school me on the difference between 6.8/6.8spc II

[1911man]

I have been milling around in my head about getting a 6.8 for hunting or getting a 243 or 308 bolt/lever gun. I want to know first the difference between a 6.8 and a 6.8spcII and how available the ammo is because I do not handload. Also, who makes QUALITY barrels for a spcII and can I shot (basic 6.8) in a spcII barrel? I already own a rem. LTR in 308 and is about as heavy as a 22'' 24'' bolt gun in the same caliber, and a 357 lever gun. I am looking for something a little bit lighter and faster handling in the brush. I plan on hunting at distances under 200yards and medium size pigs nothing over 200lbs. deer, yotes, and hopefully a 400lb. elk if I ever get drawn for it. I have looked at the balistic chart from hornady at the 6.8 and they do not say if there ammo is spc (basic) or spcII and at about 200yards it seems to be about the same as a 30-30. Hornady does not make a .260 rem and I have read alot about the 6.5 credmoor and a .243 bullet drops less than a 6.5. So why are some many people writing wonderful things about the 6.5? The 6.5 has a heavier bullet but energy and vel. seems to favor the 243. thanks for your time guys.

[DeanW66]

Have a visit to the 6.8 forums to find all you need.

[k1dude]

'They' are saying so many nice things about the 6.5 because they're talking about the 6.5 Grendel.

The 6.8 SPC II has a slightly different chamber which allows higher pressures than the original 6.8 SPC SAAMI spec. The SPC is now considered obsolete. Do not consider it. If you go 6.8, only go with the SPC II. Most data tables on the internet only show the original SPC performance. No one has posted SPC II data tables that I'm aware of. It's probably because the loads are still evolving. Some wildcatters are pushing loads to unsafe levels IMHO.