mini 30 vs. 6.8 AR

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What bullets were you using? The 6.8SPC should have the 7.62x39 beat pretty well as far as velocity, sectional density and energy.
Its been so many years ago in honestly do not recall bullet weight. It was factory Remington JSP ammo.

Failure 1: solid vitals hit at 40 yards with arterial exit spray and deer went down hard, only to get up 10 minutes later, soak up three more hits (1 vital, 2 quartering away). This deer made it to the county road with a blood trail that disappeared in the other side of the road.

Failure 2: high chest hit at 110 yards with deer dropping, but obviously not hit well. Second **** in the neck. Deer got back up after 15 minutes and walked away. Hit it once more through the shoulder. Huge blood trail across a 890 yard field and I tracked to to my neighbors property where they were dressing it out. Wound channels were narrow, almost like zero expansion occurred. Both lungs were hit and heart showed no evidence of damage.

I cased the 6.8 and hunted the remainder of the weekend with my Marlin 30/30 and took a nice buck the following morning that dropped dead right there to a federal flat tip.
 
Wound channels were narrow, almost like zero expansion occurred.
That sounds like a problem with that make and model of bullet rather than a problem with the caliber itself.
 
Sounds like Remmy's 115 CoreLokt UltraBond. A hard bullet pushed at the slowest factory velocity compared with the other 6.8 options. A pair of tough deer to have arterial spray and deflated lungs though. It happens and confidence in your equipment is important of course.
 
68wj what factory load is good for 6.8
Hornady's 120 SST seems to be the best bang for the buck. Bill Wilson advises their Wilson Combat 110 TSX and SSA has their version on sale right now for $17.95. Just my observation, I handload 110 Accubonds
 
I saw pictures of a test someone did...the SSTs had major jacket separation...that's why my dad said he switched from Hornady to Sierra in his 8mm years ago.

The Accubonds and Barnes TSX did the best at expanding and retaining weight.
 
Hmm...I knew Alliant owned both Federal and CCI, but I have never seen the Gold Dot brand used for anything other than CCI before
 
Hornady's 120 SST seems to be the best bang for the buck. Bill Wilson advises their Wilson Combat 110 TSX and SSA has their version on sale right now for $17.95. Just my observation, I handload 110 Accubonds
Thanks for the heads up on 110 TSX at SSA. I just ordered some. I have been waiting for a 'decent' deal and I think that was about as good as it will get anytime soon.
 
I own both a Mini-14 and AR-15 (not the 6.8 or 7.62x39). Having only the experience between these two, I'd also choose an AR-15 over a Ruger Mini. Don't get me wrong Mini's are great guns, very reliable and accurate. However it comes down to personal preference, I like handling AR's more then Mini's. I'll always keep my Mini-14 as I'd always wanted one and it was my second Semi-Auto Rifle.

Both handle bump firing very well too, just be careful with the bolt on the Mini, I've watched friends smack a finger trying to do it.


 
Is anybody making a light 20" 6.8 barrel? Or is there a shop that would custom make one. When I say light I mean quick taper down to .650 straight to .750 gas block then back down.
 
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Depends on how much you want to shoot. Although 6.8SPC II ammo is coming down, generic 7.62x39 is much cheaper in all ways. That said, I just bought a bunch MORE 6.8 on sale and have nice 6.8 Cache now. The title is incorrect never the less. Should be AK v. 6.8SPC. Low cost steel ammo aka soviet bloc 7.62x39 isn't really an option in a Mini 30.

The answer then becomes even easier. Get both. :evil::D Then it becomes really clear. Use the 6.8 for hunting.
 
Black Hole Weaponry will do a light 20" and flute if you want lighter. Theirs uses 3 land poly rifling. Most popular are 16 or 18" as the 6.8 is pretty efficient and you don't get much with the full length.
 
I've shot two deer with the 6.8 and two with the 7.62x39, and although I would have confidence in both, I believe the 6.8 outclasses the 7.62x39 for pure hunting purposes. My 6.8 load was very similar to 68wj's load, 110gr Accubond over AA2200 for 2660 fps out of an 18 in barrel. The two deer I shot with that load were dumped in their tracks (high shoulder shots), and I wouldn't hesitate to use that load again should I pick up another 6.8. For my 7.62 shots I was using federal sp ammo out of a Remington 799. The first deer I shot with that load/rifle dropped, but then got up and ran off... only later did I discover that the cheap scope mount I bought had worked loose while I was walking around (learned a life lesson though). The second deer I shot with that setup dropped on the spot.

Either of those rounds would work fine for a short range medium game rifle, but I prefer the 6.8 for it's better velocity (for a similar sectional density), better bullet selection, and wide availability/good reliability in AR-15's.
 
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