Author Topic: Ode to the 6.8 Rem SPC (Read 1705 times)

Big Paulie · « **on:** February 03, 2005, 09:06:25 AM »

Well guys, yet another year has passed, and we have failed to see Remington bring out a bolt action rifle (or any other rifle I know of) in their much advertised, much touted, 6.8 Rem SPC.

Ya know what this tells me? Something has gone wrong.

Advertising a new round for almost 18 months, without making a rifle, creates an enormous let-down and distrust of the product.

Big Paulie

ms · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2005, 10:58:16 AM »

Give it time Remington waiting. I think they learned alot from the ultra mag. :lol:

Robert · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2005, 01:38:46 PM »

The US Military has not seen this figment of imagination either. All sales hype by some wanna-be designer in my opinion.

Ramrod · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2005, 01:50:53 PM »

I'm with Robert here. After reading all the hype, I still have the same question I had when I first heard about it. " What's it good for ?"

tuck2 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2005, 05:57:37 PM »

See page 79 of Remington 2005 Firearms ,Ammo, Accessories Catalog. The 114 Gr. bullet could be a 250-300Yd. deer rifle, but no rifles are listed.

Doc T · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2005, 06:11:40 AM »

CZ has a bolt action out. Midway has 14" Contender barrels for sale right now. I am going to wait for the 23" version. It should be the ultimate deer cartridge for Contender shooters who don't reload for every caliber they own barrels for.

Robert · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2005, 06:32:11 AM »

Quote from: Doc T

It should be the ultimate deer cartridge for Contender shooters who don't reload for every caliber they own barrels for.

Man..we have so many great deer cartridges already available. I cannot see this 'newbie' doing anything the 7-30 waters already does, and factory ammo IS available. The 7-30 is flatter shooting than the 30-30...which gives it a little more reach-out-and-touch.....but the old 30-30 still has better knock-down. I have been thinking of reaming to the 30-30 Ackley for a little more ooomph, but I just have not been able to bring myself to do it. My 30-30 works just fine...I have a 7-30 Carbine....but I haven't even seen it in more than a year. For a back up I usually grab the 30-30 or my little 10 inch 7 TCU.
Don't get me wrong...I would love to try the new 6.8 and would love to have one....But what is so 'Special' (SPC) about it?
I certainly WILL be patient and watch for it's 'true arrival', I would love to see it happen. After all....The G-2 DID FINALLY ARRIVE although most of us considered IT a myth. I have never seen one, but I have heard of people using them....Ha Ha.

Big Paulie · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2005, 07:28:19 AM »

As to what the round would be good for:

1. Same foot pounds of energy as the .243. But has a 117 grain bullet instead of 100.

2. Same trajectory as the .308 Winchester.

3. Hits with a .27 caliber bullet (instead of a .243 or .257)

4. Nicely fills the gap between the .243 and the 25-06 as far as being effective on deer.

Why not just stick with the .257 Roberts? Well, lots of people on these boards say that in factory ammo, the .257 Roberts is just not very accurate at all. (This was my experience too.) Apparently, you have to hand-load to get good accuracy out of the Roberts.

I don't hand load. I don't want to hand load. And probably, 90% of all hunters don't hand load. (I think that sometimes my friends on this board just keep forgetting this.)

So, if the 6.8 Remington proves to be accurate in factory ammo, then it will certainly be a great deer and large varmint cartridge, that will outshine the .243 by a wide margin as far as being effective on deer size game, without the very loud blast and greater recoil of the 25-06.

Just my opinions.

Big Paulie

Ramrod · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2005, 11:50:19 AM »

hmmn, so it is going to fill a niche that doesn't exist. The .260 Rem. or the 6.5 Swede are what you need Big Paulie.

Big Paulie · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2005, 12:50:53 PM »

Well Ramrod, I thought hard about the Swede, but in factory loads it only comes in 140 grain bullets, that are a little on the heavy side for varmint.

The .260 seemed like just the ticket, but I think it is dying a quick death, and that in two or three years, you will not be able to find factory ammo in the varmint weight rounds. This year, the Bass Pro Shop in Memphis had only half of the bullet weight selection in .260 that it did last year!

I was kinda hoping that the new 6.8 (due to military and hunting applications) might really catch fire, like the .308 Winchester did.
But so far, . . . . .nothing.

Big Paulie

RaySendero · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2005, 04:24:20 PM »

Quote from: Doc T

CZ has a bolt action out. ......

Doc,

Which model CZ is it? I aways figured that a 527 in the 6.8 would be a good carry rifle but I'm not finding one on their web site.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2005, 10:41:31 PM »

I took a look at the write-up on Peterson's Rifle Shooter and I can understand why you're getting impatient, Big Paulie.
It seems an amazing round and I think it would drift into that magic 2400-2700fps zone with a slightly heavier projectile round or with the factory load in a scout-style short barrel rifle.
It also seems the perfect round for a youth or women's rifle or at least for those who aren't keen on recoil.
Does anyone know what sort of chamber pressure it has?

Big Paulie · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2005, 10:11:02 AM »

Well, all and all, I think it is an amazing round. As far as SAAMI pressure, the final specification of this may be what is holding up mass production of this round or rifles by Remington.

A small CZ rifle in this caliber, with the detachable mag, would be fantastic. Much more versatile than the 7.62 or the .223. However, despite some rumors, I have not seen any firm announcement by CZ that they are definitely releasing a rifle in this caliber. If someone has a link to such an announcement, I would appreciate the information, because I would probably buy one.

Only other point, I think that these great ballistics being printed up by Remington are based on a 22 inch or maybe even a 24 inch barrel. If you end up with a Rem Model 7 type rifle, with only a 20 inch barrel, that loss of an extra 100 to 200 fps could be much more critical for this round than for other rounds, because this one appears to be perched just on the "edge" of the 2700 fps mark.

I think that Remington is letting Barrett "carry the water" with respect to all gun manufacturing and tooling risks on this one, and that Remington plans to just sit back and crank out special batches of the ammo from time to time. If the round really takes hold, we may then see Remington make some rifles. If it doesn't, then we may have another "Whisper" scenario on our hands.

Big Paulie

Doc T · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2005, 06:28:22 AM »

I don't recall the model # of the CZ rifle. I saw it in one of the gun rags last month. I realize that there is sometimes a long lag time between articles and when the gunk is actually available. I'm STILL waiting to see a real Ruger Gold Label side by side.

I really don't see where the 6.8 is necessary at all in a bolt action. Allmost any cartridge known to man can be had in a bolt action rifle. Where the 6.8 WILL shine and fill a definite niche is in Contenders and AR-15s. I have been looking for a 300yd capable deer cartridge for a Contender carbine. I thought about the .30-30AI but I don't want to reload for something I won't shoot alot of rounds through. Plus, I don't think it is quite capable of 300 yds. I thought about a custom barrel in 300 Savage or .30-40 Krag but then you run into more cost, and if something goes wrong with your frame, you have some potential warranty problems. Now I can have a Contender carbine capable of making a 300 yd shot with a factory barrel (not even a T/C custom shop) with ammo I can buy at my local gunshop. We never had that option before.

The same thing could be said about the ARs but I am more excited about the Contenders. Can you tell?

Doc T · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2005, 06:40:24 AM »

I meant "GUN" not "GUNK" but maybe it fits better the way it is.

Big Paulie · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2005, 11:05:44 AM »

This would also be a fantastic round for the low wall Browning (Winchester).

kombi1976 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2005, 02:25:25 PM »

Doc T, I think the 6.8 SPC would be perfect in a bolt gun.
If good rifle companies(and this is just my opinion keep in mind) are silly enough to chamber the 7.62x39 in bolt guns the 6.8 SPC is a more sensible proposition by far.
But further, it would be great in a lever or pump gun too.
It's just that a bolt gun is usually(but not necessarily) more accurate.
As for it being eminently suitable for the T/C guns I agree.
It would also be a very interesting proposition in a H&R/NEF rifle which, correct me if I'm wrong, prefer lower chamber pressures, something that is one of the 6.8 SPC advantages.
I'd seriously consider saving up for something a little less powered than a 7mm-08 in a Handirifle.
With a heavy barrel it'd be a great rifle for roos, pig and goats here in Australia.
In fact it'd probably put my 25/303 out of a job! :wink:

htrjv · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2005, 03:02:26 PM »

Hi Folks, my dealer called one of his distributors yesterday, and guess what? They had 5 23" carbine barrels in stock, in 6.8 SPC. Well, now they have 4. Happy Hunting! Also, they had Hornady loaded ammo. Joe

kombi1976 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2005, 04:03:24 PM »

Quote from: htrjv

Hi Folks, my dealer called one of his distributors yesterday, and guess what? They had 5 23" carbine barrels in stock, in 6.8 SPC. Well, now they have 4. Happy Hunting! Also, they had Hornady loaded ammo. Joe

Now all you need are dies :grin:

Big Paulie · « **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:06:00 AM »

I searched the Web about 2 months ago, and found that a company that specializes in barrels and accuracy for the Ruger No. 1 is now offerring barrels for the Ruger No. 1 in the 6.8 Rem SPC. They will also install them.

If you could get the light sporter No. 1 in this caliber, it would be great!

As far as being a true "dual purpose round", I believe that the 6.8 Rem would make the .243 obsolete.

htrjv · « **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2005, 11:07:12 AM »

kombi1976.... While reloading will come later, right now Thompson is having Hornady load their round with their 120 gr. Powerbelt bullets (see Thompson's 2005 catalog). My dealer has Jerry's (distributor) newest flyer, and it shows that they have Hornady's loaded ammo in stock (115 gr. bullet). Latest from Remington is that they will start distributing their ammo, as soon as they have satisfied the Government's first order.
So it looks like the ammo is available, with more coming. Joe

kombi1976 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2005, 12:30:48 PM »

Out of interest, how much is a T/C carbine and how much are extra barrels for the carbines?
I'd love to get one and the idea of being able to buy extra barrels for it also good.
Since I'm excluded from NEF/H&R's barrel program here in Oz it kinda takes half the reason away for buying one.
But I do find the 6.8 SPC intriguing.
With Noslers or Barnes bullets it could be a really amazing cartridge and Thompson's Powerbelts also sound good.

luredaddy · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2005, 12:37:37 PM »

I know I am in a small minority, but the 6.8 would be THE caliber for those of us who donot reload. The only thing keeping me from having a custom barrel made, is the availability of ammo. To me, it would be the ideal whitetail cartridge.

htrjv · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2005, 04:27:18 PM »

luredaddy... Are thinking about a rifle barrel, or pistol barrel in 6.8 SPC? T/C has the rifle barrel in 23". I honestly can't remember if a barrel is being offered in pistol length. You can see what the latest offerings are by going to www.tcarms.com/
From that site you can also checkout TC's custom shop (Fox Ridge Outfitters).
kombi1976..(see above) The TC site will give you List Prices. I've found the following site to be the cheapest TC prices around.
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
Happy Hunting. Joe

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2005, 01:09:32 PM »

Quote from: kombi1976

If good rifle companies(and this is just my opinion keep in mind) are silly enough to chamber the 7.62x39 in bolt guns the 6.8 SPC is a more sensible proposition by far.

Kombi, I have a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 and it is not silly at all. I grant you that the 6.8 SPC will be even better, but the 7.62x39 in a bolt gun makes a really light accurate 30-30. It's plenty of gun for anything up to 150 pounds out to 150 yards. I might stretch that to 200 yards on smaller than 50 pounds or ideal circumstances.

Might not suit your hunting circumstances at all, but there are people and places for which it's a fine choice. The 6.8 SPC in that cartridge may be even better, but it's not available yet.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 27, 2005, 01:57:18 AM »

dj, I'm not denying the 7.62x39 works for people but I reckon a 30-30 bolt gun would be a better bet.
In fact in many ways the obsession of the shooting public with 30-30 leverguns has limited the full ballistic capabilities of that round.
I'd imagine you're sticking to 125gn rounds, right?
Do you hand load?
If so what are you using and what sort of velocities are you getting out of the '39?
Also, what do you hunt with it?
BTW, do you use 308 or 311 cal bullets?

I forgot to ask, is anyone making 6.8 SPC dies yet? If so, who?
Are Remington selling cases for it yet?
What size case holder does the 30 Rem. and subsequently the 6.8mm use for a press?
And can it fit in an action designed for a .223?
Just wasn't clear on these points.