Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 6.8 SPC for elk- is it enough gun for 250+ yards?

Looking to use an AR-15-type rifle for elk next year; lots of them on the TV these days and they're becoming a major force in the hunting world...seeing more and more hunters with semi-autos in the mountains and plains...

Is the 6.8 SPC enough of a cartridge for trophy elk? What range would you limit your shots to? I typically don't shoot much past 250+yards in one of my hot spots.

Planning on using this load:
110 grain Nosler Accu Bond @ ~2580 FPS Or

110 grain Barnes TSX @ ~2600 FPS

Using a 20" barrel

Thank you in advance.

No.

Didn't Craig Boddington use the 270 Winchester on elk at about 500 yards? The 6.8 SPC is like a 270 Winchester short.

Looking for experienced opinions on the 6.8 SPC, the bullet you'd use, the range you'd keep it too.

Thank you.

The vast majority of rifles are much better than their operators at any yardage!

And I'm very tolerant of small caliber/cartridge case rifles in use with elk. The 270, 280, and 308 are some of my favorites for late season cow hunts.

That being said, I don't think I'd use a 6.8 with 110 grain bullets for "trophy" bulls. I've had too many quartering shots on elk,especially hard to find bulls, to go with something that light.

Just my opinion. If you believe you will get deliberate, steady, and frequent shot opportunities on trophy bulls, then go for it. My opportunities for good, much less trophy, bulls has been too limited.

Is it the only gun you have got?

You are so strapped for money that you can't afford a $300 pawn shop '06?

So you have nobody from whom you can borrow a bigger gun?

You truly say that "cross your heart hope to die" that you'd let the biggest bull of your career walk if the shot angle and distance wasn't right?

Only if your answer to ALL of these questions is yes am I inclined to reconsider my categorical No.

Don't they make AR type rifles in 308?

" No" sounds good...

Ingwe

If you really want to use an AR-15, find a 458 SOCOM upper. Roughly 45-70 ballistics.

Why is it that you are interrogating me on my free choice of rifles?

I'm buying a new Stag Arms in 6.8 SPC and would like to try it out on an elk hunt. Mainly raghorn bull elk with some medium 5 pointers, but trophies nevertheless.

I already have other rifles better suited for elk, I was just curious as to the capabilities of the 6.8 SPC for those who have used lighter cartridges on elk before.

Seems it would be nice and fun and light-recoiling and also probably surpass expectations in terms of capabilities, but I'd like to hear from those that have used light rifles in the approx. same class as to what they think.

Troll.

MontanaMarine, what would the effective range of the 6.8 SPC be for elk if you were to use one of the loads that I suggested? While I could use the 458 SOCOM, it's not as practical or widely available as the 6.8 SPC.

Besides, isn't the 6.8 SPC similar to the 6.5x55?

I wouldn't even consider it, myself. I just wouldn't feel comfortable with it. That's just me. It is a power level way below the 243 Win, or 250 Sav launching 100gr bullets at 3000 fps or so.

I seem to recall an online article a while back where one of the gunwriters (Clair Rees????) killed an elk with a 6.8 boltgun though. Not sure what the Ammo was.

Here's the article I was thinking about,

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammunition/remington_0303/

Johnston tipped over a muley, but was open to the idea of elk if an opportunity presented itself.

Because you frigging asked.

He's just a troll. He is worth zero effort at all. He's put a bunch of threads on here and they're all arrogant, yet useless...therefore, so is he.

Dennis

MontanaMarine, good points overall. I appreciate your honesty. Thank you. I didn't realize that the ballistics were not as favorable.

Mind you, at up to 150-200 yards, it looks to be effective for cow elk and mule deer with the right shot placement. Maybe I stick with that plan and then bring out the 270 Winchester or 300 Win Mag. for my trophy elk hunts instead.

6.8MMx47 REMINGTON SPC BALLISTICS
BULLET VELOCITY (fps)-------------------ENERGY (ft-lbs.)
Muzzle-----100 yd.- 200 yd.- 300 yd-----Muzzle 100 yd. 200 yd. 300 yd
2,800------2,535---2,285---2,049--------2,002--1,644---1,345---1,075

Dennis, you must be having a bad day. I have always been polite and respectful and while it's possible that we may have disagreed on something in the past, get over it, there is no need to call me names or be disrespectful towards a fellow hunter. Thank you.

Many serious elk hunters consider the 270 light for elk. Others disagree, but it can at least be reasonably debated.

Compare the energy figures below, from the Remington website. The SPC is the top one, the others are 270 Win, with an above average long range bullet and with a more typical bullet.

You will see that the SPC has similar energy to the 270's, but about 200-300 yards closer, and the SPC bullet weight is not as good for large animals.

I don't think anyone would recommend a 270 Win for elk at 500-700 yards, and that is about what the SPC is equal to at 250 yards.

Here is the comparison.

bcp, interesting comparison. thank you. With that comparison, the 6.8 SPC is limited to anything the 270 Win would do, but as you said, 200-300 yards closer.

My goodness it's a necked down shortened 30 Remington designed to shoot people. If you must hunt with an AR (Have done it, clumsy and heavy) A 308 or 338 federal in an AR 10 would be a much better choice.

For far less money and weight you can buy a Marlin XL 7 in 30-06 which is a real cartridge.

My 1910 M8 25 Remington Semi Auto will shoot a 117 gr bullet at 2500 fps, I'd never go after Elk with it!(same case but not shortened!) P-O-P-G-U-N !