6.8 Western

[Traveling Man]

I know this question will generate a "healthy" discussion therefor here is comes, give me your opinion on the new 6.8 Western round recently introduced by Browning and Winchester and is it a major improvement on the 7mm magnum and other comparable magnum calibers?
BTW, this is my first post on Long Range Hunting Forum

 

[Hunterjones]

I'll probably get plenty of hate for this but it's hard to imagine ANY cartridge offering any dramatic improvement over anything that's currently out there until we are able to fire big game hunting weight cartridges safely at well over 4000 FPS……..
JMHO

 

[Swamplord]

100% agree with above ...

and ... calling it a 6.8 vs 270 doesn't make it suddenly magical, it's still the same boring .277", and shortening the WSM case DOES NOT make any improvements over anything WSM ... nuff said

 

[Sockeye66]

Only claim it can possibly make over the standard .270 or the the WSM might be in barrel twist. Hard to imagine any cartridge claiming to be an improvement over the 7mag, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even own one.

 

[Reelamin]

Well pretty much just like everything. Put a different barrel twist and go with the latest trend of mm's. Cant sell as much old even with the same changes because the world today is about buying new everything because that is the cool thing to do so people can talk about it. Chamberings is just the new trend following cell phones cars shoes etc.

 

[ZAK13]

The claim is that it outperforms many cartridges, but I don't think it does much more than what's out there. At 500 yards a 150gr. bullet from a 270WSM has more energy & velocity than the 165gr. 6.8Western, (as per Ron Spomer's video). I am intrigued that the .277 caliber is getting some love right now. I love my 270WIn and it has taken many a game animal over the years for me, but so has my 30-06. I think for the average hunter, out to 500 yards, pretty much everything out there now, will get the job done, there is a reason that the 270, 30-06, 30-30, 7rm, 300wm, etc. are still around. They work and work well.

 

[AZShooter]

Based on what data is shown for the factory ammo and the limited load data on Hodgdon's site, the 6.8 Western is not a major improvement or for that matter an improvement at all when compared to the 7 Rem mag. In fact, it is closer to the performance of a 284 Win.


From Guns and Ammo article on the 6.8 Western:

all listed bullet BC is G1

165 gr. Accubond LR — 2970 fps (bc .620)

130 gr. Ballistic Silvertip — 3275 fps (bc .433)

170 gr. Ballistic Silvertip — 2920 (bc .560)

140 gr. AccuBond CT — 3200 (bc .433)

175 gr. Sierra Gameking – 2835 (bc .560)

150 gr. Ballistic Silvertip — 3120 (bc .496)

======

Hodgdon's site:
top load for 170 Berger EOL ---- 2938 top load listed (bc .662)
top load for 165 Nosler LR accubond --- 2956 (bc .620)

My short action 23" 284 Win sporter using OAL of 3.025" shooting a 168 Berger VLD (bc .618) has a velocity of 2925 fps. Crunching the numbers this puts the 6.8 Western's performance just slightly ahead of this particular 284 Win.

Using JBM and all inputs the same (4000 ft 65 degrees 3" high at 100 yds etc) here are the 500 yd comparisons: 6.8 Western 165 LR accubond 2970 fps vs 284 win 168 Berger VLD 2925 fps

6.8 Western drop -25" 9.6 drift in 10 mph crosswind vel 2422 fps energy 2149 ft/lb
284 Win drop -26.3" 9.6" " " " " " vel 2390 fps energy 2131 ft/lb

I would imagine with the larger case capacity of the 6.8 Western that a handloader might be able to improve on the performance of factory ammo but it will never equal a 7 Rem mag.

 

[Reelamin]

Based on what data is shown for the factory ammo and the limited load data on Hodgdon's site, the 6.8 Western is not a major improvement or for that matter an improvement at all when compared to the 7 Rem mag. In fact, it is closer to the performance of a 284 Win.


From Guns and Ammo article on the 6.8 Western:

all listed bullet BC is G1

165 gr. Accubond LR — 2970 fps (bc .620)

130 gr. Ballistic Silvertip — 3275 fps (bc .433)

170 gr. Ballistic Silvertip — 2920 (bc .560)

140 gr. AccuBond CT — 3200 (bc .433)

175 gr. Sierra Gameking – 2835 (bc .560)

150 gr. Ballistic Silvertip — 3120 (bc .496)

======

Hodgdon's site:
top load for 170 Berger EOL ---- 2938 top load listed (bc .662)
top load for 165 Nosler LR accubond --- 2956 (bc .620)

My short action 23" 284 Win sporter using OAL of 3.025" shooting a 168 Berger VLD (bc .618) has a velocity of 2925 fps. Crunching the numbers this puts the 6.8 Western's performance just slightly ahead of this particular 284 Win.

Using JBM and all inputs the same (4000 ft 65 degrees 3" high at 100 yds etc) here are the 500 yd comparisons: 6.8 Western 165 LR accubond 2970 fps vs 284 win 168 Berger VLD 2925 fps

6.8 Western drop -25" 9.6 drift in 10 mph crosswind vel 2422 fps energy 2149 ft/lb
284 Win drop -26.3" 9.6" " " " " " vel 2390 fps energy 2131 ft/lb

I would imagine with the larger case capacity of the 6.8 Western that a handloader might be able to improve on the performance of factory ammo but it will never equal a 7 Rem mag.

Unless you have a million bucks to spend putting out strategic advertising of the facts the path is set. Just like the 6.5 SIM (SUCKS IT MOOR) 28 NNH (NOTHIN NEW HERE) et all x5. Heck Kool Aid still can't keep up with the grape flavor with the 6.5 cult. Lol the huge positive is it's great for the industry economy

 

[Traveling Man]

One thing is certain, we will know in a few years if it takes off. I'm curious about this round and may one say purchase a rifle in this caliber since I don't already own 7mm.

 

[Reelamin]

One thing is certain, we will know in a few years if it takes off. I'm curious about this round and may one say purchase a rifle in this caliber since I don't already own 7mm.

You can from Browning/Winchester if you can find one or pay a butt ton more to a custom builder. Reminder...Browning button rifled barrel, Winchester hammer forged.

 

[Traveling Man]

Thanks for the info, I am a little partial to the Browning Hells Canyon but I'm not in a real rush for something so unproven.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I prefer my fast twist 270 Weatherby, the case length allows me to seat my bullets way out there where they need to be without having to use an extended mag box or weird seating practices.
How much COAL do you really need with a .277" high BC bullet anyway?
Has me scratching my head, other than it fits in WSM size actions, what advantage does it have?

Cheers.

 

[Reelamin]

I prefer my fast twist 270 Weatherby, the case length allows me to seat my bullets way out there where they need to be without having to use an extended mag box or weird seating practices.
How much COAL do you really need with a .277" high BC bullet anyway?
Has me scratching my head, other than it fits in WSM size actions, what advantage does it have?

Cheers.

Like all the new age cartridge's that repeat what a dozen others are capable of I hear one consistent regurgitated claim. They say similar to "yeah but it has a chamber and better barrel twist so you can shoot heavy/long bullets in it". If the other gun had a different twist barrel. Crickets!!!

 

[can1010]

Like all the new age cartridge's that repeat what a dozen others are capable of I hear one consistent regurgitated claim. They say similar to "yeah but it has a chamber and better barrel twist so you can shoot heavy/long bullets in it". If the other gun had a different twist barrel. Crickets!!!

the advantage is good factory ammo and gun that is long range capable without having to spend extra on a smith or locating loading supplies and in these tough times that is a plus.

i have spent the better part of this year necking it up and down and it is more than capable of keeping up with the wsm offerings even when loaded the wsm long. and while it is no 7 mag it is not that far behind most times you can load within 50 fps.

if you like the 270s this is an option worth looking into.