Hunting with the 6.8. . .elk and black bear loads???

[atomicjoe23]

I'm currently building an AR15 in 6.8 SPC to function as an all-purpose sort of rifle. . .I plan to hunt coyote, bobs, cougar, deer, elk (within 300 yards), and black bear with this rifle. . .

. . .my AR will be lighter than my current heavy barreled Weatherby Varmint Special in .22-250  and much more maneuverable with a 16.5" barrel. . .plus it will be more versatile chambered for 6.8.

I have talked extensively with the barrel maker and with one of the primary developers of the caliber (in modern day terms anyway. . .I realize the 6.8 has been around since 190? something) and have been assured that is perfectly acceptable for all game in WA as long as I don't plan on shooting an elk outside 300 yards with it. . .and being newer to the state I don't plan on hunting elk right away anyway. . .I have no idea what i would do with an animal that big. . .they're huge!!!

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you were also using the 6.8 for black bear and elk. . .I'm comfortable using the factory 6.8 loads on everything up to and including deer and cougar with the 85 & 90 grain loads for coyote, bobs, and maybe cougar and then going up to the 110 or 115 grain loads for deer and cougar, but I figure I will need to handload for elk and black bear. I see that there are 130, 140, & 150 grain bullets available in 0.277" to load the 6.8 but I was wondering if any of you had experience with this. . .

. . .not only will I be new to this caliber and this large of game, but I will also be new to handloading. . .

Thanks for your help!!!

[demontang]

I know the 130's work out of a 270win on about everything. The guy I work with only shoots them and has taken elk and deer with them along with coyotes and bobs. The SPC is behind the 270 and the noslers 110 accubonds would be a great all around bullet for what your looking for.

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks DemonTang

[FALFire]

Stick with the Sierra 110 gr. Pro Hunters and you'll do just fine.

Unless you happen to know Chris Murray, Steve Holland or Troy Lawton, anyone claiming to be a primary developer of the 6.8 SPC is simply blowing smoke up your skirt. Others have simply played with the chamber dimensions a little and discovered there was a little more to be had from the original Remington specs. Remington introduced the commercial ammo in 2004 but the idea first came about by using the 30 Remington cartridge in late 1998 or 99. Over the past year or so bullet manufactures have come up with some newer slugs for the 6.8 which have helped it along nicely but the tried and true Sierra 110 Pro Hunters just keep on working. I still use the Speer 90 TNT'S for coyotes but the 110 V-MAX bullets have done well also.

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks FALFire. . .I'll make sure that I give the 110's a try.