6.8 SPC vs .300 Blackout
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy want to go over the
6.8 SPC and
.300 Blackout cartridges. Both cartridges were spawned from desires to replace the
5.56x45mm NATO in military use. While they were unsuccessful in this endeavor, both cartridges have been enjoyed by a variety of shooters for over a decade. Our goal here is to provide you with a brief overview of each cartridge while also delving into some of their traits and use cases. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
What is 6.8 SPC?
The
6.8 Special Purpose Cartridge, or
6.8 SPC, comes from a collaboration between Remington Arms and USSOCOM in the early 2000’s. The round was designed with the intent of replacing the
5.56x45mm NATO and was designed to feed from STANAG style magazines. This was done to ensure the cartridge’s function with AR-15/M4/M16 pattern firearms. The cartridge features an increased projectile size and weight when compared to
5.56x45mm NATO while also boasting high velocities. The cartridge is optimized for barrels in the 16” to 18” range. The round notably possesses improved terminal ballistics when compared to the
5.56x45mm NATO cartridge.
What is .300 Blackout?
The
.300 Blackout cartridge is another round which was designed with the intent of replacing the
5.56x45mm NATO. The cartridge was developed in 2009 by Advanced Armament Corporation. The round is optimized for shorter barrels and excels when used with a suppressor. The cartridge was also designed to provide energy similar to that of the
7.62x39 round in an AR-15/M4/M16 platform. STANAG type magazines can be utilized with the round. Like the
6.8 SPC, the
.300 Blackout is complimented by magazines specifically made for use with the cartridge. While these specifically designed magazines exist, one can also utilize standard AR pattern magazines with
.300 Blackout. It should be noted that the magazines specifically made for
.300 Blackout will generally work better than the ones initially designed for use with
5.56x45mm NATO.
Purchase 6.8 SPC Ammo
Availability of Firearms
One can easily build an AR-15 in either
6.8 SPC or
.300 Blackout. Barrels and magazines for the rounds can easily be found and utilized with standard AR-15 receivers. When it comes to factory offerings, one will generally find more support for the
.300 Blackout than the
6.8 SPC. Most of the rifles available in either cartridge will be in semi-automatic form with a few bolt action options also being available. Notably, companies such as Barrett and LWRC have produced complete AR-15 style rifles in the
6.8 SPC round. When it comes to the
.300 Blackout, one can find everything from complete AR-15 style rifles to Sig Sauer MCX rifles in the caliber. Essentially, you won’t have an issue building or buying something in one caliber or the other.
Availability of Ammunition
As far as acquiring
ammunition, one will find that there are more
.300 Blackout loadings available than those for
6.8 SPC. That being said, this isn’t to say that the
6.8 SPC is unobtainable, but it is undeniable that the cartridge is not nearly as popular as the
.300 Blackout.
Typically, one will encounter
6.8 SPC loadings with a weight range of 75 to 120 grains. When it comes to the
.300 Blackout, one will encounter loadings in both supersonic and subsonic form. Typical grain weights for the
.300 Blackout will range from 110 to 220 grains. The supersonic loadings will feature lighter projectiles while the subsonic loadings will feature heavier ones.
Both loadings can be encountered with typical projectile types like full metal jacket, jacketed hollow point, and soft point projectiles. Specialty options are also available such as lead-free offerings and purpose-built
hunting,
target, or
defensive loadings.
What Do You Use 6.8 SPC For?
Typically, the primary uses for
6.8 SPC are going to be
hunting and general
target shooting. As far as
hunting goes, the
6.8 SPC will generally cover the same range of game as the
5.56x45mm NATO. The superior kinetic energy transfer of the
6.8 SPC makes it a more potent cartridge for
hunting applications. The round is particularly suitable for
hunting game such as deer and hog. When it comes to target shooting, one should keep in mind that the
6.8 SPC cartridge is generally going to be more expensive and less plentiful than some
.300 Blackout loadings for this usage.
What Do You Use .300 Blackout For?
As stated before, the
.300 Blackout cartridge is typically used for suppression. The subsonic loadings of the cartridge are effective for suppressed use in platforms ranging from AR-15s to bolt action rifles. The heavy weight projectiles and the subsonic velocities aid in suppression. The cartridge is also popular with hunters, particularly when it comes to deer and hog
hunting. The
.300 Blackout is also been utilized by predator hunters. Hunters wanting to utilize a suppressor and are
hunting at close ranges will find the cartridge to be effective.
Purchase .300 Blackout Ammo
Conclusion
All in all, one will be served well by either of these cartridges. While the
.300 Blackout eclipses the
6.8 SPC in today’s market as far as popularity and availability goes, the
6.8 SPC is hardly an unviable cartridge. Both cartridges are at home in AR-15 style rifles and in other forms, making it easy for an end user to find a firearm in either cartridge which suits their preference. Whether you’re after
6.8 SPC,
.300 Blackout, or another type of
ammunition, we here at True Shot have you covered. Happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
