It's funny how things just come together sometimes, just out of the blue. I'm sure most of you know the history of the M1 Garand, that it was initially built smaller and designed around the .276 Pedersen cartridge using 10-round en-bloc clips. I understand there are only a very few of these rifles around and probably in a museum somewhere. Either way, the .276 Pedersen was a very inovative and promising cartridge and as I understand it the military testers regarded it quite highly and seemed enthusiastic about its performance. However, as things would have it, it was dropped in favor of the much more available .30-06 cartridge.
Incidentally, the Brits designed their .280 British round during the end of WWII as their most effective, efficient "battle" cartridge from lessons learned during their experiences, it hauntingly closely duplicates the .276 Pedersen cartridge.
My curiousity about this subject was sparked when I learned of the 6.8spc cartridge and its development and purpose. I found that the 6.8spc comes really close to what the .276 Pedersen and .280 British rounds offered, but because of the new developments in powder chemistry, is able to provide more power with less powder, hence the shorter case length.
As I learned about the .276 Pedersen and .280 British rounds I came to realize that for their intended purposes, combat, they were close to ideal, providing good accuracy, energy and terminal performance without the stout recoil and its reduced size which allowed for smaller weapons and more ammo being carried.
I began searching for the various rifles that chambered the 6.8spc and practically all were mostly of the ubiquitous AR designs. As I don't like the direct impingement design my options were vastly narrowed down to the few piston driven AR designs such as the LWRC and Robinson Arms XCR, then there are the piston refit kits for standard AR's.
I saw that Ruger came out with their Mini in 6.8spc and didn't think much of it because of their prominent history of so-so accuracy. But again, as I've been learning, their new Mini's have been improved in the accuracy department and have made them appealing again.
As I looked at it, I realized that it uses the Garand style rotating bolt design and is basically a "mini" garand and in the 6.8spc caliber, which is close in performance to what the .276 Pedersen was. Have we re-discovered the .276 Pedersen Garand that was lost to time and the need for ammunition commonality requirements of the time?
I'm thinking so and am starting to realize this new Ruger Mini-14 in 6.8spc may be the diamond in the ruff. For those that prefer the classic Garand style and propensity for reliability and simplicity, this new Mini may be on my shortlist for a true do-it-all utility rifle, what the Garand was supposed to be.
Incidentally, the Brits designed their .280 British round during the end of WWII as their most effective, efficient "battle" cartridge from lessons learned during their experiences, it hauntingly closely duplicates the .276 Pedersen cartridge.
My curiousity about this subject was sparked when I learned of the 6.8spc cartridge and its development and purpose. I found that the 6.8spc comes really close to what the .276 Pedersen and .280 British rounds offered, but because of the new developments in powder chemistry, is able to provide more power with less powder, hence the shorter case length.
As I learned about the .276 Pedersen and .280 British rounds I came to realize that for their intended purposes, combat, they were close to ideal, providing good accuracy, energy and terminal performance without the stout recoil and its reduced size which allowed for smaller weapons and more ammo being carried.
I began searching for the various rifles that chambered the 6.8spc and practically all were mostly of the ubiquitous AR designs. As I don't like the direct impingement design my options were vastly narrowed down to the few piston driven AR designs such as the LWRC and Robinson Arms XCR, then there are the piston refit kits for standard AR's.
I saw that Ruger came out with their Mini in 6.8spc and didn't think much of it because of their prominent history of so-so accuracy. But again, as I've been learning, their new Mini's have been improved in the accuracy department and have made them appealing again.
As I looked at it, I realized that it uses the Garand style rotating bolt design and is basically a "mini" garand and in the 6.8spc caliber, which is close in performance to what the .276 Pedersen was. Have we re-discovered the .276 Pedersen Garand that was lost to time and the need for ammunition commonality requirements of the time?
I'm thinking so and am starting to realize this new Ruger Mini-14 in 6.8spc may be the diamond in the ruff. For those that prefer the classic Garand style and propensity for reliability and simplicity, this new Mini may be on my shortlist for a true do-it-all utility rifle, what the Garand was supposed to be.
