The 6.8 is still impressing me.

groundhogbuster

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 20, 2012
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Western NC
I took my DD 6.8 a/10 specII to try to beat my furthest shot at 426yds, and after watching some young does watched a big bodied spike at 502yds and finally got comfortable enough to squeeze off a shot. I hit it with an factory SSA 85gr Barnes TSX in the top right tenderloin, watched it jump straight up, and run 20yds and just toppled over. I am simply amazed at this lil cartridge on whitetail. I now have a 411, 426, and 502yd kill on whitetail with this setup. This cartridge just keeps on impressing me.
 
I've shot several bucks with mine as well.... 2 went 20 yds max(using Wilson combat 110 gr TSX load) and 1 fell were he stood(using Wilson combat 95gr TTSX) .. I got a much larger wound channel from the 95gr TTSX .... That polymer tip really helps expansion or at least seemed to, larger sample size needed of course but the exit wound was exceptionally large... Especially compared to the 2 I shot with the 110 TSX. Looking forward to building my second 6.8 using the new LWRC SIX8 receivers..... Just hope magpul makes the new 6.8 mags in 10 rnd capacity and 5 rnd limiters before next deer season.
 
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I'll have to give the 95 TTSX, and see how it goes. I usually shoot the 115SMK for punching paper out to 4/500yds but I have a case of the 85TSX from SSA. I got my 1st 6.8 from RRA about 6-7 years ago and killed many deer with it, then talked to bill Wilson (Owner of Wilson Combat) about the perfect whitetail AR, and he told me alot about the 6.8, and I ordered an 18" Wilson Combat 6.8 from him, and have shot it 10 times, I also have one from Addax Tactical with an 18" brrl, that I haven't shot but 5 rds through. That's when I bought the midlength DD version in a 16", and it makes one heck of a light weight hunter. I like the LWRCI six8 but I just don't wanna have to have a special lower for a 6.8 upper. Darn nice gun though, and the 6.8 is really taking off hard again. I like the fact that brrl length doesn't make much difference in mv, and would love to own an SBR in 6.8.
I have a few 300blkout's and if I were running a can, I'm sure I'd like em better, Same as with the 6.5g, but I can't stand when one Co. (Alexander Arms) comes out with it, and ammo is so hard to find, and not many makers. I also could never get my 6.5's to shoot quite as good as my 6.8's. But that's just me, not starting a caliber war, lol.
 
Anybody using the 6.8 in an SBR? Strongly considering building an 11 or 12" barrel upper for whitetail hunting. I can make up to a 350yd shot from my stand and the blackout just doesnt have the ass for that far on bigger game. Watched a very nice 4 year old 8 point run a doe out in that area but never could get a clean shot with all the brush and it got me to thinking about my caliber choice for that stand. I hunt suppressed so I'd rather not tote around a 16"+ barrel plus the can. I hand load so using the right load isnt a problem but SBR 6.8 info is few and far between.
 
I am running a 12.5 Wilson Arms barrel upper with a Wilson trim hand guard and a Wilson adjustable gas block on my LWRC SBR registered lower. Works like a charm on hogs using my hand loads of 95 Grain TTSX on top of 29.5 grains of RL10 with CCI 450 mag primers. Very accurate at .75 MOA and running about 2450 FPS.
I gave up my 10.5" LWRC upper as I found it not as useful. Its recoil and blowback with a suppressor mounted made it a bad choice.
The 12.5 inch barrel is becoming more popular with hog hunters here in Texas.
 
Anybody using cfe223 in the 6.8? 12.5 is the barrel length I was mainly looking at. Just trying to decide if there really is enough difference shooting the 110gr ttsx out of the blackout vs the 95 ttsx out of the 6.8.
 
Anybody using the 6.8 in an SBR? Strongly considering building an 11 or 12" barrel upper for whitetail hunting. I can make up to a 350yd shot from my stand and the blackout just doesnt have the ass for that far on bigger game. Watched a very nice 4 year old 8 point run a doe out in that area but never could get a clean shot with all the brush and it got me to thinking about my caliber choice for that stand. I hunt suppressed so I'd rather not tote around a 16"+ barrel plus the can. I hand load so using the right load isnt a problem but SBR 6.8 info is few and far between.

From what I've read, if you are going to SBR a 6.8. Go with 12.5". I believe its the best length for velocity lost and etc.
I've taken a deer with the 12.5 setup at about 175 yards. I hit the deer in the lung area, the deer took 20 steps and just dropped.
My plan is to put a suppressor on it as well. I'm waiting on the 30 caliber Saker can from SWR/Silencerco.
 
Anybody using cfe223 in the 6.8? 12.5 is the barrel length I was mainly looking at. Just trying to decide if there really is enough difference shooting the 110gr ttsx out of the blackout vs the 95 ttsx out of the 6.8.

IMO CFE is a little slow especially with lighter bullets. I was testing today and pushed the 120gr SSTs to over 2800fps from a 20" using 1200R powder. N530, 8208 and H335 will get close to that with heavier bullets. 1200R, 2200 and 10X work better with the 95-100gr bullets and Re7 works better with the 85 and 90gr.
 
From what I've read, if you are going to SBR a 6.8. Go with 12.5". I believe its the best length for velocity lost and etc.
I've taken a deer with the 12.5 setup at about 175 yards. I hit the deer in the lung area, the deer took 20 steps and just dropped.
My plan is to put a suppressor on it as well. I'm waiting on the 30 caliber Saker can from SWR/Silencerco.
Why not get the Specwar? Its only slightly heavier but quite a bit cheaper and its the most quiet can on the market.
IMO CFE is a little slow especially with lighter bullets. I was testing today and pushed the 120gr SSTs to over 2800fps from a 20" using 1200R powder. N530, 8208 and H335 will get close to that with heavier bullets. 1200R, 2200 and 10X work better with the 95-100gr bullets and Re7 works better with the 85 and 90gr.
Well that's unfortunate, really don't want to have to keep up with another powder as well. I need to run the ballistics and see what the difference is between the 125SST running 2200 out of my blackout vs the 95TTSX running 2450. Looks like its not worth building a whole 'nother gun for my intended purposes.
 
Why not get the Specwar? Its only slightly heavier but quite a bit cheaper and its the most quiet can on the market.

Well that's unfortunate, really don't want to have to keep up with another powder as well. I need to run the ballistics and see what the difference is between the 125SST running 2200 out of my blackout vs the 95TTSX running 2450. Looks like its not worth building a whole 'nother gun for my intended purposes.

Most can run the 95TTSX at 2900fps out of a 16" 2800 out of a 12.5". Cutting 400 fps off the top before you make a decision is handicapping the crap out of it.
 
I am running a 12.5 Wilson Arms barrel upper with a Wilson trim hand guard and a Wilson adjustable gas block on my LWRC SBR registered lower. Works like a charm on hogs using my hand loads of 95 Grain TTSX on top of 29.5 grains of RL10 with CCI 450 mag primers. Very accurate at .75 MOA and running about 2450 FPS.
I gave up my 10.5" LWRC upper as I found it not as useful. Its recoil and blowback with a suppressor mounted made it a bad choice.
The 12.5 inch barrel is becoming more popular with hog hunters here in Texas.

Most can run the 95TTSX at 2900fps out of a 16" 2800 out of a 12.5". Cutting 400 fps off the top before you make a decision is handicapping the crap out of it.

Was just going off the above post for FPS. I haven't researched it enough and reading through the pissing matches on the 6.8 forum doesn't sound appeasing.

So with a loss of 3.5" of barrel length you only lose 100fps with the 95ttsx?
 
Was just going off the above post for FPS. I haven't researched it enough and reading through the pissing matches on the 6.8 forum doesn't sound appeasing.

So with a loss of 3.5" of barrel length you only lose 100fps with the 95ttsx?
usually 20-25fps/inch. The slower the burn rate of the powder the more you will lose. CFE is a 5.56 and Grendel powder, the 6.8 and BLK should use faster burning powders and the blk faster than the 6.8 really. I don't know what you mean pissing matches on the 68 forum. Just go to the reloading section and look in the stickys under bullet reviews, each bullet has a separate thread. Most use around 28.5gr of 2200 because 2200 is the new "thing"

http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?26980-95gr-Barnes-TTSX-info
 
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I was posting from memory and not my notes. The 2450 FPS was out of my 10.5" barrel with a 115gr Nosler CC. Sorry to start up some confusion. At my age no one need rely on their memory.

Here is a link to a post on the 6.8 SPC and a 12.5" barrel by Dr. Chris at Wild River Ranch. He has forgotten more than I will every know about the 6.8 SPC.

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=18&t=355943
 
There are some very good loads. One that was very impressive to me was the Wilson Combat load.
SSA has some good stuff too, very accurate this one. One of the uppers 18" ARP 5R prints 1/2 MOA all day. Not internet moa with cherry picked groups but the real one... assured repeatability.
I have tested popular commercial ammunition with this and most other AR commercial calibers and very few things come as handy and accurate out of the box.
I was also very impressed by the 6x45 and the corbon load. Very accurate and deadly too like all TSX.
 
usually 20-25fps/inch. The slower the burn rate of the powder the more you will lose. CFE is a 5.56 and Grendel powder, the 6.8 and BLK should use faster burning powders and the blk faster than the 6.8 really. I don't know what you mean pissing matches on the 68 forum. Just go to the reloading section and look in the stickys under bullet reviews, each bullet has a separate thread. Most use around 28.5gr of 2200 because 2200 is the new "thing"

95gr Barnes TTSX info

As far as the AA-2200 being a New Thing I doubt that.
Back in 2010 when I was trying to convincer Constructor and Others of the usefulness of this powder on a theorized hunch I wound up giving away or selling about 30 plus pounds of the powder and a few hundred of the 85gr Barnes.

Earnest or EWP did much of the Original work as their forum testifies.
Since I am no longer a member of the forum due to my audacity of challenging one of he chosen BB 's to a Duel of Honor his choice of weapons from Fist to beers to his choice or even words, I have to admit between the wordy yes they have pissing contests.


My only worry now is determining who is more right. Quick load who says the Hornady 110 OTM and 28.7 grains of a-2200 is more than 70k PSI or Johan Louber of Western Powders testing of about 58K psi which is listed in the 6.8 forum from earlier

I have not verified the Barnes 85gr in QL but I and many others had no problem with them since 2011 including constructor visually , but I will in Quick Load and Pressure Trace if I ever get time.

So as far as a new thing I disagree with that. But for those Interested I will keep you informed when I figure out the Discrepancy in the Hornady 110gr OTM.

Just be careful which pool you piss in over there.

The Original followed by his New data

6.8 SPC
Barrel: 20" ■ Twist: 1-10" ■ Primer: WIN WLR ■ Bullet Diameter .277"
Powder Bullet -- INFO Start Load Maximum Load COL
2200 90 SIE HP 28.1 2,690 31.3 2,978 57,900 2.260
2200 110 HDY HP 25.7 2,410 28.6 2,685 57,899 2.260
2200 110 HDY V-Max 25.7 2,439 28.6 2,711 57,995 2.260
2200 110 SIE SPT 25.9 2,442 28.8 2,672 57,550 2.260
2200 115 SIE HPBT 25.2 2,366 28.0 2,609 57,850 2.260
2200 130 NOS B-Tip 24.2 2,205 26.9 2,434 54,333 2.260
2200 140 NOS B-Tip 23.0 2,094 25.6 2,298 53,506 2.260
2200 140 SIE HPBT 23.4 2,120 26.0 2,342 57,757 2.260
2015 90 SIE HP 25.5 2,379 28.4 2,600 45,301 2.260
2015 110 HDY V-Max 23.7 2,172 26.3 2,406 48,029 2.260
2015 115 SIE HPBT 24.2 2,178 26.9 2,397 53,694 2.260
2230 90 SIE HP 29.3 2,649 32.6 2,870 52,489 2.260
2230 110 HDY V-Max 27.0 2,398 30.0 2,618 53,169 2.260
2230 115 SIE HPBT 27.5 2,414 30.5 2,638 57,983 2.260
2230 130 NOS B-Tip 24.1 2,092 26.8 2,269 48,745 2.260
2230 140 SIE HPBT 24.8 2,120 27.5 2,303 54,413 2.260


Regards
Johan Loubser
Ballistician
Ramshot.Accurate Powders
Tel: 406.234.0422 email: [email protected]
WesternPowdersInc.Miles City.Montana.
COMPANY WEBSITES/PRODUCTS:
Ramshot
Accurate Powders
Montana X-Treme
Blackhorn 209


Kevin,
I am attaching the latest expanded data 6.8SPC/SPC SPEC II
As mentioned we used the same barrel for the SPEC II merely cut the new chamber dimensions and found no difference in performance.

6.8 SPC
These loads apply to the standard 6.8SPC as well as the Spec II.
Barrel: 20" ■ Twist: 1-10" ■ Primer: WIN WLR ■ Bullet Diameter .277"
Powder Bullet INFO Start Load Maximum Load COL
5744 85 BAR MPG 23.5 2,631 26.1 2,937 58,198 2.235
5744 90 SIE HP 23.9 2,651 26.5 2,921 57,659 2.260
5744 95 BAR TTSX 22.6 2,514 25.1 2,805 58,402 2.260
5744 110 HDY HP 21.8 2,359 24.2 2,619 58,000 2.260
5744 110 HDY V-Max 21.9 2,401 24.3 2,670 58,224 2.260
5744 110 SIE SPT 22.5 2,427 25.0 2,671 58,364 2.260
5744 115 SIE HPBT 22.1 2,358 24.5 2,607 58,320 2.260
5744 130 NOS B-Tip 20.2 2,139 22.4 2,345 57,980 2.260
5744 140 NOS B-Tip 19.6 2,048 21.8 2,243 58,003 2.260
5744 140 SIE HPBT 19.7 2,078 21.8 2,307 58,426 2.260

1680 85 BAR MPG 24.8 2,574 27.6 2,818 58,156 2.235
1680 90 SIE HP 24.8 2,548 27.5 2,757 55,423 2.260
1680 95 BAR TTSX 23 2,408 25.6 2,668 58,029 2.260
1680 110 HDY HP 21.6 2,198 24.0 2,366 57,159 2.260
1680 110 HDY V-Max 22.4 2,278 24.9 2,454 58,019 2.260
1680 110 SIE SPT 21.8 2,211 24.2 2,358 57,715 2.260
1680 115 SIE HPBT 20.7 2,117 23.0 2,256 57,029 2.260
1680 130 NOS B-Tip 20.8 2,003 23.1 2,196 56,956 2.260
1680 140 NOS B-Tip 20.0 1,946 22.3 2,095 57,239 2.260
1680 140 SIE HPBT 20.0 1,964 22.2 2,125 58,222 2.260

2200 85 BAR MPG 28.0 2,737 31.1 3,020 54,997 2.235
2200 90 SIE HP 28.2 2,699 31.4 2,988 58,481 2.260
2200 95 BAR TTSX 27.1 2,626 30.2 2,915 57,953 2.260
2200 110 HDY HP 25.7 2,410 28.6 2,685 57,899 2.260
2200 110 HDY V-Max 25.7 2,439 28.6 2,711 58,020 2.260
2200 110 SIE SPT 26.1 2,454 29.0 2,685 58,410 2.260
2200 115 SIE HPBT 25.2 2,372 28.0 2,614 58,221 2.260
2200 130 NOS B-Tip 24.2 2,205 26.9 2,434 54,333 2.260
2200 140 NOS B-Tip 23.0 2,094 25.6 2,298 53,506 2.260
2200 140 SIE HPBT 23.4 2,128 26.0 2,342 58,293 2.260

2015 85 BAR MPG 24.3 2,259 27.0 2,502 41,004 2.235
2015 90 SIE HP 25.5 2,379 28.4 2,600 45,301 2.260
2015 95 BAR TTSX 23.7 2,149 26.3 2,406 41,300 2.260
2015 110 HDY V-Max 23.7 2,172 26.3 2,406 48,029 2.260
2015 115 SIE HPBT 24.2 2,178 26.9 2,397 53,694 2.260
2015 130 NOS B-Tip 21.0 1,868 23.3 2,016 41,021 2.260
2015 140 SIE HPBT 21.7 1,879 24.1 2,050 46,971 2.260

2230 85 BAR MPG 27.8 2,543 30.9 2,798 49,496 2.235
2230 90 SIE HP 29.3 2,649 32.6 2,870 52,489 2.260
2230 95 BAR TTSX 27.0 2,419 30.0 2,659 47,810 2.260
2230 110 HDY V-Max 27.0 2,398 30.0 2,618 53,169 2.260
2230 115 SIE HPBT 27.5 2,414 30.5 2,638 57,983 2.260
2230 130 NOS B-Tip 24.1 2,092 26.8 2,269 48,745 2.260
2230 140 SIE HPBT 24.8 2,120 27.5 2,303 54,413 2.260
Italics = compressed load

Regards
Johan Loubser
Ballistician
Ramshot.Accurate.Powders
WesternPowdersInc.Miles City.Montana.
Ramshot
Accurate Powders
Montana X-Treme
Blackhorn 209

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