6.8 Western. I had 7.5 inches cut off the barrel of my X-Bolt Mountain Pro Long Range Tungsten.

[@mattcomchoc2957]

wow. very counterintuitive results. great to know 6.8 western works well out of a short barrel

[@ThomasPhillips-pv3rg]

Pretty slick! Is there a follow up video? Im curious to see what kind of velocity you can get.

[@wasachevyguy]

I love this. Just bought a new x-bolt suppressor ready .308 with the 18” barrel. Tack driver with Barnes TTSX 150 grainers.

[@davidteague5461]

That’s a slick looking rifle. Love the short barrel.

[@UngulateGuardian797]

Thanks. Now I want to build a lightweight Remington 700 20” 6.8 Western. I’m really intrigued how fast it would push a 129 gr. LRX and what it’s ballistics it would be.

[@papajohnsy6659]

I would also look at the 128 badlands bulldozer and 140gr super bulldozer. .531 bc on the 128 and a .650 on the 140, vs, .463 on the lrx. If you feel the need for absolute 95%+ weight retention, then stick with the lrx, but if 80% is fine with you then I think the badlands are almost ideal for shots under 600yds from most rifles.

[@FC2ESWS]

@@papajohnsy6659 Are they consistent though? I can shoot the LRX and TTSX at close to .75 MOA.

[@stephensheets1841]

Very encouraging to hear. Was interested in something like this for my son and was concerned the short barrel would be crazy loud. If that's all the velocity you've lost though I'm assuming that at ~20 inches there's no perceivable difference than a long barrel? Plenty of compact 243 youth guns out there but after being next to them at the range, no thank you. Very excited to get a 6.8 going and working up some mild loads for him :)

[@mattyv7499]

That's fkn cool man. I like how you tinker with things to see what you actually can achieve. I tinker around with .270 win and have been very surprised at what it can ACTUALLY achieve. It's a whole lot more than factory ammo can squeeze out and damn close to a 7mm Rem performance.

[@simplemindedfella]

It is amazing what you can do hand loading. I honestly never have owned a 270 Winchester but I have worked up loads for some and they are a good all-around cartridge.

[@kentuckywindage222]

I too have did quite a bit of tinkering. With a stock 308 Winchester, 243 Winchester and the 6.5 creed. I've been impressed pushing a 120, 130, 140 and 147 grain bullet down a stock barrel. Banging 1760fps and 962 foot pounds energy @1000 yards. The little 243 with 80gr ttsx @ 3400fps no sign of pressure on either. The 308 175gr is hot @2750fps give or take and it is a shooter when I do my part. All shoot around .5 moa. I have just had and shot the 308 for a very long time. Throat erosion is there but 2.800 still punches lights out. I shoot 100gr if hunting deer in the 243. Farthest kill 425 yards. She did the 2 step and down. This shot was from an old locust fence post. So I have a question, if you shot regularly to 1000 yards at times 1200-1500 yards up to 5 - 6 days a week, sometimes 1 time, (banged up 127 pieces shrapnel in spine and back). Have dope and know your gun and ammo intimately, what would be your limit on a calm day, health ok and everything in place, (I have practiced in higher wind, rain, hot in sun, cold and clouds even some fog / smoke. We had a varmint come out at 1060 yards as we were prepping to leave. My partner ranged it, I doped for it as I had just shot a good group at 1000 yards. Everything was still set up for that shot at this time. I may never achieve it again but one less varmint to worry about. Smoked him. 140 grain ELDM. It definitely did it's job. Great work on your educational videos. Keep'em coming

[@ronlowney4700]

🤠 If you are looking for faster velocities, then Reloader 26, Magnum, Retumbo, and Magpro are 4 powders that you should consider! If you are looking for "Other" 6.8 mm (0.277") Hunting Bullets than the 150 grain Nosler ABLR bullet (B.C. of 0.591) to try - consider the 165 grain Nosler ABLR bullet (B.C. of 0.620), 155 grain Federal Terminal Ascent bullet (B.C. of 0.585), and the 150 grain Swift A-Frame bullet (B.C.of 0.444) ! Both Frontline Rejects and Reloading Weatherby have did videos on how the 165 grain Nosler ABLR bullet will even stabalize out of a 1 in 10 Twist rifle barrel (Note that the 155 grain Terminal Ascent bullet is the same exact length as the 165 grain Nosler ABLR bullet)! It is Nice to have good quality bullet options, as each gun/barrel will like something different (though I know that you already know that)! 🤑 Happy Hunting! 🦌

[@simplemindedfella]

I'm going to give the 140gr Badlands bulldozer 2 a go in the field. If I like it, it should give me similar stopping power as the 210gr ABLR'S I currently use in my 300 Win Mag with reduced recoil, not as light as the 6.5 Creedmoor that I've fallen in love with, but it is really light. The 6.8 Western really meets a good niche for my style of hunting, wanting no more than a twenty inch barrel on a really light short action rifle yet still getting good stopping power and can reach out there if need be.

[@ronlowney4700]

😯 Another bullet with similar B.C.'s and Ballistics Characteristics is the J-36 (and J-40) bullets from Lost River Ballistics Technologies! They are out of Arco, Idaho and have been Making bullets for the Military - so, the Bullets Claimed B.C.'s have been confirmed! I started using them back in the early 1990's, I believe it was? The J-36 136 grain 0.277 bullet (a monolithic solid) also has a B.C. of 0.650! Unfortunately, their website says that they are currently closed! So, I am not sure if they are Only Doing Military Contracts Now, or if their is some other problem (like supply chain issues)? But, you may want to keep this bullet in mind too? 🤔

[@BravoBassin]

Great video Josh well done my friend!

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Very interesting information. Good caliber in a good chambering. Some folk out there are leaning lighter, shorter, handier & quieter with a can. Thanks.

[@WildBushGrit]

Thank you for making this video! awesome content brother. I just purchased a 20' rifle in 6.8, and wanted to confirm whether or not I was losing something. My rifle will weight 6.5lb including optics.

[@simplemindedfella]

With modern powders and technology in bullets, I do not understand why there is not more short-barreled lightweight mountain rifle offerings. It still seems like everybody is stuck on these crazy long barrels that make your gun front heavy and harder to take a quick off-hand shot. (Dose anyone hunt within 500 yards anymore) I can't tell you how many times hiking to my hunting spots I've been in situations where taking a freehand in a relatively short amount of time was required to harvest game. Long heavy barrels are only really good on a bench, and no one need stopping power past 1k yards unless they are incredibly terrible at hunting. Is it really hunting anymore if your shot is past 500? Don't get me wrong, I ha e the equipment and take the longer shots. I'm just honest enough not to call it hunting.

[@WildBushGrit]

@@simplemindedfella I wholeheartedly agree with you, I've been on a quest to get the lightest rifle at moderate price, and Christensen arms was the answer with the Mesa fft. I can't wait to set it up and start developing loads. My longest shot on game was 270yards. I hunt in Quebec, and with our landscape, and heavy cover, On Deer we rarely shoot past 100 yards. Moose offer a bit more options when you hunt a logged area. 400 yards shots are frequent. That being said, during mating season, you can bring one as close as 20y to you. That's pure thrill.

[@simplemindedfella]

@WildBushGrit my favorite rifle is my Christiansen Arms Ridgeline Scout in 308 Winchester. Relatively budget friendly lightweight and is enough to take down all the game I hunt. 6.8 Western is a little better suited for bigger game but I have had no issues using 308 and it will always be a go to for me.

[@WildBushGrit]

@@simplemindedfella 308 is a fantastic all around, I wasn't familiar with Christensen Arms, I held one at my friend's shop. a lightweight 300wm, I was flabbergasted and instantaneously jealous. I went back home, looking for one, I originally wanted the 6.5PRC, it was in my shopping cart, when I saw it was also avail in 6.8, 20inches, 5.5lbs, bronze... I lost it! :) Topping it with a Maven Scope Rs2 I'll cover this rifle in a video when I get all the pieces, and honestly its going to be my ultimate all big games rifle.

[@MrRourk]

I have been wondering about shorter barrels for 6.8 Western

[@simplemindedfella]

I love mine.

[@denisleblanc4506]

What an interesting concept. I suppose you're not seeing drastic velocity loss because that case design makes it's efficiency gains by case design (mostly sharp shoulder and adequate case capacity.) That way it relies less on barrel length to develop speed. Kind of like the Ruger Compact Magnums. Sadly most hunters are always looking for the fastest high BC loads that they think allows them to hunt at ridiculous ranges. Glad to find another hunter that is more pragmatic and understands that high velocity impacts above 2900 fps. destroys more meat than necessary to harvest an animal. You have some hunters that believe their powerful calibers give them a bigger margin of error in bullet placement never realizing they're chasing their own tail because harder recoiling rifles in hunter weight ranges are harder to shoot accurately so they end up needing that bigger margin of error because they can't shoot them as accurately. We all agree that bullet placement is the most important factor so why not using something you can shoot more accurately in the first place. Sorry for bringing 6.5 Creed in the discussion, I'm not a big fan of it simply because I shoot 7mm-08 and don't see a reason to get one. It has done everything I have asked from it including harvesting two moose with one shot each. I have never fired more than one shot on any game with it (except for one partridge and after the second shot there was nothing worth picking up Ha Ha.) But one thing it has proven to everyone is that light recoiling rifles are easier to shoot accurately. Of course the .243 Win has been proving that for decades so its nothing new. Hunters have to stop chasing long range kill shot records and choosing calibers and rifles for their types of hunting like you have. I have only one question. How bad is the muzzle blast on your new rifle compare to say a 7mm08 short barrelled rifle? Maybe you could make up some velocity loss of a shortened barrel by going to something like a 7mm-08 AI?

[@zachchristensen1394]

Great upload I seen browning is offering a suppressor ready rifle now!! I’ve been very interested in this 6.8 caliber

[@simplemindedfella]

I originally tried ordering one of the suppressor ready Browning rifles and was told I should have my gun in 6-8 months and then when I checked on its status at 6 months I was told oh sorry Browning hasn't let them actually place the order it will be 6-8 months from when we are able to place the order. So I ended up canceling that order after talking to a guy that had put a different Browning on order and it took his rifle 3 years to come in (thats some commitment waiting). That's really the only thing I really don't like about Browning new releases why they don't have some in stock and have them on the production line. 3 to 6 months seems reasonable 6 to 8 months seems a bit long well over 8 months just seems excessive. I am very pleased with how mine shoots just cutting 7 and a 1/2 inches off of the long range mountain pro tungsten. I would do that again in a heartbeat it's kind of cooler looking gun in the end as well. The one my buddy had built and me work up a load for, him, his kids, and brother in law have already harvested 1 low 3 hundreds class bull elk, 2 mule deer and 3 antelope this season and they all absolutely love it. He used to hunt primarily with the 300 Win Mag and 300 short mag, says this is his now go to for everything using the 165 grain Accubond long range from Nosler traveling out of his 20 inch barrel an average of 2906 fps.

[@Appalaskan]

Your buddy's rifle shooting roughly 2900 fps, is that factory or handloads? ​@@simplemindedfella

[@simplemindedfella]

@@Appalaskan hand loads using the 165gr ABLR, H4350, CCI200 primers, and Winchester brass.

[@Appalaskan]

@@simplemindedfella would it be reasonable to think similar velocities could be achieved with factory loads?

[@simplemindedfella]

@@Appalaskan yes

[@Rocktalk101]

bad ass rifle Josh and great video you need to do more video's like this as well as your other videos!

[@trailboy68]

That's awesome, great video! I wonder if the 270 WSM brass can be used in the 6.8 Western? I have the X Bolt with the 26" barrel as well and have thought about shortening it. Thanks for the info,,, subscribed

[@simplemindedfella]

You have to run the 270 WSM brass through a 6.8 Western and bump the shoulder back an extra 2 ten housands. The cheapest easiest way to bump that shoulder back is to take a shell holder and a wet stone and just sand enough off the shell holder that when the sizing die is butted up against it it goes the extra little.

[@trailboy68]

@@simplemindedfella Which did you find easier, converting 270 wsm or 300 wsm bread to 6.8 Western?, looking forward to your 300 wsm conversion video, Thank you!

[@simplemindedfella]

@@trailboy68 I have only tried 300 wsm

[@pnwsportsman4036]

I just ordered a fierce rival in 6.8 western with a 24” barrel. Thinking of switching to 20” and use a suppressor. In your opinion would this still have long range hunting capabilities? Using factory Browning 175 gr ammo. I will be hunting in the PNW and Montana so the thought of a lightweight rifle with suppressor would be game changer! Thanks 💪

[@simplemindedfella]

Out to 500+- yards with the 175 gr. The Winchester 165 gr ABLR ammo should get you out to 700+-

[@EdAb]

Not as sophisticated a cartridge, but I love my 18.7", 308, Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle for all of the same reasons you listed here. I use a 3 round magazine and a 2-10x scope over the receiver, so it's no longer a 'real' Scout... but, it sure is handy and it can do 95% of what we need to do in North America.

[@simplemindedfella]

Thats a nice little rifle. I recently picked up one of the Christiansen arms ridgeline scout rifles (for pennies on the dollar so I wasn't not going to buy it) (it is definitely not a true scout rifle) in 308 specifically set it up with a 150 grain partitions max range of 500 yds gun set up for youth and petite people to have a lightweight light recoil more than what you need get the job done gun. It's hard to beat the tried and true 308.

[@roncornwall4512]

Hello. I have a XBLT Max LR 6.8 Western. This is my first hunting rifle. I would like to have my barrel cut down to 20" and have it prepped for a suppressor. I have harvested 2 nice Mule deer bucks with it but definitely struggle with the 26" barrel length when hunting elk and bear in the mountains. I've had a couple gun shops discourage the idea of having the barrel shortened and they have also said that because it is a fluted barrel suppressor threading will not look very clean. Any comments about this plan would be much appreciated as I am very new to rifle hunting and know very little about ballistics and modifications and how they will affect everything other than is seems there is the issue of powder burn in a shorter barrel but that didn't seem to discourage Simple Minded Fella from his project. I don't currently have plans to do any reloading but have heard that I may need to consider it with this rifle due to concerns that ammunition may be tough to come by in coming years. The only ammunition available locally for me are Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Polymer tip 170 grain rounds and Winchester Copper Impact 162 grain rounds. I am happy with my accuracy out to 430 yards (the furthest I can shoot at my local range) but look forward practicing and going further this year. Fellow range attendees will also appreciate a suppressor set up as I get comments about how loud it is all the time. I've also been researching purchasing a new barrel for it, perhaps a lighter weight and shorter barrel but have not been able to find much information about options with this. Thanks for any and all advice for a newbie. I have much appreciated everyones comments on this thread.

[@simplemindedfella]

I have had no regrets or any issues, having had the barrel on mine cut down. I'm nowhere close to my notes at the moment I don't remember what factory ammo I have tested but it was such insanificant muzzle velocity losses when shooting my full length barrel compared to my buddy's 20 inch is why I had mine cut down to eighteen and a half. 20 seems to be a sweet spot. I got more loss of muzzle velocity per inch between 18.5 and 20 than 20 to 26. 20 seems to be a sweet spot for the 6.8 Western, and 26 is just too long. The gun Smith I took my rifle, too said the same thing in regards to the muzzle break looking odd, but when everything was done it looks great, and no one has ever noticed and/or said anything about it looking odd, they just noticed it's a short barrel and want to know more about the gun.

[@eriknowak8662]

Awesome work and great content! I’m curious, Was this the heavy sporter barrel of the long range mountain pro or just the regular sporter barrel?

[@simplemindedfella]

Heavy sporter

[@eriknowak8662]

@@simplemindedfella I have the same rifle and I’m pretty inspired by this! I might make a similar move and cut down to 20 inches. I’m a bit curious how much that 7.5 inches of barrel weighs if you have ever put it on the scale cause this thing is a tank as is with the 26 inches.

[@simplemindedfella]

@eriknowak8662 I'm in Wyoming hunting deer right now, and I don't remember. I'll try to remember to weigh it when I get home. 20" I really think is the sweet spot for the 6.8 Western.

[@simplemindedfella]

@@eriknowak8662 10.5 oz

[@eriknowak8662]

Thank you!! I have my rifle at the shop now to get it chopped down to 20 inches. Pretty excited to work up a load for it and see how it performs. Would you mind sharing what powders you had the best luck with on the ABLR?

[@p-dawg7797]

Can you tell me the COAL of the 165s that work good for your buddy's rifle?

[@simplemindedfella]

2.975

[@p-dawg7797]

Thank you.

[@p-dawg7797]

Are you 18-1/2 with break or just end of threads?

[@simplemindedfella]

@@p-dawg7797 just the barrel is 18.5 I went that short to see how much loss I would get compared to a 20" I would recommend 20-22" for a 6.8 Western.

[@p-dawg7797]

I really like the idea of a 18.5" suppressed. Just curious if you know what that 7" piece weighted?

[@Devon_Rea]

I have a question. Can a gun smith shorten my long range hells canyon max long range? I am wanting to get a suppressor but its already 26 inches and afraid that its going to Be way too long to hunt with walking through the trees. Be like 32-34 in barrel. Wanting to cut it down to like 22 inches. Thanks.

[@simplemindedfella]

@@Devon_Rea yes. It would work the same as my rifle.

[@Devon_Rea]

@@simplemindedfella just wasn’t sure because it is fluted. Wasn’t sure if they would be able to do it.

[@simplemindedfella]

@Devon_Rea some gunsmiths may be reluctant because of the fluting. It won't hurt anything. Esthetics, maybe, but that's it.

[@roncornwall4512]

fyi I'm in Belgrade MT and noticed you are in MT too. If you have any referrals for me to get this work done that would be welcome as well. I shoot out at Logan.

[@FC2ESWS]

Is your buddy's rifle a 20" also (thats shooting 165gr at 2900?)

[@simplemindedfella]

yes

[@FC2ESWS]

@@simplemindedfella That's pretty impressive. 20" 165gr .620 BC at 2900. I gotta think about that next time I rebarrel. I currently have a 18" 300 WSM that shoots 150 TTSX at 3000 fps.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

If most of your shots are within 100 yards why even bother with a magnum cartridge like that?

[@simplemindedfella]

I occasionally hunt open sagebrush country, and having something on the lighter side of the magnums can be nice. I still prefer short action non magnums for the majority of my hunting.

[@Bushmasterpilot]

ABLR bullets are garbage😉

[@simplemindedfella]

Absolutely the worst 😉 nobody be myself should ever use them.

[@miketyson8933]

You're literally making no sense, if youregoing after speed why did you cut the barrel off lol you adding more speed on a lighter bullet youre going to lose accuracy. Amature hour

[@simplemindedfella]

Entirely not true. You can get just as good of accuracy out of a 6" barrel as a 26" barrel depended on how it is set up and when I lost very little velocity cutting that weight and my accuracy is still sub MOA begs the question. Why would I carry extra weight just to have a heavier gun?

[@Michaeldpress14]

I’ve cut all my barrels to 22” or less . Barrel length does not affect accuracy

[@OutdoorBoys.308]

I'm cutting mine I have two hells canyon long range one in 6.5 creedmoor and 6.8 western I'm thinking 6inchs. What the cost to have a gun smith cut and retread? I'm in fresno ca..

[@simplemindedfella]

@@OutdoorBoys.308 I don't remember the exact cost I know it was less than a 100 bucks. I'm thinking 20 to 22" is ideal for the 6.8 Western. I went a bit shorter intentionally to test the muzzle velocity loss going shorter. My next 6.8 Western will have a 20"

[@WesternReloader]

@@simplemindedfellaI’m not in a position to go custom, but want a factory affordable 6.8 western. Any chance the winchester xrp going to perform to 1 MOA ?