6.8 SPC ?

bobthebowhunter · Jul 20, 2012

So I'm trying to figure out what to get the ole lady. She won't practice much with anything that has a lot of recoil. However she will hunt with guns chambered all the way up to .308...she just won't practice with them. She doesn't even like shooting .243. She love's my AR, but I'm on the fence with letting her use a small bore caliber for deer. I know .223 will get the job done, but I would rather have her in something with a little more diameter and weight to it. And I think the AR-10 frame is too much for her to carry around.

I've been looking at possibly doing a build with a 6.8 SPC upper. For those who have shot this caliber, I'd like to hear your reviews. What's a max range on this gun for moderate sized white tail?? Will it still get out there and bust a yote?

EastTNHunter · Jul 20, 2012

I am considering a 300 AAC Blackout for many of the same reasons as the 6.8SPC, but with a reloading advantage. It has balistics very similar to the 7.62x39, but uses a .223/5.56 parent case, whereas the 6.8 uses a 30 Remington case for the parent cartridge. You also can use standard AR mags for the 300, and recoil is nil. 125gr pills (prolly balistic tips at this velocity) should be perfect for my daughter's use on deer. Reloading should be cheaper for all of these component reasons, and if either or both cartridges became "obsolete," the 300 would be cheaper and easier to feed, IMO.

All that being said, the 6.8 prolly has a slight trajectory advantage due to larger case capacity and higher BC of the similar weight skinnier bullets, but the 6.8 will also experience more recoil and muzzle blast. IIRC, the 6.8 has real-world ballistics very similar to the .243 Win.

bobthebowhunter · Jul 21, 2012

EastTNHunter said:
I am considering a 300 AAC Blackout for many of the same reasons as the 6.8SPC, but with a reloading advantage. It has balistics very similar to the 7.62x39, but uses a .223/5.56 parent case, whereas the 6.8 uses a 30 Remington case for the parent cartridge. You also can use standard AR mags for the 300, and recoil is nil. 125gr pills (prolly balistic tips at this velocity) should be perfect for my daughter's use on deer. Reloading should be cheaper for all of these component reasons, and if either or both cartridges became "obsolete," the 300 would be cheaper and easier to feed, IMO.

All that being said, the 6.8 prolly has a slight trajectory advantage due to larger case capacity and higher BC of the similar weight skinnier bullets, but the 6.8 will also experience more recoil and muzzle blast. IIRC, the 6.8 has real-world ballistics very similar to the .243 Win.

Great thanks for your review. So you think the 300 will actually have less recoil? What kinda ranges we talking with the 300?

Plateau Hunter · Jul 21, 2012

I have a 6.5 wildcat upper that I use for deer mostly and coyotes occasionally. It is very similar to the 6.8SPC and is a great round for deer imo out to 300 yds or so with no really felt or at least objectionable recoil. I know the 300 Blackout is coming on the scene and does have some logistical advantages; but of the two I would get the 6.8.(.277 caliber like a .270)PH

EastTNHunter · Jul 21, 2012

The 300 uses less powder, and if you use a 125 gr bullet (6.8 usually uses a 115gr bullet, but uses more powder) then it should have some less recoil, but the greater diff may be in muzzle blast... Without firing them, I would doubt if either had objectionable recoil, especially since they are being fired from a recoil absorbing semi auto.

Plateau Hunter · Jul 22, 2012

Being a 6.5 fan I would really like a 6.5 blackout shooting 85, 90, or 100g bullets. The ability to use the same mags and bolt as the .223 is a big plus. The above bullets should do the job on coyotes and deer to as far as I shoot them anyway. There is a cartridge called the 6.5PCC that does all the above. I need to look into getting an upper. PH

94user · Jul 23, 2012

I have a Stag 6.8 upper that I hunt with. Yes the muzzle blast is greater but the recoil difference is negligible. It's good to 300 yds for whitetail shooting. The only drawback is local availability of ammo. I order mine From Silver State Armory.I use the 110 gr Sierra pro Hunters.