I have a ruger 556 in 6.8 and like it. From what i remember the round was developed by actual soldiers. Something they wanted to see in the field. It was shelved because we use the 5.56. It was sopposed to be more lethal out of the m4. Ammo for it will never be cheap. It wasnt developed for hunting. It is what it is.
6.8 Caliber?
- Thread starter Smit
- Start date
If you learned to handload, it would be cheaper than factory 30-06 ammo....... in fact, Hornady's 6.8SPC hunting ammo is cheaper than their 30-06 hunting ammo..... there is less material cost than larger calibers, and the only thing that keeps it expensive is that it is not as common as some other calibers. It will be cheap (comparatively) if it becomes more common.
Neither was the 30-06.
What it IS ..... is a cartridge that fits in the AR platform, and gives both more muzzle energy and more retained energy (nearly 2X @300 yards) than the .223/5.56x45...... being a shorter, stockier cartridge using heavier bullets, it loses less performance than the 5.56 when used in shorter barrels.
chris in va
New member
I found an empty case at the range while scrounging for x39. It was discovered after decapping and resizing the case. I was struck by how similar they are to x39, just with a longer neck.
globemaster3
New member
Quote:
Ammo for it will never be cheap.
And this is where the 6.5 Grendel is going to become more marketable, IMHO.
Since the 6.5 is now through SAAMI and standardized, the list of factory ammo is expanding, to include cheap practice ammo.
Unfortunately, with the 6.8 represented by the less popular SAAMI specs as Remington first introduced it and the much more popular Spec II which is non-SAAMI-fied, I think that has hurt it a little.
And this is from someone who owns 3 6.8s and no Grendels... For now
Ammo for it will never be cheap.
And this is where the 6.5 Grendel is going to become more marketable, IMHO.
Since the 6.5 is now through SAAMI and standardized, the list of factory ammo is expanding, to include cheap practice ammo.
Unfortunately, with the 6.8 represented by the less popular SAAMI specs as Remington first introduced it and the much more popular Spec II which is non-SAAMI-fied, I think that has hurt it a little.
And this is from someone who owns 3 6.8s and no Grendels... For now
I dont know why you would compare the 6.8 to the 30-06? The 5.56 is going nowhere anytime soon. The cost would be unimaginable. Never say never, but the only way to get the cost down is if it was adopted by our military. Right now 30-06 ammo is around $14-$16 for 20. A box of 6.8 is about 26.00. I am reloading the 6.8 and its costing me:
brass .55
primer .35
bullet .20
powder .11
Thats once fired brass, so $1.21 a round or $24.20 for 20. I am reloading .223 for $.30 a round or $6 for 20. You may not reload, but thats how we figure our costs. I dont know where you came up with it would be cheaper than the 30-06? You might want to read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.8_mm_Remington_SPC
The 6.8 was developed by spec op guys not ammo or gun manufactures. Thats why I said it is what it is. I like the round alot, but it wont be cheap anytime soon. I think the guys that do like the 6.8 will be doing some great things with it.
brass .55
primer .35
bullet .20
powder .11
Thats once fired brass, so $1.21 a round or $24.20 for 20. I am reloading .223 for $.30 a round or $6 for 20. You may not reload, but thats how we figure our costs. I dont know where you came up with it would be cheaper than the 30-06? You might want to read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.8_mm_Remington_SPC
The 6.8 was developed by spec op guys not ammo or gun manufactures. Thats why I said it is what it is. I like the round alot, but it wont be cheap anytime soon. I think the guys that do like the 6.8 will be doing some great things with it.
Gunplummer
New member
I have heard bad things about the Grendel in an AR. Too much for the way the bolt is relieved. Could just be rumors.
You really should re-use that spendy brass .... $.55/5 firings = $.11 ..... Even brand new brass is $25/50 @Cabela's .... that's only 10 cents a pop if you use it 5 times....
..... Are you really spending $.35 on a primer? Gold cup on that is there?
I'll assume you meant 3 1/2 cents, which is what I've been paying for Winchester primers @ Cabela's......
10+3.5+20+11=44 and a half, I think ...... somebody is either bad at math or shopping, I think.....
44 cents per shot is certainly cheaper than you can load 30-06 ...... or even buy it in milsurp, unless it is some really crappy corrosive stuff that might go ban when you pull the trigger....Hornady's 6.8 SST load is cheaper than their 30-06 SST hunting load..... compare apples to apples.
Five shots from that brass is definitely the maximum for cost planning purposes.
The rule of thumb for semi auto rifles is "four reloads then chuck it" for brass. This came out when Garands were firing 30-06, but remains quite valid now that AR's are shooting a bunch of stuff.
Having been on the range when a reload ripped in half leaving the forward shoulder in the chamber, I agree with the conventional wisdom when it comes to feeding my ARs with reloads.
Jimro
The rule of thumb for semi auto rifles is "four reloads then chuck it" for brass. This came out when Garands were firing 30-06, but remains quite valid now that AR's are shooting a bunch of stuff.
Having been on the range when a reload ripped in half leaving the forward shoulder in the chamber, I agree with the conventional wisdom when it comes to feeding my ARs with reloads.
Jimro
Whatever.My point is that your reloading costs are pretty high: Ur doon it rong.
Even if we go with Jimro's 4 loads and chuck it ..... new Remington 6.8 brass is 50 cents apeice right now at Cabela's. NEW. 50/4= 12 1/2 cents ..... call it 13 cents ....
13+3.5+20+11 =/= 90 ..... maybe it's this "New Math" or something, but even with sales tax of 7%, you are still around 51 cents per round..... times 20 ..... you are just over 10 bucks/box. I am not seeing any 30-06 anywhere for that, unless it is, like a I said, possibly corrosive milsurp crap from some third world "nation" that is younger than the ammo in question.....
It's called "reloading" ..... that implies picking up your brass and loading it ...... wait for it ....... again.
Why are you paying $.55 for once fired brass, BTW?
Arizona Fusilier
New member
I have a Bushmaster in 6.8. I don't have a lot of experience with it, but it would seem to be a great cartidge for the smallish Coues whitetail we have down south here in Arizona. Perhaps Javelina as well.
Not set up to reload it, but it looks like it might be the only long-term viable solution, as the current madness is only likely to hurt its popularity.
Not set up to reload it, but it looks like it might be the only long-term viable solution, as the current madness is only likely to hurt its popularity.
It costs you for the initial setup. Your not even including the price for the dies and shell plate. The whole point is ammo will never be cheap for the 6.8. Its not nor ever will be in the foreseeable future a military round. Thats the only way you will ever get the cost down.
jimbob86 brought up the 30-06. For what reason I have no idea. 30-06 isnt even in the same league with 5.56 as far as price goes.
The 6.8 was developed for the A4 to be more lethal, thats it. It obviously has more uses. Am I going to shoot 500 rounds at one time? Hell no, its to expensive. New or reloaded. Will I shoot 500 rounds of .223? Of course.
I check my cases as I reload. I de-prime and size first and look at the cases. I prime them and check the case. Then I finally add powder and bullet. I look at my cases 3x. Only on rifle. I reloaded and shot about 10,000 rounds of .223 last year and havent used a case twice yet. .223 brass was cheap to buy lots of it.
jimbob86 brought up the 30-06. For what reason I have no idea. 30-06 isnt even in the same league with 5.56 as far as price goes.
The 6.8 was developed for the A4 to be more lethal, thats it. It obviously has more uses. Am I going to shoot 500 rounds at one time? Hell no, its to expensive. New or reloaded. Will I shoot 500 rounds of .223? Of course.
I check my cases as I reload. I de-prime and size first and look at the cases. I prime them and check the case. Then I finally add powder and bullet. I look at my cases 3x. Only on rifle. I reloaded and shot about 10,000 rounds of .223 last year and havent used a case twice yet. .223 brass was cheap to buy lots of it.
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jimbob86, why do you keep bringing up 30-06? Your the only one talking about it. No one but you has brought the 30-06 up. It sounds like you just like to argue. Whatever 6.8 is costing, its still more then .223. BOTH rounds are for the M4. What does 30-06 have to do with that? This thread was about the 6.8, do you have one? Let me guess, you have a 30-06, right?
Anyone that shoots, knows reloading will cheaper. IF you shoot enough. Not everyone does.
6.8 is what it is, an almost military round.Maybe someday.
Jeesh
Anyone that shoots, knows reloading will cheaper. IF you shoot enough. Not everyone does.
6.8 is what it is, an almost military round.Maybe someday.
Jeesh
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edward5759
New member
Here is a post from bamaranger over in the reloading section.
Today, I set the chrono up outdoors and brought the Rem 700/.270 out with my "pet" load, a 110 Sierra and 55.3 grs of IMR4350. The Sierra Manual listed it a 3200 +, I expected 3100+, and felt CERTAIN I would break 3000 easily, which was the object of the light bullet load. Did not feel I could get 3000 fps from the 22" tube with a 130 gr slug.
So I wonder just how far behind the 6.8 is behind the 270?
I had the same results with the 270 and some of the powders available back in the 59s and 60s.
I am over 70 so I don't get out like I used to and the wife wont let me go alone
6.8 might be a fun ticket!
ed
Today, I set the chrono up outdoors and brought the Rem 700/.270 out with my "pet" load, a 110 Sierra and 55.3 grs of IMR4350. The Sierra Manual listed it a 3200 +, I expected 3100+, and felt CERTAIN I would break 3000 easily, which was the object of the light bullet load. Did not feel I could get 3000 fps from the 22" tube with a 130 gr slug.
So I wonder just how far behind the 6.8 is behind the 270?
I had the same results with the 270 and some of the powders available back in the 59s and 60s.
I am over 70 so I don't get out like I used to and the wife wont let me go alone
6.8 might be a fun ticket!
ed
As I've had absolutely no problems in 2,500 rounds, I went looking on the web to find what I believe to have started the rumors:
from 2-1/2 years ago....
I kept a running tally of broken bolts that were reported here or on the Grendel forum for nearly 2 years. Almost every bolt that broke was running handloads, and most admitted to running on the high end, or even over the max recommended pressures.
There were 2 exceptions. 1 was broken using handloads, but the owner swore he was only using factory loading data. The other was broken using almost exclusively Les Baer/Black Hills loaded ammo, though there were a few boxes of AA ammo also in that rifle.
I stopped keeping track well over a year ago, when the initial rash of complaints seemed to completely disappear. Since then, I have only heard of a single broken bolt, and one broken extractor.
That said, I could only track the bolts broken that were reported here or on the Grendel forum, there may well have been others, but I have no data, (obviously) for them. As JFA noted, the split was essentially 50/50 for AA vs others.
However, since that initial rash of complaints, AA has upgraded their bolt, and now even makes an extended life bolt with hard chrome plating. I have had NO reports of that bolt breaking, (Mine has approaching 3000 rounds on it, and was one of the prototypes). I also have had no complaints about the "2nd Generation" bolts, the ones that are now being used as the standard bolt.
Bolt issues do not appear to be a problem at this point.
http://test.ak47.net/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=121&t=503239
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