signs

2:
Bullet: 110 NOSLER ACCUBOND Boat-Tail
Powder: 29.5 grains H-322
Primer: CCI-BR-4 Small Rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.260 inch Lee Factory Crimp
Velocity average: 2,532 fps 62 fps ES
0.30 inch group, with flyers on last round, High Pressure signs. Flat primers, ejector marks

3:
Bullet: 110 grain Nosler Accubond Boat-Tail
Powder: 29.0 grains H-322
Primer: CCI 450 MAGNUM Small Rifle hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.260 inch Lee Factory Crimp
Velocity average: 2,520 fps 55 fps ES
2.5 inch group, High Pressure signs. Ejector marks


4:
Bullet: 110 grain Nosler Accubond Boat-Tail
Powder: 29.0 grains H-322
Primer: Winchester Small Rifle hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.260 inch Lee Factory Crimp
Velocity average: 2,463 fps 24 fps ES
1.0 inch group, NO Pressure signs




5:
Bullet: 110 grain Nosler Accubond Boat-Tail
Powder: 29.0 grains H-322
Primer: CCI BR-4 Bench Rest Small Rifle hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.260 inch Lee Factory Crimp
Velocity average: 2,554 fps 14 fps ES
1.0 inch group, NO Pressure signs

6:
Bullet: 110 grain Nosler Accubond Boat-Tail
Powder: 28.0 grains H-322
Primer: CCI 450 MAGNUM Small Rifle hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.260 inch Lee Factory Crimp
Velocity average: 2,460 fps 41 fps ES
1.5 inch group, NO Pressure signs. Firing pin dragging on primer face


7:
Bullet: 110 grain Nosler Accubond Boat-Tail
Powder: 29.0 grains H-322
Primer: Federal 205 , Standard Small Rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.260 inch Lee Factory Crimp
Velocity average: 2,483 fps 33 fps ES
0.5 inch group, with flyer to 1.5in NO Pressure signs. Some firing pin dragging on primer face


8:
Bullet: 110 NOSLER ACCUBOND Boat-Tail
Powder: 29.0 grains H-322
Primer: CCI-41 MILITARY Small Rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.260 inch Lee Factory Crimp
Velocity average: 2,534 fps 32 fps ES fired at 35F temp
1.0 inch group, Flat primers,


90 grain Sierra HP

1.
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 30.1 grains, H-322.
Primer: CCI-BR-4 bench rest small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.245 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,705 fps 40 fps ES
1.5 inch group with last shot flyer to 2 Does not load well No pressure signs

2:
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 33.5 grains, AA-2230
Primer: CCI-BR-4 bench rest small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.245 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,647 fps 43 fps ES
0.5 inch group with last shot flyer to 0.75 Does not load well No pressure signs

3:
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 27.5 grains, RL-7
Primer: CCI-BR-4 bench rest small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.245 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,664 fps 47 fps ES
1.25 inch group Does not load well Some pressure signs

4:
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 27.0 grains AA 1680
Primer: CCI-BR-4 bench rest small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.245 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,645 fps 74 fps ES
1.0 inch group Does not load well NO pressure signs












5:
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 28.5 grains H-4198
Primer: CCI-BR-4 bench rest small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.245 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,883 fps 24 fps ES
1.0 inch group including flyers Does not load well HIGH pressure signs
Has potential for accuracy if it would load without hanging up.

This is MAX for my rifle. FIRED AT 28 degrees F..
Long Seated experiment. Does not work well in C-mag.

6.
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 28.5 grains, H-4198.
Primer: CCI-400 small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.315 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,870 fps 65 fps ES
1.2 inch group flat primers

7.
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 28.8 grains, H-4198.
Primer: CCI-400 small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.315 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,908 fps, 22 fps ES
0.40 inch group , with standard first and last round flyers to 0.75 in
flat primers , ejector marks

8.
Bullet: 90 grain Sierra Hollow Point, flat base
Powder: 29.0 grains, H-4198.
Primer: CCI-400 small rifle, hand seated
Brass: SSA
COL: 2.315 inch Lee Crimp.
Velocity average: 2,930 fps 37 fps ES
0.75 inch group, with flyer to 1.2 inch
flat primers, cratered primer strike, heavy ejector marks

 

[Frankl03]

I just traded for a 6.8 Spc AR. Its a Mk68 from AR15 Performance.

I'm planning to handload for it, I have some 110 Gr Hornady BTHP coming. For an initial load I'm looking at 28 gr H335 and cci small rifle primers. I have RL7 and RL10 on hand as well.

I'm really looking forward to getting out to the range. I ordered one of the New Bushnell Elite 3x9x40 scopes. I also have a set of Burris extra high extreme tactical rings on order.

I plan to hunt deer and hogs this fall with it.

 

[Ro1911]

The only reason I would use that round would be if I were using a barrel shorter than 12",
a 223 doesn't hit as hard when you put it in an SBR.

 

[Tirod]

I built an AR in 6.8 as a deer rifle. I first started hunting with an HK91, it's a heavy hard recoiling main battle rifle, and I didn't want much to do with those jammomatics.

Real men don't wage war with varmint rifles, or so I thought. So, I hunted with the HK, then got a Rem 700 in .30-06, ran across a truck grade Win .30-30 and used that as the boys kept grabbing the bolt gun.

In the meantime, spent 22 years of weekends and one eternally long 12 month deployment carrying the M16. And retired out.

When you have the time - and Internet to research it - you discover new facts. I knew those older .30's would do the job, what I failed to see is that hunting game and combat tactics are both tied to human abilities. Whether hunting game, or other humans, our eyesight, the terrain, and our general ability limit us to 500m maximum effective shooting. Our tolerance to recoil and desire to keep shooting limit how much of the .30 firearms we would use. And for combat, that's exactly why the entire worlds Armies moved to intermediate calibers. I tried it side by side, big guns aren't so much. Humans prefer smaller firearms, and the trend to downsize them has been going on since the discovery of gunpowder.

So, having 22 years familiarity, muscle memory, or whatever, with the AR, why learn a new rifle's operation? What it lacked was more power, and for ethical hunting, I didn't see the 5.56 as an outstanding choice on medium game. The issue isn't so much for a humane kill, as it is to not lose game. It's really a matter of convenience as much as ethics.

I know that proper shot placement is key, having seen someone's 30 bullets extracted from the next years tagged deer. 6.8 delivers 40% more power than 5.56. The ethical 1000 foot pounds range limit is more constricted by the visual distance in woodlands than its ballistics range. I'll say it again - 6.8 delivers all the power you need for deer hunting, as far as most of us can see where they live. It's not a matter of power, what some detractors are fuming about is what kind of gun it's shot from. And that's really a matter of taste - not fact. Like fishing, the game could care less.

Once I quit accepting other people's misperceptions, the 6.8SPC became a simple matter of choosing a good working cartridge. It also offers a lot of market availability, if you also accept that Fudd retailers are 50 years behind - serving their customer base. They are more conservative than shooters overall, don't bother looking for 6.8 at the boxMart. Fine by me, even 7.62x51 wasn't always on the shelf in the day, especially in decent hunting loads. Now, with the internet, smaller manufacturers can stay alive selling direct, and not get impeded by traditional retail. It's like the age of catalogs all over again, when Cabela's and others started up. You can get stuff no one else has, and get the edge you were looking for. All it takes is a credit card.

Go 6.8SPC, you have something more than just adding up the parts. Together, the AR in 6.8 does what the M16 does, but a lot more of it, 4 inches shorter. In a flat top with optic, it is the better rifle for hunting, and as for the military, they are noticing it. It's pushing research on the next battle rifle and cartridge. Whatever it may be, the 6.8/AR level of power is becoming the goal, not the exception, and more AR shooters are choosing it. That's why it's the #1 alternate choice. Because hunting ammo is really all the same cost, then hunting with 6.8 is preferred. You get more of what you paid for.

 

[Big Bad Bob]

Thanks for all the response and the level of detail in them, especially FloatPilot and Tirod!

Tirod, I agree, I love the ergonomics of the AR, i too have been trained on (not as long as you) and used the M4 on one long deployment so far.

I own several calibers in rifles and I have shot and killed deer with all of them.
.270, .30-06, .300 WSM, .308 and .243. My .300 WSM is a bit overkill, but its my go to bean field gun.

With an AR-15 I want a dedicated 20" barrel varmint gun, but as I said if during my 4 month gun season for deer, when i am hunting winter yotes, if a deer comes along I want the muscle to ethically kill one. Plus it would make a nice truck gun and its light, and I always could use another gun.

I think 6.8 is the best of both worlds, just wanted to get some feedback from y'all on it.
Thanks for the responses.

BBB

 

[magman1]

6.8 spc bolt gun re-do??

Newbie here from Reno Nevada where Vern Juenke made some beautiful rifles in the 1980's I have a 6# camo LW SAKO in 270 VJR which is a rimmed wildcat based on the 5.6x50r mag case.Brass is available at Huntingtons at the moment. Bought this gun at an auction for resale-
Question is can it be changed to a 6.8spc without a ton on $$ being thrown at it?
Bbl diameter is the same.bolt face is .376 now needs to be opened up-Can it be done?

feeding issues from stock internal magazine?
thanks for thehelp guys
Larry

 

[mshootnit]

6.8 SPC is a decent round. Go for the spec II chamber and M4 ramps, Midlength gas. I would go for an 18" barrel and free float.
It will safely use the "TAC" loads from SSA and fast handloads (work your way up). I plan to use the 110 Sierra Prohunter TAC load on my next trip. I believe the best place to shoot deer with the 6.8 is just behind the shoulder.

 

[420Stainless]

I have one of the highly unpopular 6.8SPC Mini 14 Ranch Rifles and I love it. Shoot it at the range frequently and get 4 - 5 inch groups (100 yards, 5 shots) with the ghost ring sight. Just mounted a 4X Nikon scope on it yesterday and am looking forward to trying it out that way soon. I haven't done any load experiments with it yet. All I've been shooting is 110 grain Sierra Pro Hunters over Benchmark powder. I have a few boxes of Hornady cartridges, but haven't tried them yet. I'll probably bust one open to try out the new scope.

I don't have a chrony, but velocities are not close to the .270 Winchester, so it doesn't shoot nearly as flat. Still a very efficient and good shooting round in my opinion though.

 

[Dane17]

I have 6.8 lwrc m6a3. Its a well made gun but i almost never shoot it. Originally I thought it would be my new hog gun but tend to grab other rifles first.

Unless you reload, I would think hard about it. No factory plinking ammo for it.

As a caveat though I own a lot of different rifles in various calibers. If your only rifle it would be a solid "jack of all trades master of none" type choice.

 

[Tirod]

Converting a Sako is going to be something for a gunsmith. AR's are basically a no brainer, barrel, bolt, and mag. Sako? Well, we haven't had 20 million people trained on 9 milllion of them like AR's. It'll take a knowledgeable Sako fan to science that out.

Nobody much argues that 6.8 isn't priced like military surplus. That's why a 5.56 or x39 is preferred for punching holes in paper or dirt - it's cheap. What surprises so many of us is when some complain it's expensive ammo. It's not military surplus. Neither is .300 BO, you'll never see it running 4.50 a 20 from Remington either. But people do use them for what they do delivering energy on live targets - not paper or dirt.

Why make a fact sound like a complaint?

 

[JASmith]

How strongly are you wedded to the notion of a 6.8?

If you are still undecided, you might want to also look at the 6.5 Grendel. There isn't a lot of difference in muzzle velocity for same bullet weight and barrel length, but the longer, skinnier for weight .264 bullets tend to keep the velocity further out. They also tend to penetrate better.

You can get a feel for Grendel hunting potential by looking at the articles at http://shootersnotes.com/grendelmania/. The discussion addresses heavier (129 & 130 gr) bullets. The lighter bullets will shoot flatter, but with similar questions abut on-target effectiveness as are seen with the 6.8 SPC.

 

[ZX10Aviator]

+1, I was going to go 6.8 until I researched the 6.5 grendel. I went 6.5, mine also will be a coyote, deer, ??? gun

 

[68wj]

+1, I was going to go 6.8 until I researched the 6.5 grendel. I went 6.5, mine also will be a coyote, deer, ??? gun

Mine went the opposite way.

 

[ZX10Aviator]

it was the short barrel performance and accuracy that got me into the grendel. These arguments never end well. haha.

Do a youtube search on 6.8 long range, then search on 6.5 grendel long range.