Very interested in the 6.8 western and what it's capable of ballistic wise. That being said availability of components is a real thing to consider at this point and 270 components should be easy to acquire in comparison. With a fast twist barrel the 270 should be able to push 165 gr bullets with high bc's about as fast as the 6.8. This would be for a mountain rifle type build, and though I'm interested in lightweight the long vs. short action really doesn't influence my decision. And lastly I'm a handloader so factory offerings in ammo also doesn't influence my opinion.
6.8 Western is closer to the .270 WSM. It is just the WSM case shortened .08" and a faster twist barrel. I'd probably chose the cartridge based on what I can fit in the magazine for COAL and still feed. Your magazine length will be your biggest limitation for either rifle, but the Western design at least took that into consideration.
While .270 components might be plentiful, will the heavy for caliber high BC bullets 165+ be plentiful or seasonal? I'm sure 6.5, 7mm, and .308 will always have more options for high BC bullets. Manufacturers are starting to offer high BC 6.8/.277 bullets, but they have a long way to go to catch up to the others.
Now I'm a die hard .270 Win guy, love it and it'll be the one cartridge I'll always own. I don't see much need to improve on it, and its proven track record. I've found it to be quite capable with the bullets that work in a 1:10 twist well beyond 400 yards.
It'll also depend on if you're building or buying. If you want an off the shelf rifle the 6.8 Western will be the easiest to aquire. You're simply going to have to build the .270 Win to get what you want.
Far, far, away in a distant galaxie is the 6.8 Western!
This makes absolutely no sense, the 6.8 is just a .270 WSM with the right twist. It's a correction of a mistake Winchester made when they SAAMI standardized the .270 WSM IMO. I think it's akin to what Nosler did with the .280 AI, fixing the .280 Remington crappy SAAMI specs.
If high BC bullets are the priority, I would think using the same case size but going to 7MM or 6.5 would be wise: much larger high BC bullet selections. Why not a 6.5/06 (or 6.5 WSM). or 280, 280AI, 7Mag,,,all with fast twist?
If you do decide to go the 6.8 Western route, put out some feelers for brass to see what you can find. Personally, I could have bought more Winchester 6.8 Western brass in the past three months than any other brass on the market, locally.
Nothing so far addresses the fact that a 270 a 270 WSM seat the bullet deep into the powder column. The 6.8 Western along with the appropriate barrel throat keeps the bullet base at the neck of case so there is more space for powder and less turbulence when things are burning.
Nothing so far addresses the fact that a 270 a 270 WSM seat the bullet deep into the powder column. The 6.8 Western along with the appropriate barrel throat keeps the bullet base at the neck of case so there is more space for powder and less turbulence when things are burning.
While this has been written by a few "gun writers" because, apparently, it is in the press release they used to write their articles, do the math and you'll see it's not true. In fact it's blatant nonsense. The 270 WSM and the 6.8 Western cases are identical except that the WSM's shoulder is .08" further forward. almost a tenth of an inch MORE powder capacity in the case. It and the 6.8 Western typically come in a rifle with a 3" (or a hair more) magazine box. So both will be loaded to the same OAL by the handloader. The .270 WSM has more powder capacity. And take a look at the length of the bullets that go in the 6.8 Western. Even if loaded to absolute SAAMI max OAL, the base of the Sierra 175 TGK (1.641" long) sits over one tenth of an inch below the base of the 6.8 Western's neck. At SAMMI min OAL, it's 0.3" below the base of the neck. At the same OAL, the 270 WSM with have the same bullet seated .08" further below the base of the neck, but that bullet shank will be surrounded by powder that the 6.8 Western, being a shorter case, just can't hold. Load to the same pressure, the .270 WSM goes faster. No offense - it's just math.
In a hunting rifle ( not long range target) I cannot imagine that amount of turbulence would effect accuracy once the bullet has left the barrel and has been stabilized by the grooves and rotation. I should clarify, effect to a degree which is detrimental on the gun's ability to kill game at normal hunting ranges.
Been thinking of doing this for years. Let me know how it turns out.
John
Will do, but it will be awhile. Barrel is 4-6 months out, fortunately I have an Echols Legend stock already. But my gunsmith has been really backed up lately.
Very interested in the 6.8 western and what it's capable of ballistic wise. That being said availability of components is a real thing to consider at this point and 270 components should be easy to acquire in comparison. With a fast twist barrel the 270 should be able to push 165 gr bullets with high bc's about as fast as the 6.8. This would be for a mountain rifle type build, and though I'm interested in lightweight the long vs. short action really doesn't influence my decision. And lastly I'm a handloader so factory offerings in ammo also doesn't influence my opinion.
What would you choose?
Had the idea for a long-loaded (3.600" M.C.O.A.L.), 1:8 twist .270 Win, using the 6.8 Western throat, to go on a long magazine M700.
It would seat the 150 gr. to the base of the neck, like a 130 gr. in a std. .270 Win., and the 165's half way to the shoulder, like a std. .270 Win./150 gr.
Should push the 150 gr. ABLR at ~ 3,000 fps, and stabilize the 165 gr. ABLR at > 2,850.
At this point I can only recommend both barrels. If this were me Id expect that If I had both to choose from the lesser capacity 270 win with the long throat & fast twist would would get put to service much more if I had both to choose from. YMMV
First guy using anecdotal evidence of a Bass Pro Shop guy selling 2 people rifles and the wrong ammunition. Claiming one was an experienced reloader, and that said experienced guy belived the BP gun couner guy when he told the .270 WSM ammo would work in a 6.8 rifle. Said experienced reloader guy buys 100 rounds of the wrong ammunition.
Second guy preaching the need to dlow down the .270 Win to 2700 fps to make it a woods cartridge for short range deer. Also worried that todays bullets can't handle the rpm the 6.8 Western will generate.
Third video the guy is calling BS on Winchester's marketing. Like most manufacturers don't cherry pick data and bullets when comparing their new wonder cartridge to the established cartridges. Not to mention he can pull apart a cartridge and just eyeball the powder and tell you which "Winchester ball powder" was used.
I'm not saying everyone should buy a 6.8 Western. I'm just pointing out they're like every other guy out there trying to generate content. They're just trying to keep there viewership up, and I watched all that crap so I guess the got me. 😉
I purchased a Weatherby Vanguard synthetic stocked 270 from Walmart 3 years ago on closeout for $300. out the door. Shoots about a 2" group with WW factory 130's and haven't had much of a chance to experiment with hand loads much, but will try 130, 140, & 150's within the next month. If I don't get any better results, I'll probably do a custom barrel swap and keep it as a 270 Win., as I have a ton of reloading brass Any barrel suggestions? I have a 270 Ackley Improved on an Interarms action, McMillan Medalist stock, PacNor 1-10 medium sporter barrel that shoots most 130's really well.
I have a 6.8W and also a 270 wsm kimber montana with 1-8. I will probably do a 1-8 270 win someday but for initial builds preferred the slightly more case capacity of the wsm case in either persuasion. In the end I have gotten such great accuracy with browning and Win factory loads that I have not been compelled to load for the 6.8 yet, so though I reload for most, super accurate factory ammo is nice to me as I load for a lot of different rifles and rounds so can be a challenge to get to everything I want to with other activities. So I would personally go with the 6.8W. Much as you can do the same with existing rounds by doing non-saami things, Winchester has a nice out of box package to shoot high bc 277 bullets just like hornady did with 6.5 cm/prc.
Winchester offers a 162 copper extreme point. Not tried it but looks pretty good. Hammer also offers 156, 162, 168. I have some 156 will get around to loading.
1:8 Lilja Kimber Montana factory contour dupe in 270 Win @ 22” will shoot 140Gn Badlands Super BullDozer bullets w/BC of .650 @ 3150 in FF’d Rem brass and 3075 in virgin Nosler brass, the projectile requires 1:8 twist to stabilize. R-26 of course. While I have enough RPM to spin the new ABLR’s and others, the BC over the 140 compared against w/lost FPS doesn’t pencil out.
The 140 gr. TSX clocks ~ that from the std. 1:10 .270 Win.
... and punches well above its weight.
GR
I’ve shot a whole bunch of critters w/the 140 TSX from a 270Win @ 3030fps MV. Grand scheme, that’s probably the very last combo I’d give up if I were forced down to 1-choice.
The 140 gr. TSX clocks ~ that from the std. 1:10 .270 Win.
... and punches well above its weight.
GR
I’ve shot a whole bunch of critters w/the 140 TSX from a 270Win @ 3030fps MV. Grand scheme, that’s probably the very last combo I’d give up if I were forced down to 1-choice.
Ran into a clearance sale of Pierce Performance/Ted Nuget .270 Win. ammo a while back, loaded w/ 140 gr. TSX, at around bullet component cost.
Runs ~ 2,925 fps from a 22" Bbl. and is very precise.
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/rpD4gWHw/270-LAWGR.png)