Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

[Oddball Six]

Simply put: in 10 years, do you all think we will still be able to go out and buy 6.8mm SPC ammunition near price parity or below the prices that one would pay for 308 like you can today?

The long version:
Thinking of buying a carbine type rifle in an M4-type format. Ive been thinking about it for a long time and am getting far closer to pulling the trigger (pun intended). Thing is that it needs to be at least .243 to take it after game AND I already have a suppressor for 7.68mm so going from 5.56 to 6.8 doesnt really make a difference from that standpoint.

For tackling the paper tiger at the range, I can go either way.
So for hunting no choice but 6.8. And for having a rifle that offers more firepower than a bolt gun, the 6.8 probably edges out the 5.56 at ranges of 200 yds or shorter from the data I have seen...

My problem with 6.8 is that I worry that its a fad cartridge. You look at the trends in federal purchasing and what have you seen recently? 308 retreads, focus on 300, 338, and the venerable 5.56. The 6.8 trend seems to have lost some traction or at least is going on behind the scenes at this point.

You go to midway or similar sites and you are seeing sales marked as "closeout" pricing on 6.8 SPC ammo.

I worry about making an investment today. Shooting a couple thousand rounds and then suddenly finding myself 5 or 10 years from now being forced to reload because you simply cant go out and buy much of anything, anymore for the 6.8 mm cartridge.

Am I right to worry? What do you see right now in the industry trends? Does 6.8 SPC have staying power or is it already on the way out?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Oddball-Six</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Simply put: in 10 years, do you all think we will still be able to go out and buy 6.8mm SPC ammunition near price parity or below the prices that one would pay for 308 like you can today?

The long version:
Thinking of buying a carbine type rifle in an M4-type format. Ive been thinking about it for a long time and am getting far closer to pulling the trigger (pun intended). Thing is that it needs to be at least .243 to take it after game AND I already have a suppressor for 7.68mm so going from 5.56 to 6.8 doesnt really make a difference from that standpoint.

My problem with 6.8 is that I worry that its a fad cartridge. You look at the trends in federal purchasing and what have you seen recently? 308 retreads, focus on 300, 338, and the venerable 5.56. The 6.8 trend seems to have lost some traction or at least is going on behind the scenes at this point.

You go to midway or similar sites and you are seeing sales marked as "closeout" pricing on 6.8 SPC ammo.

I worry about making an investment today. Shooting a couple thousand rounds and then suddenly finding myself 5 or 10 years from now being forced to reload because you simply cant go out and buy much of anything, anymore for the 6.8 mm cartridge.

Am I right to worry? What do you see right now in the industry trends? Does 6.8 SPC have staying power or is it already on the way out? </div></div>

Well, it seems to be done as a military cartridge on at least a semi-large basis.

It appears to be a decent 'hunting' cartrige on small deerish type game.

Whether it becomes obsolete, depends on the popularity of the cartridge at the consumer level. If people buy guns chambered for the 6.8 SPC, then gun makers will continue to produce rifles chambered for it.

This will then lead to ammo makers producing ammo, so the cycle perpetuats itself.

As long as you have brass and bullets, we'll be able to reload for it.

I don't see it going anywhere too soon.

Chris

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

Uses the same bullet diameter as .270 Win - so your good on projectiles.

Uses a modified 7.62X39 case - so your good there.

Can't predict 10 years into the future but at lease your set on components.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[vmpglenn]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jerry M</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Uses the same bullet diameter as .270 Win - so your good on projectiles.

Uses a modified 7.62X39 case - so your good there.

Can't predict 10 years into the future but at lease your set on components.

Good luck

Jerry </div></div>

Actually, 6.8x43 uses a modified .30Rem case. The 6.5 Grendel uses a modified 7.62x39 case.

 

[McLarenross]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

Look at getting an upper in regular 7.62x39mm. Fills all your requirements and defiantly isnt going anywhere.

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

vmpgs - thanks for the correction.

BTW Remington is still manufacturing .30 Remington brass.

Jerry

 

[Todds69]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

Go over to 68forums.com and read up. I made the same decision a couple years ago and pick one up because I wanted more smack out of a AR Platform. I absolutely wouldn't hesitate picking one up. Ammo isn't cheap so I would definately reload. Just my 2 cents

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: McLarenRoss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Look at getting an upper in regular 7.62x39mm. Fills all your requirements and defiantly isnt going anywhere. </div></div>

This begs a question from me...
My son's AK sure is a fun shooter- but definitely a far cry from a tack driver. I realize the AK is not the most accurate platform, but isn't the b.c. of the 7.62 x 39 bullet lousy?

I've only seen one bolt gun (Ruger) that's chambered for this round, and I always thought that was due to the round's inherent inaccuracy. Sorry, didn't mean to hijack, maybe this should be another thread...

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

"..in 10 years, do you all think we will still be able to go out and buy 6.8mm SPC ammunition.."

Strongly doubt it. Nor a flood of other cartridges now being made for M-16 types.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

A 1/7 twist barrel will sling 77smk or 75bthp just fine, give either a stout load of RL15 or Vargay and get r done.

 

[sinister]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Simply put: in 10 years, do you all think we will still be able to go out and buy 6.8mm SPC ammunition near price parity or below the prices that one would pay for 308 like you can today?
</div></div>
No. .308 Winchester is produced in far higher numbers, giving it economy of scale.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My problem with 6.8 is that I worry that its a fad cartridge...You go to midway or similar sites and you are seeing sales marked as "closeout" pricing on 6.8 SPC ammo.
</div></div>
You are watching Darwinian evolution in action. "If it doesn't sell, move it and recoup some of your investment, even if it's a loss."

 

[bfoosh006]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

Sadly, I do think the 6.8 will fade away...
I think it is a better cartridge then the 5.56. Would that stop me from buying one? No...stock up on the brass,( ask for it for Christmas, Birthday..etc. save 20-50 bucks a week n buy the brass when on sale...) and the rest is no different than reloading for a 7mm, or any other non-mil standard caliber. You just won't be able to buy surplus ammo for "cheap" practice with that cartridge, but your rifle/platform is still the same! That alone is a huge bonus ! Practice with 5.56 and keep the 6.8 for more "serious" needs, people do it with .22 lr uppers... why not do it for your needs.

 

[SmokeRolls]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

If the military doesn't back it and manufacturers aren't building many rifles in that caliber and people aren't buying bolt actions in that caliber then I would bet "no".
I still have thought about building my daughter a 6.8 upper for her and stocking up on brass but just for hunting. Bullets are easy to find and it looks like a reloading sweetie but since the AR spits them out then one would have to gather his own brass and stay stocked up with more brass.
Darn shame but it happens.
It's so hard for new cartridges to go mainstream and remain on the shelf with the trusty old standards;
223/22-250/243/308/7.62x39/25-06/270/30-06/7mm mag and 300WM and a few more but this just about covers it on every store shelf.
....SmokeRolls

 

[sermonator]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

If you are looking for more than the 5.56, the 6.8 is ahead of anything else popularity-wise in the AR15 format. The next closest competitor is probably the 6.5 Grendel, but they have been finiky about mags and the military won't look at them because they won't feed from a belt (and the 6.8 will). However, Remington used an already obsolete case to build the 6.8, which was nearly impossible to find prior to the 6.8 development. The 7.62x39 will be around forever and is the best bet for being here for the long run. If you want better accuracy & range (and you are willing to dink around with mags to get them to work) the Grendal can be made from the 7.62 cases. The 6.8 cases are only made my Remington (I think) while Grendel cases are now made by Hornady and Lapua (and perhaps others I'm not aware of). If you don't want to go 7.62x39 and considering that either or both the 6.5 & 6.8 could be 'belly-up' 10 years from now, the Grendel is going to be easier to make from what's available.

 

[ccoker]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

no one knows..
I have had several and use one more than my bolt action 243 or 308 frankly

If I know I am going to bave the potential for 400 yard shots I take my 308. For just about everything else, I grab the 6.8

It's extremely effective and a very efficient cartridge that gets great performance out of shorter barrels.

It just works.. I don;t think (and I hope I am wrong) that it will ever get to be a "cheap" round, but the good stuff is priced about where other cartridges "good" stuff is...

I reload so, not really an issue though I would love to have cheap plinking ammo of course..

There's quite a strong following of users and that list is growing, I don't know of anyone that has actually hunted with it and gave it up, quite the opposite. They use it and are impressed by how well it works and become 6.8 junkies.

 

[Saito]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sermonator</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you are looking for more than the 5.56, the 6.8 is ahead of anything else popularity-wise in the AR15 format. The next closest competitor is probably the 6.5 Grendel, but they have been finiky about mags and the military won't look at them because they won't feed from a belt (and the 6.8 will). However, Remington used an already obsolete case to build the 6.8, which was nearly impossible to find prior to the 6.8 development. The 7.62x39 will be around forever and is the best bet for being here for the long run. If you want better accuracy & range (and you are willing to dink around with mags to get them to work) the Grendal can be made from the 7.62 cases. The 6.8 cases are only made my Remington (I think) while Grendel cases are now made by Hornady and Lapua (and perhaps others I'm not aware of). If you don't want to go 7.62x39 and considering that either or both the 6.5 & 6.8 could be 'belly-up' 10 years from now, the Grendel is going to be easier to make from what's available. </div></div>

Silver State Armory and Hornady also make 6.8 brass. If you have a 6.8 I recommend sticking with one brand of brass as Hornady makes small rifle primer pockets and REM has large rifle primers.

 

[ccoker]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

Correct, and S&B has 6.8 ammo and Prvi Partisan has announced they are coming out with 6.8 ammo

I have also spoke with Nosler who may be introducing brass, possibly new bullets and even perhaps loaded ammo for it..

If buying brass, SSA is the one to get.
Also small primer is much preferred over large primer for the 6.8

 

[RUTGERS95]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

almost every major manufacturer is making a 6.8 rifle. We have numerous ammo sources and as a hunting caliber, it's growing. More LE and off gov't agencies are testing it now for inclusion in their array of platforms. It's not going anywhere.

 

[clay_breaker]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: McLarenRoss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Look at getting an upper in regular 7.62x39mm. Fills all your requirements and defiantly isnt going anywhere. </div></div>

This begs a question from me...
My son's AK sure is a fun shooter- but definitely a far cry from a tack driver. I realize the AK is not the most accurate platform, but isn't the b.c. of the 7.62 x 39 bullet lousy?

I've only seen one bolt gun (Ruger) that's chambered for this round, and I always thought that was due to the round's inherent inaccuracy. Sorry, didn't mean to hijack, maybe this should be another thread... </div></div>

7.62x39 is not an inherently inaccurate round. I found that handloads out of a Ruger bolt action and an AR in 7.62 would both perform at close to MOA.

As far as 6.8's future, well, it and the 6.5 Grendal are in the same boat to me, they have a following because they are hot rounds in the AR15 platform and if you want more you have to go to an AR10. My personal opinion is it won't last, In 10 yrs I dont think you can buy the ammo off the shelf reasonably.

 

[paulo_santos]

Re: Does the 6.8mm SPC have a future?

It will be around. It is a great hunting round, but that is about it. It would make an excellent LE round, but due the lack of affordable plinking/training ammo, and the economy, it won't grow in the LE circles until you get someone to come out with affordable ammo. After putting over 20k rounds through 7 different uppers, I decided to dump the 6.8 because I don't hunt and the 5.56 is a hell of a lot cheaper to shoot. Even if I did hunt, I'd look into getting a 16" .308 with a light barrel.