“spike”

Winchester and Browning have collaborated to produce the 6.8 Western—a new take on the concept of the .270 WSM, using heavier bullets and a faster twist rate than previous iterations of the Winchester cartridges have used. Essentially, the 6.8 Western picks up where the .270 WSM leaves off, and delivers a whole lot more.

The all-new 6.8 Western brings the .277-inch bore diameter to life in a cartridge with a muzzle velocity that won’t burn up a throat prematurely, and offers the heavier, higher BC bullets that have been so popular among long-range shooters and hunters.

Editorial Director John Zent recaps the hunts from his North American "grand slam."

Engineers at Browning and Winchester teamed up to create a cartridge that offers magnum performance with a modern high-BC projectile, yet is chambered in a short-action rifle for shorter bolt throw and less weight. The 6.8 Western was designed to be the ultimate long-range cartridge that is capable in any big-game hunting scenario as well as long-range target shooting.

Weighing in at a mere 3.8 pounds, an almost unheard-of number for a load-hauling external-frame pack—much less one with a 4,000-cubic-inch capacity—I had high expectations for the PRO LT going in. It exceeded them.

A hunter’s first elk and a bogged-down stalk on a desert mule deer highlight hunts with new versions of Ruger’s M77 Hawkeye bolt actions.

For the hunter with courage, resourcefulness and a bit of skill, opportunities for hunting the West abound. Here’s how to begin turning your dreams into reality.

A solid understanding of shotshells will make you a better hunter. Here’s a detailed look at each of the five primary components.

To coax skeptics into shooting sports, ya gotta show ’em a good time.