6.8 Western

[isItFallYet]

Anyone buy and shoot the 6.8 Western yet? I’m considering this round for my next rifle purchase but would like some feedback from you pros! It looks like ammo can be purchased but finding a rifle appears to be more challenging. Please share your experiences.

 

[orionthehunter1]

I've only seen ammo on the shelves at almost every store i've been too. I've yet to see a rifle though.

 

[isItFallYet]

I've only seen ammo on the shelves at almost every store i've been too. I've yet to see a rifle though.

Looks like Sportsman’s has them in stock.

 

[orionthehunter1]

The one closest to me hasn't had one in stock in the store

 

[Tumbleweed]

I just bought the 6.8 in an Xbolt Western Hunter 24". No scope yet, but I have taken chamber measurements and pressure tested the 170EOL's with 2 powders. The xbolt's rotary magazine is 3.005" long. With the 170 berger .030" off of the rifling, it will fit in the mag at 2.980".

I ran it up to 2980fps with Ramshot Magnum and AAMagpro. Ramshot won with zero pressure signs, less recoil and a perfect 99-100% fill ratio. I'll update once load development starts. I'm very impressed with this chambering so far. The designers did good


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[isItFallYet]

I just bought the 6.8 in an Xbolt Western Hunter 24". No scope yet, but I have taken chamber measurements and pressure tested the 170EOL's with 2 powders. The xbolt's rotary magazine is 3.005" long. With the 170 berger .030" off of the rifling, it will fit in the mag at 2.980".

I ran it up to 2980fps with Ramshot Magnum and AAMagpro. Ramshot won with zero pressure signs, less recoil and a perfect 99-100% fill ratio. I'll update once load development starts. I'm very impressed with this chambering so far. The designers did good


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Thanks for the response. I’m looking forward to reading about your load development.

 

[wind gypsy]

I just bought the 6.8 in an Xbolt Western Hunter 24". No scope yet, but I have taken chamber measurements and pressure tested the 170EOL's with 2 powders. The xbolt's rotary magazine is 3.005" long. With the 170 berger .030" off of the rifling, it will fit in the mag at 2.980".

As an owner of a 300wsm xbolt who has been limited to to 2.9"ish with the factory wsm mag for a while, this caught my attention. Assuming browning uses a standard short action for the 6.8?

 

[Tumbleweed]

As an owner of a 300wsm xbolt who has been limited to to 2.9"ish with the factory wsm mag for a while, this caught my attention. Assuming browning uses a standard short action for the 6.8?

Yes, this is a short action. I don't think you'd want to run longer than 2.990" or so. Asking for feed issues any longer than that.


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[wind gypsy]

Yes, this is a short action. I don't think you'd want to run longer than 2.990" or so. Asking for feed issues any longer than that.


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That's about 0.080" longer than I can run in my WSM mag. I ordered one to try.

 

[Truaxdw]

I just got one, xbolt hells canyon long range, shooting Winchester 165 accubonds was getting 2930 fps on average 24” barrel
This search engine finds rifles sometimes good deals

Search "6.8 western browning" for sale | WikiArms AmmoEngine

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www.wikiarms.com

 

[Tumbleweed]

I just got one, xbolt hells canyon long range, shooting Winchester 165 accubonds was getting 2930 fps on average 24” barrel
This search engine finds rifles sometimes good deals

Search "6.8 western browning" for sale | WikiArms AmmoEngine

GunEngine - Search for guns from over 100 Vendors

www.wikiarms.com

Isn't the long range model a 26" barrel?


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[isItFallYet]

I thought so too.

 

[Truaxdw]

Yeah sorry it’s 26” the link took me to smga.com I found the gun in stock there but some times the links are old or broken

 

[wind gypsy]

That's about 0.080" longer than I can run in my WSM mag. I ordered one to try.

I'm so patient that I emailed browning and asked if they'd work in a 300 wsm and then promptly ordered one before they responded.

Just got the response - "Thanks for reaching out. No, those magazines will not feed 300wsm reliably."

Guess I'll find out how much they really know and maybe I'll have a discounted 6.8 western mag available for someone.

Only reason I could think of that they wouldn't work well is if the extra length is backwards and my bolt doesn't go back far enough to get behind the case head. The case body is pretty damn close between the two.

 

[PsRpOiGrRiAtM]

I really like the idea of the round. It's evidence of an evolution in cartridge designs and efficiencies, much like the 6.5 CM and PRC (and any other short/fats that hold long, sleek bullets) and I'd probably have one in my stable if I didn't just buy a Mesa 6.5 PRC.

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm so patient that I emailed browning and asked if they'd work in a 300 wsm and then promptly ordered one before they responded.

Just got the response - "Thanks for reaching out. No, those magazines will not feed 300wsm reliably."

Guess I'll find out how much they really know and maybe I'll have a discounted 6.8 western mag available for someone.

Only reason I could think of that they wouldn't work well is if the extra length is backwards and my bolt doesn't go back far enough to get behind the case head. The case body is pretty damn close between the two.

6.8 mags don’t work for wsm. Probably should have looked at the xbolt mag before ordering. Xbolt mags have good shoulder stops to keep tips from getting deformed. Because the shoulder is further back on the 6.8, the wsm case shoulders don’t fit in a 6.8 mag.

Pic is hard to tell but the 6.8 mag shoulder is further back but they cut out more material where the tip of the bullets go. I might need to take a dremel to the tip of the wsm mag.

So if anyone needs a discounted 6.8 mag, I know a guy.

 

[Truaxdw]

Went to a long range shooting school. If anyone was looking for confirmed ballistic data. This is what we came up with. The instructor gave this to me, don’t know which program he was using. Made hits out to 1200 yds. Rifle was browning hells canyon long range, ammo Winchester factory 165 accubond.

 

[oilman87]

I just bought the 6.8 in an Xbolt Western Hunter 24". No scope yet, but I have taken chamber measurements and pressure tested the 170EOL's with 2 powders. The xbolt's rotary magazine is 3.005" long. With the 170 berger .030" off of the rifling, it will fit in the mag at 2.980".

I ran it up to 2980fps with Ramshot Magnum and AAMagpro. Ramshot won with zero pressure signs, less recoil and a perfect 99-100% fill ratio. I'll update once load development starts. I'm very impressed with this chambering so far. The designers did good


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Any updates on this?? Just picked up a X-Bolt Western Hunter and have a few boxes of 170 bergers.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I'll have a scope early this week for it. Will start load development soon after. I'll keep everyone posted!


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[Rusty Shackelford]

Following.