Garandimal
member
- The 6.8 WCF, or .270 AI, w/ 1:8 Twist Rate Rifling -
(or .280 AI)
They have to call it something - whether std. or AI, if they are goin' to up the twist rate to 1:8.(or .280 AI)
While am both a fan of the heavier-for-caliber .270 WCF(150 gr.) and .280 AI(160 gr.), and consider'em ballistic twins...
... they both suffer, abit from different reasons, when faced with the prospect of heavy, 0.310 SD hunting bullets and 24" Bbls..
The .280 Rem., even in its AI iteration, lacks the case volume to drive the .284"/175 gr.(SD 0.310) bullet at an optimal velocity for ~ 300 yrd. MPBR(+/-3") shooting (~ 2900 fps at the muzzle).
The .270 WCF could just about do it (and certainly the AI variant could), stuffed with RL-26, w/ the .277"/165 gr.(SD 0.307) bullet, but for the OEM 1:10 rifling twist rate that fails to stabilize it.
Which leads to the horns of a dilemma.
1. Been replaced in the field by the soulless game-scythe FN/Winchester EW/SS .270 WCF, also w/ a handy 22" Bbl.
2. Is now at best a back-up - but more accurately a Freezer-Queen.
3. Been the target of countless re-bore/chamber/Bbl'in' schemes.
4. Always wanted it in a 24" Bbl.
So, given the current and building wave of Heavy .277" (165-175 gr.) bullets, especially in the ELD variety (though a 165 gr. Partition or Grand Slam would also be sweet, but as yet non-existent)...
Would re-Bbl'in' with a 24"/6.8 WCF(or .270 AI) with a 1:8 twist, be a worthwhile and timely thing to do?
Or, just hop on the well-established .280 AI bus, that doesn't quite hit the marks, academically, but from an engineering standpoint, will definitely do the work.
As stated, there is little to gain in the .270 WCF/.280 Rem.,150/160 gr. bullet wt., respectively.
This is about the heavy woods/LR 165-175 gr. offerings.
Recoil for both would be in the medium .30-06 range, but it's a heavy walnut stocked rifle w/ pad, and would probably go w/ a heavier contour on the 24" Bbl as well, so say a 9 lb+ scoped rifle.
TIA
GR