If you watch the previous video by Ron, you would understand there is a shortage of propellants. Hornady chose accuracy over speed. It is what it is… Practice with your loads to get yourself dialed in. Unfortunately it’s the world we live in.
Go figure; the 6.8 Western is basically the necked down 7 RSAUM, with a slightly different shoulder angle! Together with its cousin, the 6.5 RSAUM, later called the 6.5 GAP, were and still are both one of the most efficient, accurate & basically the perfect case to bore-size capacity combination cartridges! I’ve used all of these and am to date still playing around with both the 6.8 Western & 7PRC!
@AndrewJohnson-gx5cl it's still early to rule that out..... just look how many years for the 6.5 NeedsMore to get popular.lol....( still prefer my 260rem).
@kevinsmith9726 yeah just getting better twist rates an able to use the longer bullets now. I think Browning is starting to do that with older cartridges now. Winchester don't support their own stuff well. Or the 7 WSM would still be popular.
@@seetownwv - so true. I did run 160g Nosler Partitions and they shot well but in the end the accuracy of the 145g ELDX and the 3100fps does the job on anything I have shot so far. Out here in the SW of Canada we don’t get shots much over. 500 and that my person no go spot anyway. I think we loose sight sometimes of just how awesome new rifles are. Easy to wrapped around the axel on newer, faster longer but in the end we rarely use the full potential of a lot of these. When I re-barrel next I will likely increase the twist rate anyway but if I need more punch I can always load some copper. Great thing about hand loading these is we are not stuck with factory loads @ $90 cnd for 20 and. O selection or inventory. Cheers -10 and snowing !! 😜
When Hornady didn’t load for the 6.8 everyone knew it was going to be an uphill battle. The 7PRC isn’t going anywhere because it’s the new cool kid and it’s really good in all respects. Hornady should have changed the advertised box velocity and it’s a bad look that they didn’t.
They ran short of the original powder and had to use a backup, some lot numbers were made with the backup powder and did not hit velocities listed. This has been corrected.
@@justinscott9213@justinscott9213 It doesn't matter even if they have resolved it, I don't think they have, but whatever, it's the fact that they decided to not disclose the change in velocity. It was only because the gun community found out that it came out and since then back peddling by Hornady. The only reason Hornady isn't supporting the 6.8 is because they view it as a competitor,
I own a 6.8 western in a Winchester model 70 super grade. love the rifle and the accuracy it gives, usually around .75 to .48 inch groups. One of my favorite hand loads for this cartridge pushes the 165 ABLR just north of 3000fps. This puts it about 150 fps over my custom 270 win, so not a huge difference. While I love the cartridge and the rifle I have to admit most of the "New" offerings from companies simply are not the "Wonder rounds" manufacturers would like us to believe they are. 7PRC is a great example of this. The old tried and true 7mm Rem mag is now being made by browning and a few others with a 1in8 twist and can push the same bullets 100fps faster than even the box velocity of the 7PRC. Again not a huge difference but thats the point any of the older rounds can be fitted with a fast twist barrel much cheaper than buying another rifle and match or exceed the performance of the new.
Exactly my 7mm rem mag trgs with 1-8.4 proof bbl easily reaches those velocities. And with 175 gr eldx is 1/2 moa or better off the hood of my truck . With first load i tried
Great Job with Comparison. The 7 PRC and 6.8 Western are excellent cartridges. The 6.8 Western does not get the praise it deserves. The 270 Winchester fans claim it is better than the 6.8 Western, there is no comparison. The 6.8 Western is far superior. And the 6.8 Western is close to the performance of the 7 PRC.
🤣 Now Let Me Tell You Why Your Wrong: The 270 Winchester Holds More Rounds in The Magazine Than Either of These Cartridges and - At the Elevations That I Hunt Elk - The 270 Winchester (1 in 10 Twist Barrel) Will Stabilize The 165 grain Nosler ABLR and Provide Over 1,500 ft lbs of Energy and 2,000 ft/s Out to More Than a Half Mile! It Will Do It With 5 ft lbs to 8 ft lbs of Less Recoil Than These Two Cartridges! You Can Keep the Extra Recoil, Because My 270 Will Do All I Need It To and More! 😎
@ronlowney4700 wrong is a strong word. But everything else you said is spot on. Where I believe the .270 win takes the cake is that it's done on an old, reliable, and readily available platform in any model you prefer. It does everything in affordable and plain Jane ammo, no match grade, and in a 1:10 twist. It's just tried and true. I'm torn right now on buying a browning x-bolt LR in 270win with the 1:7.5 twist rate and playing with that. Or the 280 ai. But the availability of good ammo has me leading towards the former.
As the 1:8" and 1:7.5" Barrels become more plentiful on the market for the .270 Win, you're going to see that 'far superior' greatly diminish or disappear altogether with new loads of 165 to 175gr and maybe even 180gr Bullets, imo! That 100+ year old .270 Win Cartridge I think is going to still impress us all as it heads into its second Century of life...!
@@ronlowney4700*You're not your. You assume that both of these cartridges are going to be in an internal magazine. Find me a .270 win in a external magazine. This just shows how ignorant you are. I typed into google search "270 win 165 grain ammo for sale" and you know how many results I got? Zero. You failed to state the obvious. You are handloading. Using any non standard pet load versus factory loads again...shows how ignorant you are. No cartridges should be gauged by handloads. Because the variances are so vast, that's why you go off of factory ammo. What percentage of 270 guys are shooting a 1 in 10 and handloading a 165? Almost none of them. Almost all of them are shooting a 22 to 24 inch barrel with 130 grain factory ammo that is way lower in velocity than they think it is and that is stated on the box. I know that my 24 inch bergara 6.5 prc shoots factory federal terminal ascent at 3100 fps because I have tested it. It shoots factory 142 ablr at 2930. Should I use those numbers or handload and then tell you my pet load 130 grain is at 3300 fps? I mean i could easily get it there if I wanted to.
@@ronlowney4700 For those who can reload, you make a solid case. For those who don’t reload, the Western is the better option. You can also purchase 170-175 grain ammo for the Western. Both are terrific cartridges.
@@AlanRoehrich9651 they just don’t have as many bullet options rn. With the army adopting the caliber it’s going to be around forever (the diameter bullet for reloading not the western itself) and you’ll have competitive high efficiency bullets with 7mm for even lower prices because of it. Like the good old 7.62 nato for instance.
If I was gonna pick between those two I'd go with the 6.8 western. for one I think it's a neat cartridge and two I already have a 7mm rem mag and from the research I've done the only thing a 7 prc does the 7mm rem mag doesn't is stabalize slightly heavier bullets
Browning offers a 1:7.5 twist rate in the 6.8 western as well… if the 6.8 western was as widely supported like 7mm PRC I think it would have way more steam and popularity. It’s up to the Ron’s and Joseph’s of the world to spark the 6.8 to where it needs to be! 😉 😊. Get on it guys! Lol
There are so many rifle manufacturers building for the 7mm prc , and now Federal has ammo that is delivering 3000 fps! It seems with all the options, that the 7mm prc will outlast the “competition “, but only time will tell….
I wish other ammo manufacturers would get on board with 6.8 Western. I’ve really been interested in this caliber but because I’m not a reloader I need a wide variety of ammo manufacturers to choose my ammo from.
If it gives you peace of mind I have a 6.8 western in a model 70 featherweight and I’ve tried all factory ammo from browning and Winchester. It shot everything sub moa except the Winchester power point ammo which was a little over an inch. Choice ammunition also makes ammo for the 6.8 western but they’re a little on the more expensive side
Great video! I’m in the 6.8 camp and will be building one on a Tikka action. Hornady really showed its colors with its lying. Once you lose credibility it’s rarely regained.
How’s that build with the Tikka going? That was something I was pondering myself, but I ended up purchasing the Seekins Havak instead for my second 6.8 Western. I already had the 6.8 chambered in a Christiansen Arms Ridgeline FFT with a 20” barrel. I wanted a longer barrel, so that’s where I was thinking of going the Tikka route. A buddy of mine picked up a Seekins and I fell in love with that rifle, so I abandoned my Tikka build and went with the Seekins for immediate satiation. I’m somewhat impatient 😂 If you do finish that build, you should put together a RUclips video. I’d love to see it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would enjoy that 😁
@@jimedick9496skip the tikka the x bolt 2 is an awesome gun with a far superior stock. Great barrel and 90% of the smoothness of the tikka rifles. Don’t forget the Winchester model 70 too. Both are awesome manufactures with great triggers stocks and barrels.
Funny you mention the X-Bolt. I’m looking at the 26” barrel X-Bolt LR for my third 6.8 Western. That gives me a 20” Christiansen for woods carry, plus, it’s ridiculously light weight. Then my 24” barrel is the Seekins Havak PH2. That is a kick ass rifle!! I’m planning on purchasing the 26” X-Bolt LR this weekend. My brother in law just witnessed me talking a 5X5 Roosevelt elk on the Oregon coast last month. It was a 656 yard shoot and that bull ran maybe 20 yards and dropped. He was so impressed that he’s looking at the Browning X-Bolt himself. He’s not sure what model to go with. You have the X-Bolt 2? What’s your impression with the hand grips and the comb riser?
We both have x bolt gen 1 walnut stocks. Mine In .308 his in .270. They both shoot 90% of loads at 1 inch or less groups at 100. Triggers barrel and stock shape is awesome the quality is felt. I have held and shot the new x bolt two. The synthetic stock is awesome! I love the new grip angle and cheek weld. The stock feels very ridged and very much so serviceable. This was compared to my younger brothers tikka t3x veil wildlands in .300 win mag. Also a great gun. I think the x bolt stock was better. They left a little more material in a support spot on the receiver for a smoother bolt pull. Only con with the x bolt is the barrel will be harder to switch if you’re a barrel burner. But it can be done. Don’t forget the model 70s for hunting. Made by FN. I could go on a long rant on that gun too. Tikka is great too. My dad has a gen 1 in .270wsm. try to hold one yourself. You can’t go wrong with any of them. I’m looking for a 6.8 model 70 myself.
@@samuelrichards7481 Thanks for the info… My brother in law isn’t a barrel burner. This is strictly for hunting and sighting in his rifle once a year prior to his hunts. He likes the use of the X-Bolt two for the grip options. It’s a good looking rifle as well. Glad to hear you like the stock and the way out feels. I’m looking more at the LR models with the 26” barrel. This will be my 3rd 6.8 Western, so I’ve got plenty of options to choose from, for those days at the range. Plus, I have a lot of other rifles and calibers for range day as well. Honestly, that’s what my 6.5 PRC has been regulated to. It’s very accurate, but I prefer using my Western for big game hunting. Burning out barrels really isn’t too much of a concern for me either. I had heard and read that Browning barrel replacement is very difficult. So that’s when I start mulling over the idea of getting a Tikka and having it modified for the 6.8 Western.
I have only one bolt action rifle (a Browning X-Bolt), and it's chambered in 6.8 Western: I'm happy with it! My Remington 7600 is chambered in .35 Whelen (my poor man's magnum--it likes 200 gr. to 250 gr. bullets), and my Savage 99C is chambered in .308 WIN (150 gr. to 180 gr. bullets). As for my Ruger Mini-14, it's my plinker and varmint gun chambered in 5.56mm (it can also chamber .223 Rem rounds ).
I’m also a 280 AI guy and am not a fan of the new calibres that you can’t make brass for from a calibre that has been around for a while like the old 30-06. I make brass for my AI from LC match 30-06 with stellar results and without breaking the bank.
you can make 6.8W from either of the SAUM's or either the 270WSM or 300WSM. Plenty of other bass calibers to pick from. 300WSM is the most readily available of these, chop it down and push it back and resize it. With the SAUM's its just 'resize die me, please'
With Hornady refusing to load for the 6.8 Western has caused suppression of the 6.8 Western availability. Thank you for sharing this useful information.
Hornady should not be given a pass for colluding with other manufacturers to suppress the 6.8 Western and also lying about how much speed the 7 PRC is actually getting. The more I see from them the less I like them as a company. I went with the 6.8 Western and am happy with what it offers. Excellent performance with fairly mild recoil, nothing in North America I wouldn't hunt with it.
@@benjaminsmith6012 This is fact. Also why I ordered a pile of Federal online. I don't need to be creating a new dope card every time I open a new box of Hornady. Consistency is the name of the game, whether at 2800 or 3000 fps.
@nt3523 I bought 10 boxes of the Hornady before I knew too much. They were all the same batch and have shot really good I'm averaging 2900 ft per second. But shoots very very accurately. How do you like the federals? When these are gone I'll probably buy a couple hundred rounds of them next
@@benjaminsmith6012 I haven't even shot the rifle yet. I'm sure the Hornady is fine, I just wonder if they will go back to the original recipe that was getting 3000fps. I'm putting a rig together for my dad and using a Leupold with CDS turret where the yardage is calculated and printed on the dial. Great system, but I need consistent MV.
🙄 Exactly! Any Custom Gun Should Be Able To Shoot! But, Horneday Was Promising "Match Grade Accuracy" Out of Any Off The Shelf Rifle! Was That Promise Realistic/Truthful? 🤣 NOPE, Because Horneday Doesn't Control the QA/QC of Other Companies Products (Or The Quality of Barrels That They Put on Their Rifles)! 😏 This Was "Marketing Hype" and "False Claims" That Will Come Back To Haunt Horneday! 🧟♂️
I purchased a Christiansen Arms Ridgline FFT with a 20” barrel in 6.8 Western. It took me some range time to break in the barrel and smooth out the action, but once the break in was completed, I can’t say enough about both the cartridge and rifle. It makes for the perfect mountain/canyon hunting rifle. The rife is only 5.3 lbs. The Leupold scope and rings barely put it over 6 pounds. I can pack this all day long and I don’t even know it’s strapped over my shoulders. It has quickly become my favorite rifle and cartridge.
Only problems are it is very difficult to get good accuracy from rifles that are that light this has been proven time and time again. The other issue is unfortunately Christiansen rifles are not known to be very accurate, especially for their cost. I've watched rifles dance circles around them the funniest being a Ruger American. They put so much effort into bells and whistles and weight reduction you sacrifice one of the most important factors and this really matters at long range.
@@jasonmeldrum7686 You have some valid points. I ended up purchasing an additional 6.8 Western from Seekins (fantastic rifle). That rifle truly runs circles around my Christiansen with regard to accuracy. With that said, I still grab my Christiansen when I’m hunting in timber. I’m confident with the accuracy inside 300 yards, whereas I don’t hesitate grabbing it. When I’m in the open country, it’s the Seekins that gets the attention. There are definitely pros and cons to such a lightweight rifle. In my case, the pros still outweigh the cons because at 100 yards, I’m still getting clovers out of my shots. It’s between the 200 to 300 range that I start seeing the spread. I haven’t quite figured out as to why the gap increases that much. I might try some different ammo and I plan on hand loading to find and use the most accurate bullets that the rifle fires best. I’m using 165 grain Nosler Accubond LR’s at the moment from Choice Ammunition. My Seekins loves that round, I can’t say that with the Christiansen…. I plan on stripping the barrel and trying all copper like the Barnes 155 grain LRX loaded from Choice. Hopefully, that rifle loves it 🤞 Both have taken game, but it’s been the Seekins that has taken the elk. I’ll end with this, that 6.8 Western is impressive!!! 3 bulls, all with one shot kills. All three were beyond the 500 yard range. Incredible performance from those Accubonds.
Where I get hung up is the 7 factory velocity is sometimes slightly lower than advertised, which narrows the downrange energy we get in their numbers. That gap is now a little smaller, plus 6.8 has lower recoil. If 6.8 had more launch support (during Covid!) it would be doing much better in the market. But always great to have choices.
Great video!! I have been hunting with a 7 Rem Mag and a 270 Winchester. A M70 Super Grade chambered in 6.8WW came up for a screaming deal, and I picked it up. I know the 7PRC is superior, I just wanted something in between my 270 and 7RM in a short action for whatever reason.
Good podcast. I like to root for the underdog. I like the 6.8, but I have the 280AI., so I’ll stick with that. Another underdog with impressive results. I live in KY, so my only long shots are in corn and bean fields. My 25-06 gets out more than the AI.
I've looked into the 6.8 and the 7 PRC. I personally am probably going to pick the 6.8 between the two. the 7 PRC is to needy of a cartridge for my needs to only shoot 40 shots(according to jim harmer) and have to clean the gun or face pressure problems...i dont want to deal with that.
Picked up a browning x bolt max long range in 6.8 western. The 165 ABLR has higher BC than the 175 sierra. The Berger 170 EOL has a .670, and I have all the components to reload, 300WSM lapua brass converts easiest to 6.8 western, chop neck, anneal, resize. 26” barrel will take all 3 loads above 3000fps without pressure
The 6.8 western does everything that the 7mm prc does better than the 30 cals. So, for me, i bought a 6.8 western and a 300 prc. Best of both worlds for what I need without the compromises.
Since the 6.8 West is a mimic of the 270 WSM. I know I will own one in the future. For all the same reasons I owned and liked the 270 WSM. Short action, light recoil ( brother bought his wife a 270 WSM after shooting mine), and just hammers game. My only grievance with the 270 WSM was having an extra step in the reloading set-up I run. And the cost and availability of factory ammo
I own both. The problem with the 6.8 western is that no companies are getting behind it for ammo. The 7 PRC is already taking off like crazy and will have every major ammo company supporting it within the next few years
Great video! Seems very fair to both. My 14 year old son is going to be elk hunting with the 6.8 Western this fall. Recoil is very manageable for him, which keeps everything much more accurate and ethical.
The 6.8 Western with the 165 ABLR using actual numbers of 3020 ft./s will shoot flatter than the 7 PRC 180 grain EDM using actual FPS of 2835 to 1000 yards. The 7 PRC is a fine cartridge, it’s just not what they say it is.
The lower grainger would mean it should lose velocity at a higher rate leading to a steeper decline of its ballistic arch, ergo at longer ranges it would be less "flat shooting" and have less energy. The lower weight will give it less momentum to overcome drag, and the higher speed will mean it also suffers from more drag. So the complete opposite from your assertion.
If you get a federal loaded 7 PRC it is meeting box speed so it will still shoot flatter than the 6.8. I believe Hornady didn’t update their specs when switching powders specifically because of fear of losing out to the 6.8 western on box specs and while using a longer action.
I got the 7mm prc as my first magnum. I wanted it for 80% long range target/ NRL event shooting and 20% western hunting. I have a 308 now and wanted something that A. Had less drop, less wind, and more energy within 400 yards ( my hunting range) and B. can reach past 1000 yards for long range/elr shooting. I bought 300 rounds of 180ELDM in the same lot last year and just finished it. 2939 fps out of my Bergara HMR's 24" barrel. Sub 0.4 MOA. I don't like ELD-X for hunting so that didn't effect me, but I understand for the people who it did. I have been using Federal TA in 308 and it has been awesome; so that was my factory choice. I just gathered all the reloading supply so am excited to see where I can take it! 6.8 still has my mind for a lightweight hunting rifle.
Both great cartridges. I am getting an average of 3021 fps with the federal terminal ascents out of my Bergara Carbon Crest with a 22" barrel and a Dead Air Nomad Can on the end. I have yet to shoot one that was under 3000 fps. Federal ELD-X averaging 2931
@@Accuracy1st lol, I was thinking how many I have... M1 GERAND: 03 Springfield (fully sportorized) grampas BONE STOCK 03. Dads Rem 700 My wife's Sako grey wolf Browning Safari (bolt action) Browning (semi automatic) FN Mauser (bought this one to do a custom build out of) but, thinking about doing a 280AI out of it. I THINK that's all I have, I think three 308, a couple 243, my BIG guns, one each..... Well some duplicates, lol... Gosh, been 15 years since I took a deer with a 06 though.
@@jwdundon I have a serious character flaw. I buy a rifle and or build one, test factory and handloaded ammo, tag a deer or bear, etc. with it, put it up, and start again. I need to start parting with some. I tagged one deer with my most recent 30-06 build using a 185 Berger VLD over Varget in Lapua brass. Just rebarreled it last summer with a Brux interrupted fluted barrel that was a cancelled order. Originally built by the late John Noveske, it's a trued Rem 700 with DBM. The ammo is going SLOW at 2600fps but it does the job. I plan to hunt with 2 of the Tikkas this coming season in 30-06. But I'm hunting with my new 270-7PRC first until I get something
I've only had one hunting rifle and it's in .270. I love the idea and performance of the 6.8 Western, but it's been out for almost three years and still has only a handful of factory rifle and ammo options. This has me concerned about the feasibility and longevity of the cartridge. Thoughts?
ADG is starting to produce brass for the 6.8 Western as we speak. It’s scheduled to be released for purchase by the end of this year or the beginning of 2025. ADG makes quality brass. Like you, I love my 270, so it’s why I picked up my 6.8 Western. I couldn’t be happier. It’s an amazing carriage. Also, check out Pendleton Ammunition and Choice Ammunition. They both load quality ammunition for the 6.8 Western.
My 6.8 Western is a Christiansen Arms Riding using a 20” barrel. It is only 60 ft per sec slower than box velocities, using various ammo (on average) with some ammo showing only a 40 ft/sec shower. The 6.8 Western is impressive out of a short barrel. So if you plan on using a suppressor, the Western is a terrific option.
Why not change the velocity on the box if they can't source the powder!? I can understand supply chain issues but not deceiving the public. The 6.5 PRC is the same way, 100fps slower than advertised. Didn't need another Creedmoor.
@@X-ForceBro No it’s not! .284 vs .277?That’s only .007 difference in diameter. They are shooting the same weight of projectiles. Both are excellent, and both the .277 and .284 have killed thousands of elk, moose, and deer yearly. Big game doesn’t know the difference after they’ve been shot with either, dead is dead, that I can promise you. You’re being ridiculously biased.
A good video and some great shooting. Would have been good to see some ballistic data similar to that which Ron Spomer produces, but I am pretty sure that they will show very little difference between the two cartridges. The slightly extra mass and velocity of the 7PRC will provide more energy, but they are close in most respects. You can tell just by looking at the cartridges, fairly obvious really.
Both are great cartridges, but I lean towards the 6.8. The load data I’ve seen has the 6.8 western about 50 fps slower with 3.5-6 less grains of powder. When you drop the weight of the .277 bullet to match SD, the 6.8 western ties or exceeds the 7. Basically identical performance for less recoil. That shorter fatter case and whatever other elements they put into the design just seems to do a better job wringing more velocity out of the powder than the 7 PRC does. Now if I’m buying one today, I’m getting a 7, but if one of the quality brass manufacturers decides to play kingmaker and starts pumping out 6.8 brass, I’m going to expect the floodgates will open and the 6.8 will really gain a lot of popularity.
@@jimedick9496 Well let's hope they take the rollout seriously and still sell through their first run like hotcakes. That would probably be enough to get peterson on board and then reloaders are good to go.
@@Snailz5 ADG brass is exceptional brass. They invest a lot of time and money in engineering their equipment and designs. Since Winchester (Olin) is failing miserably with supplying brass, I think it will take off for ADG.
@@jimedick9496 I'mno saying ADG isn't great. I'm saying I want two good suppliers in the market so there's competition and more supply. Peterson is also good and they seem more apt to tke on somewhat niche hunting cartridges, which is why I would assume they would be second in line.
As for cartridges inductions. The best overall support for a newbies in my time ..350 Legend n WSMs.7PRC Good but a wee bit slower than those. Now the Hype that goes with such..Creed gets that nod followed by all its spin offs. With the spinoffs getting more early on.
9:00 this is true for the EldX and EldM, but not the CX! The CX will still do what the box claims. This is because the CX uses another type of gunpowder, and will reach 3000 fps.
Dang 20inch 7prc? Seems like wasted money on rifle and ammo knowing you won't get velocities they claim. If I bought one of the new boutique prc's, it would have to be minimum 24 inch
@@bobsundquist2039 Thanks Bob, I appreciate your input. I have a friend he feels the same way. He’s kill all critters he shoots with his 06 he is still on the same box of ammo he’s had for twelve years. Hey, truly wish you all the best.
I was lucky and bought a bunch of "older" 7 prc ammo gives me right around 3000 ftps. Shoots very accurate out of my rifle and hammered the **** out of the lungs of a moose I got with it. My go to is a 3006 but wanted something different and I am more than happy with the results. That being said will be trying the Federal ammo to see how it shoots out of my rifle.
Well the prc is at least 200 fps slower than the Box states 😅 this is unacceptable, I dont care for the oh we needed to change propellant, because then you can change the writing to
I would opt for n+1 of each caliber if I could afford it. 1 only? Probably just stick with a 30-06. If I have to pick one of those, I'll take the 7prc. All that is to say that I think there are many, many cartridges ahead of either one of those.
9:51 So hand loaders can get "everything" out of the 7 prc with available powders to them? Geeze if hand loaders can do it with available powders, a company as large as hornady would have access to those same available powders, which would provide "everything" as well. Probably something in the tooling where Hornadys equipment doesnt flow those other "availible" powders efficiently and fast enough into cases for needed production rates. So they settled on a powder that works but provides less fps. Less fps is the cheaper alternative. This makes sense vs their other excuss.
I've got an xbolt speed sr in 7prc as well. With the hunter bullets, i'm getting consistent 3 bullet groups from 1/8 to 1/2". I've had no groups larger than 1/2" at 100 yds. Those 1/8" groups had to be estimated with the outer edges of the hole comparisons to a single shot hole because it's dang near threading the same hole. (The 3 shot groups of these "estimated" were only 1/8" larger in diameter than a single shot hole.) I'm hoping to get a thunderbeast or omega silencer/muzzle break combo to reduce recoil to see what that contributes. The slight reduction in muzzle velocity compared to the spec with the new powder isn't going to make enough of a difference in my hunting or long-range shots to matter. Could hornady reword the package specs with the powder changes? Sure. But it still works well for me.
If I had to pick one be the 7prc, I absolutely love my lightweight custom 7prc. Hopefully, the 6.8 hangs on and gets some popularity, so more ammo and rifle manufacturers get on board for those who love the cartridge.
I hear the 7 prc is loaded to tight tolerances which should have better accuracy but i see alot guys on YT shooting about 2 moa groupings with it and that's not good for it's intended purpose. Then i see guys shooting tighter groups with the 6.8 western.
I had a 7mm rem mag. Got rid of it but liked the caliber. Was looking for a beltless one for ease of reloading. The 7 prc meets that. I was hoping that the 7 LRM would have been SAAMI speced, but that didn't happen. All things considered I'm planning on sticking with primarily Federal ammo and reloading. Not a fan of Hornady ammo.
Im looking to rebarrel and re stock an older savage 116 and from 7 rem mag so im all over videos like this now. I'll take all the datat i can get. I am liking the 7 prc since it uses my same bolt face as my 7 rem mag but it seems there are some strict maintainance requieemenrs of the 7 prc. So it may not be ideal for hunting since deep cleaning in the field isnt ideal
If Joseph has been watching cartridge releases for over 40 years all that recoil must be keeping him young! Or he's been watching since he was a baby. These are both very excellent looking modern cartidges! I'm old school for now but these are two I have my eye on.
Great comparison on two great cartridges. It’s been interesting to see how the calibers are now being developed to take advantage of the very precise CNC manufacturing, superior optics, and precise rangefinder’s. The old 270 is about 90% of these, and folks who get on the forums and wail about it are right. Except that my grandfather’s old 270 with a Weaver 4X scope isn’t capable of making shots much more than 300 yards. And it didn’t need to be, since no ethical hunter would take a shot on a game animal at unknown distances. Today you can get a rifle and optic capable of extreme range for less than a thousand dollars. That still doesn’t make up for the elephant in the room in the fact that very few people are capable of making shots at those ranges.
There’s only a .007 mm difference between the 7 mm bullet vs the 6.8 bullet. So technically, you can reach a higher BC with the 7, but it’s not by much.
As a guy with a 1-8" twist 270 wsm, I sure have enjoyed the heavy .277 bullets brought on by the 6.8 western. If someone would start making quality brass for the 6.8, I'd probably buy one. I've got a 7mm rem mag that shoots lights out, so I don't see much need in getting set up to load for a new 7mm cartridge.
I think it’s really unfortunate that Hornady still advertise the velocity that they can’t get anymore. I’ve heard tale that they wanted to kill the 6.8 western and this unfortunately supports that. Because while they admit that the box velocity is no longer realistic , they haven’t updated the website or anything like that. The 6.8 western looks to be a better package. It just needs more manufacturers to jump on the bus or it’s not going anywhere. And that’s a pity.
The 7prc is a great cartridge, Hornady fucking up their factory loads doesnt change that. Federal loads are hitting right on advertised, the only advantage to the 6.8 is slightly lower recoil and being a short action.
I love watching your YT chanel and this video about 7mm PRC really got me interested about it. You are talking a lot about loads with H1000 powder, so if you can please tell me: -powder weight od H1000 used -bullet type of 180 gr -barrel length -muzzle velocity -amount of pressure in PSI and is it safe Thanks a lot!
I have a Browning X bolt western hunter in 6.8. I really like the caliber, but the rifle is garbage. Best group I've ever had was 1 MOA and average group is 1.3-1.5MOA. I am going to get rid of it after the hunting season and have a friend build me a custom rifle in a 6.8 western. If you really compare the two calibers, neither does something the other won't. Yes, the 7PRC shoots flatter, but you have more recoil and in a long action. At reasonable hunting distances I think the 6.8 is the winner with less recoil and shorter action.
I wish more rifle manufacturers would have adopted the 6.8 western... it really is an almost perfect cartridge.
If you watch the previous video by Ron, you would understand there is a shortage of propellants. Hornady chose accuracy over speed. It is what it is… Practice with your loads to get yourself dialed in. Unfortunately it’s the world we live in.
Go figure; the 6.8 Western is basically the necked down 7 RSAUM, with a slightly different shoulder angle! Together with its cousin, the 6.5 RSAUM, later called the 6.5 GAP, were and still are both one of the most efficient, accurate & basically the perfect case to bore-size capacity combination cartridges!
I’ve used all of these and am to date still playing around with both the 6.8 Western & 7PRC!
Agree. 👍🏻
@AndrewJohnson-gx5cl it's still early to rule that out..... just look how many years for the 6.5 NeedsMore to get popular.lol....( still prefer my 260rem).
@@AndrewJohnson-gx5cl I agree. It’s awesome The perfect fatty short
I enjoy my 6.8 and it's 7pounds of less felt recoil for basically the same real world performance
If there was more support for 6.8 itd be more popular
Support for 6.8 has been getting better. More rifles and reloading components have been released recently.
duh
AKA 270 short mag. They sure flubbed the role of that one. I still love mine .
@kevinsmith9726 yeah just getting better twist rates an able to use the longer bullets now. I think Browning is starting to do that with older cartridges now. Winchester don't support their own stuff well. Or the 7 WSM would still be popular.
@@seetownwv - so true. I did run 160g Nosler Partitions and they shot well but in the end the accuracy of the 145g ELDX and the 3100fps does the job on anything I have shot so far. Out here in the SW of Canada we don’t get shots much over. 500 and that my person no go spot anyway. I think we loose sight sometimes of just how awesome new rifles are. Easy to wrapped around the axel on newer, faster longer but in the end we rarely use the full potential of a lot of these. When I re-barrel next I will likely increase the twist rate anyway but if I need more punch I can always load some copper. Great thing about hand loading these is we are not stuck with factory loads @ $90 cnd for 20 and. O selection or inventory. Cheers -10 and snowing !! 😜
When Hornady didn’t load for the 6.8 everyone knew it was going to be an uphill battle. The 7PRC isn’t going anywhere because it’s the new cool kid and it’s really good in all respects. Hornady should have changed the advertised box velocity and it’s a bad look that they didn’t.
They ran short of the original powder and had to use a backup, some lot numbers were made with the backup powder and did not hit velocities listed. This has been corrected.
@@justinscott9213 Has it? I haven’t seen them say that publicly but I guess it’s possible.
@@justinscott9213@justinscott9213 It doesn't matter even if they have resolved it, I don't think they have, but whatever, it's the fact that they decided to not disclose the change in velocity. It was only because the gun community found out that it came out and since then back peddling by Hornady. The only reason Hornady isn't supporting the 6.8 is because they view it as a competitor,
Whatever it's fine
absolutely pretending they hadnt made substantial changes making big difference in velocity very deceptive.
Fun to watch you shoot both guns and rounds so accurately, loved this episode. But now I need a 6.8 Western
Unlike the 7 PRC, the 6.8W has published loads available for lighter bullets (including the V-max) for times when a lighter bullet is needed.
Hornady publishes down to 139 grain in 7 prc
Hodgdon has down to 150 on their website.
A good, honest and straightforward rundown on both cartridges. Very well done.
I agree 6.8 is not inflated remains "as advertised," that's important.
I own a 6.8 western in a Winchester model 70 super grade. love the rifle and the accuracy it gives, usually around .75 to .48 inch groups. One of my favorite hand loads for this cartridge pushes the 165 ABLR just north of 3000fps. This puts it about 150 fps over my custom 270 win, so not a huge difference. While I love the cartridge and the rifle I have to admit most of the "New" offerings from companies simply are not the "Wonder rounds" manufacturers would like us to believe they are. 7PRC is a great example of this. The old tried and true 7mm Rem mag is now being made by browning and a few others with a 1in8 twist and can push the same bullets 100fps faster than even the box velocity of the 7PRC. Again not a huge difference but thats the point any of the older rounds can be fitted with a fast twist barrel much cheaper than buying another rifle and match or exceed the performance of the new.
I have a a 6.8 model 70 featherweight. I’m hitting steel plate at 850 yards!
Exactly my 7mm rem mag trgs with 1-8.4 proof bbl easily reaches those velocities. And with 175 gr eldx is 1/2 moa or better off the hood of my truck . With first load i tried
@@adamdaughety8825 💪🏻🫡
What ammo do u recommend for 70 super grade ? I got the 70 maple,
@@qiangwang8165 for factory ammo mine likes the 165gr ABLR winchester load.
I have a x bolt in 6.8W and love it. The 175 gr round has taken two elk so far.
Great Job with Comparison. The 7 PRC and 6.8 Western are excellent cartridges. The 6.8 Western does not get the praise it deserves. The 270 Winchester fans claim it is better than the 6.8 Western, there is no comparison. The 6.8 Western is far superior. And the 6.8 Western is close to the performance of the 7 PRC.
🤣 Now Let Me Tell You Why Your Wrong: The 270 Winchester Holds More Rounds in The Magazine Than Either of These Cartridges and - At the Elevations That I Hunt Elk - The 270 Winchester (1 in 10 Twist Barrel) Will Stabilize The 165 grain Nosler ABLR and Provide Over 1,500 ft lbs of Energy and 2,000 ft/s Out to More Than a Half Mile! It Will Do It With 5 ft lbs to 8 ft lbs of Less Recoil Than These Two Cartridges! You Can Keep the Extra Recoil, Because My 270 Will Do All I Need It To and More! 😎
@ronlowney4700 wrong is a strong word. But everything else you said is spot on. Where I believe the .270 win takes the cake is that it's done on an old, reliable, and readily available platform in any model you prefer. It does everything in affordable and plain Jane ammo, no match grade, and in a 1:10 twist. It's just tried and true. I'm torn right now on buying a browning x-bolt LR in 270win with the 1:7.5 twist rate and playing with that. Or the 280 ai. But the availability of good ammo has me leading towards the former.
As the 1:8" and 1:7.5" Barrels become more plentiful on the market for the .270 Win, you're going to see that 'far superior' greatly diminish or disappear altogether with new loads of 165 to 175gr and maybe even 180gr Bullets, imo!
That 100+ year old .270 Win Cartridge I think is going to still impress us all as it heads into its second Century of life...!
@@ronlowney4700*You're not your. You assume that both of these cartridges are going to be in an internal magazine. Find me a .270 win in a external magazine. This just shows how ignorant you are. I typed into google search "270 win 165 grain ammo for sale" and you know how many results I got? Zero. You failed to state the obvious. You are handloading. Using any non standard pet load versus factory loads again...shows how ignorant you are. No cartridges should be gauged by handloads. Because the variances are so vast, that's why you go off of factory ammo. What percentage of 270 guys are shooting a 1 in 10 and handloading a 165? Almost none of them. Almost all of them are shooting a 22 to 24 inch barrel with 130 grain factory ammo that is way lower in velocity than they think it is and that is stated on the box. I know that my 24 inch bergara 6.5 prc shoots factory federal terminal ascent at 3100 fps because I have tested it. It shoots factory 142 ablr at 2930. Should I use those numbers or handload and then tell you my pet load 130 grain is at 3300 fps? I mean i could easily get it there if I wanted to.
@@ronlowney4700
For those who can reload, you make a solid case. For those who don’t reload, the Western is the better option.
You can also purchase 170-175 grain ammo for the Western.
Both are terrific cartridges.
I prefer the 0.277" diameter. It's getting more versatile every day.
@@AlanRoehrich9651 they just don’t have as many bullet options rn. With the army adopting the caliber it’s going to be around forever (the diameter bullet for reloading not the western itself) and you’ll have competitive high efficiency bullets with 7mm for even lower prices because of it. Like the good old 7.62 nato for instance.
Seekins makes a nice 6.8 western too
If I was gonna pick between those two I'd go with the 6.8 western. for one I think it's a neat cartridge and two I already have a 7mm rem mag and from the research I've done the only thing a 7 prc does the 7mm rem mag doesn't is stabalize slightly heavier bullets
Browning offers a 1:7.5 twist rate in the 6.8 western as well… if the 6.8 western was as widely supported like 7mm PRC I think it would have way more steam and popularity. It’s up to the Ron’s and Joseph’s of the world to spark the 6.8 to where it needs to be! 😉 😊. Get on it guys! Lol
Would you mind sharing what velocity she got out of both of those rifles with 20 inch barrels? Thank you. 26:15
I use the 6.8 SPC in my AR because it is superior to 300 Blackout for hunting. Might have to look at the 6.8 Western.
I have both, and I love both.
I think I’m leaning towards the 6.8 western as a hand loader. I like the more efficient cartridges. Also seems to almost equal seven PRC right now.
There are so many rifle manufacturers building for the 7mm prc , and now Federal has ammo that is delivering 3000 fps! It seems with all the options, that the 7mm prc will outlast the “competition “, but only time will tell….
I really enjoy videos with Ron and Joseph. You guys are awesome.
I wish other ammo manufacturers would get on board with 6.8 Western. I’ve really been interested in this caliber but because I’m not a reloader I need a wide variety of ammo manufacturers to choose my ammo from.
If it gives you peace of mind I have a 6.8 western in a model 70 featherweight and I’ve tried all factory ammo from browning and Winchester. It shot everything sub moa except the Winchester power point ammo which was a little over an inch. Choice ammunition also makes ammo for the 6.8 western but they’re a little on the more expensive side
If you want the ammo manufacturers to get on board, you'll have to get the rifle manufacturers onboard first.
Great video! I’m in the 6.8 camp and will be building one on a Tikka action. Hornady really showed its colors with its lying. Once you lose credibility it’s rarely regained.
How’s that build with the Tikka going? That was something I was pondering myself, but I ended up purchasing the Seekins Havak instead for my second 6.8 Western. I already had the 6.8 chambered in a Christiansen Arms Ridgeline FFT with a 20” barrel. I wanted a longer barrel, so that’s where I was thinking of going the Tikka route. A buddy of mine picked up a Seekins and I fell in love with that rifle, so I abandoned my Tikka build and went with the Seekins for immediate satiation.
I’m somewhat impatient 😂
If you do finish that build, you should put together a RUclips video. I’d love to see it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would enjoy that 😁
@@jimedick9496skip the tikka the x bolt 2 is an awesome gun with a far superior stock. Great barrel and 90% of the smoothness of the tikka rifles. Don’t forget the Winchester model 70 too. Both are awesome manufactures with great triggers stocks and barrels.
Funny you mention the X-Bolt. I’m looking at the 26” barrel X-Bolt LR for my third 6.8 Western. That gives me a 20” Christiansen for woods carry, plus, it’s ridiculously light weight. Then my 24” barrel is the Seekins Havak PH2. That is a kick ass rifle!!
I’m planning on purchasing the 26” X-Bolt LR this weekend.
My brother in law just witnessed me talking a 5X5 Roosevelt elk on the Oregon coast last month. It was a 656 yard shoot and that bull ran maybe 20 yards and dropped. He was so impressed that he’s looking at the Browning X-Bolt himself. He’s not sure what model to go with. You have the X-Bolt 2? What’s your impression with the hand grips and the comb riser?
We both have x bolt gen 1 walnut stocks. Mine In .308 his in .270. They both shoot 90% of loads at 1 inch or less groups at 100. Triggers barrel and stock shape is awesome the quality is felt. I have held and shot the new x bolt two. The synthetic stock is awesome! I love the new grip angle and cheek weld. The stock feels very ridged and very much so serviceable. This was compared to my younger brothers tikka t3x veil wildlands in .300 win mag. Also a great gun. I think the x bolt stock was better. They left a little more material in a support spot on the receiver for a smoother bolt pull. Only con with the x bolt is the barrel will be harder to switch if you’re a barrel burner. But it can be done. Don’t forget the model 70s for hunting. Made by FN. I could go on a long rant on that gun too. Tikka is great too. My dad has a gen 1 in .270wsm. try to hold one yourself. You can’t go wrong with any of them. I’m looking for a 6.8 model 70 myself.
@@samuelrichards7481
Thanks for the info… My brother in law isn’t a barrel burner. This is strictly for hunting and sighting in his rifle once a year prior to his hunts. He likes the use of the X-Bolt two for the grip options. It’s a good looking rifle as well. Glad to hear you like the stock and the way out feels. I’m looking more at the LR models with the 26” barrel.
This will be my 3rd 6.8 Western, so I’ve got plenty of options to choose from, for those days at the range. Plus, I have a lot of other rifles and calibers for range day as well. Honestly, that’s what my 6.5 PRC has been regulated to. It’s very accurate, but I prefer using my Western for big game hunting. Burning out barrels really isn’t too much of a concern for me either. I had heard and read that Browning barrel replacement is very difficult. So that’s when I start mulling over the idea of getting a Tikka and having it modified for the 6.8 Western.
Man! That 6.8 is a sweet cartridge! Gotta pick one up soon.
I really like the 6.8, but it needs some more support. Hopefully it gets it! I can’t justify it over my 300wm at this point.
I have only one bolt action rifle (a Browning X-Bolt), and it's chambered in 6.8 Western: I'm happy with it! My Remington 7600 is chambered in .35 Whelen (my poor man's magnum--it likes 200 gr. to 250 gr. bullets), and my Savage 99C is chambered in .308 WIN (150 gr. to 180 gr. bullets). As for my Ruger Mini-14, it's my plinker and varmint gun chambered in 5.56mm (it can also chamber .223 Rem rounds ).
I’m also a 280 AI guy and am not a fan of the new calibres that you can’t make brass for from a calibre that has been around for a while like the old 30-06. I make brass for my AI from LC match 30-06 with stellar results and without breaking the bank.
I sold my 280AI. I kept my 280. I use the 6.5 Creedmore and the 6,8 Western. And a lot of .243 !
@@davidjohnson4451 we keep a .243 on the kitchen counter.. my wife hates coyotes.. better not walk in front of her window mr coyote🫣😝🤣
you can make 6.8W from either of the SAUM's or either the 270WSM or 300WSM. Plenty of other bass calibers to pick from. 300WSM is the most readily available of these, chop it down and push it back and resize it. With the SAUM's its just 'resize die me, please'
6.8 Western is basically an improved 270 WSM. I'll take the Western without hesitation over the 7mm PRC
With Hornady refusing to load for the 6.8 Western has caused suppression of the 6.8 Western availability. Thank you for sharing this useful information.
Both are great cartridges just like the 270win & 280AI are both great cartridges. They are similar & both have their place.
Hornady should not be given a pass for colluding with other manufacturers to suppress the 6.8 Western and also lying about how much speed the 7 PRC is actually getting. The more I see from them the less I like them as a company. I went with the 6.8 Western and am happy with what it offers. Excellent performance with fairly mild recoil, nothing in North America I wouldn't hunt with it.
It's not the " 7prc " that's not getting 3k. It's hornady. Federal Gets 3k no problem.
@@benjaminsmith6012 This is fact. Also why I ordered a pile of Federal online. I don't need to be creating a new dope card every time I open a new box of Hornady. Consistency is the name of the game, whether at 2800 or 3000 fps.
@nt3523 I bought 10 boxes of the Hornady before I knew too much. They were all the same batch and have shot really good I'm averaging 2900 ft per second. But shoots very very accurately. How do you like the federals? When these are gone I'll probably buy a couple hundred rounds of them next
@@benjaminsmith6012 I haven't even shot the rifle yet. I'm sure the Hornady is fine, I just wonder if they will go back to the original recipe that was getting 3000fps. I'm putting a rig together for my dad and using a Leupold with CDS turret where the yardage is calculated and printed on the dial. Great system, but I need consistent MV.
@@nt3523 I'm sure if they can get ahold of the powder again they would
Where’s the 700-1000 rifle. My pick is 6.8. 165ablr. Or with a 145 lrx
🙄 Exactly! Any Custom Gun Should Be Able To Shoot! But, Horneday Was Promising "Match Grade Accuracy" Out of Any Off The Shelf Rifle! Was That Promise Realistic/Truthful? 🤣 NOPE, Because Horneday Doesn't Control the QA/QC of Other Companies Products (Or The Quality of Barrels That They Put on Their Rifles)! 😏 This Was "Marketing Hype" and "False Claims" That Will Come Back To Haunt Horneday! 🧟♂️
I purchased a Christiansen Arms Ridgline FFT with a 20” barrel in 6.8 Western.
It took me some range time to break in the barrel and smooth out the action, but once the break in was completed, I can’t say enough about both the cartridge and rifle. It makes for the perfect mountain/canyon hunting rifle. The rife is only 5.3 lbs. The Leupold scope and rings barely put it over 6 pounds. I can pack this all day long and I don’t even know it’s strapped over my shoulders.
It has quickly become my favorite rifle and cartridge.
Only problems are it is very difficult to get good accuracy from rifles that are that light this has been proven time and time again. The other issue is unfortunately Christiansen rifles are not known to be very accurate, especially for their cost. I've watched rifles dance circles around them the funniest being a Ruger American. They put so much effort into bells and whistles and weight reduction you sacrifice one of the most important factors and this really matters at long range.
@@jasonmeldrum7686
You have some valid points. I ended up purchasing an additional 6.8 Western from Seekins (fantastic rifle). That rifle truly runs circles around my Christiansen with regard to accuracy. With that said, I still grab my Christiansen when I’m hunting in timber. I’m confident with the accuracy inside 300 yards, whereas I don’t hesitate grabbing it. When I’m in the open country, it’s the Seekins that gets the attention.
There are definitely pros and cons to such a lightweight rifle. In my case, the pros still outweigh the cons because at 100 yards, I’m still getting clovers out of my shots. It’s between the 200 to 300 range that I start seeing the spread. I haven’t quite figured out as to why the gap increases that much. I might try some different ammo and I plan on hand loading to find and use the most accurate bullets that the rifle fires best. I’m using 165 grain Nosler Accubond LR’s at the moment from Choice Ammunition. My Seekins loves that round, I can’t say that with the Christiansen…. I plan on stripping the barrel and trying all copper like the Barnes 155 grain LRX loaded from Choice. Hopefully, that rifle loves it 🤞
Both have taken game, but it’s been the Seekins that has taken the elk. I’ll end with this, that 6.8 Western is impressive!!! 3 bulls, all with one shot kills. All three were beyond the 500 yard range. Incredible performance from those Accubonds.
I would have gone for the 6.8 if it had proper early support in different rifles and ammo.
Where I get hung up is the 7 factory velocity is sometimes slightly lower than advertised, which narrows the downrange energy we get in their numbers. That gap is now a little smaller, plus 6.8 has lower recoil. If 6.8 had more launch support (during Covid!) it would be doing much better in the market. But always great to have choices.
Great video!! I have been hunting with a 7 Rem Mag and a 270 Winchester. A M70 Super Grade chambered in 6.8WW came up for a screaming deal, and I picked it up. I know the 7PRC is superior, I just wanted something in between my 270 and 7RM in a short action for whatever reason.
Good podcast. I like to root for the underdog. I like the 6.8, but I have the 280AI., so I’ll stick with that. Another underdog with impressive results. I live in KY, so my only long shots are in corn and bean fields. My 25-06 gets out more than the AI.
No 7PRC rifles in my country yet. Waiting for Howa to start making the 26" heavy barrel. Tikka also need to catch up!
I need a 6.8. Great video.
I heard Reloader 26 works really well in the 7 PRC. Is that the powder he was referring to from Scandanavia that Hornady can't get?
I've looked into the 6.8 and the 7 PRC. I personally am probably going to pick the 6.8 between the two. the 7 PRC is to needy of a cartridge for my needs to only shoot 40 shots(according to jim harmer) and have to clean the gun or face pressure problems...i dont want to deal with that.
Picked up a browning x bolt max long range in 6.8 western. The 165 ABLR has higher BC than the 175 sierra. The Berger 170 EOL has a .670, and I have all the components to reload, 300WSM lapua brass converts easiest to 6.8 western, chop neck, anneal, resize. 26” barrel will take all 3 loads above 3000fps without pressure
Great shooting Joe! I'm envious of your skills!!
Thanks!
I would probably go with the 6.8 western mainly because Hornady was fudging the numbers on the 7 prc.
The 6.8 western does everything that the 7mm prc does better than the 30 cals. So, for me, i bought a 6.8 western and a 300 prc. Best of both worlds for what I need without the compromises.
If you could only have one, which?
1 - 7PRC rifle would do everything the other 2 do...
2 ballistically attractive cartridges. I’ll stick with my .280AI
Can’t go wrong with the 280AI.
Lots going for that option.
Same
I said just go with the .300 Win Mag and forget about it.
Since the 6.8 West is a mimic of the 270 WSM. I know I will own one in the future. For all the same reasons I owned and liked the 270 WSM. Short action, light recoil ( brother bought his wife a 270 WSM after shooting mine), and just hammers game.
My only grievance with the 270 WSM was having an extra step in the reloading set-up I run. And the cost and availability of factory ammo
I own both. The problem with the 6.8 western is that no companies are getting behind it for ammo. The 7 PRC is already taking off like crazy and will have every major ammo company supporting it within the next few years
Great video! Seems very fair to both. My 14 year old son is going to be elk hunting with the 6.8 Western this fall. Recoil is very manageable for him, which keeps everything much more accurate and ethical.
The 6.8 Western with the 165 ABLR using actual numbers of 3020 ft./s will shoot flatter than the 7 PRC 180 grain EDM using actual FPS of 2835 to 1000 yards.
The 7 PRC is a fine cartridge, it’s just not what they say it is.
The lower grainger would mean it should lose velocity at a higher rate leading to a steeper decline of its ballistic arch, ergo at longer ranges it would be less "flat shooting" and have less energy. The lower weight will give it less momentum to overcome drag, and the higher speed will mean it also suffers from more drag. So the complete opposite from your assertion.
Bullet weight has next to nothing to do with drag. Bullet sectional density and ballistic coefficient are what are used to measure drag.
If you get a federal loaded 7 PRC it is meeting box speed so it will still shoot flatter than the 6.8. I believe Hornady didn’t update their specs when switching powders specifically because of fear of losing out to the 6.8 western on box specs and while using a longer action.
A 7 PRC can shoot heavies at 3,000 fps
I got the 7mm prc as my first magnum. I wanted it for 80% long range target/ NRL event shooting and 20% western hunting. I have a 308 now and wanted something that A. Had less drop, less wind, and more energy within 400 yards ( my hunting range) and B. can reach past 1000 yards for long range/elr shooting. I bought 300 rounds of 180ELDM in the same lot last year and just finished it. 2939 fps out of my Bergara HMR's 24" barrel. Sub 0.4 MOA. I don't like ELD-X for hunting so that didn't effect me, but I understand for the people who it did. I have been using Federal TA in 308 and it has been awesome; so that was my factory choice. I just gathered all the reloading supply so am excited to see where I can take it! 6.8 still has my mind for a lightweight hunting rifle.
Both great cartridges. I am getting an average of 3021 fps with the federal terminal ascents out of my Bergara Carbon Crest with a 22" barrel and a Dead Air Nomad Can on the end. I have yet to shoot one that was under 3000 fps. Federal ELD-X averaging 2931
Easy choice! I'd pick the cartridge right in the middle of both of these that's better than both!
@@FranzAntonMesmer 270-7PRC
There's a reason a 30-06 is the most popular cartridge in history
@@jwdundon Yes, and that's because how long it's been around and it's a solid do-all cartridge. I have 7.
@@Accuracy1st lol, I was thinking how many I have...
M1 GERAND:
03 Springfield (fully sportorized)
grampas BONE STOCK 03.
Dads Rem 700
My wife's Sako grey wolf
Browning Safari (bolt action)
Browning (semi automatic)
FN Mauser (bought this one to do a custom build out of) but, thinking about doing a 280AI out of it.
I THINK that's all I have, I think three 308, a couple 243, my BIG guns, one each..... Well some duplicates, lol... Gosh, been 15 years since I took a deer with a 06 though.
@@jwdundon I have a serious character flaw. I buy a rifle and or build one, test factory and handloaded ammo, tag a deer or bear, etc. with it, put it up, and start again. I need to start parting with some. I tagged one deer with my most recent 30-06 build using a 185 Berger VLD over Varget in Lapua brass. Just rebarreled it last summer with a Brux interrupted fluted barrel that was a cancelled order. Originally built by the late John Noveske, it's a trued Rem 700 with DBM. The ammo is going SLOW at 2600fps but it does the job. I plan to hunt with 2 of the Tikkas this coming season in 30-06. But I'm hunting with my new 270-7PRC first until I get something
I've only had one hunting rifle and it's in .270. I love the idea and performance of the 6.8 Western, but it's been out for almost three years and still has only a handful of factory rifle and ammo options. This has me concerned about the feasibility and longevity of the cartridge. Thoughts?
Grabagun lists over 80 different rifles from 5 manufacturers right now in 6.8. I wish Federal would come out with something like a165 terminal ascent
ADG is starting to produce brass for the 6.8 Western as we speak. It’s scheduled to be released for purchase by the end of this year or the beginning of 2025. ADG makes quality brass.
Like you, I love my 270, so it’s why I picked up my 6.8 Western. I couldn’t be happier. It’s an amazing carriage.
Also, check out Pendleton Ammunition and Choice Ammunition. They both load quality ammunition for the 6.8 Western.
I bought the 6.8 Western
Actually, what about the 6.5 and 300 PRC, are they basedon the same powder??
The trend I am seeing is too short a barrel for all these over bore rifles/cartridges. Great Show.
My 6.8 Western is a Christiansen Arms Riding using a 20” barrel. It is only 60 ft per sec slower than box velocities, using various ammo (on average) with some ammo showing only a 40 ft/sec shower. The 6.8 Western is impressive out of a short barrel.
So if you plan on using a suppressor, the Western is a terrific option.
Why not change the velocity on the box if they can't source the powder!? I can understand supply chain issues but not deceiving the public. The 6.5 PRC is the same way, 100fps slower than advertised. Didn't need another Creedmoor.
Still looking for a 6.8 western..
Sportsman’s Warehouse has a terrific selection. I ordered mine and picked it up once it arrived. Only took a week
6.8 western for the win ! Just because Hornady bias towards 6.8 and .277 caliber’s.
Why 270 is a lame version of 7 mm
@@X-ForceBro
No it’s not! .284 vs .277?That’s only .007 difference in diameter. They are shooting the same weight of projectiles.
Both are excellent, and both the .277 and .284 have killed thousands of elk, moose, and deer yearly. Big game doesn’t know the difference after they’ve been shot with either, dead is dead, that I can promise you.
You’re being ridiculously biased.
@@jimedick9496they really aren't though, 7mm has some killer offerings from 180-195 that .277 just doesn't have.
Then Hornady should change their packaging
Still love my 7mm rem mag it’s the best cartridge!!!
7mm Western for me! ;)
A good video and some great shooting. Would have been good to see some ballistic data similar to that which Ron Spomer produces, but I am pretty sure that they will show very little difference between the two cartridges. The slightly extra mass and velocity of the 7PRC will provide more energy, but they are close in most respects. You can tell just by looking at the cartridges, fairly obvious really.
Both are great cartridges, but I lean towards the 6.8. The load data I’ve seen has the 6.8 western about 50 fps slower with 3.5-6 less grains of powder. When you drop the weight of the .277 bullet to match SD, the 6.8 western ties or exceeds the 7. Basically identical performance for less recoil. That shorter fatter case and whatever other elements they put into the design just seems to do a better job wringing more velocity out of the powder than the 7 PRC does. Now if I’m buying one today, I’m getting a 7, but if one of the quality brass manufacturers decides to play kingmaker and starts pumping out 6.8 brass, I’m going to expect the floodgates will open and the 6.8 will really gain a lot of popularity.
ADG brass will be manufacturing the 6.8 Western brass towards the end of this year.
They emailed me back confirming the rumors 👍
@@jimedick9496 Well let's hope they take the rollout seriously and still sell through their first run like hotcakes. That would probably be enough to get peterson on board and then reloaders are good to go.
@@Snailz5
ADG brass is exceptional brass. They invest a lot of time and money in engineering their equipment and designs.
Since Winchester (Olin) is failing miserably with supplying brass, I think it will take off for ADG.
@@jimedick9496 I'mno saying ADG isn't great. I'm saying I want two good suppliers in the market so there's competition and more supply. Peterson is also good and they seem more apt to tke on somewhat niche hunting cartridges, which is why I would assume they would be second in line.
Well Done Bud!
I have a couple spare Remington 700 in .308Win. If one was re-barrelled, could it possibly be converted into a 6.8 Western?
I think you would need to change the bolt to a magnum bolt face
@@justinmeasday8930 Interesting. Thankyou
Which fast twist and bullets for the wsm 270wsm and 7mm wsm would beat them both
The 6.8W is just a modified 270 WSM.
As for cartridges inductions. The best overall support for a newbies in my time ..350 Legend n WSMs.7PRC Good but a wee bit slower than those.
Now the Hype that goes with such..Creed gets that nod followed by all its spin offs.
With the spinoffs getting more early on.
9:00 this is true for the EldX and EldM, but not the CX! The CX will still do what the box claims. This is because the CX uses another type of gunpowder, and will reach 3000 fps.
Dang 20inch 7prc? Seems like wasted money on rifle and ammo knowing you won't get velocities they claim. If I bought one of the new boutique prc's, it would have to be minimum 24 inch
I’m still a 30-06 fan for every critter bigger than coyote or bobcat 😉
I have been hunting with the same Rem 700 30-06 for 42 years. I don't see a point in changing at this stage of my life.
@@bobsundquist2039 Thanks Bob, I appreciate your input. I have a friend he feels the same way. He’s kill all critters he shoots with his 06 he is still on the same box of ammo he’s had for twelve years.
Hey, truly wish you all the best.
I was lucky and bought a bunch of "older" 7 prc ammo gives me right around 3000 ftps. Shoots very accurate out of my rifle and hammered the **** out of the lungs of a moose I got with it. My go to is a 3006 but wanted something different and I am more than happy with the results. That being said will be trying the Federal ammo to see how it shoots out of my rifle.
Well the prc is at least 200 fps slower than the Box states 😅 this is unacceptable, I dont care for the oh we needed to change propellant, because then you can change the writing to
Exactly they were falsely advertising and knew it but didn’t say anything until people called them out for scamming people.
Mine gets 3000 fps with a 175 grain bullet no problem
@@joshlower1 Not with the new ammo.
@@falba1492other manufacturers do
It's not the prc that is slower dummy. It's just Hornady ammo
I would opt for n+1 of each caliber if I could afford it. 1 only? Probably just stick with a 30-06. If I have to pick one of those, I'll take the 7prc. All that is to say that I think there are many, many cartridges ahead of either one of those.
Despite all the obsession with ultra long range shooting an ultra high ballistic coefficient the 30-06 is a good compromise for almost anything
9:51 So hand loaders can get "everything" out of the 7 prc with available powders to them?
Geeze if hand loaders can do it with available powders, a company as large as hornady would have access to those same available powders, which would provide "everything" as well.
Probably something in the tooling where Hornadys equipment doesnt flow those other "availible" powders efficiently and fast enough into cases for needed production rates. So they settled on a powder that works but provides less fps.
Less fps is the cheaper alternative.
This makes sense vs their other excuss.
What barrel length is that 6.8 browning and what deer cartridge would u recommend for it
I've got an xbolt speed sr in 7prc as well. With the hunter bullets, i'm getting consistent 3 bullet groups from 1/8 to 1/2". I've had no groups larger than 1/2" at 100 yds. Those 1/8" groups had to be estimated with the outer edges of the hole comparisons to a single shot hole because it's dang near threading the same hole. (The 3 shot groups of these "estimated" were only 1/8" larger in diameter than a single shot hole.)
I'm hoping to get a thunderbeast or omega silencer/muzzle break combo to reduce recoil to see what that contributes.
The slight reduction in muzzle velocity compared to the spec with the new powder isn't going to make enough of a difference in my hunting or long-range shots to matter. Could hornady reword the package specs with the powder changes? Sure. But it still works well for me.
Is THAT why I can't find RL 26? Been looking for over a year at this point. I'm currently using h1000 and Retumbo! for my 7prc handloads.
Try Ramshot Grand
Love the 6.8western but sadly it wont go anywhere because lack of marketing and rifle support
If I had to pick one be the 7prc, I absolutely love my lightweight custom 7prc. Hopefully, the 6.8 hangs on and gets some popularity, so more ammo and rifle manufacturers get on board for those who love the cartridge.
AWESOME,AWESOME VIDEO.
I hear the 7 prc is loaded to tight tolerances which should have better accuracy but i see alot guys on YT shooting about 2 moa groupings with it and that's not good for it's intended purpose. Then i see guys shooting tighter groups with the 6.8 western.
Brady’s mistake was not notifying the customer. The question is where they notify the customer when they change it back.
Exactly falsely advertised for months till people caught on. That to me is inexcusable.
Beautiful work. Where is Ron? Well I hope.
I had a 7mm rem mag. Got rid of it but liked the caliber. Was looking for a beltless one for ease of reloading. The 7 prc meets that. I was hoping that the 7 LRM would have been SAAMI speced, but that didn't happen. All things considered I'm planning on sticking with primarily Federal ammo and reloading. Not a fan of Hornady ammo.
Im looking to rebarrel and re stock an older savage 116 and from 7 rem mag so im all over videos like this now. I'll take all the datat i can get.
I am liking the 7 prc since it uses my same bolt face as my 7 rem mag but it seems there are some strict maintainance requieemenrs of the 7 prc. So it may not be ideal for hunting since deep cleaning in the field isnt ideal
What is your thoughts on the 28 Nosler thanks love the videos
If Joseph has been watching cartridge releases for over 40 years all that recoil must be keeping him young! Or he's been watching since he was a baby. These are both very excellent looking modern cartidges! I'm old school for now but these are two I have my eye on.
Great comparison on two great cartridges.
It’s been interesting to see how the calibers are now being developed to take advantage of the very precise CNC manufacturing, superior optics, and precise rangefinder’s.
The old 270 is about 90% of these, and folks who get on the forums and wail about it are right. Except that my grandfather’s old 270 with a Weaver 4X scope isn’t capable of making shots much more than 300 yards. And it didn’t need to be, since no ethical hunter would take a shot on a game animal at unknown distances.
Today you can get a rifle and optic capable of extreme range for less than a thousand dollars.
That still doesn’t make up for the elephant in the room in the fact that very few people are capable of making shots at those ranges.
Bottom, more .284 bullets + higher bc, right?
There’s only a .007 mm difference between the 7 mm bullet vs the 6.8 bullet.
So technically, you can reach a higher BC with the 7, but it’s not by much.
Curious to what velocity you got with handloaded ammo in the 7mm prc using H1000?
For me, H1000 was underwhelming honestly, Staball HD was decent and Ramshot Grand has been the closest to RL26 that I've found.
As a guy with a 1-8" twist 270 wsm, I sure have enjoyed the heavy .277 bullets brought on by the 6.8 western. If someone would start making quality brass for the 6.8, I'd probably buy one. I've got a 7mm rem mag that shoots lights out, so I don't see much need in getting set up to load for a new 7mm cartridge.
ADG is doing initial production runs of 6.8W in Aug with full production in 2025. That is on several ADG dealer sites. So get your 6.8:)
The 6.8 western is the offspring of the 270 wsm. Both are superior to the 7mm prc.
Still love my 270 WSM!
For me 6.8 Western is better bc shorter action. Upgrade very nize 270 wsm.
I'm not a fan of .277" bullets, so I'd take the 7mm PRC or a 6.5 PRC. 7mm PRC would benefit from Norma powders.
Man what a good shot on ya Joseph. 👍🏻
I think it’s really unfortunate that Hornady still advertise the velocity that they can’t get anymore.
I’ve heard tale that they wanted to kill the 6.8 western and this unfortunately supports that. Because while they admit that the box velocity is no longer realistic , they haven’t updated the website or anything like that.
The 6.8 western looks to be a better package. It just needs more manufacturers to jump on the bus or it’s not going anywhere. And that’s a pity.
The 7prc is a great cartridge, Hornady fucking up their factory loads doesnt change that. Federal loads are hitting right on advertised, the only advantage to the 6.8 is slightly lower recoil and being a short action.
I love watching your YT chanel and this video about 7mm PRC really got me interested about it.
You are talking a lot about loads with H1000 powder, so if you can please tell me:
-powder weight od H1000 used
-bullet type of 180 gr
-barrel length
-muzzle velocity
-amount of pressure in PSI and is it safe
Thanks a lot!
I have a Browning X bolt western hunter in 6.8. I really like the caliber, but the rifle is garbage. Best group I've ever had was 1 MOA and average group is 1.3-1.5MOA. I am going to get rid of it after the hunting season and have a friend build me a custom rifle in a 6.8 western. If you really compare the two calibers, neither does something the other won't. Yes, the 7PRC shoots flatter, but you have more recoil and in a long action. At reasonable hunting distances I think the 6.8 is the winner with less recoil and shorter action.