6.8 SPC ammunition discussion (and other questions)

[the tick]

I have recently received all my "goodies" I'm going to add to my rifle when it gets here (hopefully next week ). I've done reading on this website and some others (68forum.com, AR15 sites, etc) about the history and current state of the 6.8 among a few different ammunition manufacturers.

I've read everything on this site about ammunition in the XCR and almost everything about "break in".

The ammunition I have purchased so far is Rem 115 gr FMJ. As far as I can tell these rounds have large rifle primers, which matches what I've heard about Remington ammunition. Does SSA use small rifle primers? Does SSA use brass of their own manufacture or from someone else?

I will be reloading for this rifle but wanted to get a baseline of performance and break it in using factory ammunition. There were posts on this site stating that Remington downloaded their ammunition. Do they load to or below SAAMII specs? What about SSA?

I'm interested in people's opinions of the performance difference between Remington and SSA (and if there are other manufacturers toss those in as well) in the XCR. My rifle will probably be doing paper punching, steel plinking and maybe home defense if it comes to that.

Sorry for the organization of this post. I didn't purposefully make it a "stream of consciousness", but I think that's what happened.

PS. What is OTM ammunition? I've never seen that acronym before.

[SSBiggun]

"
  "PS. What is OTM ammunition? I've never seen that acronym before"
 Open Tip Match

[SheepDog]

SSA is small primer. Their 110 grain Pro-Hunter is all I have used so far. They manufacture their own brass. OTM stands for Open Tip Match (hollow point).

SheepDog  

[the tick]

So Berger VLDs could be called an OTM? Thanks for the explanation.

Are all the SSA offerings loaded hotter than the Remington ammo? For that matter is the Remington considered anemic or just standard SAAMI?

[stanc]

Tick, check www.68forums.com for info on this cartridge.

[aziator]

I have only shot a couple boxes of Remington and didn't chrono it.  Everyone that has shot both has said that Remington is loaded down compared to SSA and Hornady.

[stanc]

Nominal muzzle velocity (16" bbl)

Hornady:    110gr BTHP @ 2550 fps
Remington:  115gr SMK @ 2450 fps
Silver State: 115gr SMK @ 2550 fps

[the tick]

Tick, check www.68forums.com for info on this cartridge.

I've checked there and am still checking. I just wanted to get a sense of the 6.8 from some XCR owners.

Thanks for the info everybody.

[Semper Paratus]

Tick,
   The Remington ammo tends to be very downloaded compared to Hornady and especially SSA ammo. When the first, erroneous chamber spec came out, Remington was having a lot of flattened primers so they downloaded their ammo. The other brands should have a spec II chamber to operate safely. Hope this helps.

                 - SP

[the tick]

Yes that helps. With any luck my gun will arrive next week and I'll be able to try a few types of ammo before I get all my handloading components and dies for the 6.8.

Tick,
   The Remington ammo tends to be very downloaded compared to Hornady and especially SSA ammo. When the first, erroneous chamber spec came out, Remington was having a lot of flattened primers so they downloaded their ammo. The other brands should have a spec II chamber to operate safely. Hope this helps.

                 - SP

[crenca]

I was getting between 2200-2300 with Remington "Metal Case" before I shot my chrony - granted their cheapest 6.8 offering.

Not that it is cheap, as street price is still more than SSA, Horndy, S&B, etc.

I would stay away from the Remington based on cost and it being downloaded.  I would especially stay away from it during break in.  No reason to put that stuff in the equation if/when you are troubleshooting problems.  I have found SSA and Double Tap to be loaded consistently

Also be aware that the PRI mags shipping with XCR rifles (or at least they used to be PRI) have a very high defect rate.  If yours fails to “rebound” well when loaded with > 15 rounds or so you could have one of the bad mags.

[the tick]

crenca

I hoped to avoid a mag problem so I dropped the money on a Barrett mag. Good God that thing feels like a block of solid steel. I hope it was worth the cost.

I'll start start stocking up on a SSA ammo and see if some of the other manufacturers are available in my area.

[Carl AMG]

The current issue of a magazine by the name of Black Guns that I picked up at WalMart has a few articles on 6.8 SPC weapons and discuss the various ammo options with some chrono, accuracy, and SD information. They test the Barrett REC 7, POF 415 6.8 SBR and a LWRC M6A2-PSD 6.8 SBR. They discuss SSA and Hornady loads in the various articles but nothing on Remington.

In one article, they like the SSA 85gr TSX load as the best all around performer. They also like the "anti material" capability of the SSA 110gr Accubond and show it fully penetrating a steel car wheel. Another article shows the SSA 110gr Sierra Pro Hunter as most accurate followed by the SSA 85gr TSX load.

I have only shot SSA rounds in my XCR but I have shot a number of different loads. I have shot the 110gr Sierra Pro Hunter, a 90gr Varminter round no longer on their website (lots of muzzle flash), 90gr Speer TNT round, and my defense loading of Tactical Load 110gr Barnes TSX rounds. I like the SSA ammo and service and can't wait for them to finally release the 90gr Plinking round at a reasonable price.

[crenca]

Here is a good price on some the 90 grain speer TNT load from SSA:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM597-5.html

About as good as price as you are going to get with 6.8 ammo right now.  They have been talking about the $15 a box 90 grain "plinking" round for about a year now.  Now that SSA is in the middle of a move to Washington state it looks like spring at the earliest.

Those Barrett mags are tough.  I have dropped them on concrete, fully loaded on the feed lips with only small scuff marks to show for it.  However, they will not lock into the mag well when fully loaded with bolt forward - and even don't like to downloaded to 28 rounds...

[Sean K.]

Here is a good price on some the 90 grain speer TNT load from SSA:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM597-5.html

About as good as price as you are going to get with 6.8 ammo right now.  They have been talking about the $15 a box 90 grain "plinking" round for about a year now.  Now that SSA is in the middle of a move to Washington state it looks like spring at the earliest.

Those Barrett mags are tough.  I have dropped them on concrete, fully loaded on the feed lips with only small scuff marks to show for it.  However, they will not lock into the mag well when fully loaded with bolt forward - and even don't like to downloaded to 28 rounds...

Hmmm....wonder if it's your particular mags or the XCR.  My LWRC takes all 11 of my Barrett 6.8 mags loaded to 30 rounds on a closed bolt with no problem. 

Sean

[the tick]

Here is a good price on some the 90 grain speer TNT load from SSA:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM597-5.html

About as good as price as you are going to get with 6.8 ammo right now.  They have been talking about the $15 a box 90 grain "plinking" round for about a year now.  Now that SSA is in the middle of a move to Washington state it looks like spring at the earliest.

Those Barrett mags are tough.  I have dropped them on concrete, fully loaded on the feed lips with only small scuff marks to show for it.  However, they will not lock into the mag well when fully loaded with bolt forward - and even don't like to downloaded to 28 rounds...

Sweet! The ammo price, not the magazine issue. Is the TNT similar to the Varmint Grenade?

[Carl AMG]

Here is a good price on some the 90 grain speer TNT load from SSA:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM597-5.html

About as good as price as you are going to get with 6.8 ammo right now.  They have been talking about the $15 a box 90 grain "plinking" round for about a year now.  Now that SSA is in the middle of a move to Washington state it looks like spring at the earliest.

Those Barrett mags are tough.  I have dropped them on concrete, fully loaded on the feed lips with only small scuff marks to show for it.  However, they will not lock into the mag well when fully loaded with bolt forward - and even don't like to downloaded to 28 rounds...

Sweet! The ammo price, not the magazine issue. Is the TNT similar to the Varmint Grenade?

I bought some of the same ammo direct from SSA in a 100 pack for cheaper but it looks like they are sold out. Keep an eye for ammo on sale at SSA and you can get some decent deals. Please beg and plead with SSA to get the plinking load out to the public. We need reasonably priced ammo to have 6.8SPC really take off.

I don't know what the Varmint grenade is but I have found that the SSA 90gr Varmint they used to sell is different than the Speer TNT 90gr. There is much more muzzle flash on the old Varmint round.

With regards to magazines I just recently got a 10 round PRI mag for bench shooting and it's a 100% runner.

[bolster]

I shot 120 rounds today, mostly the SSA Speer 90gr TNT. It would only cycle on gas setting 4, but this is a new conversion kit, so maybe it needs more break-in.  115 gr OTM's work fine on 3, didn't try 2, as it's not broken in.

Tried shooting the 90 gr TNT's in my AR in 6.8, with an 18" Kotonics/Cardinal barrel, mid-length gas.  Would not cycle enough to pick up the next round out of the magazine.  115gr OTM's worked fine.  So, I guess there is a significant charge difference.

[Carl AMG]

I shot 120 rounds today, mostly the SSA Speer 90gr TNT. It would only cycle on gas setting 4, but this is a new conversion kit, so maybe it needs more break-in.  115 gr OTM's work fine on 3, didn't try 2, as it's not broken in.

Tried shooting the 90 gr TNT's in my AR in 6.8, with an 18" Kotonics/Cardinal barrel, mid-length gas.  Would not cycle enough to pick up the next round out of the magazine.  115gr OTM's worked fine.  So, I guess there is a significant charge difference.

My conversion kit is broken in and I run the Speer 90gr TNT on 3 no problem; next time I'll try 2 and see how it goes. I also felt that the 110gr SSA loads I've shot had more charge/recoil to consistently cycle at lower numbered gas settings than the 90gr loads. I am looking to try some of the SSA 85gr. Barnes TSX ammo in commercial and tactical loadings to see how that runs.

I'd keep the bolt/carrier lubed up really well until you're fully broken in.

[Carl AMG]

Here is a good price on some the 90 grain speer TNT load from SSA:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM597-5.html

About as good as price as you are going to get with 6.8 ammo right now.  They have been talking about the $15 a box 90 grain "plinking" round for about a year now.  Now that SSA is in the middle of a move to Washington state it looks like spring at the earliest.

Those Barrett mags are tough.  I have dropped them on concrete, fully loaded on the feed lips with only small scuff marks to show for it.  However, they will not lock into the mag well when fully loaded with bolt forward - and even don't like to downloaded to 28 rounds...

Hmmm....wonder if it's your particular mags or the XCR.  My LWRC takes all 11 of my Barrett 6.8 mags loaded to 30 rounds on a closed bolt with no problem. 

Sean

I have the same issue as Crenca with the Barrett mags loaded to 30 rounds in my XCR. I keep my (Barrett) defense mag fully loaded to 30 and know I need to insert it on an open bolt.

[Sean K.]

Here is a good price on some the 90 grain speer TNT load from SSA:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM597-5.html

About as good as price as you are going to get with 6.8 ammo right now.  They have been talking about the $15 a box 90 grain "plinking" round for about a year now.  Now that SSA is in the middle of a move to Washington state it looks like spring at the earliest.

Those Barrett mags are tough.  I have dropped them on concrete, fully loaded on the feed lips with only small scuff marks to show for it.  However, they will not lock into the mag well when fully loaded with bolt forward - and even don't like to downloaded to 28 rounds...

Hmmm....wonder if it's your particular mags or the XCR.  My LWRC takes all 11 of my Barrett 6.8 mags loaded to 30 rounds on a closed bolt with no problem. 

Sean

I have the same issue as Crenca with the Barrett mags loaded to 30 rounds in my XCR. I keep my (Barrett) defense mag fully loaded to 30 and know I need to insert it on an open bolt.

I haven't tried my Barretts in my XCR yet.....wonder if I'll have the same problem.  I'd guess so.

Thanks for the heads up.

Sean

[the tick]

Could the problem with the Barrett mags stem from how high the magazine sits in an XCR compared to ARs?

[bolster]

Could the problem with the Barrett mags stem from how high the magazine sits in an XCR compared to ARs?

That is what I believe to be the issue.  It's hard for me to get them to seat with the bolt closed.

[crenca]

I also believe the SSA 90 grain TNT loading is not the strongest charge.  They cycle my broke in rifle on 3, but they don't get thrown very far. 

Might be better to break in a rifle/conversion kit with Horndy, S&B, or SSA's 110 grain pro hunters, regular or tactical loading. 

[SheepDog]

Here is a good price on some the 90 grain speer TNT load from SSA:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM597-5.html

About as good as price as you are going to get with 6.8 ammo right now.  They have been talking about the $15 a box 90 grain "plinking" round for about a year now.  Now that SSA is in the middle of a move to Washington state it looks like spring at the earliest.

Those Barrett mags are tough.  I have dropped them on concrete, fully loaded on the feed lips with only small scuff marks to show for it.  However, they will not lock into the mag well when fully loaded with bolt forward - and even don't like to downloaded to 28 rounds...

Hmmm....wonder if it's your particular mags or the XCR.  My LWRC takes all 11 of my Barrett 6.8 mags loaded to 30 rounds on a closed bolt with no problem. 

Sean

I have the same issue as Crenca with the Barrett mags loaded to 30 rounds in my XCR. I keep my (Barrett) defense mag fully loaded to 30 and know I need to insert it on an open bolt.

I haven't tried my Barretts in my XCR yet.....wonder if I'll have the same problem.  I'd guess so.

Thanks for the heads up.

Sean

After reading this column I loaded 30 rounds into one of my Barrett 6.8 mags. I couldn't slam it home but I turned the rifle rifle sideways, inserted the mag, slapped the bottom and it stuck. Did it twice. So it can be done.

SheepDog