6.8 Western

[mikethetiger55]

Any hype here about this cartridge? Will be interesting to see if any other companies adopt it.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | New Cartridge for 2021: 6.8 Western

Engineers at Browning and Winchester teamed up to create a cartridge that offers magnum performance with a modern high-BC projectile, yet is chambered in a short-action rifle for shorter bolt throw and less weight. The 6.8 Western was designed to be the ultimate long-range cartridge that is...

www.americanhunter.org

 

[iashooter]

I'm scratching my head wondering how many hunters they will pull over from a 270 wsm. Although, us gun nuts see something new and we gotta have it! The article states "I wouldn’t be surprised if the 6.8 Western takes what market share the .270 WSM currently occupies." Is Winchester trying to phase out the 270 wsm...probably not. Just another market to make money. At least it's not another 6 or 6.5 caliber. LOL

 

[2010Ruger]

Interesting for sure. If it was 7mm I’d be more interested...

 

[Powder_Burns]

Curious what .277 projectile has a modern high bc profile.

 

[Bradu]

Curious what .277 projectile has a modern high bc profile.

 

[Matt_3479]

I’ve been wanting a .277 light weight hunting build for a few years now. Just nice to see another option that’s all. It looks kind of similar to a 270 Sherman short actually. Curious to see how it pans out. My 2021 goal was to finally build that 277 so might have to wait and see which route it will be. 270 wsm long action of 6.8 short/medium action

 

[Deleted member 113831]

It is the 6.5 PRC ...but for Fudds.

 

[Gtscotty]

Curious what .277 projectile has a modern high bc profile.

Per this article:

6.8 Western — New Winchester & Browning Big Game Cartridge — Ron Spomer Outdoors

The new short-action 6.8 Western rifle cartridge from Winchester Browning offers superior long range performance with fast twist barrels and high B.C. bullets.

www.ronspomeroutdoors.com

The first factory loads are

165gr ABLR
170gr Accubond (I've read Ballistic Tip elsewhere)
162gr Copper monolithic
170gr OTM
175gr Sierra TGK

The 165gr ABLR came out with the fast twist 27 Nosler, but I think the170gr AB/BT, 162gr and 175gr TGK are just being introduced.

It's obviously a hunting cartridge, and If you like tipped or bonded bullets, it has ~30gr of bullet weight on any modern tipped or bonded 6.5 PRC bullets I know of.

It's a fast twist .270 WSM to take advantage of some of the new heavy .277 hunting bullets. I've had a regular .270 WSM, but don't see anything it has over this newer fast twist version, assuming it gets some industry support.

 

[Buck300]

Not a great time to come out with a new cartridge. They can't keep up with the demand of existing cartridges.

 

[Gtscotty]

Not a great time to come out with a new cartridge. They can't keep up with the demand of existing cartridges.

I don't think this is a valid criticism, the SAAMI standard for this cartridge was issued on 09/23/20. It had obviously been in work for quite a while before that. Are they just supposed to trash what was probably a multi-year effort on a new hunting cartridge because Joe Harris won and now the window lickers are panic buying everything that smells like shooting?

I will say that I hadn't seen the 175gr TGK on Sierra's website until this morning and it's a little disappointing. The TGKs seem to actually be two different bullet lines under one name, the higher BC secant ogive versions like the .264 130gr, .277 140gr and .284 165gr, and the lower BC, tangent, longer bearing surface designs. The .277 175gr unfortunately falls into the latter category and actually has a significantly lower BC than the wider, lighter .284 165gr.... Lame.

 

[Buck300]

I don't think this is a valid criticism, the SAAMI standard for this cartridge was issued on 09/23/20. It had obviously been in work for quite a while before that. Are they just supposed to trash what was probably a multi-year effort on a new hunting cartridge because Joe Harris won and now the window lickers are panic buying everything that smells like shooting?

I just think since Joe and the Hoe got elected and anything gun related impossible to find, it's going to get off to rough start. I don't think many people will take a chance on something new in this environment.

 

[Steel head]

 

[cmush]

I just think since Joe and the Hoe got elected and anything gun related impossible to find, it's going to get off to rough start. I don't think many people will take chance on something new in this environment.

I agree. It's dead before it even hits the shelves. Dropping a new cartridge in the middle of a component shortage isn't a great business practice. Everyone who is interested in this type of cartridge already grabbed a 6.5 prc anyway. Sure it'll get you a bit more energy downrange, but they missed their release by about 2 years.

 

[Gtscotty]

I just think since Joe and the Hoe got elected and anything gun related impossible to find, it's going to get off to rough start. I don't think many people will take chance on something new in this environment.

I agree, the launch date is a bit unfortunate for them, I just think the wheels were turning long before the craziness of the last 3 or 4 months.

I agree. It's dead before it even hits the shelves. Dropping a new cartridge in the middle of a component shortage isn't a great business practice. Everyone who is interested in this type of cartridge already grabbed a 6.5 prc anyway. Sure it'll get you a bit more energy downrange, but they missed their release by about 2 years.

I'd disagree about the PRC to some extent from the hunting viewpoint. I like my 6.5 Creeds and have killed some game including a few elk with them, but I couldn't talk myself into a hunting PRC. I kill things inside of 400 yds to 500 yds, like the vast majority of hunters, and the Creed works fine for that, full stop. If I want more, 200 fps with the same bullets doesn't really get me anything, I want more.... bullet. To me, with these newer heavy hunting bullets, the 6.8 Western is more along the lines of a fast twist 7mm SAUM ( 0.007" smaller) than a 6.5 PRC , and that seems like a more useful step up. An actual fast twist 7mm Western in factory rifles would have been best, but with the new bullets the 6.8 is very, very close, so I might give it a try.

 

[cmush]

I'd disagree about the PRC to some extent from the hunting viewpoint. I like my 6.5 Creeds and have killed some game including a few elk with them, but I couldn't talk myself into a hunting PRC. I kill things inside of 400 yds to 500 yds, like the vast majority of hunters, and the Creed works fine for that, full stop. If I want more, 200 fps with the same bullets doesn't really get me anything, I want more.... bullet. To me, with these newer heavy hunting bullets, the 6.8 Western is more along the lines of a fast twist 7mm SAUM ( 0.007" smaller) than a 6.5 PRC , and that seems like a more useful step up. An actual fast twist 7mm Western in factory rifles would have been best, but with the new bullets the 6.8 is very, very close, so I might give it a try.

I don't disagree that this has the potential to get more energy downrange than the prc, but I think everyone interested in that class of cartridge has already made that move. That's part of why their timing sucks. I think the 7 saum or sherman short also already fill this void to a certain extent. If this with the 170 class bullets can match or beat 7 saum with the 170-180s then it could be a great round. I'll wait until people get real load data on it before I read too much into their marketing material.

 

[RBx]

I own a 270, a 6.5 PRC, and a 270 WSM. Do I need a 6.8 Western?

No.

But I have one on order, with a case of ammo!

To me, it looks like what the 270 WSM coulda shoulda been - faster twist, longer, heavier bullets, and do I detect a newer technology powder?

A big question for me is can a 270 WSM be converted into a 6.8 Western? If so, the gunsmiths and barrel makers will do well with those of us that would like to customize our existing 270 WSM's.

My 6.5 PRC started life as a Model 70 300 WSM that I got cheap online - rechambered with a Bartlein barrel, and I now I have one sweet piece. If the 270 WSM can be converted, some may opt for it for the heavier bullet weights.

RBx

 

[EotS]

It won't matter. It's dead in the water. No one is about to invest in a new firearm chambered in a new round in this market.

I personally think the drought will kill 6.5,and 300 PRC as well.

 

[rlramirez]

I don't disagree that this has the potential to get more energy downrange than the prc, but I think everyone interested in that class of cartridge has already made that move. That's part of why their timing sucks. I think the 7 saum or sherman short also already fill this void to a certain extent. If this with the 170 class bullets can match or beat 7 saum with the 170-180s then it could be a great round. I'll wait until people get real load data on it before I read too much into their marketing material.

Speaking of 7mm, any thoughts on why there seems to be a void in this caliber? The ballistics of several offerings in 7mm make it very appealing to the LR target shooter. Custom rifles, sure but where is the industry support?

 

[hkmp5s]

Sell the rifle with 200 rounds of ammo. They would sell out in a week.

 

[Megahoser]

Excellent marketing plan.

 

[mikethetiger55]

It won't matter. It's dead in the water. No one is about to invest in a new firearm chambered in a new round in this market.

I personally think the drought will kill 6.5,and 300 PRC as well.

If that is the case then in my neck of the woods we will all be moving to sling shots. You can't find ammo regardless. In this instance if you can sell a rifle plus a case of ammo then you can sell as many as you desire to make.

 

[EotS]

What happens after the 200 rounds?

 

[ma smith]

What happens after the 200 rounds?

I think the joke was 20rnds/yr=10 years (...what could go wrong?)

 

[RedDirtRifleman]

I might be the target market for this. I was already considering having a 27 SS built, but if this is 90+% of the performance with factory ammo support, maybe I go to 6.8 Western?

 

[theLBC]

i didn't realize hunting was so difficult with available calibers.
then again, i suppose very few people tell stories about the one they missed.

 

[XLR308]

One more well proportioned case for the wildcaters to tinker with.
I really like the .277 bore for a hunting round and have for years. I use a 16" 68spc for my brush beater caliber and 270win as my light pack rifle.
The semi new high BC .277 bullets would be useful but im not ready to change my 270win barrel just to tinker with them.
I tried the 150ABLR but 1-10" twist not surprisingly just wasnt optimal.

 

[Tri-J]

Interesting for sure. If it was 7mm I’d be more interested...

I realize this is an old thread, but wouldn’t that be a 7mm Saum (for all practical reasons)?

 

[FuhQ]