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6.8 mm Remington SPC

The 6.8 mm Remington SPC (or 6.8x43mm) is a new rifle cartridge that was developed with collaboration from individual members of US SOCOM. Based upon the .30 Remington cartridge , it is midway between the 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x39mm in bore diameter and velocity with more energy than both. It is particularly adaptable to current 5.56 mm NATO firearms, the cartridge overall length being comparable.

Though ballistically similar to the 1950s-era .280 British, improved propellant powders allow the 6.8 mm to have a smaller case. The 6.8 mm SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) has a muzzle velocity in the 2,400 feet per second (730 m/s) range from a 16 inch (406 mm) barrel using a 115-grain bullet.

Performance

The 6.8 mm Remington SPC is designed to deliver 44% greater energy than the 5.56 mm NATO at 100-200 meters. When compared to the more powerful and well-established 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, the 6.8 mm falls short in all of these areas, but has less recoil and is more controllable. While the 6.8 mm generates around 1,759 ft·lbf (2385 J) of muzzle energy with its 115 grain bullet (note: this figure is from a 24" bolt-action test barrel, not the 14.5 inch barrel of the M4 Carbine), the 7.62 mm NATO (M80) fires a 147 grain bullet at 2,750 ft/s for 2460 ft·lbf of energy (838.2 m/s for 3335 J).

While the round is generally intended for use at shorter ranges, this handicap somewhat dampened the initial enthusiasm over the SPC round, and gave competitors like the 6.5 Grendel or improved 5.56 mm rounds an opportunity to compete for acceptance. Many criticisms fall short, however, considering the majority of military engagements (even with modern optics) occur inside 300 m.

The first major manufacturer to offer a 6.8 mm Remington SPC chambered version of the AR-15 was Barrett Firearms Company, offering the Barrett M468. By 2007, most major manufacturers of AR-15 type rifles for the civilian gun market, such as Bushmaster Firearms International, DPMS Panther Arms and Rock River Arms were also producing 6.8 mm Rem SPC carbines. Ruger Firearms produces a 6.8 mm version of their popular Ruger Mini-14 series carbine . Remington also makes a bolt-action long rifle, 24" barrel Model 700 chambered in the 6.8SPC cartridge.