Loaded w/ 150 gr. ABLR's...?
The 6.8 WESTERN will give one an honest 600 yd. hunting rifle (1500 ft-lbs).
GR
With an almost identical case to the 270 WSM, except for having a little less powder capacity than the WSM. I remain to be convinced how much better it'll be than a 270 WSM with a 8" twist barrel.
It’s
The Western’s
shoulder and neck are designed for long, heavy, slippery bullets, 175gr, to be exact. So is the chamber spec and barrel twist. The .270 WSM is for about 150gr, tops.
Well, as long as we're being exact let's look at some of those shoulder and neck dimensions of the 6.8 Western and the .270 WSM.
Shoulder diameter = .5381" for BOTH
Shoulder angle = 35 degrees for BOTH
Datum diameter = .441" for BOTH
Neck length = .276" for BOTH
Neck outside diameter = .314" for BOTH (this one would be expected to be identical, unless the new case were for some reason spec'ed with thinner or thicker brass)
All the aspects of the case head and heel of the two cases are also identical.
As near as I can tell from comparing the case drawings the only difference between the two is the shoulder/neck/OAL on the 6.8 Western are all moved back .0805" from that of the 270 WSM, with the accompanying small reduction in powder capacity. That's it. They're otherwise identical. So that .08" would let you hang on to a little more of the shank of a long ogive bullet, and have to worry less about part of the ogive being in the case mouth when loaded to the desired OAL. Well, worry 8/100ths of an inch less, that is.
My point is just screw in a 8" twist barrel and cut the same throat on them both and the two are pretty much peas in a pod.
Perhaps that 8/100ths is a much bigger deal than I understand. I'd welcome someone explaining how important that may be, seriously.
Best to all,
Rex