Bob Wright
Well-Known Member
If for no other reason that the 6.8 western rifles have a faster twist rate to load heavy for caliber, that would be the main improvement. 270 win with a 10 twist was it's limitation to this day.
6.8 Western
- Thread starter Traveling Man
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Faster twist rate in factory Browning barrel was the key to better accuracy. I used a 150 Berger with H1000 and got 1/2 MOA results out to 750 yards. Tried the Sierra with 1 MOA accuracy to 600 yards. The brass quality is the key for improvement - the Browning or Winchester just doesn't cut it even when cleaning, annealing, weight sorting and inside neck reaming. I used RCBS dies.
LeeCrkCowboy
New Member
want a little secret?
fireform 7saum brass in your chamber. I have used Norma and Bartram with Bartram having more case capacity and tough as nails also have ADG but have not used any yet
Western4444
Well-Known Member
I have a 6.8 Western and a 270 WSM with a 7 1/2 Twist barrel. I shoot 600 and 1000 yards weekly, and both of these rifles shoot remarkably well. The higher BC bullets shoot with more precision at these longer yardages. This is the true advantage of these cartridges. I think the Winchester 270 is a great gun, but cannot reach out to 1000 yards with the same accuracy or energy as the 270 WSM with a 7 1/2 Twist barrel or 6.8 Western. Would I shoot a deer out to those yardages, maybe 500 yards but no further, so realistically any of these other cartridges mentioned could do as good as a job or even better at the shorter distances? I believe the 6.8 Western will not be as popular as the 6.5 Creedmoor, but it will have a following and its popularity continue to grow. I for one enjoy both the old and new cartridges. Just got back from deer camp, what did I use to shoot my deer. My 30-06, 2003 Winchester 70. Why didn't I use my 6.8 Western ... tradition of course.
fyi, the military will be buying A LOT OF 6.8 bullets soon, another caliber shortage I think is looming...
stephenr6565
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- Dec 31, 2013
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Has anyone built a 6.8 western or purchased a factory rifle in one of these & shot them with the factory ammo offerings if so how did they shoot? I have a 270 WSM in a Winchester featherweight that I purchased when the WSM line first came out & I was never able to find a factory offering that shot very well. So I've been thinking of using the action as a donor to build a 6.5 PRC or. a 6.8 Western. I know the factory ammo from Hornady shoots pretty good as I have a Howa 1500 in a 6.5 PRC and for a $500 rifle it shoots really good for what it is. but still curious about the 6.8 if the factory ammo offerings shoot well I may go that route. I don't want a cartridge that I have to reload for between work, family & my hobbies I have no time for reloading.
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cabelasken
Well-Known Member
I love my 284 winchesters, I have 3 of them. Two of them have clips though and I'm limited in how far out i can seat bullets. And the clips for these particular rifles have not proven to be completely reliable although all three have shown to be fairly accurate. I also have settled on 23" for barrel length for this caliber as my calculations show this length to be the optimum for best velocity and handiness. My handloads have closely approached 7MM RM factory velocities in bullet weights of 145 GR and under.
stephenr6565
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- Dec 31, 2013
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is your 6.8 western a custom rifle or factory & have you shot any of the factory ammo if so how did it shoot?
For those that shoot factory rifles and off the shelf ammo, it's an interesting option.
For custom rifle buyers/builders and those that reload, it feels redundant, as others have said.
I wouldn't build one but I'd consider it an option for a factory rifle I can lend out or bang around. Actually thought it might make a good round for some lighter Hammer bullets and get myself a lightweight, 300-350+ yard, point-and-shoot setup with a simple scope.
My personal view is that the day I start hating on new cartridges is the day I've become an old fart.
For custom rifle buyers/builders and those that reload, it feels redundant, as others have said.
I wouldn't build one but I'd consider it an option for a factory rifle I can lend out or bang around. Actually thought it might make a good round for some lighter Hammer bullets and get myself a lightweight, 300-350+ yard, point-and-shoot setup with a simple scope.
My personal view is that the day I start hating on new cartridges is the day I've become an old fart.
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Another new caliber capable of nothing spectacular, fitting into no unoccupied gap and further diluting the ammo supply!
TRexF16
Well-Known Member
Thanks for posting this AZ. I found the link to the artical you quoted. I noted those are all listed factory velocities and there was no chrono of any of them in the story. G&A 6.8 Western story no chrono
Then I found one where they did chrono the three factory rounds, only one of which met claims.
G&A 6.8 Western story with chrono
The 165 ABLR chrono'ed 50 FPS less than claimed. I'm interested in this since I just built a 270 WSM on an 8" twist and can load my bullets to 3.01 OAL. By my math I have 7.5% increase in case capacity over the 6.8 Western and am just starting to work up the loads. Hoping for the "high 29s" to maybe 3000 FPS with the 165 ABLR. Just got some 175 TGKs too but haven't yet shot any.
Cheers,
Rex
Western4444
Well-Known Member
My 6.8 Western is rebarreling of a 2003 year 270 WSM Winchester Coyote that I had. I added a 27' Brux Rem Varmint Barrel ($300) and a Carlson ($35) muzzle brake. I reload and have excellent groups. The factory ammo is good but of course my reloads are better. As I have a long barrel, my velocities are all greater than those published buy Winchester or Browning. I have better groups with the 165 Nosler ABLR bullets in both the hand loads and factory. At 200-yard sight-in I have 3/4" groups, of course off of a bench. My velocity at 1000 yards is about 1600 fps, so I am pushing the bullet. I find very little difference between the 6.8 Western and a 270 WSM with a 7 1/2 twist. I do think at this time the 6.8 Western is a little more efficient than the rebarreled 270 WSM. A little less powder required for the same velocity. In doing a ladder test, the nodes are similar. I really wanted to take a deer with it this year, but was in my alternative blind and is a little tight, so my 30-06 with a 24" barrel was easier to maneuver in that stand.
Buckys
Well-Known Member
I would guess that the primary motivation for creating the 6.8western vs building 270wsm rifles with faster than a 1:10 twist is for consumers of factory rifles and factory ammo ... many of those customers who bought ~165gr factory ammo and thought they'd try it in their 1:10 twisted 270wsm would be very disappointed with that ammo maker. Simply because many of those customers have no clue about twist rate and the limitations on their ability to stabilize heavier bullets. There are likely a lot more customers who don't understand than do. And that ratio is flipped on forums like this one.
