6.8 Western

[Samg1707]

If you wanna see if a cartridge is going to live or die go on YouTube and look at who’s using 7prc, a lot of the bigger western hunters are using them and building the hype. The whole gun industry is who can pay the most to people with the biggest platforms. 6.8 will die and 7prc will take the crown it doesn’t matter if 6.8 is designed for hunting

 

[Wildbillhunter]

If you wanna see if a cartridge is going to live or die go on YouTube and look at who’s using 7prc, a lot of the bigger western hunters are using them and building the hype. The whole gun industry is who can pay the most to people with the biggest platforms. 6.8 will die and 7prc will take the crown it doesn’t matter if 6.8 is designed for hunting

Yes you have a valid point yet,The big 2 that developed this cartridge did so with long term funds invested.
It is unfortunate how the manufacturers pay into the social media/youtuber influencers to gain traction.
Either way I'll have enough brass to continue reloading for sometime after the cartridge is gone or myself .
There's also enough youtubers who have been at the four front of developing loads for the 6.8 and I'm a big fan of the .277. It really was a tough choice between the 6.5 PRC & 6.8 W . Who knows may get one of those in the barn as well.

 

[BooneJ]

This is the third animal I have shot with my 6.8 this year, honestly i am a nerd and love the .277 chamberings I killed my first deer with a 270 win my first sheep with the 270 WSM and now here I am running around with a 6.8 W.

I still want to play with different bullets and really hope there is more support for this caliber



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You still packing that 6.8 ? Let me know. I’m lookin at building one.

 

[TAArrowood]

Can any of you guys who have owned/shot the 6.8 offer some feedback. I have a brand new Bartlein .277 stainless barrel I’m looking to chamber in something. Probably around a Tikka stainless action. I’ve got a number of 270 win rifles so thinking about doing some new. Any input would be interesting and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[rbaney]

Well I have not had mine long but will give a little data. I have one in Winchesters XPR. I bought brass to try loading for it. ADG has it and there is very little load data published in my books but definitely some available on-line. I am doing load development so far Ramshot Grand at 65.5grs and 150 Hornady SST are dong 2945 fps and on-line data shows max load of 67.6. So trying a load at 66 next got 5 loaded up but it's hunting season so will have to wait. I will stay down below the max as the brass is brand new and it's cold out so don't want to have to worry about pressure when it does warm up I am hoping o get 3000 Fps or a little faster out of it.

 

[Raghornklr]

Can any of you guys who have owned/shot the 6.8 offer some feedback. I have a brand new Bartlein .277 stainless barrel I’m looking to chamber in something. Probably around a Tikka stainless action. I’ve got a number of 270 win rifles so thinking about doing some new. Any input would be interesting and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

What do you want to know? I built one on a tikka and have a factory Christensen.

 

[TAArrowood]

Just wondering if you’ve found enough value over a 270 win to justify going that route. With all the issues in getting brass, dies, etc it would need to have some measurable practical improvement. Thanks for responding.

 

[Raghornklr]

I have, components have not been hard to find, I generally buy enough when I order to keep me stocked for a while. Im liking it in the short action over the tikka but that’s just a personal preference. Both guns were easy to find a load for and shoot decent with factory ammo. If you want to shoot heavies or further 6.8 is a good choice. I can’t really say anything negative about a .270 win in my experience either.

 

[BooneJ]

If you wanna see if a cartridge is going to live or die go on YouTube and look at who’s using 7prc, a lot of the bigger western hunters are using them and building the hype. The whole gun industry is who can pay the most to people with the biggest platforms. 6.8 will die and 7prc will take the crown it doesn’t matter if 6.8 is designed for hunting

How about now? Still the PRC or will the backcountry push that out?

 

[bmart2622]

The 7 PRC isn't going anywhere and certainly not going to be pushed out by the 7BC

 

[UnckleBob]

Just wondering if you’ve found enough value over a 270 win to justify going that route. With all the issues in getting brass, dies, etc it would need to have some measurable practical improvement. Thanks for responding.

My take:
1) cartridges like the 6.8W belong in hunting rifles where it can be used on just about any medium-large game in the lower 48 states. These rifles will typically be used a few times per year - pick a load - hunt - back in safe. Repeat every year. I figure most users will put 1-2 boxes per year down range.

2) A 165g ABLR going 2,950 fps will solve problems the 270 cannot.

2) Ammo is not much more expensive than my 270 uses. The 270 barrel is getting sold.

 

[Lou270]

Can any of you guys who have owned/shot the 6.8 offer some feedback. I have a brand new Bartlein .277 stainless barrel I’m looking to chamber in something. Probably around a Tikka stainless action. I’ve got a number of 270 win rifles so thinking about doing some new. Any input would be interesting and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The 6.8W is a great cartridge. Ammo, bullets, brass all easy to get though you may have to order online. It is a sweetheart to shoot and a hammer on game. Easy to hit reported velocities with factory ammo and handloads and very accurate. The 270 is no slouch and tough to improve upon perfection, but the 6.8W can handle the higher BC / heavier 270 projectiles in factory persuation

While the 6.8W did not take off like say, the 7prc, few cartridges do but that does not mean they are “dead”. One advantage of the 6.8W is it is loaded by Winchester which is a giant ammo company compared to say Hornady and you may be able to get Win ammo in times of crisis while other even more popular cartridges loaded by smaller companies are not available. A case in point is 6.8W ammo was one of few rifle rounds available during Covid.

Lou

 

[TBoschma]

You still packing that 6.8 ? Let me know. I’m lookin at building one.

I have actually gone down in cartridge size most of the time I grab my 6.5 PRC now but I even have a 6 CM that I’m pretty stoked about hunting with some next year.

 

[BooneJ]

I have actually gone down in cartridge size most of the time I grab my 6.5 PRC now but I even have a 6 CM that I’m pretty stoked about hunting with some next year.

I’m curious if a guy was to build a .270 that could handle the length in the chamber and magazine to accommodate the 6.8 western bullets what kind of performance could be achieved. You ever seen this by chance?

 

[bmart2622]

The 6.8W is a great cartridge. Ammo, bullets, brass all easy to get though you may have to order online. It is a sweetheart to shoot and a hammer on game. Easy to hit reported velocities with factory ammo and handloads and very accurate. The 270 is no slouch and tough to improve upon perfection, but the 6.8W can handle the higher BC / heavier 270 projectiles in factory persuation

While the 6.8W did not take off like say, the 7prc, few cartridges do but that does not mean they are “dead”. One advantage of the 6.8W is it is loaded by Winchester which is a giant ammo company compared to say Hornady and you may be able to get Win ammo in times of crisis while other even more popular cartridges loaded by smaller companies are not available. A case in point is 6.8W ammo was one of few rifle rounds available during Covid.

Lou

It was available because nobody was buying it!!!