Which is better in pistol length?

[handirifle]

A 6.8 Rem or 7-30 waters?  These from a pistol length barrel of equal length, say 12-14"?

[jhalcott]

  What do you plan on using it for?? A 7-30 uses 120 grain bullets from the factory and a bunch of different weights if you reload. I don't think the 6.8SPC uses any thing but the 115 grain in factory AND 110  for reloads. The 6.8 is SUPPOSED TO hit 2600 fps in 18" barrels with the 115 gr. The 7-30 should hit 2500 in a 14" barrel using the 120's your chrono MAY vary! It all boils down to , are you looking for some thing different OR WHAT>"

[Flash]

Better for what? On average and as outlined by jhalcott, the 7x30 in more reloader friendly and in my opinion, a better choice.

[Lugnutz]

Tell us more about what you plan on doing with this round.  My opinion is that with a shorter barrel length you need to step up a case size to get somewhat equal results as you would in a long barrel.  Such as 308 vs 30-06.  If you want similar results from a 12 inch pipe that you would get from a 308 then you might try the 30-06.  This is just an example.  Some cartridges are more efficient and work better in the small tubes.  Your goals for this gun makes a world of difference in choosing.

[handirifle]

Yea I guess a little more info would help.

Jhalcott
I think you answered it.  I'd be using it as a general hunting round, for coyote to the smallish deer in SoCal.  I was wondering if the 6.8 ballistics would match the 7-30 but it doesn't appear to be so.  I also was looking for a light recoiling round and heard the 7-30 fill that bill pretty well.

lugnutz
I understand your comparison, and I think the 120gr load in the 7-30 might just be the ticket.  I understand the 120gr 7mm bullets are really designed for the lower velocities of the pistol length barrels. 

Is there another round comparable to the 7-30, in recoil and ballistics (velocity/bullet weight/energy)?

[Lugnutz]

6.5 brm looks good.   


Try looking here for more info on the BRM
http://www.eabco.com/Reports/report03.html

[jhalcott]

  You could also get a 6.5JDJ! I've taken deer with 120's out past 200 yards. This is a HAND LOAD only round though. Look at the 30-30 Ackley improved too. These are all good to excellent deer calibers. You can handload them from mild to wild! I know from experience that you CAN kill woodchucks with a .577 NE,so I think these will do for ground squirrel on up to deer!

[xphunter]

The 6.5x30-30 Improved would also be a good one as is the 7x30 W., 6.5JDJ, and the 30-30AI.

[singleshotfan]

Anyone have experience with the 338 WoodWalker from SSK in 10" for hunting deer? Sounds interesting.
Richard

[spinafish]

I have been fasinated by that round for a while..or at least the .338 JDJ #2..if they are the same..I think the Hornady SST .338 bullet would be hard to beat..

[MnMike]

If you like the idea of trying somthing new, go with the 6.8. If you want a proven round with bullets available (designed for pistol velocities), go with the 7-30 or 30-30. I am sure all choices will work in most situations.

good luck

mike

[Preacherman]

The 6.8 uses the same bullet size as a 270. I have been shooting a 23 inch carbine on my Contender
with 110 gr hollow points, with 28gr H322 less than an inch group @100yds.
Just got some 110 VMax can't wait to try them.
Thought I'd get 2 cnts in
Preacherman