Is the 6.8 dead?

[68wj]

6.8mm = .277". There are LOTS of bullets in this caliber available to the handloader.

mbogo

That may be a little misleading. While there are a few that shoot 130 grainers, the ideal 6.8 SPC weights are 85-115 gr. There are still many options to choose from in that range, though just not as many as the entire .277 class

 

[rbernie]

Not really. When constrained to an AR magwell the spc may shoot the same diameter bullet as 270 but it does not shoot or share the same bullets.

To be fair, the 6.8SPC factory ammo offerings, for example, from Silver State Armory and Remington use many of the exact same bullets as are used in factory 270 varmint loads from DoubleTap and Remington and others. But the point is absolutely valid that you cannot fit a long-ogive 150gr .277 bullet into the OAL spec for the 6.8SPC. Stated differently:

There are still many options to choose from in that range, though just not as many as the entire .277 class

Of course, us'n handloaders can do with the 6.8SPC the same thing that has been done in the 7.62x39, e.g. use heavier RN bullets. I have a 6.8SPC 150gr RN load that works just fine and is likely some pretty potent piggie medicine.

Matter of factly, the owner said that he would order one if the customer desired, but he does not stock any 6.8 guns because they just don't move.

There is absolutely no doubt that anyone selling AR15s will sell an order of magnitude more 223 or 5.56 NATO chambered ARs than they will sell in any other chambering. However, the two gun shops that I most commonly frequent will usually have one or two 6.8SPC offerings along with a Mini14 in 6.8SPC.

Again - it's clearly not a mainstream chambering and it's not likely to achieve the same popularity as, say, 223.

Is it dead? - not by any means. Is it a specialty caliber? - yes.

Exactly so.

 

[constructor]

Available factory ammo



6.8 SPC
BVAC--------115gr SMK
Corbon------110 TTSX
--------------115 SMK
--------------115 subsonic
DoubleTap-----95gr Barnes TTSX
---------------110 Vmax
---------------115 FMJ
---------------110TTSX
---------------110 OTM
Hornady-----110 Vmax
---------------110 OTM
Rem.---------115 FMJ
---------------115 HPBT
--------------115 corelokt
--------------115SMK
Sellier&Bellot-110 TTSX
-----------------110 Vmax
SSA------------85 TSX------------SSAs loads available in Commercial and Tactical velocities
----------------90 TNT
----------------95 frangable
----------------97 AP
----------------100 Nosler Accubond
----------------110 Nosler Accubond
----------------110 Sierra Pro hunter
----------------110 TTSX
----------------115 SMK

--------6.8 rifle manufactures class 7
Barrett
RRA
Armalite
LMT
Bushmaster
TC
MSAR
Cmmg
Remington
Addax
POF
WOA
LWRC
Stag
DPMS
Noveske
PRI
MSTN
Ruger
Wilson Combat
Robinson Arms
AR Performance

upper builders-------
Global Tactical
Bison
YHM
Model 1 sales

Bullets
Barnes
85gr TSX
110gr TSX
95grTTSX
Nosler
100gr Accubond
110gr Accubond
115gr match
Sierra
90gr HPBT
110 Prohunter
115 SMK
130 Gameking
Speer
90gr TNT
100 Sp
130 SP
Hornady
110 Vmax
110 HPBT match
110 GMX-coming soon
Rem
115 fmj
115 corelok
GS Customs
80gr HV
99grHV
99gr SP

 

[Ratdog68]

Mine's alive and kickin'. Infact... just loaded up some Barnes 85gr TSX last night for it. Depending upon my mood, either my 6.8, or my .30-30 are going to be my two Bambi guns for here in western WA State.



Maiden voyage to the range, not even broken in yet... and no magnification for this 50yd grouping... just a red dot reflex sight.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Ratdog68 was that offhand or benched? If it was benched I would have been wrapping that weapon around a tree if it opened up that much at 50 yards

 

[Ratdog68]

That was (as I said earlier) a brand new rifle's first trip to the range.

Bipod with a loose mount (have replaced the mount with a new one)
"Red" Dot reflex sight (no magnification), aimed at an orange dot, through polarized glasses. And, "shoot one, clean... shoot one, clean".

That was more "loose nut behind the stock" than what the gun will do. Haven't made it back to the range yet for another shake-out session. I've never used a red dot before that day. I'll settle in... and, when I do, the groups will too. My old eyes are also learning to deal with bifocals in everything I do. You'll get old too some day.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

lol Ratdog68 I've already slapped 50 in the head. Know what you are going through with the eye thing. Red dots can be a little tricky with polarized glasses. Especially bifocal lenses.

Ballistics wise, on a platform such as the AR, that round, on paper, seems like a perfect match. I can only really think of one round I would like better for medium game or even Elk and Caribou sized game would be the 7mm.08. Just a tad bit more "meat on the missal" so to speak for just a little more umph but that 6.8 does look good so far. I dont see it dying anytime soon either.

 

[Ratdog68]

LOL Glad to hear I'm not alone in this little phase... for a minute ya sounded like some "know-it-all 20yr old". Nice to know you're a "learned a few things over the years" type instead.

Haven't taken an elk yet, but, took a couple of moose in my years in Alaska. 220gr of soft point out of my .30-06 dropped 'em DRT. I've harvested a LOT of caribou too. By far, my favorite caliber for them is my .22-250. The 6.8 should be MORE than enough for 'bou to 300yds.

It wasn't an "08"... but saw one deer harvested with a 7mm... "Texas Heart Shot". Yeah, I helped him field dress/clean that one. (NOT Zesty).

 

[GunTech]

I build quite a few 6.8 ARs, and all for the same reason - people who wanted an AR for hunting but needed a round that was legal for deer in their state. Here in MT .223 is OK and my son continues to slay deer despite protestation that .223 is not up to the job.

 

[68wj]

I build quite a few 6.8 ARs, and all for the same reason - people who wanted an AR for hunting but needed a round that was legal for deer in their state. Here in MT .223 is OK and my son continues to slay deer despite protestation that .223 is not up to the job.

I always heard the same complaints about my .243 growing up in MS. The .223 is fully capable of taking deer. No different than any other caliber, it is just best to use the appropriate bullet, put in the right place, at a reasonable distance, where it does not violate the law (that last part was for my buddies that like their .22 LRs :0 ). The 6.8 gives a little more insurance when using an AR for hunting and is usually legal in states where the .223 is not.

 

[UniversalFrost]

once you shoot a 6.8 you will not go back to .223

I made the mistake of buying one and it has quickly multiplied to 2 and I already am planning a third.

love the round and it can take anything from elk on down with ease. great round that gives the AR platform a lot more "umph" without the added weight and recoil of the AR10/SR25 offerings .

the 6.8 is picking up steam in both the military and civilian sectors. and with companies like hornady working on new bullets geared towards the hunters as well (see the 6.8 forums)

lots of "cult" following for this round and lots of load data available, just not in the normal books (lyman, sierra and hornady have a limited amount, but most of the bullet makers will give you their loads if you ask and many of the reloading forums have data, plus on the 6.8 forum their is an excellent spreadsheet with all the possible powder and bullet combos that are out their to date and it gets updated regularly)

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Ahh the good old "I'll teach YOU to show me that white tail again" shot!!! The are some nasty field dressings I know!!!!

And by the way Zerstoerer THANKS you have gotten me in trouble with the wife YET AGAIN!!!!!!! Now Im looking at yet another weapon!!! HA maybe she will divorce me this time!! We can only hope!!

 

[constructor]

JERBEAR thanks for the photo!

 

[Ratdog68]

Ahh the good old "I'll teach YOU to show me that white tail again" shot!!! The are some nasty field dressings I know!!!!

And by the way Zerstoerer THANKS you have gotten me in trouble with the wife YET AGAIN!!!!!!! Now Im looking at yet another weapon!!! HA maybe she will divorce me this time!! We can only hope!!

LOL Yeah... his son was just as bad with his first ever buck. Shot and the deer launched straight up, came down on all fours and started bucking and thrashing. He dropped it with the second shot... and, later, discovered that round number one blew his nut sack clean off. "Like father, like son" I guess.

 

[68wj]

JERBEAR thanks for the photo!

That's purdy! I think there are even more that could be added (90 gr Sierra comes to mind)

 

[Tirod]

6.8 has grown enough to market 6.8 specific bullets with ogives matched for it's use. We're not stuck using a long case .270 any more.

If bullet makers are willing to spend money to offer 6.8 specific bullets, I would hardly call the caliber dead. If anything, they are selling out regularly, and the market is demanding more.

Consider that five years ago, the list was pretty much 6.8 Remington, and now, count up what's out there. That many makers with that many offerings? Not hardly dead, and likely around for decades to come.

How old are the .30-06 wildcats? 60 years and counting, still on the shelves.

 

[UniversalFrost]

also just noticed but the picture is missing the barnes 100gr TSX.

send me over a box of each of the other bullets and I'll make sure that at least one of each gets a pic next to my 100gr tsx 's ...lol

 

[constructor]

They don't make a 100 TSX any more, 85TSX, 95TTSX, 110TSX, 110TTSX

 

[Al Mack 1]

The 6.8 won't go away any more than the 270 Winchester. I can tell by the chatter here there is a following for the round. The military found they needed some thing with more reach. That when it got there still had the punch to put a large man down, with one hit! We had a good gun in moth balls. The M14, it was put back in action and did a good job till some thing better could be put in the field. The SAS or 110, basically an AR-10.

You can hunt any thing you want, with any caliber that you want. Game doesn't shoot back, or lay traps for you.

Sorry for going on so, the 6.8 will be just fine.

 

[shotgunjoel]

I think that it will live on with the AR platform like the 38 Super does with the 1911, and the 10mm does. It will be there for those who want it and are willing to go out of their way for it, just don't expect it to be on the shelf at Walmart.

 

[UniversalFrost]

I think that it will live on with the AR platform like the 38 Super does with the 1911, and the 10mm does. It will be there for those who want it and are willing to go out of their way for it, just don't expect it to be on the shelf at Walmart.

actually i have been to several walmarts that do stock it (and the 6.8 chambered remington 700's) .. My locally wally world gets it in from time to time, but it is actually cheaper online or from one of the outdoor sporting goods places.

As of late the hornady ammo with the VMAX and the HPBT is getting very cheap and can be had for anywhere from 15 to 18 per 20rds (about the same price as their equivalent 223 ammo) .