new here, have questions

[pig]

Hi, I recently won my first AR (m4 style) at a local fundraising event. I quickly found that they are enjoyable little rifles. I was thinking of converting it over to a little more potent caliber for deer and hogs for me and my son to hunt with a bit. My boy really likes the AR over his traditional bolt action. Everything I have read points me to the 6.8. With the 270win having always been my pet caliber, it seems like it could be what I am looking for.Basically here is what I am interested in finding out before going any further: is it really a simple upper/magazine swap to go from my 5.56 to the 6.8.Do you guys feel that this cartridge is potent enough for small coastal whitetails and pigs at say 200 yards, with the majority of shots, at or inside 100 yards?I have checked around and ammo seems to be a bit limited compared to more popular calibers. Is this a round that is here to stay with more companies offering factory loads in the future?

[dljenson]

Welcome to the forum, yes the 6.8 is more then enough to handle that type of hunting.

[OC455]

Hi, I recently won my first AR (m4 style) at a local fundraising event. I quickly found that they are enjoyable little rifles. I was thinking of converting it over to a little more potent caliber for deer and hogs for me and my son to hunt with a bit. Everything I have read points me to the 6.8. With the 270win having always been my pet caliber, it seems like it could be what I am looking for.Basically here is what I am interested in finding out before going any further: is it really a simple upper/magazine swap to go from my 5.56 to the 6.8.Do you guys feel that this cartridge is potent enough for small coastal whitetails and pigs at say 200 yards, with the majority of shots, at or inside 100 yards?I have checked around and ammo seems to be a bit limited compared to more popular calibers. Is this a round that is here to stay with more companies offering factory loads in the future?

To all of the above....YES. It will take deer, hogs and various other four legged critters. Silver State Armory, Hornady, Wilson Combat, and other smaller manufacturers make ammo. Silver State Armory has the most 6.8loads available, with Hornady being 2nd. Remington still makes loads for 6.8, but are not the mnost desirable...if you reload, you can tailor make 6.8 to suit your rifle and have a very potent accurate and deadly game slaying round.

Barnes, Berger, Hornady, Nosler, Speer make bullets for the 6.8, and range from 77gr. to 135gr. weights. Silver State Armory is now making a 140gr., offering too. So yes, it is here to stay.

[WVHunter1s1k]

Welcome aboard!
All you need is a new barrel, bolt & mags. Although an upper & mags is easier to switch out.
It is capable of taking deer & hogs to 300+yards. Especially, with SPC II, 1:11- twist & tactical ammo/hot handloads. Just look at the photo gallery = http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?25711-2012-6.8-Hunting-Photos

[sig87]

Welcome to the forum!

[pig]

Thanks guys. I have been reading on hear a good bit and I am liking what I see. I will do a bit more research to figure out exactly what I want, but I think this is a good way to make a verry fun rifle a bit more useful to me.

[boomstick]

It's just a matter of a new upper and mags. I'm partial to Bison Armory (Ben has great customer service), but folks around here are pretty loyal to their brands. Make sure to get a specII chamber as they'll handle hotter loads, 1:11 twist barrel at least, and you'd be fine with a 16inch barrel (you only gain 50fps per inch) If you're a 270win fan you'll like the 6.8 as well. It doesn't have quite the ballistics for the longer range stuff, but the recoil is nothing compared to a 270win.
Good luck,
Cody

[Strawdawg]

It's just a matter of a new upper and mags. I'm partial to Bison Armory (Ben has great customer service), but folks around here are pretty loyal to their brands. Make sure to get a specII chamber as they'll handle hotter loads, 1:11 twist barrel at least, and you'd be fine with a 16inch barrel (you only gain 50fps per inch) If you're a 270win fan you'll like the 6.8 as well. It doesn't have quite the ballistics for the longer range stuff, but the recoil is nothing compared to a 270win.
Good luck,
Cody

I believe it is more like 40-50 fps for two inches :) but your intent is correct. 16" barrel is ideal for hunting in 99% of our cases, I suspect.

[Equalizer_2]

Welcome to the forum. Sierra also has a couple of good bullets available if you reload, the 110 ProHunter and the 115 Match King.

The ProHunter is regarded as one of the most universally accurate bullets out there whether factory or reload.