Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · COMPACT RIFLE CARTRIDGE
6.8 SPC
A compact .277-bullet centerfire cartridge, commonly written 6.8 Remington SPC. It is separate from both 6.8 Western and 6.8×51 cartridges.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.000–2.260 in
50.800–57.404 mm - Case length · max
- 1.6864 in
42.835 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.278 in
7.061 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.422 in
10.719 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Compact rifle cartridge
- Bullet specification
- 0.2780 in / 7.061 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 7 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 90–120 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
6.8 SPC is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 6.8 mm Remington SPC. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
SPC and SPC II chamber terminology requires firearm-specific guidance. This page does not infer a pressure allowance from the abbreviation.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The 6.8 Remington SPC originated in a project involving Remington and members of the U.S. Army’s 5th Special Forces Group. The developers wanted a different terminal-performance balance from the M4-sized rifle platform while limiting the increase in recoil and the loss of ammunition capacity. Its case lineage came from the .30 Remington rather than the military 5.56 cartridge.
The project reached SAAMI approval in 2004. It illustrates the early-2000s interest in intermediate cartridges that could work within a familiar compact-rifle envelope. Its later commercial life included sporting rifles and hunting ammunition, even though its original motivation was military. The SPC name means Special Purpose Cartridge; it is a specific older design, distinct from the much later 6.8×51 mm ammunition developed for the Army’s new SIG weapons. Shared caliber shorthand can obscure two very different development programs.
Historical sources: Sierra: 6.8 SPC cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited 6.8 SPC examples, bullet weights are 90, 100, 110, 115, 120 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
90 grains
2,990 fps
JACKETED HOLLOW POINT
100 grains
2,550 fps
CX®
110 grains
2,575 fps
V-MAX® (16" Bbl)
Compare all 7 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalAE6890VP | 90 gr 5.83 g | JACKETED HOLLOW POINT | 2,990 fps 911 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗ |
| FederalF68MSR2 | 90 gr 5.83 g | FUSION | 2,850 fps 869 m/s | 16 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| Hornady834814 | 100 gr 6.48 g | CX® | 2,550 fps 777 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗ |
| Hornady83464 | 110 gr 7.13 g | V-MAX® (16" Bbl) | 2,575 fps 785 m/s | 16 in | Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗ |
| FederalAE68A | 115 gr 7.45 g | FMJ | 2,675 fps 815 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| FederalF68MSR1 | 115 gr 7.45 g | FUSION | 2,470 fps 753 m/s | 16 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| Hornady8347 | 120 gr 7.78 g | SST® (16" Bbl) | 2,460 fps 750 m/s | 16 in | Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
6.8 SPC: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 90 gr Federal JACKETED HOLLOW POINT | Federal | 0: 2990; 100: 2651; 200: 2335; 300: 2043; 400: 1772; 500: 1530 |
| 100 gr Hornady CX® | Hornady | 0: 2550; 100: 2227; 200: 1930; 300: 1659; 400: 1421; 500: 1226 |
| 110 gr Hornady V-MAX® (16" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 2575; 100: 2343; 200: 2123; 300: 1916; 400: 1722; 500: 1544 |
| 115 gr Federal FMJ | Federal | 0: 2675; 100: 2442; 200: 2221; 300: 2012; 400: 1815; 500: 1633 |
| 120 gr Hornady SST® (16" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 2460; 100: 2250; 200: 2051; 300: 1863; 400: 1687; 500: 1524 |
| 90 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2850; 100: 2524; 200: 2221; 300: 1939; 400: 1682; 500: 1453 |
| 115 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2470; 100: 2248; 200: 2037; 300: 1838; 400: 1654; 500: 1485 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is 6.8 SPC?
A compact .277-bullet centerfire cartridge, commonly written 6.8 Remington SPC. It is separate from both 6.8 Western and 6.8×51 cartridges.
What diameter does 6.8 SPC use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2780 inches (7.061 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
SPC and SPC II chamber terminology requires firearm-specific guidance. This page does not infer a pressure allowance from the abbreviation.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Skives & petals: read the jacket construction →
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 57 ↗
- Sierra: 6.8 SPC cartridge background ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.