Gun Review: LWRC International's Six8 SBR (2024)

Gun Review: LWRC International's Six8 SBR (1)

Gun Review: LWRC International's Six8 SBR (2)

Gun Review: LWRC International's Six8 SBR (3)


Gun Review: LWRC International's Six8 SBR (4)

Gun Review: LWRC International's Six8 SBR (5)


A result of the Enhanced Rifle Cartridge program, the 6.8 SPC was an attempt to deal with the deficiencies of the 5.56mm NATO cartridge. The overall idea was to approximate 7.62x39mm ballistics with improved accuracy, reliable operation in an AR-platform rifle and terminal performance out to 500 meters. The result was the 6.8 Remington Special Purpose Cartridge (SPC). It proved to surpass the 5.56mm in every aspect of bullet performance. Early adoption of the 115-grain OTM provided accuracy, increased energy on target and ballistic efficiency in shorter barrels. The only downside was the need for replacing the standard 5.56mm bolt, barrel and magazine.

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Early 6.8 SPC ammunition was pretty limited until the hunting market jumped in. As is often the case, hunters took this cartridge to its limits, encouraging better loads and bullets designed for improved terminal performance. Now 6.8 SPC bullet weights range from 85 to 140 grains. Given the correct magazine, these rifles were reliable—even with very short barrels once piston-driven operating systems entered the fray. While it never caught on in the military, the 6.8 SPC is still viable for law enforcement operations.

LWRC International has always led the way in this caliber, making the company the best choice when Saudi Arabia came looking for an AR. Sharing my skepticism for the 5.56mm NATO, they wanted the 6.8 SPC, but in a reliable weapon. LWRCI decided to break from the norm and start over. The company collaborated with Magpul, which built a PMAG around the cartridge that allowed it to reliably hold and feed 30 rounds. Then LWRCI molded its Six8 receivers around the PMAG. Another partner, ATK (Federal) developed the 90-grain Gold Dot to meet the contract requirements. A bonded bullet, it was designedto be accurate with reliable expansion, making it just about perfect for law enforcement. Subsequent ballistics testing by third parties confirmed the round’s ability to expand with excellent penetration characteristics.

Gun Details

I recently had the chance to build and test a customized short-barreled rifle (SBR) for LE missions with LWRCI’s Six8 platform. While 6.8 SPC barrels can be shorter, 12.7 (or 13) inches has proven to be the optimal length in my experience. The velocity loss is minimal, the terminal effectiveness is unaffected, and you can still use a sound suppressor. Of course, suppressing this caliber with short barrels can be dicey, but it is possible at this length, making this the perfect choice for me.

“This was ablast of a test.I hope to get many years of use out ofthis rifle.”

I tested LWRCI’s Six8 A2 upper with a 12.7-inch, cold-hammer-forged barrel made from 41V45 steel and treated with NiCorr for corrosion resistance. The company’s enhanced bolt and hardened bolt carrier provide for years of hard use. The upper also features LWRCI’s patented short-stroke piston-driven operating system, which runs reliably and keeps the action cool. Finally, the upper included a railed handguard and flip-up front and rear sights.

The Six8 lower receiver is one of the strongest forgings in the industry. An ambidextrous bolt stop and magazine release are built into the design along with a flared magazine well. To complete the control package, my build included Rainier Arms’ Raptor charging handle, a Troy Industries ambidextrous safety and Geissele’s SSA trigger. More enhancements included Battle Arms Development’s extended pushpins and Bravo Company’s Gunfighter pistol grip. Rounding out the lower is a Law Tactical Gen 3 Folding Stock Adapter and a mil-spec buffer tube using a Spike’s Tactical T2 buffer and a Sprinco Blue enhanced spring. Law Tactical’s latest design is excellent. Made of steel, it is smaller and no longer interferes with the charging handle. In essence, it makes the carbine easier to store and deploy. I tried the carbine with several stocks but ultimately kept the Vltor IMod installed.

Suppressing this caliber in short barrels can be an exercise in frustration—the round just does not work well with the increased carrier speed. For this endeavor I turned to Operators Suppressor Systems (OSS). This modular, three-part system offers a lot of versatility. First you have the Flash Hider Muzzle Brake (FHMB). Then you can screw on the outer shell to complete the Back Pressure Regulator (BPR). On its own, it provides moderate sound and flash moderation similar to other “short” suppressors. The difference is the lack of backpressure, ensuring reliability. More importantly, it sends all the blast forward, keeping you and anyone near you in the fight. Add the Signature Reduction Module (SRM) and you get sound suppression similar to a standard suppressor. I used a titanium, machine-gun-rated OSS system for the testing.

For optics I used a U.S. Optics SR-6 1.5-6x scope with a lighted JNG Mil reticle and 0.10-mil zeroing knobs. This has long been my idea of the perfect carbine scope. It provides adequate power for identification, has a moderate size and is capable of reaching the limits of the 6.8 SPC cartridge. U.S. Optics scopes are rugged and reliable, and the FFP reticle makes holdovers accurate at any power.

While the scope works great at CQB distances, I also prefer to have a dedicated close-range device. I installed the scope in a Warne RAMP mount, which allowed me to add a Trijicon RMR offset to the right. This dual-illumination RMR uses tritium for illumination in low light, while sunlight keeps it bright during daylight. Finally, for low-light situations, I added a SureFire Scout light in a LaRue Tactical mount and a rail-mounted switch. The LaRue mount helps the light sit flat against the rail without interfering with my grip. The switch sits on the top rail for ambidextrous operation.

Range Time

I thoroughly tested this SBR for operation and reliability before meeting Buck Doyle of Follow Through Consulting athis range in Teasdale, Utah. Nestled in the mountains, it provides the perfect means to test your carbine. Doyle is a retired Force Recon Marine with an eye towards practical application. His facility allows you to shoot in natural terrain, from high angles and out to well beyond 1,000 yards. With the LWRCI Six8 SBR, we stuck to 600 yards or closer, spending most of our time inside 350 yards. We started by zeroing the carbine at 100 yards and then going out to 600 yards.

“It functionedflawlessly as fastas I could pullthe trigger.”

I established holdovers using my deployment ammunition, the Federal 90-grain Gold Dot and Silver State Armory’s 90-grain PPT ammo. I used my Applied Ballistics calculator to create a realistic range card after confirming a hold at 6.5 mils. Confirmation at 200 to 400 yards ensured it was accurate. Engaging multiple targets at 350 yard was easy, thanks in part to the U.S. Optics scope. If I just held high on the target at each range and accounted for wind, the SBR was dead on. Buck Doyle had me shoot from prone, on barricades, on natural obstacles and under stress. It was fantasticreal-world practice. I highly recommend his range if you are looking for a place to really wring out your scoped carbine.

Back at my home range, I tested the Six8 for accuracy and reliabil-ity along with operation and deployment using the folding stock. Long a limitation of the AR, this addition proved incredibly useful.

The SBR was very accurate with the 90-grain ammunition. My best group came with the Federal Gold Dot at 0.58 inches, while the Silver State 90-grain TNT was almost the same. The carbine was no slouch with the larger bullets, but 90-grain rounds are the ticket for duty use. Independent testing in ballistic gelatin puts this ammo in the sweet spot for FBI protocols, and it is reliable, soft shooting and easy to get. It is also priced fairly, in some cases very close to 5.56mm ammo. As a bonus, you can practice with your actual deployment rounds all the time!

The SBR operated flawlessly with the OSS suppressor. It was perfect for me to use just the BPR alone. On normal strings of fire, there was little or no flash. Really rapid fire produced some flash, but that was expected. The SBR’s functioning was unaffected, and it was quiet enough for a fight. It also adds only about an inch to the weapon’s overall length, keeping things handy. Adding the SRM eliminated flash and reduced the sound levels to ear-safe conditions. It also did not effect the Six8’s operation. It functioned flawlessly as fast as I could pull the trigger.

Final Notes

With all of the accessories mounted, the Six8 SBR is no lightweight, but it is a duty gun—not a training or competition gun. Nor will it be “humped” for long distances outside of a pack. Moving to a red dot would lighten things up a bit, but the balance on this setup was excellent. I used the carbinea ton in most every condition without getting fatigued. The U.S. Optics SR-6 is the perfect scope for me, and the Warne mount worked well.

With the Law Tactical adapter, the rifle fit perfectly in my Eberlestock X3. The Six8 SBR was incredibly handy. Carried with a jacket, four magazines, water, a bipod and some other essentials, the carbine packed comfortably on my treks into the mountains above the range. It was also pretty fast when deploying from my truck. All in all, combining the Law Tactical Gen 3 folder and a covert bag was just about perfect. It will also fit nicely into a trunk. The folder did nothing to adversely effect operation, and the new design makes it simple to take the rifle down for cleaning.

This was a blast of a test. I hope to get many years of use out of this rifle. It uses one of my favorite cartridges and is perfectly suited to any duty use. Were the mean streets of South Salt Lake still my area of operation, this rifle would be right there with me.

Find out more about the Six8 by visiting lwrci.com or calling 410-901-1348.For the OSS suppressor, visit oss-online.com or call 801-542-0425.

Gun Review: LWRC International's Six8 SBR (2024)

FAQs

What is the LWRC SIX8? ›

LWRC SIX8 RAZORBACK II Ships Free

The LWRC SIX8 AR 15 Rifle was originally designed for British military air force pilots as the SIX8 UCIW (Ultra Compact Individual weapon). It was designed to be ultra compact so it could be carried in the cockpit, But have a more lethal knock down power than a standard 5.56 round.

How good is the 6.8 SPC? ›

The 6.8 SPC round is more than powerful enough for hunting varmints as well as medium sized game like feral hogs and deer at short to moderate range and still delivers great performance when used in shorter barreled rifles. It also uses a slightly larger diameter bullet. Specifically, the larger diameter .

What is the 6.8 SPC II? ›

The 6.8mm Remington Special Purpose Cartridge (6.8 SPC, 6.8 SPC II or 6.8×43mm) is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate rifle cartridge that was developed by Remington Arms in collaboration with members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and United States Special Operations Command to possibly replace the 5.56 NATO ...

What is the best barrel length for 6.8 SPC? ›

What Are The Best 6.8 SPC Barrels:
  • Daniel Defense 16-Inch Mid-Length.
  • Proof Research 18-Inch Carbon Fiber.
  • Bison Armory 22-Inch Heavy Stainless Target.
  • Wilson Combat 11.5-Inch Match Grade.
Feb 10, 2021

Why is the military switching to 6.8 SPC? ›

In Army research, officials said, the 6.8 mm round outperforms the 5.56 mm on distance, accuracy and energy for lethal effects on target. That measure counts for lethal effects on either protected or unprotected targets.

Is 6.8 SPC better than 556? ›

Ballistic Performance

That being said the round is ballistically superior to the 5.56 regarding energy relative to bullet weight. The 6.8 SPC delivers 44% more power than the 5.56 on average. It's also a better performer from short barrels.

Is 6.5 or 6.8 better? ›

The 6.8 allows you to use heavier bullets, like 165-175 grains,” Frank said. “This is more lethal and gets more penetration and retained weight than any of the 6.5 Creedmoor bullets. At 500 yards, you'll have almost 60% more energy in a 6.8 Western than 6.5 Creedmoor.

What caliber is 6.8 equal to? ›

The 6.8 SPC is not similar or the same as the 7.62x51mm round cartridge. That's the 308 Winchester that shares the similar dimensions to the 7.62 x 51mm caliber. But there still is one caliber that shares some similarities with the 6.8 and that's the . 270 Winchester.

Is the U.S. military adopting the 6.8 SPC? ›

Winchester to Produce 6.8mm Ammunition for the Next Generation Squad Weapons: The U.S. Army still has to make its final selection for the firearm that will eventually replace the M4A1 carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, but recently it was announced that Winchester, the largest manufacturer of small-caliber ...

Is 6.8 and 270 the same? ›

The 6.8 Western is based on the . 270 Winchester Super Magnum but is . 085 inches shorter than its parent case.

Who makes the best 6.8 SPC? ›

The Best 6.8 SPC Rifles
  • DDM4® HUNTER 6.8 (KRYPTEK HIGHLANDER) ...
  • Barrett REC7 DI Carbine in 6.8MM SPC. ...
  • LWRC SIX8-A5 6.8MM SPC II. ...
  • Radical Firearms AR-15 RPR 6.8MM SPC II. ...
  • Rock River Arms LAR-15M 6.8. ...
  • STAG ARMS STAG 15 SUPER VARMINTER LH 6.8MM. ...
  • Wilson Combat Recon Tactical 6.8 mm SPC.

What is the new 6.8 Military round? ›

The new NGSW weapon systems are chambered to shoot the new 6.8×51 SIG hybrid ammunition. Being loaded at higher pressures results in increased velocity and terminal performance. The 277 SIG Fury and the military 6.8×51 SIG features a conventional brass upper case body with a steel alloy bottom, and case-head section.

What does 6.8 SPC stand for? ›

The 6.8 mm Remington Special Purpose Cartridge (aka 6.8 SPC, 6.8 SPC II & 6.8×43mm) is a rifle cartridge that was developed by Remington Arms in collaboration with members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, United States Special Operations Command to possibly replace the 5.56 NATO cartridge in a Short Barreled Rifle( ...

Who makes the best 6.8 SPC? ›

The Best 6.8 SPC Rifles
  • DDM4® HUNTER 6.8 (KRYPTEK HIGHLANDER) ...
  • Barrett REC7 DI Carbine in 6.8MM SPC. ...
  • LWRC SIX8-A5 6.8MM SPC II. ...
  • Radical Firearms AR-15 RPR 6.8MM SPC II. ...
  • Rock River Arms LAR-15M 6.8. ...
  • STAG ARMS STAG 15 SUPER VARMINTER LH 6.8MM. ...
  • Wilson Combat Recon Tactical 6.8 mm SPC.

Does 6.8 SPC use 5.56 mags? ›

You should be able to use 5.56 magazines with the 6.8 SPC round. Magazines designed exclusively for the 6.8 SPC caliber exist because not all 5.56 magazines work consistently with the 6.8 SPC bullet.

Is 6.8 SPC the same as 224 Valkyrie? ›

The Valkyrie is based on the . 30 Remington / 6.8 SPC cartridge. In fact, you can think of the Valkyrie as a necked-down 6.8 SPC. So, even though the bullet is the same diameter, you'll need a 224 Valkyrie barrel due to the different chamber dimensions.

Is the Army 6.8 the same as 6.8 SPC? ›

NOTE: the Army-issue 6.8mm will be an entirely new caliber, and will not be the existing 6.8 SPC. The new 6.8mm ammunition will be made at a manufacturing facility called Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in the state of Missouri.

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