Thread: 6.8mm Winchester Western

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings all,
I found the latest copy of Rifle Mag on my chair today after my dearly beloved returned from town. In it was an article by Brian Pearce on the 6.8 Winchester Western. This is an ever so slightly shortened .270 WSM intended for faster twist barrels. Factory loads include pointy projectile up to 175 grain. I spotted an article on this round a while back and aside from one breathless enquiry on the Forum about when they would be available there had been nothing. Browning and possibly others are chambering it. Other than the slightly shorter case the difference seems to be in the barrel twist of 1 in 7.5 inches. Why it was deemed necessary to come up with a slightly new case rather than just increasing the .270 WSM twist has me baffled but I suppose this is the USA and nothing that happens there surprises me these days. Winchester previously used the Westerner name for one of their .264 Win rifles and that calibre struggles on life support so we will see what happens to the 6.8 Western. Would I buy one? Hell no but I have too many safe queens already. Brian's rifle shot the 165 Accubond LR at 2,955 fps in a 26 inch barrel, about what my 7mm SAUM does with the 162 AMAX.
Regards Grandpamac.

• I'm guessing the reason for the redesign is for a couple reasons.
• Shortening the case allows a slightly longer neck and allows the throat design to be changed to allow the modern longer heavy projectiles to be seated out close to the lands. (Similar to Creedmoor, PRC) (This is also probably a pretty good reason why the 7SAUM is significantly more popular nowadays than the 7mmWSM).
• The shorter shoulder also stops accidental chambering of 270WSM in the 6.8 Western Chamber
• Easier to bring hype to a new cartridge than and old one
• If you starting making 170 grain 270wsm loads inevitably a bunch of clueless hunters would buy them and complain they dont shoot out of the traditional 11 twist rifles.

If they can get the BC up on some of the 277 projectiles it will create another middle ground with extremely efficient high bc projectiles that dont need a massive case to launch them like the 230+ grain 30 calibre options requiring large magnums to get them going.

Be interesting if they can get a BC comparable to the 180-195 7mm projectiles.