Talk me out of 6.8 Western

CVA-444 · 2025-02-04T17:40:29-0600

I've got a new to me savage striker in 260 Rem. I'm wanting to re-barrel it and make it a dedicated Elk handgun. 6.8 Western is stuck on my mind but I know brass isn't easy to come by and it has pretty much started life as a dead cartridge. I've got a guy that hand loads for me regularly, so I could have loads made up. I'm looking at going with an xcaliber 14" barrel with TI pro 2 brake.

Change my mind!

What short action caliber Elk capable to 400 yards in a 14" barrel would you push me towards?

Axl · 2025-02-04T18:09:43-0600

CVA-444 said:
I've got a new to me savage striker in 260 Rem. I'm wanting to re-barrel it and make it a dedicated Elk handgun. 6.8 Western is stuck on my mind but I know brass isn't easy to come by and it has pretty much started life as a dead cartridge. I've got a guy that hand loads for me regularly, so I could have loads made up. I'm looking at going with an xcaliber 14" barrel with TI pro 2 brake.

Change my mind!

What short action caliber Elk capable to 400 yards in a 14" barrel would you push me towards?

The 260 Rem you already have.

Ernie · 2025-02-04T18:16:59-0600

CVA-444 said:
I've got a new to me savage striker in 260 Rem. I'm wanting to re-barrel it and make it a dedicated Elk handgun. 6.8 Western is stuck on my mind but I know brass isn't easy to come by and it has pretty much started life as a dead cartridge. I've got a guy that hand loads for me regularly, so I could have loads made up. I'm looking at going with an xcaliber 14" barrel with TI pro 2 brake.

Change my mind!

What short action caliber Elk capable to 400 yards in a 14" barrel would you push me towards?

Are you going to use it as a single-shot?

CVA-444 · 2025-02-04T18:18:35-0600

Ernie said:
Are you going to use it as a single-shot?

I would be willing to if needed.

436 · 2025-02-04T18:25:16-0600

CVA-444 said:
I've got a new to me savage striker in 260 Rem. I'm wanting to re-barrel it and make it a dedicated Elk handgun. 6.8 Western is stuck on my mind but I know brass isn't easy to come by and it has pretty much started life as a dead cartridge. I've got a guy that hand loads for me regularly, so I could have loads made up. I'm looking at going with an xcaliber 14" barrel with TI pro 2 brake.

Change my mind!

What short action caliber Elk capable to 400 yards in a 14" barrel would you push me towards?

I'd run it as a .284 WIn... my first thought was a .300 Savage... still a very good .30 cal cartridge out of a short barrel with good hand loads. Just a thought. Cheers

Ernie · 2025-02-04T19:38:56-0600

As Single Shot hard to beat a 6.5-284 or 284 Winchester

CVA-444 · 2025-02-04T19:54:07-0600

Ernie said:
As Single Shot hard to beat a 6.5-284 or 284 Winchester

If I was to go with a 6.5. It'd be the 6.5 PRC

Ernie · 2025-02-04T20:11:58-0600

CVA-444 said:
If I was to go with a 6.5. It'd be the 6.5 PRC

In the 14 inch barrel, you will have more speed, with the PRC, but not that much for going with more case capacity, and more recoil.
The two cartridges I mentioned will easily take you to 400 yards on elk. If you're just looking for something that has a factory ammunition capability, well then I can see why that would be a better choice for you.

ChrisRhodes · 2025-02-04T20:28:54-0600

I don't believe an elk will know the difference between at 6.5-284, 284, 300 wsm, 7 mag, or any other option in between at 400 ish yards.

All of the above and many more will do the job….so will a short action round….out of a 14-15" barrel.

MaD1521 · 2025-02-04T20:56:55-0600

I'm considering this as well, there is more ammo around me than early days but still not quite enough for me to be take the jump quite yet. Not a reloader.

TopPin · 2025-02-04T21:41:44-0600

i wouldn't waste the powder on a 14 inch barrel outside of a 17 cal…. Even a 22-250 shooting 50 gr bullets it's going to run 2900 fps if you're lucky.

MT-JONAS · 2025-02-04T22:11:59-0600

Edit. I'm clueless when it comes to this handguns. I wasn't aware when I posted what he was referring to.

For guys talking negatively about the 6.8W. Unless you've actually owned a 6.8 Western, why not stop hating on the cartridge? Its actually great.

Ernie · 2025-02-04T22:32:33-0600

MaD1521 said:
I'm considering this as well, there is more ammo around me than early days but still not quite enough for me to be take the jump quite yet. Not a reloader.

Are you considering a specialty pistol build from the ground up or rebarreling a bolt action specialty pistol?

Ernie · 2025-02-04T22:53:16-0600

A 14" or 15" 6.8 Western, SAUM, WSM, or 6.5 PRC will easily kill elk out to 400 yards.

@CVA-444 Check out the ammoseek website for factory ammo availability, besides the normal places you look.

@MT-JONAS & @TopPin ,
Even a 14" 25 Creed runs a 110 grain Accubond @2726 fps.
At my elevation (Gillette, WY) my impact velocity is at 1825 fps at 500 yards...Minimum impact velocity for the AB
Took a big cow elk last year with it...Custom Pachmayr Dominator built by Chris Rhodes (now retired).
Shoots good too!
This was at 500 yards

Talk me out of 6.8 Western

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