Own one? Which one and why? Planning to buy one? Which one and why? Don’t own one? Why not? What, if anything are you waiting for, or is it something you’d never even consider? How much research have you done into the caliber? How much more would you do if the resources were easily (more?) accessible and easy to understand?
I don’t own one or plan to ever own one because I come from the more defensive side of shooting with an interest in precision too.
From the defensive side, there’s not much point to switching from 223/556. From the precision side, I’m still learning a lot. But the gurus I consult find the round to be useless. One of the precision guys told me the ammo is getting better as they push it to the hot end of the spectrum.
The one thing you pointed out which I often overlook, is the hunting aspect. I don’t view the AR platform as a hunting platform. But some people like to us it for hunting. And for hog hunting or deer hunting, the 6.8 may fill the role. I can’t offer an opinion on that.
I own an 18" SPR, 12.5" general purpose SBR, and a pocket-sized 8" PSD, all in 6.8, all with the “original” 5thSFG/AMU spec chamber. I also have a Surefire MB68AR full sized can. I currently don’t hunt, but I may try my hand at some feral pigs in the near future.
Out of all my 6.8 rigs, I shoot the 18" the most right now because I can practice practical precision shooting out to 600 yards with the lighter weight and ergo’s of an AR, little or no recoil, fast follow-up shots, and good effect on steel. It’s also much less expensive to fire 8-10 rounds a minute, vs practicing NSRs or other carbine fighting techniques that burn through multiple mags. Standard loaded SSA 110gr Accubonds show 2700fps out of my 18" barrel, and that’s just fine for now. I do handload, so I expect I’ll be able to add about 100fps to that number without much effort. Again, working up loads for an SPR-type rig is more fun, because you don’t need 500 rounds loaded to get in a day at the range.
Mostly, though, my 6.8 guns are there for “what if” scenarios, along with a stash of ammo that I’ve bought/loaded and basically forgotten about. I have taken my 12.5" SBR though a carbine course (Defensive Edge), so I’m very familiar with how the round recoils, etc. That having been said, I don’t plan to do that again, as the difference between how 6.8 and 5.56 feels in a fighting carbine is minimal, bordering on insignificant.
I do have a duplicate of my 12.5" SBR in 5.56, and that is what I use to practice reloads, timed shots, malfunction clearance, etc. I also keep a PMAG loaded with 75gr T2 TAP in the rather unlikely event I’d be using my carbine to defend my home. As well, I have a bunch of other 5.56 guns I shoot all the time, mostly because ammo is so much more available and less expensive.
I’ve been shooting 6.8 since 2006, so I’ve watched the round come quite a ways. At this point, though, I’m in a bit of a holding pattern until SSA, Hornady, S&B, and others feel like it’s safe enough to load factory rounds to the full potential Holland and Murray had in mind when they developed 6.8SPC. This is the real sticking point right now; most of the gun manufacturers have announced or are producing rifles with the correct barrel specs. Until the ammo guys step up, my 6.8’s mostly sit in the safe, and my 5.56 guns get all the sunshine.
I do not own one, nor do I plan on owning one any time soon. Ammo costs are just plain prohibitive. Current 5.56 is bad enough, but 6.8 is ridiculous.
I used to think so too, but that’s not really true when comparing apples to apples.
First of all it’s important to remove “blasting” from the equation. High count training classes, random plinking, etc. The 6.8 isn’t really intended for this, and one would be better served with a 5.56 upper to match for these situations. Or, a 6.8 purchased to match an existing 5.56 upper/rifle.
Comparing apples:apples, let’s look at two loads that are identical other than caliber. Same manufacturer, same projectile design, etc.
Hornady 6.8 SPC 110 gr V-Max Ammunition 20/box $17.99
vs.
Hornady 223 Rem 55 gr V-Max Ammunition 20/box $17.85
or
Remington 6.8 SPC 115 gr Premier Match BTHP 20/box $28.73
vs.
Remington 223 Rem 69 gr Premier Match BTHP 20/box $34.14
Now, is Wolf 5.56 cheaper than Hornady 6.8? Clearly it is. But apples:apples, 6.8 is not only potentially less expensive, but of the four loads posted above the only one that’s available right this minute from Natchez is te 6.8 Hornady load.
I’d like to own one. I have a LMT MRP I’d like to swap the barrel out and use it as a hunting rifle for larger deer up north. It’s one of the benefits of the MRP. It’s very easy to convert. As a dedicated weapon for training for what we do, and the amount of shooting I do, the round hasn’t made enough progress in terms of cycling reliability, types of ammo developed for it, logistical availability, and of course, the cost benefit ratio, which is pretty prohibitive as others have stated. The .223/5.56, seems to be GTG as far as the game here in FL. As a hunting round using the 6.8, it’s good to have the option to convert.
I was not interested in the > 5.56 rounds until recently, because for most uses the small round is highly effective. Then I started putting together an AR-10 for long-range shooting, because I wanted a semi-auto recision rifle; I’ve been shooting ARs for over 24 years now, and was shocked at how large and heavy ARs based on the .308 are. So I looked into the 6.8 and the 6.5 Grendel, since they have range/energy advantages over 5.56, with thought of using one or the other in a long-range rifle based an an AR-15 reciever.
I know you started the topic to discuss the 6.8, but you asked for our impressions of it; in my view it is harder-hitting than the 5.56, but without much greater effective range than it, so to me the 6.8 is of limited utility. But…the 6.5 Grendel, besides having almost as much energy as the 6.8 at short ranges, does something the 6.8 cannot: continue to perform ballisically at extended ranges. This allows both much greater energy than the 5.56 for CQB, and long-range performance out of the same cartridge, and still fits in the smaller/lighter AR-15 platform.
I have several 6.5X55 Swedish Mausers, and think the 6.5 bullet is a wonderful performer; the ballistic tables prove this out: as much or greater range than the .308, but far less recoil. The 6.5 Grendel is slower than the Swede or the other hairy-chested 6.5s, yes, but still retains energy like crazy at longer ranges.
If you are not interested in long-range precision shooting with a small round, then disreguard the above.
That would leave the utility of the 6.8 restricted to being a harder-hitting short-to-medium range round. If that is all you want out of a cartridge, okay…but in my opinion, that is not enough justification for adding a caliber/rifle to my armory.
If I had looked into the 6.5 Grendel before I started my AR-10 project, I would probably have not gone forward with the AR-10. Having a potential 1000 yard cartridge that can be used in the smaller/lighter/easier-shooting AR-15 platform is a decisive advantage.
I don’t own one, but would love to have one as an SBR. I believe it would be a good defensive weapon. I would like to also have one for the reason that I like different concepts and even concept weapons. The round really interests me.
As a 6.8 shooter who does not hand load (for now), I would really like to see a Wolf or some other lower cost option. Yes, you can find it for just under a $1 a round on the internet, but by the time it’s shipped it might as well be a $1 a round. SSA’s “plinkering” option at a still high 14 or 15 a box has been in a holding pattern for a while now - they are reporting late summer currently.
Unless your simply going to hunt - that is if you are going to use your AR for training, plinkering, etc (the reason you purchased it), then it is understandable that the 7.62x39 is more attractive…
I’ve a few other projects/builds to complete first, but I am definitely interested in a dedicated 6.8mm and will almost certainly take a step in that direction in the next year or two. Given the ballistic potential and suitability for shorter barrel configurations, I think there is indeed something to be gained. The fact that it is so well-integrated into the AR platform (though, of course, this was by design) only sweetens the deal in my view.
I’m not quite there yet, but a 6.8 platform is almost certainly in my future – and why not? It does everything that the 5.56mm can do, only better. Fielded in sufficient quantities, there may even be an economy of scale benefit if/when ammunition manufacturers begin looking at producing more economical training/plinking loads. The ammo cost is already pretty reasonable when you compare apples to apples (i.e. quality hunting ammo) – it’s just that most of us prefer to shoot oranges (i.e. bulk quantity training/plinking ammo), and we don’t yet have that option in 6.8mm.
AC
I have one coming, an AR Performance mk68 . The hotter 6.8 loads have alot of promise. Ammo cost is a bitch, but I also own a 50BMG so the 6.8 still doesnt seem too bad…
My 6.8 is a 10.5" SBR that I only run suppressed.
It’s my HD carbine and I also hunt with it. I wanted a suppressed carbine with excellent terminal performance and short OAL.
I train mainly with a 5.56 that is set up the same. For me the ammo cost is not an issue as I would pay as much for 75gr NATO TAP as I do for 6.8 TAP and handload my hunting ammo.
I am excited about the shift towards lighter bonded/TSX bullets and the velocity/performance they bring.
This is just my opinion. Unless it ever gets military adoption, I think it will end up a novelty item. The ammo is always going to be expensive and less available. For special applications its a good cartridge that accomplishes its designed task for takedown and penetration power. I hope I’m wrong, I like the 6.8 SPC, but 5.56mm isn’t going away any time soon.
I should have qualified my statement as did markm. I can’t and don’t hunt with an AR platform, so hunting loads are of little interest or consequence to me. Apples to apples, for me personally, is defensive load to defensive load. The M193 cartridge and it’s equivalents are adequate for my use. I’m not sure what the 6.8 equivalent to the M193 would actually be, in terms of defensive use, but I haven’t seen any 6.8 ammo in the $.50/round range or even close. That’s why I stated my position as I did.
a small nit to pick…
This phrase makes me nuts. We heard it when the M&P came out and people said “the Glock isn’t going away anytime soon”. We hear it all the time when someone buys an AK and then says “I like it and all, but my AR isn’t going away anytime soon”. What I don’t get is why is it always an either/or? Why not both?
I think the setup Todd described above is about perfect, and if you add in a .22 upper set up the same way you really have the trifecta. Now if someone would just make 9mm AR mags in the same body size/shape as 5.56 magazines…
I use my 6.8 SPC for 3-gun matches (better knock down power on long range steel and you can see the holes in paper at distance). Since I reload it is considerably cheaper then 5.56 when you look at the fact it cost me $7 per 20 rounds to reload with previously fired brass. You can’t even get crappy Wolf in 5.56 that cheap. If I have to buy new brass it costs me $13 per 20 rounds which is still cheaper then quality 5.56 ammo.
MadDog 
Sorry to make you nuts. I can sympathize with your frustration. I was very excited about the 6.8 SPC when I heard about it and was impressed by how the 10th SOF group, AMU and Remington collaborated in its development. I was looking forward to seeing it thrive. So far its been relatively slow. Comparing weapon models ( Glock vs M&P, etc.) to calibers is like comparing Apples to Oranges. Im doubtful that the civilian shooting community through semi auto rifle enthusiasts like ourselves, can ever get the 6.8 SPC to rival the 5.56. I like the 6.8 SPC cartridge. Maybe law enforcement interest can promote more popularity, but I feel it will take Military adoption for it to become prolific.
But there you go again acting like somehow a successful 6.8 has anything to do with 5.56, this is what I don’t get.
I want one badly.
The 6.8mm Rem SPC is the cartridge I crave. The thing I daydream about when I am supposed to be working? A nice 6.8 upper (or three). I pore over the 6.8 Chart and of course Dr. Roberts’s NDIA presentation on rifle calibers. Really, that report should be all anyone need see before they have the craving for a 115gr OTM round at ~2600fps.
I do still wish 6.8 ammo were more affordable, but as you (rob_s) pointed out, a respectable load for 5.56 or .308 is comparable in price to the 6.8 that’s available. In my personal math it would probably turn out cheaper than buying an AR10 or other platform for .308. I wouldn’t need to buy new lowers, pouches, etc; just the upper, magazines, and ammo. Most of which compare reasonably well to the prices for AR10 (or FAL, or M14) stuff.