I came upon this post on another site and decided to post about my 270 PRC that I call the 270 PHC. The results are not all in but what I do have are very promising.
I have never owned nor shot anything with a .280 AI. However, on paper, the 6.8 Western looks to be extremely similar in performance to a .280 AI throated for long bullets, albeit with a longer action.
The 6.8 Western is probably even more similar to the .280 AI's shorter performance clone, the 7 SAUM.
It is closest to the mythical .270 PRC, though. Not a bad place to be.
The .270 PRC is a great place to be only I called it the 270 PHC ( Precision Hunter Cartridge). Although likely not mythical it does perform as good, or better, than the 270 Win and 270 WSM with modern lightweight bullets with less powder. I designed it to run the Hornady 145 ELDX and Nosler 150 LRAB running a 26" barrel with an 8.5 twist and was delighted when it performed great with the Berger 170 EOL as well, The 165 LRAB is the only one of 8 modern bullets that does not fit properly with bearing surface up in the neck but holds enough RL 26 to likely outperform the 6.8 Western using about 5 grains less powder with that bullet.
My health prevented me from doing load development and posting results so I sold the rifle, and all components to a young fellow who is continuing with my work and reporting to me. His results with the 140 Sierra TGK (Gamechanger) are almost unbelievable with 59.0 gr. RL 26 getting a five shot average of 3281 fps with an ES of 7 and SD of 2.8. The Model 70 MOA trigger lived up to its namesake but hopefully a new Timney wig get the group down to 1/2 MOA.
The attached picture shows 8 loads in the 270 PRC as follows.Left to Right:
1. Barnes 129 LRX COAL – 2.935” @ 0.030” off lands.
- Ladder with RL 26 - 58.5 Error ( Likely around 3315 fps) pressure OK
- 59.0 Error ( Likely around 3325 fps) Hopefully good node.
- 59.5 - 3369
- 60.0 - 3378 Pressure OK
- 60.5 - 3462 Pressure spike Max.
2. Sierra 140 TGK COAL – 2.975” @ 0.030” off lands – Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 59.0 gr. = 3281fps ES 7 ; SD 2.9
3. Hornady 130 InterBond – 2.900” @ 0.025” off lands.
- Ladder with H 4831 - 62.0 gr. Full - 3393 fps * Max
- Ladder with RL 26 - 59.5 gr 3327
- 60.0 gr 3327
- 60.5 gr 3387
- 61.0 gr 3375
- 61.5 gr 3441 - Pressure Spike with a little extraction resistance.
4. Hornady 145 ELD-X – 2.955” @ 0.013” off lands - Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 59.5gr. = 3183fps
- H 1000 – 60.5gr. = 3074fps – ES 22 – SD 10.9
5. Nosler 150 LRAB – 2.955”@ 0.030” off lands – Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 59.0gr. = 3083fps. – ES 21 – SD 8.1
6. Nosler 165 LRAB – 2.955” @ 0.025” off lands.
7. Berger 150 Hunting VLD – 2.880” @ lands.
8. Berger 170 EOL – 2.985” @ 0.077” off lands – Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 57.5gr. =2935fps. – ES 25 – SD 9.5
I have never owned nor shot anything with a .280 AI. However, on paper, the 6.8 Western looks to be extremely similar in performance to a .280 AI throated for long bullets, albeit with a longer action.
The 6.8 Western is probably even more similar to the .280 AI's shorter performance clone, the 7 SAUM.
It is closest to the mythical .270 PRC, though. Not a bad place to be.
The .270 PRC is a great place to be only I called it the 270 PHC ( Precision Hunter Cartridge). Although likely not mythical it does perform as good, or better, than the 270 Win and 270 WSM with modern lightweight bullets with less powder. I designed it to run the Hornady 145 ELDX and Nosler 150 LRAB running a 26" barrel with an 8.5 twist and was delighted when it performed great with the Berger 170 EOL as well, The 165 LRAB is the only one of 8 modern bullets that does not fit properly with bearing surface up in the neck but holds enough RL 26 to likely outperform the 6.8 Western using about 5 grains less powder with that bullet.
My health prevented me from doing load development and posting results so I sold the rifle, and all components to a young fellow who is continuing with my work and reporting to me. His results with the 140 Sierra TGK (Gamechanger) are almost unbelievable with 59.0 gr. RL 26 getting a five shot average of 3281 fps with an ES of 7 and SD of 2.8. The Model 70 MOA trigger lived up to its namesake but hopefully a new Timney wig get the group down to 1/2 MOA.
The attached picture shows 8 loads in the 270 PRC as follows.Left to Right:
1. Barnes 129 LRX COAL – 2.935” @ 0.030” off lands.
- Ladder with RL 26 - 58.5 Error ( Likely around 3315 fps) pressure OK
- 59.0 Error ( Likely around 3325 fps) Hopefully good node.
- 59.5 - 3369
- 60.0 - 3378 Pressure OK
- 60.5 - 3462 Pressure spike Max.
2. Sierra 140 TGK COAL – 2.975” @ 0.030” off lands – Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 59.0 gr. = 3281fps ES 7 ; SD 2.9
3. Hornady 130 InterBond – 2.900” @ 0.025” off lands.
- Ladder with H 4831 - 62.0 gr. Full - 3393 fps * Max
- Ladder with RL 26 - 59.5 gr 3327
- 60.0 gr 3327
- 60.5 gr 3387
- 61.0 gr 3375
- 61.5 gr 3441 - Pressure Spike with a little extraction resistance.
4. Hornady 145 ELD-X – 2.955” @ 0.013” off lands - Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 59.5gr. = 3183fps
- H 1000 – 60.5gr. = 3074fps – ES 22 – SD 10.9
5. Nosler 150 LRAB – 2.955”@ 0.030” off lands – Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 59.0gr. = 3083fps. – ES 21 – SD 8.1
6. Nosler 165 LRAB – 2.955” @ 0.025” off lands.
7. Berger 150 Hunting VLD – 2.880” @ lands.
8. Berger 170 EOL – 2.985” @ 0.077” off lands – Fed 210M
- Reloader 26 – 57.5gr. =2935fps. – ES 25 – SD 9.5
