Opinions on 6.8 spc

[3/2ACR Vet]

Title says it all, guys...

I'm looking to buy (hopefully in the near future) a carbine type rifle, and a shotgun, to go with my .45 XD in hopes of practicing up and taking part in some tactical pistol, tactical rifle, and 3 gun competitions.

I'm in the "homework doing" part of researching firearms purchases, and in my web searching, I came across pictures of a really nice looking rifle by LWRC. It was done up in a drab green finish, and just looks awesome. Now, I'm hard and fast certain that, barring a bag of hundreds falling out of the sky and landing at my feet one day, it is not realistic that I would be able to buy this rifle any time soon. The 6.8 spc round the rifle is chambered for got me interested, though. While I've done enough research on it to know it's probably what I'm going to focus on TRYING to get ahold of, reading about it just doesn't complete the picture.

Hopefully one or two of you here have some experience with 6.8 spc and can give me your impression of the performance. Is it a practical goal to shoot for getting a rifle in this caliber, or will it be prohibitive in some way, like cost or availability?

Any input is welcome, thanks in advance

 

[mikec]

Why not cheat? Buy a good 5.56 AR and use that for now and when you get some extra $$, get a 6.8 upper. This way you can shoot the cheaper 5.56 now and compete and have fun.

 

[travismxi]

5.56/.223 is far more common and cheaper then 6.8SPC

 

[oldsarge]

Luke 12-49 has a Spikes lower that he got in one of the group buys that I gave him a Yankee Hill 6.8 upper for. It shoots nice and gets better distance than the 223. The biggest draw back is the cost and scarcity of ammo.

 

[mckraut]

I recently had a coworker ask me about this round and I had heard of it but didn't know hardly anything about it. So I did a little digging and found it runs about a dollar a round. That was enough for me to stay away from it.

 

[OLM-Medic]

Too expensive.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

Too expensive.

Agreed and the number of uppers I see for sale smells like a failed caliber.

 

[knownalien]

my thoughts are the 5.56 is a perfectly good bullet esp when you can choose from so many options in terms of the bullet weight and format. If you want barrier penetration then go AK or .308. In whatever kind of combat one may see in the future, the one common thing is that your targets will always seek out cover. Shooting through walls is nice in theory, but you can't see the other side. The millitary has real answers to this with weapons meant to destroy walls and barriers. we don't have those. When the target is exposed, that is the time to shoot and 5.56 will do the job. "Man stoppers" is a myth.

 

[smokey]

if you want something nifty, why not the 6.5 grendel? It quickly catches up with, then outruns the 6.8. Otherwise, the standard 5.56 will give you cheaper ammo with less recoil in more common and cheaper platforms that have more part availability if something breaks. If you're not poking out really far, or hunting...just poke the smaller and cheaper holes in the paper.

 

[Indiana Jones]

It's a semi expensive round. It helps to reload. I tend to stick with very available calibers. Fad calibers come and go. It was 6.8, now it's .300 blk which will be gone in a few years too. Not that they're not decent rounds, they're just like bell bottoms.. adored then
forgotten/replaced.

Also, welcome to the forum!

 

[Wayne1one]

Love my 6.8 build, but don't get to shoot it as much as I would like too! Ammo is expensive, but if you reload it might be the right thing for you!

 

[smores]

Don't do it. Specialty rounds, proprietary bolt and magazines.

The M16/AR-15 platform was designed around 5.56 NATO, and while it has been adapted to fit many other calibers, it still functions best as a 5.56 NATO rifle. I'm surprised 6.8 SPC is still relevant TBH. Unless you're a long-range hunter .300 BLK is going to be a better bet since it uses the same bolt and mags as 5.56 NATO.

If you want to be different, that's cool - but you'll have to pay to play.

 

[3/2ACR Vet]

Thanks a lot, everyone!

I Appreciate the input and advice. I'll definitely be taking it, and trying to find something affordable and nice in 5.56 to shoot with.

 

[Samuel]

From my research 6.8 is a fine round if you have a use for it. It excells at hunting, home defense, and short barrelled applications. But using it for practice, competition, or plinking is kindof a waste, or at least not cost efficient. Its the kind of gun that's nice to have available when you need it but you take something else out to the range more often then not.

 

[huesmann]

Unless you're a long-range hunter .300 BLK is going to be a better bet

And even then, if you're a long-range hunter, you'll probably be using .308 or .30-06.

 

[smores]

And even then, if you're a long-range hunter, you'll probably be using .308 or .30-06.

You're correct, it all depends on your definition of long range. In MD I don't think I've talked to anyone that has hunted in this state and made a shot past 175 yds. I guess the correct use would be "medium" range. I was up past my bedtime so forgive me.

The .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag, etc. are definitely better long-range performers.

 

[rml33]

I own a 6.8. It's a great round. You can use the round for about anything. If you are on a budget, this would not be a good option. Mags and ammo are expensive.

 

[retrorichard]

Silver state armory just released a long range 6.8 round. I have a build in the works because of this round.

 

[sykesville]

Great thing is that 6.8 is a serious hunting round, and a 6.8 upper is perfectly interchangeable on a lower built for a 5.56. So get yourself a rifle with two uppers: 5.56 and 6.8 and kill two birds with one shot.

 

[ntobias]

I would have to go with the 5.56 in this case just due to price, however if for some reason you find that bag of money, then go with an ACR in the 6.8