SBR hunting cartridges
- Thread starter Gjb89
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6.8 spc and 458 socom kill hogs better than any other caliber that fit in a small frame AR and most efficiently utilize short barrels. 300 ball will work but it doesn’t knock them down as wel as 6.8 spc in my experience. All the listed calibers above were shot from barrels less than 12.5” at hogs.
Since you’re using a bolt gun the only one that makes sense to me is a 300blk. But if you’re gonna do that just build a 308 honestly. It’s a bolt gun in a short action so you can use whatever. 338 federal would be another excellent choice. We def need more details. What are you trying to hunt? Anything larger than like a coyote I’d hesitate to use subs on for hunting unless it’s a big bore expanding bullet like a 45 cal etc. even then it’s not ideal. Any round going off whether sub of not is louder than you think in a quiet field or Woodline at dark.
Since you’re using a bolt gun the only one that makes sense to me is a 300blk. But if you’re gonna do that just build a 308 honestly. It’s a bolt gun in a short action so you can use whatever. 338 federal would be another excellent choice. We def need more details. What are you trying to hunt? Anything larger than like a coyote I’d hesitate to use subs on for hunting unless it’s a big bore expanding bullet like a 45 cal etc. even then it’s not ideal. Any round going off whether sub of not is louder than you think in a quiet field or Woodline at dark.
It will mostly be used for hogs while cruising around the lease. I plan on using supers I have other guns for subs. I am just worried that a 10-12" .308 will not allow for enough powder burn and may be over-pressured for my Omega. I'll have to find min. barrel lengths for it. Also it's going to be an lightweight rifle, shooting for less then 6lbs.
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I’ve used them all and I come back to the 6.8 every time with a 12.5” barrel. Gonna get you the lightest weight with cheap ammo available and enough knockdown for some nasty hogs. XM68 federal ammo can be found at times for DIRT cheap. Like 7 bucks a box. It’s a 90 grain gold dot and it’s plenty accurate and does awesome on hogs. I was worried the lighter bullet wouldn’t penetrate enough but it drops hogs just as good as the 120 sst and has a bit less recoil for follow up shots.
They have all these new fancy cartridges coming out. Word of advice skip them. It’s a hunting rifle and you want to be able to grab a couple boxes and go in a pinch so for me at least factory ammo that’s cheap and available is a must.
They have all these new fancy cartridges coming out. Word of advice skip them. It’s a hunting rifle and you want to be able to grab a couple boxes and go in a pinch so for me at least factory ammo that’s cheap and available is a must.
I have considered the same thing now for about 8 years and have allways wanted to build a short action repeater with a 12-14" barrel chambered in 30BR with a 1-10" twist barrel.
It is probably the most efficient or atleast the top of the heap cartridges that has ever been designed and would perform excellent in a shorter barrel without a bunch of muzzle blast or abuse to a suppesor.
Some day I may get around to it.
It is probably the most efficient or atleast the top of the heap cartridges that has ever been designed and would perform excellent in a shorter barrel without a bunch of muzzle blast or abuse to a suppesor.
Some day I may get around to it.
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about this lately, and keep coming back to the .338 Federal. Since speed is limited, your only remaining option, re: energy is bullet weight, and the .338 bore offers some great options there.
Another option that I've been considering is subsonic 45-70; if you have a SiCo Hybrid can (with its .46 bore), this would make a ridiculously awesome short range thumper.
Another option that I've been considering is subsonic 45-70; if you have a SiCo Hybrid can (with its .46 bore), this would make a ridiculously awesome short range thumper.
For a 12" barrel, 6.8 all the way. That is my main deer rifle in a gas gun and has no problem laying deer in the dirt.
I’ve owned both. Some pieces of advice
1. The 45-70 is not exactly an accurate cartridge inherently. It also has some nasty recoil with hot loads but can be handloaded to whatever level you want. You also won’t be shooting cast leads through your can
2. The 338 federal kicks like a bitch. Similar to 300wsm-win mag. I had it in a Kimber Montana and it was near unbearable. If it’s a heavier rifle won’t be as bad
Disclaimer my go to hog gun is a Desert tech MDR 16” 308 with omega can and Pulsar XP50 getting switched out with the NVision Halo LR next week.
My 6.8 had a cheaper apex XQ38 on it and has killed more hogs than any other rifle I own. It never jams. Cheap to feed. Lightweight and short and lays out the pigs
My 6.8 had a cheaper apex XQ38 on it and has killed more hogs than any other rifle I own. It never jams. Cheap to feed. Lightweight and short and lays out the pigs
If that’s good enough for you go for it bud! The 45-70 for sure knocks the shit out of stuff. It’s comical shooting steel with my 223 and then 6.8 and then the 45-70. The 45-70 damn near rips the t post out of the ground haha. I’ve since moved to more precision rifles and hav an obsession for accuracy so don’t shoot the big bores quite as much now.
I have a 12.5” Grendel for hunting. The velocity with Hornady Black 123 drops from 2500 in my 20” down to 2200-2250 in the 12.5”. That makes it tricky to maintain enough velocity to ensure proper expansion. Currently I’m testing some Barnes 100 TTSX that ought to run in the 2500 range. They should be at 2044 FPS and 927 ft # at 200 yards. I’m thinking it would be good out 300 yards. Velocity is still at 1832 and energy 745 ft #
The 6.5 excels in longer barrels. Unlike the 6.8 which tends to do much better in SBRs
I can only compare ballistic tables and the 6.5 very slightly edges out the 6.8 in every situation. They are very very similar out to 400-500 yards. That’s the research I have seen. IM admittedly a Grendel guy..... And I may be wrong
Look at energy that’s what kills piggies. Not to mention he’s talking about a sbr. The Grendel is pretty bad in really short barrels. I’ll admit they are close. If you want a longer ranger target AR take the Grendel. If you wanna kill shit on a budget the 6.8 in my experience puts down hogs faster. I’ve owned both Grendel and spc so I’m not really bias one way or another.
Inside 400 6.8 for energy on target, outside 400 Grendel all day
In an sbr... 6.8
In an sbr... 6.8
I've shot few whitetail with my foot long Grendel inside 100 yards and would feel comfortable taking game up to 250-300 if the placement is right.
I also have a 300 whisper and blk, but don't have any experience on game yet. I don't think I would try it past 100-150 yards though.
I've thought about building 300 Hamr due to better performance over 300 blk and cheaper brass than Grendel , but I don't think I want to reload another caliber and it doesn't offer anything better to what I currently have.
I also have a 300 whisper and blk, but don't have any experience on game yet. I don't think I would try it past 100-150 yards though.
I've thought about building 300 Hamr due to better performance over 300 blk and cheaper brass than Grendel , but I don't think I want to reload another caliber and it doesn't offer anything better to what I currently have.
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