ar15 in 6.8 for deer hunting

[HKILLER]

well i no longer have any bolt/deticated deer rifles anymore. has anyone here hunted with an ar in 6.8? any advise would help.

[Tazman]

I'm not sure what your looking for? Reloading or equipment. I hunted last year
with a 6.8spc. Stag upper model 7 with a spikes tactical lower,magpul sniper stock.& hogs in Fl., 2 does !110 point in Ga. All animals were harvested with 110 gn SPH's/SSA brass,gm205M primers with 28.3 H322. sub moa at 100yards. The longest shot was a hog @155yards.20 yards from hit to expiration. let me know if you need any more info.

[drine]

No but I want to. I wanted the bull barrel 6.8 to satisfy 2 of my wants. They only make a heavy contour BUT you can special order the bull. I took one with the AR in .223. Our deer are not as heavy as south/mid Georgia deer.

[vmkeith]

I've only heard good things about the 6.8 for any type of hunting. If you want more info specifically for the 6.8, google 6.8 forum. Anyway, I'm in process of building an AR in 6.8mm SPC. According to the ballistics data I've seen, it's perfect for deer hunting in Western WA where 9 times out of 10 you won't be shooting past 200yds.

[cfish]

The ballistics are ideal for deer hunting. It will make a fine 250 yard or less deer rifle. I know longer shots can be taken but ballisticaly 250 or less is ideal. And as most deer hunters know, 99% of deer are taken less then then 100 yards. I have a lower which I am trying to decide what to build on it. I have been looking at the 6.8 as well as the 6.5 grendal and the 50 bewolf 0r 45 socom.

[19Charlie_84]

If you are between the 6.8, 6.5, .50 beowulf, and .458 socom...stick with the 6.8. The US military special ops command already uses it (allegedly) so a surplus of ammo is in the not too distant future. The others are essentially popular wildcats that have almost too specific intended applications. The cost of ammo will force you to reload, which is fine, but brass and bullet supplies may be just as, if not more expensive than buying factory ammo. Also look at how many companies produce the rounds. Beowulf, .458, and 6.5 are only made by one or two companies. (Alexander Arms is the only one I can think of off hand). As long as the military uses it, or has plans of using it, there will be plenty of supply.

Also, make sure you get it chambered in 6.8 SPC II and NOT SAMMI. There is a 0.005" difference in throat dimensions that make the SPC II longer. The II can take any 6.8 round but the SAMMI can only take shorter brass. If you have the SPC II chamber, and a 1:10 twist or slower like 1:11 or 1:12, you can shoot higher performance 6.8 ammunition like the Tactical Loads from Silver State Armory; SPC II rounds are hotter.

Think of 6.8SPC II and 6.8x43 akin to .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO OR .308 and 7.62 NATO.

I mentioned barrel twist earlier, make sure you get a 1:10 or slower. 1:12 is ideal but it also depends on what bullet weight you use. Mine is a 14.5" barrel in 1:10 twist reamed out to SPC II chambering. I havent shot it yet but I have 110, 115, and 130 grain food to feed it.

[Old Grump]

Is the 270 a deer caliber? That is what the 6.8 is but it sounds cooler.

6.8 Rem
115 grain BTHP 2,049 fps at 300 yards and 1,075 ft/lbs, you can get MOA at 600 yards with a good barrel.

270
115 grain SP 1873 fps at 300 yards and 893 ft/lbs. Good shooters have taken antelope out to 500 yards with that old gray beard bullet.

My uncle took a moose with his using a 130 grain bullet, the only bullet he ever used in his gun for 40+ years.

Jump on the 6.8, the only reason I don't is finances and an embarrassing number of centerfire rifles in the house already.

[Buddymack]

If you are between the 6.8, 6.5, .50 beowulf, and .458 socom...stick with the 6.8. The US military special ops command already uses it (allegedly) so a surplus of ammo is in the not too distant future. The others are essentially popular wildcats that have almost too specific intended applications. The cost of ammo will force you to reload, which is fine, but brass and bullet supplies may be just as, if not more expensive than buying factory ammo. Also look at how many companies produce the rounds. Beowulf, .458, and 6.5 are only made by one or two companies. (Alexander Arms is the only one I can think of off hand). As long as the military uses it, or has plans of using it, there will be plenty of supply.

Also, make sure you get it chambered in 6.8 SPC II and NOT SAMMI. There is a 0.005" difference in throat dimensions that make the SPC II longer. The II can take any 6.8 round but the SAMMI can only take shorter brass. If you have the SPC II chamber, and a 1:10 twist or slower like 1:11 or 1:12, you can shoot higher performance 6.8 ammunition like the Tactical Loads from Silver State Armory; SPC II rounds are hotter.

Think of 6.8SPC II and 6.8x43 akin to .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO OR .308 and 7.62 NATO.

I mentioned barrel twist earlier, make sure you get a 1:10 or slower. 1:12 is ideal but it also depends on what bullet weight you use. Mine is a 14.5" barrel in 1:10 twist reamed out to SPC II chambering. I havent shot it yet but I have 110, 115, and 130 grain food to feed it.

That is good to know! Surplus is and should be considered when purchasing and investing into guns weapons etc.. it is one reason I am buying CZ52 in the next couple months, along with the various other guns I would own you have to consider this if you are going to be an active shooter or someone who is prepping...1200 rounds is hard to be for around a 100 bucks! I imagine there would be some good deals on 6.8 someday..
but dang a 450 Bushy is just cool...you gotta admit that.

[vmkeith]

If you are between the 6.8, 6.5, .50 beowulf, and .458 socom...stick with the 6.8. The US military special ops command already uses it (allegedly) so a surplus of ammo is in the not too distant future. The others are essentially popular wildcats that have almost too specific intended applications. The cost of ammo will force you to reload, which is fine, but brass and bullet supplies may be just as, if not more expensive than buying factory ammo. Also look at how many companies produce the rounds. Beowulf, .458, and 6.5 are only made by one or two companies. (Alexander Arms is the only one I can think of off hand). As long as the military uses it, or has plans of using it, there will be plenty of supply.

Also, make sure you get it chambered in 6.8 SPC II and NOT SAMMI. There is a 0.005" difference in throat dimensions that make the SPC II longer. The II can take any 6.8 round but the SAMMI can only take shorter brass. If you have the SPC II chamber, and a 1:10 twist or slower like 1:11 or 1:12, you can shoot higher performance 6.8 ammunition like the Tactical Loads from Silver State Armory; SPC II rounds are hotter.

Think of 6.8SPC II and 6.8x43 akin to .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO OR .308 and 7.62 NATO.

I mentioned barrel twist earlier, make sure you get a 1:10 or slower. 1:12 is ideal but it also depends on what bullet weight you use. Mine is a 14.5" barrel in 1:10 twist reamed out to SPC II chambering. I havent shot it yet but I have 110, 115, and 130 grain food to feed it.

The way it was explained to me on the 6.8 Forums was the 1:10 twist and SAAMI spec was the first generation for the 6.8mm SPC. Pressure related problems were seen with the SAAMI spec and 1:10 barrel twist when firing Combat/Tactical loads, but the rifle could fire them. The SPC II spec with 1:11 and 1:12 barrel twist expanded the rifle's capabilities by allowing the rifle to handle the higher pressures when using Combat/Tactical loads.

From what I've heard, another thing to keep in mind, is made sure the upper receiver and barrel extension have M4 Feed Ramps machined in them. With the heavier 6.8mm round, having the M4 Feed Ramps helps the chambering of the round. Some people that don't have the M4 Feed Ramps haven't had a problem with chambering at all...and some have. Just my 2 cents.

[jfowl31]

I haven't shot a deer with one, but it will take down hogs with ease, and they are MUCH harder to take down than deer. I had a Stag with a 16" barrel, and sold it to a friend... it now has 3rd Gen nightvision on it, and it kills about 2-3 hogs per week.

[cfish]

Is the 270 a deer caliber? That is what the 6.8 is but it sounds cooler.

6.8 Rem
115 grain BTHP 2,049 fps at 300 yards and 1,075 ft/lbs, you can get MOA at 600 yards with a good barrel.

270
115 grain SP 1873 fps at 300 yards and 893 ft/lbs. Good shooters have taken antelope out to 500 yards with that old gray beard bullet.

My uncle took a moose with his using a 130 grain bullet, the only bullet he ever used in his gun for 40+ years.

Jump on the 6.8, the only reason I don't is finances and an embarrassing number of centerfire rifles in the house already.



Old Grump, the 270 is much more potent then the 6.8 ballistically. The 270 is a much hotter round then the 6.8 and the availability of rounds offered from the factory for hunting is night and day between the two rounds. The 270 is one of the best deer rounds out there.

[HKILLER]

well my 6.8 build started today im going only a budget of 550 so here is what i have so far.

[bladeworks123]

What lower are you on there?

[HKILLER]

spikes tactical

[Old Grump]

Old Grump, the 270 is much more potent then the 6.8 ballistically. The 270 is a much hotter round then the 6.8 and the availability of rounds offered from the factory for hunting is night and day between the two rounds. The 270 is one of the best deer rounds out there.

Agree but in the woods no deer is going to be able to tell the difference. My Uncle used his 270 for over 40 years for deer and moose and 130 gr bullets was about all that was available. Some of his inlaws made fun of him but he just replies dead is dead. I think I must have got that from him because its one of my catch phrases too.

[HKILLER]

i got the ok to shoot two fallow deers this weekend and i dont have a barrel :eek:. guess im gonna have to get it locally and sight in this week and shoot sat. i will post pic after my hunt.

[HKILLER]

Ok guys here you go my 6.8 spr 18inch middy, with a a2 stock and floating handguard. Cheap bushnell glass and yhm .5 inch riser. Started off with a spikes tac. but the surplus ammo lower fit better with this upper receiver. im very happy with in now just gotta sight in and go hunting.

[spectre]

my dad has that same scope on his ar. looks nice

[HKILLER]

update this is a couple of shots taken, at 50yd, and 100yds. the shoot-n-see is at 100 yds.

[agalindo]

Nice rifle and nice group. I was thinking of using my last stripped lower to build a 6.8 or a grendel but the ammo is just too expensive.

[HKILLER]

Ammo is pricey 28$ for 20rnds. And mostly available online.