6.8SPC HISTORY by Dave Dunlap of PRi

Here is the PRi side of the story in a nut shell written by an armature. Actually the original group (mostly military noncom) started in the late 1990's trying to put together an M16 that would reliable feed the 7.62 x 39 and asked PRi to participate and build a magazine that worked. After looking over all the mags available, the M16 mag well and the 7.62 characteristics, we declined and said the combination would not be reliable enough to carry into combat. We thought it was a very sound concept but not attainable with a standard M16.After a year of effort the group concluded that the 7.62 nor any other cartridge, including the 6.5 Grendel, worked or did what they wanted and performed in the M16.

After a lot of work on the 7.62, they started with the 30 Rem cartridge as a basis for a totally new cartridge and tried the basic combination with a variety of bullets including: 25 cal, 6mm, 6.5mm, 6.8mm(270) and 30 cal. It was at this stage we looked at the various cartridges and concluded all were workable and when the final decision was made on which bullet they wanted we could build the mag and uppers. The choice was made and we started the mags but half way thru the design the change was made to the 6.8mm. The cartridge was finalized with Remington in control because they had the most legal muscle to protect the proprietary nature of the project. Remington came to PRi to build the first uppers to test the cartridge and after a chicken or the egg argument it was decided Remington got the uppers before PRi got any ammo. The first mags and uppers were built and developed with 200 rounds of handmade ammo plus 50 dummy rounds. PRi worked with Rem for quite some time and eventually purchased 10,000 rounds of ammo that was less than perfect but it did cycle the weapon and allowed us to thoroughly test the mags.

The project was still very secret at that time and there were many attempts (by larger interested parties who had a lot to gain) to obtain the loaded cartridges and especially the spent brass. We were forced to build a crude bullet trap in the back of our shop and all bullets, used and unused, were closely guarded. The full auto testing was done only after we purchased the 10,000 rounds and that was at a secret location that MSTN provided in the wilds of Tennessee.

PRi built the first reliable 6.8mm mag with our own money and built the first uppers for the group. We received some of the very first chamber reamers and made our first uppers out of Mike Rock or Pacnor barrel blanks, DPMS uppers and standard M16 (AR15) parts and overrun PRi parts from the SPR program. The only parts required to convert the AR to the 6.8mm were the new barrel and bolt and a new mag; the barrel and bolt were simple and the mag was developed by PRi. The PRi mag is still the best working and has the largest possible interior length for the longest possible cartridge. PRi was the sole commercial source for the 6.8 uppers during the early stages and was allowed to sell them to any government agency and certain commercial customers at Remington's discretion. The original PRi uppers were built to the SPR barrel contours in 12", 14", 16", and 18" lengths; the mags were built to length with no regard to the cartridge capacity. At first the mags had to be the same length as the standard 30 round and later the 15 and 20 round were made to allow the user to get lower to the ground. After the public release of the cartridge and submission to SAMMI the effort to get the 6.8mm out to the shooting public and especially the military/ government, the group lacked a big name to back the project or get the word out. Remington was a big ammo/ bolt gun company but had no reputation in the auto gun (M16) market. It was at that time the group decision was made to offer the technology to Barrett, a big name in the 50 but no reputation in the smaller weapons. The original Barrett uppers, mags and tech info were built and furnished by PRi.

That brings us up to the current time and place. PRi is still willing to promote and share technology to those interested in building the 6.8mm. We currently build uppers that are reliable and accurate for the military, LE and commercial markets. The PRi 6.8mm upper is built for dependability and not for the cheapest possible price, quality and reliability are our only goal.The PRi magazine is the finest available on the market today and we back it 100%. If you know someone who complains about our products , they have not been in contact with PRi.

Gentlemen, PRi wishes you good fortune in your endeavor and the promotion of the 6.8mm. It is a great cartridge, effective, accurate and a pleasure to shoot. 6.8 is the Marksman's Cartridge!!