I've had a had a naked AR lower laying around for a year now and made no progress on a decision of what to build it into. I've got 3 ARs at the moment: a 24" .223, a 16" .223 and a S&W .22LR. I'd like to build something other than a .223 - maybe something I can hunt deer or hogs with. AR-10s are too big and heavy for my taste. I'd love to get a .300 WSSM but I don't want to pay the price. To me a 6mm is a bit to small. The 6.5 BR or BRX might be an option but its rare and may have to fireform brass. The .450 Bushmaster or .458 SOCOM are great close in but drop off quickly at range. I think the 6.8 is a bit short on oomph but components are readily available plus it seem to do very well with 18-inch barrels. Reports say it does great on hogs. However, there are several chamberings. The 6.8 original, 6.8 SPC II, and 6.8 ARP which is supposed to have a less abrupt forcing cone and more freebore. I'm sort of narrowing my choice down to the 6.8 because its less expensive than other options and less expensive. Any comments regarding the SPC II chambering and what advantages more freebore might have with the ARP chambering (only seems to be available from AR15 Performance)?

no experience with this option but being .277 in calibre it has to be great. your 110 barnes should be a good choice too. I havent heard any bad reports on the mini 14 option but would suggest that would be the case to use as it will be easier to get hold of from off the shelf.

I am itching to build. Palmetto State Armory had 6.8 SPC II barrels on clearance so I thought I’d build a 6.8. I got the 18-inch barrel. I see how inexpensively I can put a rifle together to hunt hogs.

How's it going slim?
Ya know I built one and ended up finding all kinds of stuff on sale. I think the 6.8 has been around long enough to loose some of its luster. Including ammo I got a bunch of Silver State Arsenal that shot touching at 50 yards with a holo graph site. That's fine with me it's a fun round.

I went to the gun show today and started getting lower parts. I'm finding my preferences are not letting me go the inexpensive route. I'm going to get the collapsible stock I want (MagPul ACS). Now I'm debating with myself if I want to splurge and get a VTAC Rail TRX Extreme by TROY Industries, Inc..

fnuser, what bullets do you like?

fnuser wrote:

I think the 6.8 has been around long enough to loose some of its luster.

I'm not finding that the case. I only found one vendor in the US that had the rail I wanted. 6.8 bullets are scarce. More critical, I can't find a 6.8 bolt and carrier anywhere! Until I do, I have a large paperweight!!

barns 6.8 85 grn are readily available over here. hornady 110s are easy to get I cant see why you should have trouble getting projectiles.

Elvis, your right about the projectiles. I can find them but the discounted ones disappear fast. The AR bolts and carriers seem to be on "indefinite backorder". I may have found one 6.8 carrier group late last night in a small outfit in Woodbury, MN. After I submitted my order its availability switched to out of stock.

slimjim wrote:

fnuser wrote: I think the 6.8 has been around long enough to loose some of its luster. I'm not finding that the case. I only found one vendor in the US that had the rail I wanted. 6.8 bullets are scarce. More critical, I can't find a 6.8 bolt and carrier anywhere! Until I do, I have a large paperweight!!

I know, I guess I am taking it that they aren't stocking it, kinda like 6.5 Remington Mag. not that they are selling out. I could be wrong. But usually if something is selling like hotcakes they try to keep it stocked?

others have suggested its the buying freenzy heading up to the election. Guess I picked the wrong time to build a rifle ... no wait ... its never a bad time!

lets hope you got the 1 they had then!!!
keep looking the projectiles will turn up somewhere. I keep an eye on our Trade me site and sometimes pick up bargains from guys selling stuff as they have changed rifles or estate lots. the 170 grn speers even come up sometimes too!!!

Slim

Check out the new lower from Palmetto State Armory. It's called the NOBO12 and they are actually going to make this!! ---> www.facebook.com/photo...noscript=1

THANKS OMNI

My PSA 18-inch barrel arrived yesterday. It's weight is 1 lb 12 oz and has a 11.25 twist, 6-groove bore. I am happy and it met my expectation. I'll be very pleased if it shoots well. Its the first part to arrive so I expect it will be another month before I get it together and get to the range.