7 30 waters vs. 6.8 remington in a contender carbine

[shawlerbrook]

Which would you choose for deer-size game out to 200 yards? Why?   Would reloading your own change your decision?

[DEACONLLB]

I have both for short range 25 to 75 yrds 7x30 waters longer range the 6.8 rem. both are great rounds and will both do the job. Factory loads are a little hard to come by for both. Federal is the only one that I know of that loads the 7x30 and the factory loads I came up with for the 6,8 were bad and some did not shoot.

Deaconllb

[Dezynco]

That one's a squeaky question, but I'd go with the 7x30 since I load my own....
-large selection of bullets
-flat shooting
-rimmed case makes it easy to extract
-the selection of bullets includes some heavier "hunting" bullets like the 140 grainers
-brass is easy to form from 30-30 brass
I'm not knocking the 6.8, I just prefer the 7x30 Waters

[jason280]

If you don't handload, then the easy decision is to simply go with the 6.8 SPC.  It offers considerably more options in commercially available ammo, and is a lot easier to find locally.  Now, on the other hand, if you plan on reloading, then the choice isn't so simple.  Personally, I would go with the 7-30 as it handles the heavier bullets (125-150) a lot better, and offers more case capacity.  Brass is certainly cheaper in the 6.8 SPC, but you can resize .30-30 to 7-30 with little effort. 

[Hopalong7]

     Two years ago, my closest huntin' & fishin' bud got two G-2 carbines for his young grandsons to learn to deer hunt with.  I suggested 7X30Waters and had offered to develope a low recoil load for them.  He instead went with the 6.8Remmy.  He has told me several times since that he wished he had gone with the Waters.  Hornady ammo produced many miss-fires in both rifles.  Hornady replaced the ammo...more miss-fires.  TC sent parts which I installed, and hopefully(knock, knock), the problem is cured.  It seems to be, and thankfully, the two grandsons have not lost interest
    I think maybe the little round is taking a bit of a bum rap for all the problems, but still we hear of it happening with the 6.8 more than any other.
Walt

[valvesinmyhead]

Have a 26" 6.8 SPC barrel for my Encore. No Miss fires or failure to fire after 500 rds. Used it one afternoon for PDs. 100 rds no prob. The barrel just gets warm. 110 V-Max will go through a doe under 75yds. Very little recoil. Great for youngsters.
As for the 200yds question. Stalk closer to 150 and I say no problem with the right bullet.

[panman]

i have loaded for the 6.8 for close to two years and think that it is a real fine cal.I have shot a couple of deer a little over 200 lazered yds and killed them dead as can be.Very little recoil and very accerate,whats not to like?.For young shooters and recoile shy people its a very good round.pan.

[Camp Cook]

I wouldn't get either...

I'd get a 21" factory tapered 1-10" twist rate 6mm/30-30...

Brass is everywhere and the rim of the 30-30 brass works perfectly in the Contenders.

I would shoot .419 BC 90gr Swift Scirroco 11's for predator/deer/black bear hunting for gophers I'd load 55gr Ballistic Tips.

Barring that I would go with the 7-30 Waters only way I would consider a 6.8spc is if I already had a Robinson Arms XCR chambered for it.

[Dezynco]

I've seen an article somewhere that a guy shot a 3" - 600 meter group with a 6.8 Rem AR15 rifle. If I did not handload, that would be my pick.  BUT since I handload, I would still go with the 7x30 Waters.

Greater variety in bullet weights is most important to me as a handloader.  If I were not a handloader, then availability of factory ammo would be most important.

[Camp Cook]

Ok so now I have to back track I have now set up my RA XCR-L with the 6.8 conversion and if it works out as well as I am hoping it will I will definately be going with the 6.8spc in a Contender barrel but if I didn't have the XCR I would still go with the 6mm/30-30.