Anyone hunt deer or hogs with a 6.8mm Rem. SPC AR15 setup??

[NYH1]

I've been thinking about getting a 6.8mm Rem. SPC upper half to use on my Stag AR15 lower half. I'd like a 16" to 18" barrel with a A4 flat top and a 2-7x33mm scope (or there about). I would us it for hunting deer and hogs out to 200 yards...MAX. And just to shoot and have something different.

Have any of you used the 6.8mm to hunt deer size game? If so, how do you like it? What cartridge does it compare to? I know there are other cartridges available to use on a 223 Rem./5.56 NATO lower half. However, I'd like to go with the 6.8mm Rem. SPC because it seems to be established fairly well and I don't reload so being able to buy factory ammo is very important.

I probably wouldn't use it that much, I have other rifles to hunt with depending on conditions and type of hunting I'm going to do (280 Rem., 30-06 Spr. and 35 Rem.). It would be nice to be able to hunt with my AR15 though. I can legally hunt big game with a 223 Rem./5.56 NATO here in New Yorkistan, however I'd prefer to use something bigger. That's just my opinion. Any thoughts or input would be appreciated.

Thanks, NYH1!

 

[ac6916170]

I've used my 6.8 on whitetails here in MI and on hogs in TX. Hornady 120 sst's factory rounds and SSA 110 Accubonds. Never had any of them take another step. Farthest shot on a whitetail was 105 yrds. on hogs 80-85 yrds. Flat out pancaked a coyote in TX. at 330 yrds. with the 120 sst.

 

[68wj]

16" 6.8 barrel with 2-7x optic here. Only one shot at game with it last year, but the deer dropped pretty quick. I use a 110 AccuBond, but there are several great factory options.

Considering it is a lightweight, compact rifle with non-existent recoil and superb accuracy, I find the bolt guns sitting in the safe more and more.

 

[tulsamal]

There is a vast amount of experience on this over at the 6.8 Forums. Lots of pig hunters over there that try out all the available bullets.

http://68forums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?59-Hunting-with-the-6.8-mm

Gregg

 

[DougW]

Just finished converting a 5.56 rifle to 6.8SPC. Pictured on the right next to my 3 gun AR. I plan to use the 6.8 this season.



The 6.8SPC has a Leatherwood 1X6 and free floating handguard. That is para cord overwrapped on the aluminum handguard.

 

[mshootnit]

I have hunted deer with 6.8 and it did the job at 50 meters and 150 meters. It is not OVER powered by any means but does the job. If I concluded that a shot would likely need to be taken at more than 220 yds I would probly take a faster bolt action setup.
I have noticed a difference between standard loads and TAC loads or maximum handloads and I will not use standard (2500 fps) loads anymore. I think the closer you can get to 2700 fps or faster the better. (safely)

 

[mshootnit]

I have a Spec II Armalite mid length upper which is really nice. I have heard that the Bushmaster upper is also good and accurate. I would check the stag for Spec II specs and M4 feedramps before buying. I would spec out a 18" barrel if I were doing a custom upper. I don't have a chronograph but I think it would sure pay dividends to team up with a buddy who had one and check handloads to find the one that shoots fastest while being accurate and safe out of your barrel.

 

[sixgunner455]

A friend of mine has a very nice little 16" 6.8SPC II upper with a 1-4x Leupold on it. He and his wife have taken deer, javelina, foxes, and coyotes with it, all with Prohunter bullets. It's been very effective, with one-shot kills on everything. Ranges haven't been terribly far out, but that's not really what it's for.

 

[NYH1]

Thanks for the replies!

NYH1.

 

[surfinUSA]

I think of the 6.8 as a 270 winchester short. I haven't used it but from what I've read it great for deer or pigs out to 300 yards.

I just haven't decided if its worth buying an upper and a BCG for a popular round that cannot be found anywhere but the internet or just stepping up to something like the Colt 901 that can do pretty much every thing from 308/7.62 south.

 

[Akita1]

Surfin - you're right on; it's effectively a short-necked .270. I hunt deer with a Thompson Encore .270 and hogs with a 6.8mm SPC (Hornady 120gr SST or 110gr VMAX). Shuts them off like a switch.. My 6.8 is an AR Performance 16" upper on a RRA lower and that girl just sings...

I put a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40. Works like a charm.

 

[Dean1818]

I use a 16 inch Bison armory for pigs

Its awesome!


The 120 grain SST is a stopper at over 2500 fps

 

[SeanMTX]

Just this year Iusedmy Barrett Rec7 to take a whitetail doe at 75 yds, she ran about 30yds before falling, and a 200lb Axis buck at 80 ish yds. The Axis was DRT and didn't take a step.

Whitetail was a thru and thru, while the Axis had no exit wound. The exit wound on the whitetail was slightly larger than a golfball, and the damage inside the Axis was extensive.

Both shots were lung, with the whitetail hitting heart as well. Both were using Hornady 120gr SST. Excellent rounds and a damn accurate rifle.

 

[Gtscotty]

I used my 18" PSA SS HF 6.8 to take two deer this year. I used 110 gr Accubonds at about 2660 fps, and they worked great. Both deer were taken with high shoulder shots, the meat damage wasn't too bad and both went straight down. I had to break in a new 30-06 for the last deer I shot, but I'm looking forward to using the 6.8 for hogs after deer season ends.

I wonder if NYH1 ever picked up a 6.8? Here is a pic of my first deer of the year, the shot was about 75 yds.

 

[dvdcrr]

I sold mine...seemed like a 115 gr. 7.62x39 to me. I killed deer with it, it works. If you're shooting a 16 with factory 110's you are at about 2600 fps. With my AR10 carbine I am that fast but with 150's.

 

[NYH1]

No, I never ended up getting a 6.8 SPC Upper. My wife bought me a new Colt MT6400 AR15A4 Carbine (for my b-day (12-22) and Christmas) this past year! Which is Colt's "post-ban" compliant version of their LE6920 Carbine.

NYH1!

 

[Zen Archery]

4 of my hog hunting buds are using the 6.8 and love it.

 

[Float Pilot]

Do Caribou count ???

 

[68wj]

Do Caribou count ???

There's the broom, I mean boom, stick!

 

[iSteve4g]

I find my 6.8 to be extremely effective for hogs and wt deer. I've had great success with Hornady 110gr vmax. Great penetration and terminal effect. Deer have gone 0-100yds with chest cavity shots. Pure chest cavity carnage, especially if you happen to catch a rib. I've taken deer out to 150 yds, but wouldn't shy away from 200-250yd shot if I the opportunity. I have two 6.8mm AR's. One is an absolute tack-driver (sub .5 MOA). And it just happens to love the Hornady ammo. The other, not so much. It prefers SSA 115gr BTHPs, but still struggles to perform consistently. I just haven't found a good ammo recipe for her yet. My 6.8's have become my preferred hunting firearms.... coyotes, hogs, deer - same gun.

 

[DougW]

Tried to use my 6.8 this weekend, but I couldn't get it zeroed. Ended up using the 700VTR in .308 and got the only deer in my hunting party. I will get the 6.8 up and running in the next few weeks. It's going to be great!

 

[adelbridge]

I hunt with AR's and besides the tacticool factor they make pretty poor hunting guns. 6.8 is underpowered but if you hit both lungs you have a kill. Probably not the best blood trail but it will put them down. Crappy stock triggers. The high scope mount makes close up shots iffy. Its hard to get at charging handle with scope in the way. I still use mine but it wasnt what I thought I was signing up for.

 

[ssyoumans]

I love mine, 18" ARP Barrel. I took this 6 pt buck with it using a Barnes 95gr TTSX handload. Traveling close to 2900 fps that's 1774 fit-lbs.
Shot was a pass thru, breaking ribs on way in and out, tearing up the lungs. Buck left massive bright red blood trail for about 30 yards before collapsing.

My other buck was shot with a 243 Win, similar result with that 95gr SST going 2900 fps except that bullet didn't exit, but buck collapsed within 25 yards.

I'm don't feel I need a 30-06 or 300 Win mag to take whitetail. I will continue to use my 6.8 in my rotation and not feel underpowered.

 

[sixgunner455]

adelbridge - if you don't like them, I'm sure you could sell them and buy a nice bolt action.

Alternatively - the stock triggers can be a bit military. Stone some surfaces to clean it up a bit, or put in a better trigger. That's an easy fix, really - the whole thing is held in by two little pins you can drift out and have a new trigger installed in just a few minutes.

Your charging handle latch can be bigger to deal with the scope/access issue. Ergonomic issues can be adapted for, if you want. Or, you can sell them and get something that pleases you more.

I don't understand your statement that the 6.8 is underpowered. What chamber do you have? What loads are you using that you have found to be less effective? What bullet placement have you had issues with? SAAMI spec chambers and ammo can be a bit weak, but SPC II chambers and ammo, at least on paper, leave little to be desired.

I am new to the 6.8, but my hunting buddy has used one for years, and finally talked me into building an upper. He is a handloader, uses Sierra ProHunters. He and his wife love theirs, and have no complaints about performance.