I don't believe anyone said the 6.8 was the same as the .308, just shot similar in trajectory. The 6.5 is, too.
A simple look at the ballistic tables with foot pounds of force and drop will show which fits the best. 7.62 X 39 is nothing more than a Russian copy of the .30-30. It drops yards at 300, 250 is about it's effective limit.
6.5 and 6.8 are much flatter shooters out to 400 yards. At that point the 6.8 begins losing it's edge in foot pounds of force due to the shorter bullet. The 6.5 maintains it's velocity and ft pounds out further, which is nice.
Either will do out to 250, so logistics becomes the decider. 6.8 has broad industry support, more makers involved with barrels, uppers, etc. White Oak, Bison, Noveske, almost two dozen will get you shooting for nearly any price range you want. Same for ammo. No, it's not a Fudd round in boxes at the 'Mart. Yet. Do you want to buy in volume from Silver State or Cabela's, you can, as with others. It's not a cheap plinker, but what is? Shoot .22 for that.
6.5 has been helped by Les Baer introducing the .246 LBC, which will feed and fire the same. He will have barrels and uppers, plus has ordered 700,000 cases to open up the bottleneck (stranglehold?) Alexander Arms was experiencing. Nonetheless, 6.8 has about 5 times the support and sources.
Whatever caliber you use, shoot a magazine designed for it. Magazines for 6.8, 6.5, and 7.62X39 exist, about in that order and availability. Cramming the wrong rounds into whatever just causes problems. They are different case diameters and shapes, the followers need to tilt the first round in at the proper angle, the feed lips are likewise different. If they were all the same, they would be.
For more info, go to 68forums.com where you will get data and sources on everything 6.8, including which rounds will shoot 3000 fps from a 16" barrel, something the other two calibers require a 20"+ barrel to do. That makes a difference on weight and handling when deer hunting. Having used a Win 94, Rem 700, and HK91, the AR in 6.8 is the best combination of them all.
A simple look at the ballistic tables with foot pounds of force and drop will show which fits the best. 7.62 X 39 is nothing more than a Russian copy of the .30-30. It drops yards at 300, 250 is about it's effective limit.
6.5 and 6.8 are much flatter shooters out to 400 yards. At that point the 6.8 begins losing it's edge in foot pounds of force due to the shorter bullet. The 6.5 maintains it's velocity and ft pounds out further, which is nice.
Either will do out to 250, so logistics becomes the decider. 6.8 has broad industry support, more makers involved with barrels, uppers, etc. White Oak, Bison, Noveske, almost two dozen will get you shooting for nearly any price range you want. Same for ammo. No, it's not a Fudd round in boxes at the 'Mart. Yet. Do you want to buy in volume from Silver State or Cabela's, you can, as with others. It's not a cheap plinker, but what is? Shoot .22 for that.
6.5 has been helped by Les Baer introducing the .246 LBC, which will feed and fire the same. He will have barrels and uppers, plus has ordered 700,000 cases to open up the bottleneck (stranglehold?) Alexander Arms was experiencing. Nonetheless, 6.8 has about 5 times the support and sources.
Whatever caliber you use, shoot a magazine designed for it. Magazines for 6.8, 6.5, and 7.62X39 exist, about in that order and availability. Cramming the wrong rounds into whatever just causes problems. They are different case diameters and shapes, the followers need to tilt the first round in at the proper angle, the feed lips are likewise different. If they were all the same, they would be.
For more info, go to 68forums.com where you will get data and sources on everything 6.8, including which rounds will shoot 3000 fps from a 16" barrel, something the other two calibers require a 20"+ barrel to do. That makes a difference on weight and handling when deer hunting. Having used a Win 94, Rem 700, and HK91, the AR in 6.8 is the best combination of them all.