6.8 SPC project

I just purchased a Model 5H 6.8 SPC from stag arms. It was very exciting because it has been my first gun purchase since I returned from Afghanistan. I was excited about the military/LE discount but it only allows free shipping when not purchasing the complete rifle. Better than nothing though. I just needed the upper because I have a lower from LRB www.lrbarms.com.

I was not sure about LRB's reputation because I had never heard of them but I found out they had a 6 plus month waiting list on their forged M14 receivers. I don't think I can go wrong. We'll see soon enough. I'm excited about load development for the 6.8 because it is basically a .270 short on a 5.56mm sized lower receiver. The only down-side to the cartridge I can identify so far is brass availability in a bind. It's based on the obsolete 30 Newton cartridge. A guy like me can't just re size some other brass laying around. My solution is going to be buy a lot of 6.8 brass.

What fascinates me the most about this round is that it was developed exclusively for lethality from the bottom up by Special Operations Command people. Although I know they had some help from the Army Marksmanship Unit. This means a lot to me because I experience the top-down justification for military equipment that puts ridiculous items in the hands of those who bet their life on it. Not to mention the outrageous cost to the taxpayer and amazing amount of time it takes to get it fielded. The under-powered 5.56 is a great example. NATO wouldn't even have this round if they ever actually shot anything.

This rifle was built for the AR platform and I see no reason to have it any other way. A design requirement was for it to replace the 5.56mm upper receiver and to do so limited the capability of the cartridge. In a bolt-action rifle you might as well just have a .308 Winchester because the cartridge fitting the action is not an issue. I can't imagine the weight being that much different either.

I have noticed a semi-recent shift to the 1/11 twist rate instead of the 1/10. I think this is probably a good move to increase the spectrum of light and heavy bullet performance. I will probably go with 85 to 130 grain bullets with 110 grain being optimal and heavier for deer hunting. I'll post some results/load data when I get everything put together and running.