6.8 WESTERN: my thoughts

This is my favorite all things guns and hunting channel. Thank you for what you do, and what you share with us.

Excellent, in-depth, we’ll-researched video. Thank you.

Really good information 👍👍. As far as hunting out west, I've been mule deer hunting 3 times since 2014 and had no problem taking mule deer with my 30 06 and 308. In the part of New Mexico I was hunting you could see a whole lot farther than anyone could shoot. My longest shot out of 3 was 315 yds. That's a long shot for a whitetail deer hunter from Alabama who hunts heavily wooded areas.

100% awesome job. Interestingly, here in Montana earlier this year the only thing on the shelves was 6.8 western ammunition. I bought a 6.5 PRCN couldn’t find ammunition dies or brass for it. Again, great job. Good luck this hunting season.

Thank you DD for your time, money and knowledge on this cartridge. Gettin a little tired of the advertisements.

I had my 270 built with a 1:9 to easily handle the heavier end bullets(150-160) before finding sweet loads with the 130gr speer hot cor and 140gr sst…. The only mistake I made was not building it on a left handed action!!

thank you sir for your work. it does not go unnoticed. thank you for clearing up the smoke to show the playing field. continue to cut through the hype especially for those of us who can't afford to be taken advantage of financially

Thank you for producing this video, lots of great data and information. But I have a slightly different view of the 6.8 Western Cartridge. I have both the 270 WSM (No change in SAAMI Spec) in a 7½ Twist Barrel and a 6.8 Western. They both shoot all high BC bullets (175 Sierra TGK, 170 Berger Elite and the Nosler 165 ABLR) accurate up 1000 yards. Both of my rifles like the Nosler 165 the best, less than one-inch groups at 200 yards with a muzzle velocity of just over 3000 fps and 1650 at target. The others groups are just over an inch. My barrels are both SS Brux Rem Varmint, so they are to a higher standard than a factory barrel. I shoot 600 and 1000 yards weekly, so I have experience with both. There is very little difference between the two with the same hand loads for all bullets. I do agree, why come out with a new cartridge, the 6.8 Western. Simply, Winchester and Browning could have just come out with the “270 WSM Western”, a 270 WSM with a 7½ barrel twist. Just think of the money us shooters would have saved, no need to purchase new rifles. With that said, I will say (which will distress some), the 270 with a 7½ twist or the 6.8 Western will clearly out shoot the 270 Winchester or 270 WSM at yardages 500 yards and over. Even shooting the 145 ELDs from both at 600 yards the higher twist barrels delivers a better group. So, I have totally bought in to the high twist barrels and high BC Bullets no mater what yardages I am shooting. I think the 270 Winchester is a great gun, so much history. But, if I were to rebarrel, it would be one with a 7½ to take advantage of the high BC Bullets. My barrel lengths are both 26”, I exceed by 50 fps all of the published velocity data by Winchester and Browning. It is obvious a 24” barrel will have a lower velocity. This was an error in this video. My view. The “6.8 Western” is a better cartridge than the standard barreled 270 Winchester and 270 WSM as it shoots the heavier higher BC bullets, as well as shoots amazing at 1000 yards. Don’t discount this this cartridge, it has more positive attributes than this video portrays. For an average hunter, just shooting up to 300 yards, our 270s are more than needed, but if one is pushing 500 yards the higher twist barrels are superior. I think the 6.8 Western will be with us for a long time. Should add, I have 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor. These are my favorite two cartridges.

Another awesome video as usual. Thank you DD

Excellent video. The 6.8 Westerner is interesting, and I was going to buy one (I really "needed" that caliber..........Haha) But when I looked at all the details, and the ballistics, I could not justify adding a new rifle, since I already have a .270 WSM, and all the reloading tools (dies) for my .270 WSM. They are almost twins...

This was very helpful and interesting I especially liked that you broke down the ammo and gave us some education on bulk ball powder. Thank you.

Great video - thank you. Sound, sincere and sober review 👍🏻

Love your videos and I’ve learned so much. You are such a perfectionist.

Great content as always. I too always take the claims made by the bullet/ammo manufactures with several grains of salt. I’ve always believed that if you want a more accurate apples to apples comparison when comparing bullets of different calibers, you should be comparing bullets of similar sectional densities or ballistic coefficients. I laugh when they just arbitrarily compare one caliber to the other with no specific metric. The result means little or nothing.

Thanks for your review and breakdown!

Thank you! You seem to be the only one that talks about the pros & cons. That I am impressed by.. Not just the good stuff.

I’ve got a LAW M704 with a PacNor barrel chambered in 270 Ackley Improved. I had PacNor put an 8” twist in it. I shoot 170 grain Berger’s out of it at 2,850 FPS at paper out to1,000 yards. I do it because it’s fun trying to shoot a light hunting rifle at distance at paper. However, when hunting, I back it down to 150’s and 130’s. I don’t take shots past 400 yards when hunting so the sectional density and retained energy is more than adequate for all game I hunt.

I can't say much, I've always been a fan of the 264 win mag

Well stated. Thank you for an intelligently made and honest video.

Great as always, wheel well and truly reinvented 😂.