Is 6.8 Western Underrated? Custom Rifle Build + Testing

You all have been asking for content covering 6.8 Western in-depth. It has been pretty much at the top of our list for cartridge requests here on the channel, and for good reason! The 6.8 Western is similar to a 6.5 PRC but takes the bullet diameter up just a little bit. It can handle heavier bullets, providing a little more punch for large game animals like elk. We’re going to do a complete custom rifle build and load ammunition with brand-new Peterson brass.

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About the Build

While visiting the Peterson test facility in Pennsylvania and talking with Derek Peterson about 6.8 Western, I decided it was time to do this build. I wanted to make sure I didn’t skimp on anything.

I selected a BAT Igniter Short Action with a Magnum bolt face and paired it with a Krieger 1:8 twist 1.25-inch straight barrel blank.

I finished this at a 28-inch length for full velocity expectations with a Manson semi-spec finisher reamer and GO and NO-GO gauges.

I also decided to use a Foundation Genesis 2, perhaps the stock I’ve used most often in my precision rifle builds, with bottom metal from Hawkins Precision.

I tuned the TriggerTech Remington 700 Diamond single-stage down to approximately seven ounces and added the Element Theos 6-36×56.

It is an outstanding scope, and I love how easy it is to reset the turrets when zeroing.

I decided to use two different muzzle devices: a SilencerCo Omega 300 and Area 419 Maverick Gen 1.

Reloading Components

For ammo, I centered around brand-new Peterson 6.8 Western brass.

A major highlight of Peterson brass is their proprietary EZ-Seat coating. I could really feel the difference when seating primers and bullets, especially on first loading.

I loaded Berger 150-grain Hybrids and 170-grain Berger Elite Hunter bullets over Hodgdon H1000.

I used a Redding Master Hunter die set (featuring a micrometer seater and super high-quality internal dimensional control) in conjunction with a Redding Big Boss II press.

Machining with Rifle Builder PRO

This build was our first opportunity to use the fully-functional internal beta of Rifle Builder PRO, the world’s most powerful gunsmithing software.

Using it at the lathe with live, drawn-to-scale diagrams was absolutely amazing, saving time and preventing mistakes.

The software walked us through the exact steps:

Pre-Drilling & Dialing: I pre-drilled exactly to spec, then used a dial test indicator (reading to 1/10,000 of an inch) on either side of the throat area to dial it in perfectly.

Boring the Lands: I used a straight flute reamer to bore off the lands so the chamber reamer doesn’t wobble when hitting the rifling.

Tenon & Threading: Next came turning the tenon down, cutting the thread relief, and single-point threading. Using the software’s pitch diameter reference and a thread micrometer, the threads landed perfectly.

Chambering: I focused on reamer plunge depth and used a slip-over ring with a depth micrometer before checking headspace. The result was perfect: the GO gauge went, and the NO-GO gauge did not.

Finishing: I finished by chamfering the chamber entrance, dressing the walls, and pin-gauging to ensure the entrance wasn’t oversized.

About the PM-1440HVT-2

The Precision Matthews PM-1440HVT-2 is a great gunsmithing lathe, with the following stand-out features:

All Taiwanese built with Japanese spindle bearings
2.055″ thru-spindle capacity
Available cast iron ultra-rigid base
Variable Speed drive
14” Swing, 40” Between Centers
D1-5 Chuck Mount
MT3 Tailstock Taper

If you’d like to know more about the PM-1440HVT-2, check out our full overview HERE.

Assembly and Shooting

After torquing the receiver onto the action and clocking it for laser engraving, I mounted the Element Theos and headed out.

Looking through the bore at an 8.5×11 sheet of paper 300 feet away, I bore-sighted the rifle. My very first shot on paper was about 4 to 5 inches low. I immediately shot a three-round group, yielding an impressive 0.261 inches right out of the gate!

I did some more testing with 62.0, 62.5, and 63.0 grains of H1000 under the Berger 150-grain Hybrids. I was especially pleased with the 62.5-grain load. Shooting with the SilencerCo Omega 300, I printed a 5-shot group at 100 yards measuring 0.390 inches. (The SD was a little high at 10.7 fps for that 5-shot string).

Another massive highlight was a 3-shot group using the same 62.5-grain load, but with the Area 419 Maverick Gen 1 suppressor. Those three shots went into an insane 0.142 inches.

Conclusion

Overall, this build shoots amazingly, and we aren’t even through barrel break-in yet! (I typically want to see 100 to 200 rounds down the bore before settling on a perfect load).

6.8 Western is a winner. If you compare it to the 6.5 PRC, you’ll see equal downrange velocities out to 1,000 yards, but the 6.8 Western carries more weight and momentum (along with slightly more recoil). It’s all about trade-offs!