Rifle · SAAMI
6.8 Western
Winchester and Browning's 2021 collaboration designed specifically for heavy, high-BC .277-caliber bullets.
- Caliber
- 0.277″ · 7.036 mm
- Introduced
- 2021
- Case
- Rebated
- Parent
- .270 WSM
- Primary use
- Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2021
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Winchester / Browning Arms
- Manufacturer
- Winchester / Browning / Hornady
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 69 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:8
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rebated
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 700 yd
- Max range
- 2500 yd
- Recoil
- 12–16 ft·lb
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for 6.8 Western. Parent case: .270 WSM.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 7.04 | 0.277 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 7.98 | 0.314 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 13.69 | 0.539 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 35° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 14.10 | 0.555 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.59 | 0.535 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.37 | 0.054 | ~ |
| Neck length | 7.02 | 0.276 | ≈ |
| Case length | 51.31 | 2.020 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 75.06 | 2.955 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 6.8 Western is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
12 reloading powders listed for 6.8 Western, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 6.8 Western
1 model in the database chamber 6.8 Western. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Introduced jointly by Winchester and Browning Arms in 2021 specifically for the Browning X-Bolt and Winchester Model 70. The design goal was a short-action cartridge capable of launching the heaviest .277-caliber bullets — 162 to 170 grains — at velocities sufficient for long-range big game hunting. The 1:8 twist rate stabilizes bullets that traditional .270 Winchester and .270 WSM rifles can't handle. Hornady's 175-grain ELD-X factory load quickly became a benchmark for long-range hunting performance.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 6.8 Western use?
- 6.8 Western typically uses a 1:8 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 6.8 Western?
- 6.8 Western uses a 0.277″ (7.036 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 6.8 Western still in production?
- 6.8 Western is active; typical availability is common.
- What is 6.8 Western used for?
- 6.8 Western is primarily used for hunting, target.
- What is 6.8 Western based on?
- 6.8 Western is derived from the .270 WSM case.
- What are the best powders for 6.8 Western?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for 6.8 Western include N550, N555, Reloader 17, N560, among 12 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4-2025 — Centerfire Rifle Velocity & Pressure Data · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Standard SAAMI — SAAMI Announces Acceptance of Three New Cartridges (press release, 2020) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition (Olin) — Copper Impact 6.8 Western 162 gr Copper Extreme Point (X68WCLF) — official Winchester product-data service (renders the ballistics table on the winchester.com product page, data-id 967) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition (Olin) — winchester.com product page — Copper Impact X68WCLF (ballistics table is client-rendered from the data service above) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition (Olin) — Expedition Big Game Long Range 6.8 Western 165 gr AccuBond LR (S68WLR) — official Winchester product-data service (renders the ballistics table on the winchester.com product page, data-id 934) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition (Olin) — Winchester Ballistics Calculator data API — 6.8 Western / Expedition Big Game / AccuBond LR / 165 gr (backs ballisticscalculator.winchester.com) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition (Olin) — Ballistic Silvertip 6.8 Western 170 gr (SBST68W) — official Winchester product-data service (renders the ballistics table on the winchester.com product page, data-id 935) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition (Olin) — Winchester Ballistics Calculator data API — 6.8 Western / Power-Point / 170 gr (X68W1; independent second Winchester 170 gr load at the same velocity) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Browning Ammunition — Long Range Pro Hunter 6.8 Western 175 gr Sierra Tipped GameKing (B192500682) — official product-data service (renders the ballistics table on the browningammo.com product page, data-id 1165) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 39 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →