Thoughts on new 6.8 Western cartridge

Im also in California and I found some 6.8 western. Winchester 162gr copper impact at sportsman's warehouse in Fresno California. I have yet to shoot my rifle also I found some bullets seated way further down then the others which I'm concerned i bought 5 boxes found about 20 rounds out of the 100 seated way deeper then others.
 
I've also been think about this caliber. I was wondering which rifles did most of you buy the browning or winchester and why?
 
I went with the browning Hells Canyon long range 6.8, I already had a Hells Canyon speed in 7mm-08 I liked that platform that was the reasoning. I took it to a long range shooting school I have the ballistic data proven out to 1200 yards if you’d like to take a look at it
 
I went with the browning Hells Canyon long range 6.8, I already had a Hells Canyon speed in 7mm-08 I liked that platform that was the reasoning. I took it to a long range shooting school I have the ballistic data proven out to 1200 yards if you’d like to take a look at it
I also went with browning hells canyon long range 26" barrel have not had time to go testing but I'll report soon.
 
When it was announced, I was all hot and bothered, and had my finger hovering over the "buy" button for a Browning Hells Canyon Speed, but prudence won out, and I stuck with my 270 WSM (that I had JUST had built about 30 days prior to the 6.8 being announced....)

I really do like the idea of the round, and I love that efficiencies of case design are starting to drive cartridge development. The .277 has been languishing, and it deserves the new attention. If they come out with a .257 Western, I could see a lot of people jumping on it, being that many asked for a 25 WSM instead of a WSSM.
 
I went with the browning Hells Canyon long range 6.8, I already had a Hells Canyon speed in 7mm-08 I liked that platform that was the reasoning. I took it to a long range shooting school I have the ballistic data proven out to 1200 yards if you’d like to take a look at it

Any changes to the gun or just as is? Keep pondering one.


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I got an X-Bolt HCS, too. No mods.

Really happy with it. Shot MOA on the first range trip, and I didn't even have the stock / eye relieve situated correctly. (Need to add a cheek riser, scope eye relief was off.)

Recoil is almost negligible. I mean, it's not as light as an AR-15 or anything, but it's nowhere near the kick of the unbraked .308 I was shooting before.

This will be my last bolt gun for quite a while.
 
Where are you people buying these? I can’t seem to find one anywhere.
 
I got an X-Bolt HCS, too. No mods.

Really happy with it. Shot MOA on the first range trip, and I didn't even have the stock / eye relieve situated correctly. (Need to add a cheek riser, scope eye relief was off.)

Recoil is almost negligible. I mean, it's not as light as an AR-15 or anything, but it's nowhere near the kick of the unbraked .308 I was shooting before.

This will be my last bolt gun for quite a while.

Does the HCS have a brake? If so, when you say recoil is negligible, are you shooting it with the brake?
 
One of the more interesting things about this caliber right now, to me, is ammo price/availability is pretty good
 
Any changes to the gun or just as is? Keep pondering one.


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Seekins low rings 30mm on a 20 moa egw rail for reference
Pig tactical check riser
 

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For anyone who is interested, this is a great cartridge and the X-Bolt HCS is a great platform for it. I have almost no rifle experience, but I'm shooting 1.5" groups at 100 yards and 3" groups at 200 yards from a bench. I'm certain that a better skilled rifleman would be shooting sub-MOA at 100 yards.

The recoil is noticeable, but nowhere near what you would feel with a larger caliber. I could shoot this rifle all day if it weren't for eye strain.

It's shooting 2760 FPS out of the box, which is a bit lower than claimed. I have a buddy who is into long range shooting and he says the FPS goes up as you wear the barrel in? I only have 80 rounds through it so far.

Here's my setup:
I'm shooting the Browning Long Range Pro Hunter ammo w/ 175gr Sierra Gameking bullets.

This rifle can handle anything in the lower 48, so it's the only one I'll need for now. If you're drooling, I'd encourage you to pull the trigger.
 
I'll be interested to see if anyone offers partitions or regular accubonds. I don't shoot long range, but that long, heavy 175 gr bullet should deliver monster penetration on elk and moose at short to moderate ranges. I'm thinking a 6.5 Swede on steroids.
 
I’m jumping on the bandwagon… got a featherweight carbon6 6.8 western tikka prefit on order and will drop it in a McMillan carbon fiber game scout with edge fill.

Gathering components. I hear Quickloads latest update has 6.8W data. Now if I could just find some 170 EOLs…
 
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