6.8 SPC questions

[jfowl31]

Friend of mine is buying a 6.8 SPC upper for his Bushmaster lower...

Anyone have any advice on whether to go with 16" or 20"???

He wants it shorts for a "tactical" type rifle to put a red dot on top, and maybe a detachable front grip, and a light or something... But he also wants to be able to swap on a scope or the irons and still hit stuff out some distance.

Does the 6.8 perform well in a 16" at any kind of distance? what do the ballistics look like? All we could find were ballistics in a 24" barrel. Its not going to be worth it to him to get the 16" if he can't shoot coyotes at 300 yards or more... and if that bullet wont stabilize well in a 16" for some long(er) range shooting, he'll probably go with the 20"

He's already got a 20" in 223 in the same config (A3 with front sight), so another 20" might get confusing...

What do yall think? will the 16" be enough to shoot out to 300 yards and beyond?

[Darkwatch]

If it's gonna be a a 300 yrd gun and not just the "room clearer" I personally would not use anything less than a 16"bbl. Just my opinion but I have not seen ballistics on the 6.8. I know the 5.56 gets ballistically kinda crapin anything less than a 16" bbl. and what's 2-3 inches? really?

[jfowl31]

well, see I dont know how the bigger bore will react to less barrel...

If the thing is gonna drop like a rock out of the 16" barrel, it aint worth it. Outta the 20 and 24, its pretty flat out to 300, and if the ballistics dont change much in a 16, then he's good to go.

[jlpskydive]

Ballistics on the 6.8 and the 5.56 are very similar that's why they went with the round for the military. I have the 5.56 with the 16 and the 6.8 in the 20' and they are very similar except for the feeling of the 6.8 when it goes off. Get the 20 on both, the 6.8 was never meant to be a close quarters round and if he wants that get a shorter 5.56. :monkey:

[jfowl31]

I just talked him into the 20... I think it will suit him better, and he can just buy another 556 in 16 if he needs to sweep the house and play commando.

[Geilt]

Using normal loads (assuming he's not going to be reloading using a slower burning powder) the prefered length of barrel is anywhere between 18-22". Your choice of a 20" is smack dab in the middle so it should work just fine.

What's the barrel twist?

[texlurch]

I know on .308 it shoots fine out of a 16" barrel, at least to 300 yds, so I imagine the 6.8 would be similar.