New SAAMI cartridge: 6.8 Westerner
 

Long range and large game hunters can expect to have a new factory offered short action magnum cartridge option soon, as SAAMI released specs recently for the 6.8 Westerner.

Specs call for a 1:8” twist barrel, pushing a 175grain .277” bullet to 2840fps over a 65,000psi payload. 2.955” max COAL and a magnum bolt face, it looks like somebody wants their own piece of the 6.5 PRC’s pie in the long range, short action magnum hunting rifle market.

That's pretty interesting.

Wow that's cooking. Not sure who is going to be making the 175 gr bullet but Berger's 170 gr bullet has a BC (G1) of .662!
This cartridge should give the 6.5 CM crowd something to worry about! Probably going to use a pretty stout charge of powder. I can't wait to see the reviews.

I'm guessing Hornady...looking at the specs its pretty much a PRC case. It's shorter than a WSM.

I’d tend to suspect Layne is involved somewhere.

Pretty neat! There aren't many .277 options out there. Hopefully this one will stick.

case is .070" shorter than the 270 wsm, not really new is it?
RR

No, the only thing "new" is the 1/8 as standard with SAAMI. Other than that it's really nothing special.