AR10 or 6.8SPC?

[rbernie]

I've been slowly saving my pennies for a 6.8SPC AR-15 build (for use as a deer hunting rifle - not a range toy, and not a sniper tool), but I'm being sorely tempted...

Today as I perused the racks at my FLG, I noticed that they'd taken in a Armalite AR10 on consignment. Heft/balance wasn't too bad - not any heavier overall than most HBAR AR-15s but without the muzzle heaviness of an HBAR. It looked pretty clean, and the asking price was $795. Now, I dunno much about AR10's but that price seems quite, ah, competitive. I'd have put it on layaway right then and there, just to hold it overnight, but it's a consignment piece and they don't do layaways on consignments....

Before I run back there tomorrow AM and grab it and COMPLETLY piss off my wife by spending so much out of pocket on it, somebody help me. Is picking up an AR10 worth blowing my 6.8SPC budget? Is $800 as decent a price as it seems? How much of the parts are different from a AR15, other than magazines and bolts and such? Do the FCG parts, selector switches, furniture, and such pretty much interchange?

 

[gbran]

I have a TC G2 rifle. One of my 3 barrels is the new 6.8 Rem SPC. I really like the ballistics of this round. It would be near perfect for an AR. BTW, I've taken my 1st 310 lb boar at about 125 yds with the 6.8.

 

[355sigfan]

Armalite makes a lot of lemon AR10's if its in the shop I would wonder why. They make some good guns too. But as an Armalite owner trust me they quality control sucks. Beware of used Armalites.
Pat

 

[NineseveN]

6.8 is a Dodo as far as the Military/DoD is concerned, the Armalites are spotty...wait for one of these.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=38&t=149279&page=3

 

[rbernie]

I sure hope that RRA holds firm on the price...

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

If you don't mind the weight, 7.61x51 ammo is a lot more accessible and plenty effective. I don't know what the parts commonality is between an A10 and an AR15; but off the top of my head the lower, upper, bolt carrier, bolt and buffer are all different.

 

[rbernie]

From what I saw of the AR10, the parts interchange issues that would most likely interest me are the furniture, float tubes, and FCG.

 

[jd25q]

Consider this regarding the 6.8 remington

You said you wanted to deer hunt with it. The 6.8 is no .270. I don't know what ranges you routinely get shots, but the 6.8 is going to be a short range proposition for deer. I have seen a couple of bullets designed for medium game use in the 6.8. But consider that they are very light for the .270 caliber. Like the varmint weight bullets typically used in the .270. Both the bc and sectional densities will be fairly low. Something like .200 for sectional density.

You may be a little better off with some of the 130 grain bullets, but then again these will have been built for the higher velocities (of the .270) and probably wouldn't expand well at the lower velocity you are limited to. You would probably also have problems with overall length.

I think the 6.8 compares to the .270 as the 7.62x39 does to the .30-06. As in less case capacity and limited to the shorter, lighter bullets in the range. Your effective range will probably be similar. Think 30-30 ranges. If you're happy with that then go for it, otherwise get the ar-10 or better yet a good bolt gun.

 

[FatalMove]

I cant speak for the 6.8 but i have an ar-10 .308 and i have used it mainly for deer hunting. i got the rifle because ar-15 is illegal to hunt deer with in my stateand i love the ar plateform. my rifle has a heavy 20 in barrel and wears a 3-7 leupold scope. i had a bigger scope on it at first but the rifle weighs alot for its size. so i went with the smaller scope to shed some weight. anyway i use basic remington softpoint ammo in 150 gr and have killed deer from 10 yards to 300 yards. Im as happy as a dog with 2 peters with this rifle. i have asked armilite lots of questions they always respond in a timely manner. ohh and the accuracy is 10 shots covered by a silver dollar at 100 great for deer rifle