The world of firearms and ammunition is constantly evolving, with new rounds and calibers being developed every year. And with the 6.8 Western being a new evolution of the gun world and the 308 being a tried and true round, you have both ends of the spectrum. However, this begs the question of which cartridge is better? In this article, we seek to answer that question.
Here is the short answer:
The 6.8 Western has a flatter trajectory and more energy than the 308 Winchester, making it a better choice for long-range shooting and big game hunting. The 308 Winchester, on the other hand, has a wider range of available loads and is far easier to find.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look in-depth at each cartridge like their best uses, their ballistics, and how they compare to each other.
In-Depth Look at the 6.8 Western
The 6.8 Western is a relatively new round, having been introduced in 2020 by Winchester and Browning. It is designed for western big game hunting, as the “western” in the name implies. The 6.8 Western has a bullet diameter of .277 inches and a case length of 2.020 inches, making it right about the same size as a 308. Where they get the power from this case is the wide size with a pretty steep 35-degree shoulder which allows it to fit more powder and burn that powder faster building up more pressure.
One of the key advantages of the 6.8 Western is its flat trajectory, making it good for fast long-range shots that way you don’t need to make as big of corrections. The round has a higher ballistic coefficient than most cartridges so it better retains energy at long range which is another reason it is a great long range hunting cartridge.
One other advantage, while it might not seem like an advantage at first, is its slower velocity than most other rounds in its class. Because of its slower velocity, you are going to have a much longer barrel life than other cartridges in its class such as the 6.5-300 Weatherby.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6.8 Western with a 160-grain Winchester Accubond LR:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2970 | 3134 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2893 | 2973 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.4 | 2817 | 2819 |
| 150 | -0.9 | 1.1 | 2742 | 2672 |
| 200 | -2.9 | 2 | 2669 | 2531 |
| 250 | -6.2 | 3.1 | 2597 | 2396 |
| 300 | -10.7 | 4.5 | 2526 | 2267 |
| 350 | -16.5 | 6.2 | 2456 | 2143 |
| 400 | -23.8 | 8.2 | 2387 | 2024 |
| 450 | -32.7 | 10.5 | 2319 | 1911 |
| 500 | -43.2 | 13.2 | 2253 | 1803 |
In-Depth Look at the 308 Winchester
The 308 Winchester is one of the most widely used rifle cartridges in present times. It was introduced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1952 and has since become a popular choice for hunters, target shooters, as well as law enforcement personnel.
The 308 Winchester is an ideal cartridge for use in rifles chambered for short action cartridges such as the AR-10 or M14/M1A platforms, as well as bolt action hunting rifles. In terms of performance, it offers enough enery to take gma eas large as elk out to 300 yards, but not so much energy that its recoil is hard to manage.
In addition to this, factory loaded ammunition is available from numerous manufacturers providing different bullet weights and powder charges, so that something suitable could be found for whatever application it may be needed for. Ranging from light varmint loads through heavy duty hunting rounds made to take down large game animals such as elk, at reasonable ranges.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 308 Winchester with a 150-grain jacketed soft point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2820 | 2648 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.3 | 2673 | 2380 |
| 100 | 0 | 1.1 | 2532 | 2134 |
| 150 | -1.2 | 2.4 | 2394 | 1909 |
| 200 | -3.9 | 4.4 | 2261 | 1702 |
| 250 | -8.4 | 7.1 | 2132 | 1514 |
| 300 | -14.7 | 10.4 | 2007 | 1341 |
| 350 | -23.1 | 14.6 | 1886 | 1184 |
| 400 | -34.2 | 19.7 | 1771 | 1044 |
| 450 | -48.1 | 25.9 | 1661 | 919 |
| 500 | -65 | 32.9 | 1557 | 807 |
In-Depth Comparison
When comparing the 6.8 Western and the 308 Winchester, it’s important to consider the specific use cases for each round.
The 6.8 Western is a round better used for long range shooting and hunting. The 6.8 Western has better ballistics and more energy which is the ideal recipe for taking big game. However, the 308, being a smaller round, is better for hunting smaller game like deer or antelope as it will cause less bloodshot meat.
As far as the availability and cost of each round goes the 308 is hard to beat. The 308 is not only an extremely popular round among hunters, but it also sees plenty of action in the military and law enforcement field. Comparatively, the 6.8 Western is a newer cartridge that has not been on the market nearly as long as the 308.
Another area in which the 308 outperforms the 6.8 Western is recoil. While the 6.8 is a lighter recoiling cartridge for its class, it still cannot compete with a smaller cartridge such as the 308 Winchester.
Conclusion
Overall each round is going to be better for specific applications. The 308 Winchester is better for the hunter or shooter who need a round that offers more manageable recoil and is better for hunting deer-sized animals. the 6.8 Western is better for the individual who desires a long range shooting cartridge or a heavier-hitting cartridge used for hunting big game such as elk or even moose.