Sub-short-action calibers: 6.8 SPC future?

[ArmedBear]

Anyone care to prognosticate the future of the 6.8 SPC?

The existence of a caliber in an AR upper means little, really, given the odd chamberings that are found here and there. However, Ruger now makes a Mini-14/5 in 6.8, and Remington has chimed in with the Model 7. That suggests some support for the round outside the "what can I fit in an AR-15 lower?" niche.

Is this a flash in the pan, or do you think the cartridge will still be around in 10 years? Can it survive on its merits, or ultimately will it be an AR-only specialty round?

Ballistics make it look like a nice little low-recoil medium game round for a compact rifle. I'm contemplating a compact hunting rifle to supplement my accurate but big and heavy .30-06.

Thoughts? I've never had a chance to shoot the 6.8 SPC.

 

[woof]

I think there is some indecision among companies about whether to go with 6.8 or wait for 6.5 Grendel instead. I heard that there were two US companies seriously interested in offering models in the Grendel.

 

[ArmedBear]

I heard that there were two US companies seriously interested in offering models in the Grendel.

Do you know what kind of rifles?

Also, the almost-nonexistent .244/6mm Remington has surprisingly better ballistics than its one-time competitor, the now-common .243 Winchester, and the .280 is arguably a slightly better round than the infinitely more popular .270 -- its short-action cousin, the 7mm-08, is well-accepted.

So even if the 6.5 Grendel is God's gift to rifle rounds and the 6.8 SPC is just a load of crap, the market isn't just driven by ballistics. Unless someone gets off their butts and actually offers a variety of rifles in 6.5 Grendel (not just obscure AR uppers), the 6.8 could dominate just because it was out there first in larger numbers. Or they could both be dead in 10 years.

Evidently, the many prophecies of doom for the .204 Ruger have not come to pass. It seems to be going strong. However, the "next-big-thing" WSM's have utterly failed to displace the calibers they were supposed to supercede.

If I'm going to shell out for a rifle, I guess I'd like to know if anyone has a feel for this, or if it's just way too soon to tell (I'm guessing it's too soon).

 

[woof]

No but I heard it in the context of people who were having cz rifles in x39 rebarreled for Grendel so I assumed it was bolt action rifles.

 

[rbernie]

I think that the 6.8SPC gained critical mass when Ruger chambered the Mini-14/30 platform in it.

A 6.8SPC rifle is what I'm hunting with, come this fall.

 

[peyton]

The decision will be made when you can buy a rifle in either caliber that costs less than $500.00 dollars. Remington should chamber in in the model 7 not 700 2x4 (heavy and blocky) plus it was in the $800+ dollar range.
So common Savage/Stevens or ruger or CZ give us a light short action bolt gun with a detachable magazine now!!!

 

[ArmedBear]

Oh...

I thought it WAS in the 7. It IS in the 700. WHY? That makes no sense!

CZ has a rifle that could be rechambered in 6.8 AND 6.5 and put on the market the next day, since the 527 is available in .223 and 7.62x39 right now. And of course, Remington and Ruger both have nice compact rifles that come in .223 already.

rbernie- You hunting with a Mini-14 in 6.8? Have you seen/shot one? If it's accurate enough, I love my Mini-14. It points like a dream (I've shot thrown clay pigeons with it) and it's light and compact. It would make a nice deer carbine in 6.8.

 

[jpwilly]

Both will be around if you get some good reloading dies, stock up on brass and have the money to have a barrel made...I guarantee it!

 

[ArmedBear]

Both will be around if you get some good reloading dies, stock up on brass and have the money to have a barrel made...I guarantee it!

LOL

It's best not to fall too much in love with a caliber, unless it's .30-06 or something.

 

[GunTech]

There is a problem rechambering the CZ-527 in 6.8. CZ doesn't make a bolt face to fit it. They could pretty easily, but it would require some tooling. Making the CZ-527 in 6.5 Grendel woud be as easy as changing the barrel. The CZ is already available in 7.62x39mm

Anyone conpemplating a CZ-527 6.8 conversions, be warned. I started down this path. You need to start with a 7.62x39mm model as 6.8 rounds won't fit in the 223 magazine or receiver, but you need a 223 bolt and extractor to open up to 6.8. It can be done, but it's sort of a pain.

My last 6.8 conversion (some time ago) was a Keltec SU-16. They told me it couldn't be done. It can, but it is a PITA.

http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1101766471

If we ever get over this ultramag craze, 6.8 and 6.5 Gredel have a place as nice, low recoil rifles for short range hunting.

 

[Soybomb]

I'm not convinced its going to be a hot seller, but I hope it does. 10mm of rifles?

 

[rbernie]

rbernie- You hunting with a Mini-14 in 6.8? Have you seen/shot one? If it's accurate enough, I love my Mini-14. It points like a dream (I've shot thrown clay pigeons with it) and it's light and compact. It would make a nice deer carbine in 6.8.

I'm sorry if I was confusing - I'm hunting with a AR15 build in 6.8SPC.

I just think that the Mini- platform being chambered in 6.8SPC gives it the 6.8SPC the commercial boost that it needs to stick around.

 

[GunTech]

Definitely. For those who feel the 223 is inadequate for deer, the 6.8 is a step up.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I just ordered myself a 26" heavy contour T/C Encore barrel in 6.8SPC That I plan on using for deer this season. I selected the 6.8 due to it's mild recoil efficiency and avalibility.

Would I have bought a 6.5...... probably, But unfortunately brass dies ammo are prohibitably expensive IF EVEN avalible. Not to mention that unless buying a mega $$$ custom barrel the 6.5G isn't offered in an encore. And when you get right down to it the difference in performance between the two rounds inside 300yds is negligible

Whereas for the 6.8 I just ordered everything I need to churn out my own ammo from midwayusa for less than 100 smackers.

I think I'll like the new 6.8 round, it is very efficient to load for and easy on barrels and the shoulder. It has enough horsepower to be a good mid range deer rifle. I have no doubt that in the encore with it's medium heavy barrel that it'll also be as accurate as all heck.

 

[asknight]

My 700 Tactical will be along in the deer woods with me this fall. I still can't decide between the 110gr ProHunter @ 2800 or the 90gr Speer HP @ 2950!

 

[R.W.Dale]

Stick with the prohunter the 90grn Speer TNT bullets are gonna be way too fragile for deer. They may be just the ticket for turning armadillos inside out though

Me I'm gonna be shooting 130grn Hornady SST's at a MV of 2500fps, that ballistic coefficient of .460 really rocks downrange

 

[asknight]

Yes sir, the 90gr Speer HPs do indeed hollow out the armadillos.

I think I'm gonna take an early season doe in the woods out back with a neck shot to see how it performs. If it grenades then I'll definitely stick with the Pro Hunters.

 

[rbernie]

I've got about fifteen hundred .277 Hornady 115gr HPs set aside that are supposed to work quite well for thin-skinned game. I dunno why Hornady discontinued these; I'm just glad I got a bunch of them while they were available.

For target and social work, I'm banking on the Sierra 115 gr. OTM - this is supposed to be a MatchKing w/ cannelure and should be both accurate and provide decent terminal characteristics.

I'm gonna be shooting 130grn Hornady SST's at a MV of 2500fps, that ballistic coefficient of .460 really rocks downrange

I tried these in my AR's, but they're too long to seat in an OAL that'll fit in the AR magazine. If I use 'em, they're single-shot only.

 

[Regolith]

Personally, I'm hoping the military picks up and runs with either the 6.8 SPC. Mostly because this will mean surplus ammo and it should vastly reduce the cost of 6.8 SPC available. Last time I checked it is currently running at $1 a round....not exactly cheap.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I tried these in my AR's, but they're too long to seat in an OAL that'll fit in the AR magazine. If I use 'em, they're single-shot only.

They'll work just fine in my ENCORE though

 

[peyton]

Asknight, would you please weigh your 700 and let us know. I am in Iraq(not the land of OZ) and do not have an opportunity to look at or handle one. Also what type of scope do you have mounted?

 

[GunTech]

Barnes has a 110gn TSX specifically for the 6.8. Haven't tried it on game, but it is very accurate.

The only 700 6.8 I have seen is the light tactical with the fluted barrel. I see the SPS is now available in 6.8 as well, and it's around 7.5 pounds.

I don't know why they don't offer the 799 in 6.8. It seems like the perfect platform and is under 7 pounds.