6.8 western be 6.5prc

[WildRose]

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To keep it short and simple, as you said, 'already covered that'. The 6.8 Western has the advantage of the new heavy and high BC bullets that the WSM doesn't. i.e. the 165-grain Nosler AccuBond LR and the 175-grain Sierra Long Range Pro, with more coming. The same can be said for the all the 6.5's in a short action. Re the 7's, the 284 Win is close but doesn't beat it. for a 7mm to beat it at distance takes a long action cartridge.

I get that you don't seem to see that as significant. However I do because it definitely puts it in the short action 'Elk Rifle' category. I actually am a fan of the 284 Win, which does run a close 2nd until BC beats it at distance. If Winchester coulda, woulda, shoulda with 270 WSM, the Western wouldn't even have made it to the drawing table. They didn't, and now it lives. For how long? As we both said lets see what the Army's new 6,8 cartridge does to it.

The .284, WSM and the original have already both been quite successfully utilized as elk rifles and one can always have them rebarrel throated and with the proper tw rate for the longer heavier for caliber bullets as well.

That's a whole lot cheaper than having to shell out a grand or more for a new rifle, glass etc for only a marginal improvement over the originals.

 

[WildRose]

That's my point why would you spend $700 or more on a good rifle then spend another $500 plus gunsmith fee's to put another barrel on it?? That doesn't make any sense. Just a waste of money and a good barrel. My reasoning behind the 6.8 Western is for an all around rifle. You can still shoot the lighter bullet's for coyote's to mule deer, and load it up with the heavies for elk, moose, and bear. That's a bug plus for folks that don't reload. Everyone has a little different idea on what they want but smaller framed folk's and kid's can get more out of the lighter recoil also.

Why not? You can breathe new life into Grampa's or Dad's old rifle for a small fraction of what it would cost to replace it.

 

[WildRose]

Everyone has a little different idea on what they want but smaller framed folk's and kid's can get more out of the lighter recoil also.

And even more out of the lighter recoiling 6.5's.,

Even the 7RM loaded down is very tolerable for smaller framed folks especially with a decent MB or Suppressor yet offers much more in terms of total potential down the road for a kid as they grow up.

 

[Raudy707]

I shot my Tikka T3 270 wsm for 9 years. When the barrel started getting pretty rough and groups went to > 1.5 moa I replaced it with a 1:8 twist. Match barrel was $275. Gunsmith chambered, crowned, threaded for suppressor, carakoted and fit for $300. I purchased a different bolt stop and had my 6.8 Western. Except I did this in 2018. But holy shitake did it change that rifle. Shooting 165 Matrix and 170 Bergers I was quickly ringing steel out to 3/4 of a mile. The new 6.8 Western has real potential. They just should have done it right in 2002 when they launched the 270 WSM.

 

[Priley]

I shot my Tikka T3 270 wsm for 9 years. When the barrel started getting pretty rough and groups went to > 1.5 moa I replaced it with a 1:8 twist. Match barrel was $275. Gunsmith chambered, crowned, threaded for suppressor, carakoted and fit for $300. I purchased a different bolt stop and had my 6.8 Western. Except I did this in 2018. But holy shitake did it change that rifle. Shooting 165 Matrix and 170 Bergers I was quickly ringing steel out to 3/4 of a mile. The new 6.8 Western has real potential. They just should have done it right in 2002 when they launched the 270 WSM.

Yes sir. They did make some mistakes in the past for sure.

 

[Priley]

Why not? You can breathe new life into Grampa's or Dad's old rifle for a small fraction of what it would cost to replace it.

That's my point. You still won't be able to find factory ammo for that gun. Some hunters never reload and they can buy the 6.8 right off the shelf and go shoot the longer higher BC bullets. I love wildcats but that's only because I love Ackley's. I have reloaded my own for better then 40 year's but I still like the idea if something happens I can go get a box off the shelf at the local sporting goods store and go to work..

 

[WildRose]

That's my point. You still won't be able to find factory ammo for that gun. Some hunters never reload and they can buy the 6.8 right off the shelf and go shoot the longer higher BC bullets. I love wildcats but that's only because I love Ackley's. I have reloaded my own for better then 40 year's but I still like the idea if something happens I can go get a box off the shelf at the local sporting goods store and go to work..

Why would those hunters turn to the 6.8W at all when there's a much greater variety and selection in the various 6.5's, 7mm's, and 30 caliber rifles and ammo already available?

 

[Raudy707]

I always get a kick out of this comment because I use it myself but in all honesty we get a rifle we buy 4 boxes of factory ammo or choose 3 different bullet manufacturers, and develop a load. Once we find that bullet, that's all we shoot. At everything. One bullet. We don't go re-zero every time for Coues deer, bear or elk. At least not the 100+ hunters I know. So who cares if a caliber has 18 different bullet weights. All we need is one. 6.5 I'm shooting 140's, 277 I'm shooting 150's, 7mm I'm shooting 160's. Along those lines anyways. So the reason a person might choose a 6.8 is they hunt elk a lot but feel the 6.5's in a 140 grain is too light. So they think I'll try a 7 mag. Dang 7 mag with 168 or 175's kicks me too hard. Hey Goldilocks how's that middle bed feel? Oh this 6.8W with a 162 feels just right. Or maybe nostalgia for 270's. I'm just playing devil's advocate, but when your talking western hunting that covers from antelope to big bull elk 6.5's are on the light side of the spectrum. A guy who wants to do it all with one gun reaches for....6.8 Western. Unless you're me. I shoot 25-06 at antelope, 270 wsm at Mule deer and cow elk and 280 AI and 300 mags at elk. But oh I have that 257 Roberts, 308 win, my lever 45-70 might work well in this timber and there's always that 35 Whelen in the back of the safe. I digress. Apologies.

 

[WildRose]

I always get a kick out of this comment because I use it myself but in all honesty we get a rifle we buy 4 boxes of factory ammo or choose 3 different bullet manufacturers, and develop a load. Once we find that bullet, that's all we shoot. At everything. One bullet. We don't go re-zero every time for Coues deer, bear or elk. At least not the 100+ hunters I know. So who cares if a caliber has 18 different bullet weights. All we need is one. 6.5 I'm shooting 140's, 277 I'm shooting 150's, 7mm I'm shooting 160's. Along those lines anyways. So the reason a person might choose a 6.8 is they hunt elk a lot but feel the 6.5's in a 140 grain is too light. So they think I'll try a 7 mag. Dang 7 mag with 168 or 175's kicks me too hard. Hey Goldilocks how's that middle bed feel? Oh this 6.8W with a 162 feels just right. Or maybe nostalgia for 270's. I'm just playing devil's advocate, but when your talking western hunting that covers from antelope to big bull elk 6.5's are on the light side of the spectrum. A guy who wants to do it all with one gun reaches for....6.8 Western. Unless you're me. I shoot 25-06 at antelope, 270 wsm at Mule deer and cow elk and 280 AI and 300 mags at elk. But oh I have that 257 Roberts, 308 win, my lever 45-70 might work well in this timber and there's always that 35 Whelen in the back of the safe. I digress. Apologies.

There's only one source for the 6.8W Ammo right now and that probably won't change for quite a few years unless it really takes off and so far there's no indication it will.

That niche between 6.5 and 7mm is really small and with so many alternatives with better supplies and options of both factory ammo and rifles it's probably not going to get any bigger particularly with the other available options in .277.

 

[Raudy707]

You asked for reason's why people would pick the 6.8. I gave them to you. Not everyone thinks like you. They do stuff for likes on IG and Facebook, to look cool with newest fad. There's half the hunting community that think a 6.5 Creedmoor shoots flatter than a 300 mag and hits harder too. I see 10 guys a week on this forum that all shoot Berger bullets and never shoot over 400 yds. Why? Because it's cool or they're supporters that read it on the internet or saw it on Long Range Pursuit. Gotta hit the hay. Good chatting with you WildRose. I always like your input on here even if I don't always 100% agree.

 

[WildRose]

You asked for reason's why people would pick the 6.8. I gave them to you. Not everyone thinks like you. They do stuff for likes on IG and Facebook, to look cool with newest fad. There's half the hunting community that think a 6.5 Creedmoor shoots flatter than a 300 mag and hits harder too. I see 10 guys a week on this forum that all shoot Berger bullets and never shoot over 400 yds. Why? Because it's cool or they're supporters that read it on the internet or saw it on Long Range Pursuit. Gotta hit the hay. Good chatting with you WildRose. I always like your input on here even if I don't always 100% agree.

I'm just stating a fact, no need to get testy about it.

 

[Priley]

I always get a kick out of this comment because I use it myself but in all honesty we get a rifle we buy 4 boxes of factory ammo or choose 3 different bullet manufacturers, and develop a load. Once we find that bullet, that's all we shoot. At everything. One bullet. We don't go re-zero every time for Coues deer, bear or elk. At least not the 100+ hunters I know. So who cares if a caliber has 18 different bullet weights. All we need is one. 6.5 I'm shooting 140's, 277 I'm shooting 150's, 7mm I'm shooting 160's. Along those lines anyways. So the reason a person might choose a 6.8 is they hunt elk a lot but feel the 6.5's in a 140 grain is too light. So they think I'll try a 7 mag. Dang 7 mag with 168 or 175's kicks me too hard. Hey Goldilocks how's that middle bed feel? Oh this 6.8W with a 162 feels just right. Or maybe nostalgia for 270's. I'm just playing devil's advocate, but when your talking western hunting that covers from antelope to big bull elk 6.5's are on the light side of the spectrum. A guy who wants to do it all with one gun reaches for....6.8 Western. Unless you're me. I shoot 25-06 at antelope, 270 wsm at Mule deer and cow elk and 280 AI and 300 mags at elk. But oh I have that 257 Roberts, 308 win, my lever 45-70 might work well in this timber and there's always that 35 Whelen in the back of the safe. I digress. Apologies.

Agreed.... It all boils down to what the shooter wants. I myself only have on magnum left. It's a 7mm WSM shoots great and muzzle braked because the older I get the less I like recoil. I have owned other magnums in the past but like I said me and recoil don't get along. I do own the 280 AI also. Both those guns will kill anything I will ever hunt but I still like my .270 Win. I find it hard to beat but I wish it had a 1:7 or 1:8 twist but I refuse to rebarrel because I want the heavy bullets. I may change if that barrel wares out but only then.

 

[Calvin45]

I always get a kick out of this comment because I use it myself but in all honesty we get a rifle we buy 4 boxes of factory ammo or choose 3 different bullet manufacturers, and develop a load. Once we find that bullet, that's all we shoot. At everything. One bullet. We don't go re-zero every time for Coues deer, bear or elk. At least not the 100+ hunters I know. So who cares if a caliber has 18 different bullet weights. All we need is one. 6.5 I'm shooting 140's, 277 I'm shooting 150's, 7mm I'm shooting 160's. Along those lines anyways. So the reason a person might choose a 6.8 is they hunt elk a lot but feel the 6.5's in a 140 grain is too light. So they think I'll try a 7 mag. Dang 7 mag with 168 or 175's kicks me too hard. Hey Goldilocks how's that middle bed feel? Oh this 6.8W with a 162 feels just right. Or maybe nostalgia for 270's. I'm just playing devil's advocate, but when your talking western hunting that covers from antelope to big bull elk 6.5's are on the light side of the spectrum. A guy who wants to do it all with one gun reaches for....6.8 Western. Unless you're me. I shoot 25-06 at antelope, 270 wsm at Mule deer and cow elk and 280 AI and 300 mags at elk. But oh I have that 257 Roberts, 308 win, my lever 45-70 might work well in this timber and there's always that 35 Whelen in the back of the safe. I digress. Apologies.

Im one of the buffoons who frequently rezeroes his rifle for new loads. But not out of perceived need, I just loooooove handloading and tinkering and trying new combinations for the heck of it. If it was about need I'd just load up the 180 grain federal trophy bonded tips on my shelf to around 3000 fps in my .300 Winnie and feel fully prepared to drop anything on the north American continent. But variety is the spice of life they say.

 

[DakotaFire101]

I'd go with the 6.8 western. I've got components laying around to build myself one at some point. It not being a very popular cartridge is a great thing to me in these times. Scheels has brass and factory ammo in stock and I always pick some up during my weekly visit. Berger makes a great 170 grain elite hunter that shoots lights out and have had great success with them in the 6.8 westerns I've built for customers. So what if it fades out in a decade, same thing happened with the 7mm stw and 7mm dakota but there's still plenty of folks shooting them. You'll want a little extra pop if you're going to chase elk with the rifle.