Some of the super short cartridges created to fit the increasingly popular AR-15 platform rifles with 2.26" magazine length. The 6mm GT, left, seen next to another precision cartridge, the 6mm ARC. Low velocity from a short cartridge means it fits in a shorter, potentially stiffer action which can contribute to increased accuracy. It hits way above its weight class. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Shooters needed cartridges that would fit these increasingly popular, super-short actions. For me because I have a cz527 I can convert enough said. As the dust settled and reality set in this dissipated a bit. Taurus has redesigned this sporting pistol for performance. June 18, 2020 Gavin Reloading Blog 224 Valkyrie, 300 PRC, 6 ARC, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6mm ARC, 6mm ARC Load DAta, 6mm Creedmoor, CMMG AR-15, CMMG Endeavor, CMMG Resolute, Hornady, Long Range AR-15, New Rifle Cartridge, Precision AR-15, QuickDesign Software, QuickLoad Software, Reloading, Reloading 6mm ARC, Reloading Blog, Reloading Press, Reloading Videos, Shooting 6mm ARC, Ultimate Reloader. Which it does pretty well within those limitations. The powder loads for the test spanned 1.6 grains and I fired 24 shots and only two were more than 1 MOA out. 6.8 SPC The 6mm ARC has more match bullet options and is a better long-range performer. pavementends Junior Member. I did a ladder test one time at 300 meters on an electronic target, the Norwegian ones that have verified accuracy. I also measured five fired but not resized factory 6mm ARC cases. The 24 Nosler is exceptionally accurate and mild mannered and has cleanly taken numerous midsized big-game animals. Lower velocity means less flame and heat for longer barrel life. That was the era of increasing muzzle velocity. Guns & Ammo's first sample rifle chambered in 6mm ARC was a Ruger AR-556 MPR with an 18-inch barrel. The 243 has a case length of 2.045" compared to the 1.49" of the 6mm cartridges. Its why the 308 is absent from this test. (Ret.) The first groups were the 6.5 Grendel cases that I modified for the 6mm ARC. In addition to the above comments there is some confusion regarding the 6 mm ARC's performance. The 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge (638mm), or 6mm ARC for short, is a 6 mm (.243) caliber intermediate rifle cartridge introduced by Hornady in 2020, as a low- recoil, high- accuracy long-range cartridge, designed for use in the AR-15 platform at request of a specialized group within the U.S. DoD for its multipurpose combat rifle program. Both were termed Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt bullets. Shooters greeted the .244 Rem. With the release in 2020, Hornady also launched three factory loads with 103,105 and 108gr (6.7,6.8 and 7.0g) bullet weights and advertised G1 ballistic coefficients of .512, .530 and .536 respectively.[6]. L. to R. are 223 Rem., 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 Rem. The 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge (6 ARC) by Hornady is a new cartridge that can fire a sleek 6mm (.243) caliber projectile around 2,700 fps with minimal recoil and the 6mm ARC is short enough to fit within the dimensions of a standard AR-15 magazine and it performs very well out of an AR-15 with an 18 inch barrel (what we tested). Maybe, if you are shooting farther out. Fred Huntington, founder of RCBS, developed a then-new 6mm cartridge by necking down the .257 Roberts case. The need for a new, uncommon bolt/ face/ assembly kills 6 arc in the real world for bolt guns. Its small, and its availability is limited, but its accuracy and ballistic performance really qualify it for the Great category. Those who are going to like or prefer the 6mm ARC will likely appreciate the 6mm ARC for its utility in either the AR 15 platform & or the mini action bolt action rifles. Posts. The 6mm ARC's more efficient projectiles with their high BCs provides superior exterior ballistics with noticeably less wind drift, higher retained velocity and greater retained energy. No factory rifles or ammo was available, but for a while, Federal offered nickel-plated 6x47 cases. 6mm ARC is so new that as of the writing of this article, published load data did not exist! Truth be told, the magnum race is still underway. Low recoil is also noted. The 6mm bore diameter had all but faded by 1955; the only popular 6mm cartridge prior to the release of this pair was the 6mm Lee Navy cartridge, and that cartridge was virtually obsolete by the 1930s. I shot out to 700 yards next with .4 to .5 MOA accuracy and ended the day putting 3 out of 3 shots on the 900 yard gong in a .4 MOA group. Doesn't the 6mm ARC have a smidge more powder capacity over the 6mm BR? A fun challenge. There you have it. Wildcatters have had a field day with the 6mms, and the list of their creations is long. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Savage already offers a few more inexpensive options in 6mm ARC though defiantly not a mini action. VLD Match. That will undoubtedly change, but not overnight. Hornadys 80-grain GMX and 103-grain ELD-X and the Speer 90-grain Hot-Cor all are accurate and deadly. The 24 Nosler is a terrific performer, so dont let its small size fool you. I am a much better bolt gun shooter than AR shooter. In between: Everything performed swimmingly between 100-400 meters as they should, once again the ZEV shines here with no recoil and consistent accuracy, almost boringly easy to get hits. This increased size means the 243 has a case capacity of 53-54.8 gr H2O. In the 1970s, the .222 Rem. And its performance is effective with a variety of bullets. I had only some pre-primed new Hornady 6mm ARC brass to start with and the SAAMI Specs for 6mm ARC. Share. This is fortuitous, as it is a delight to reload and seems to like just about all the bullets Ive tried in it. Tests varied from 100-1100 meters (110-1200 yards, for the metrically challenged). Messages. All Rights Reserved. Interestingly enough, my history with 6mm rounds began with the 6mm Remington. The rifles Barrett supplied for the DoD are top-notch, but they are just a modified REC-7 DI. Contact ultimate reloader by clicking here. Thread Modes. Mag. You could get hits at 900 meters with all of them, 5 shot strings were easiest with the Creedmoors and they ruled at 1100 meters. Poll: What handgun cartridge do you reload most often? The overall length of the 6mm ARC is 2.26 inches which is almost half an inch shorter than . Whats more: Its already SAAMI approved! Using 26 to 28 inch barrels in bolt guns, 6ARC may be easy for those that do not reload or have primers. After consulting Quickload, I also shamelessly lifted Gavins 27 grain VARGET load under 108 ELD-Ms. My Ballistic Advantage barrel is a little different than Gavins. The Remington 600 action that it came off was set up as a single shot rifle, no magazine assembly, and the Fajen stock was inletted just deep enough for a 1/2" thick aluminum platform to lay the cartridge on. Hey Gavin and fellow Ultimate Reloader Fans: I had a chance to do more testing today as I finally received some Hornady factory 105 grain Black ammunition. To keep the 115-grain Berger VLD (G1 B.C. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Pretty cool having a light-weight AR-15 that can accurately shoot out to at least 900 yards. Benchrest (BR) shooters will go to almost any length to shave 0.001 inch off of their aggregate average, and there is a diverse assemblage of 6mm wildcat rounds for BR shooters. A quality shooter can certainly compensate for 3 inches of difference, so while it's a victory for the ARC, it's a narrow win. Savage Model 110 Timberline 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle: Full Review, SIG Sauer P365 Pistol Now Offered in .380. Hunters may see an advantage as the ELDX and other hunting bullets are tested. Team Hornaday is the master, bar none. Do not attempt to repair or modify any firearms based on information on this website. The bullet drop for the 6.5 Grendel is slightly greater because it's a larger bullet. Location. Or anything? Poll: What Progressive Reloading Press Do You Use Most? Will it supplant mainstream calibers? A new 6mm round blossomed in 2017, and it has already taken a position in the Great category. Wait a minute. bullets. Its almost boring. Cal December 9, 2018 Leave a comment. I fall into the latter category. Its easy to understand why its such an excellent performer. Hold for elevation never changed, 4 mils at the top garnered hits at from 4.2-4.7 mils each time, misses were generally wind. Excessive recoil, debilitating blast, and marked overpressure remain its claim to fame, thereby making it unsuitable for comparison for most of us. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? WARNING: The load development techniques and load data shown in this video are experimental and are for DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. Hornady launched the 6mm ARC with three factory loads: a 103-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter at an advertised 2,800 fps, 105-grain BTHP Hornady Black at an advertised 2,750 fps and the 108-grain ELD-Match load at a stated 2,750 fps. Not a contest. They held a very consistent 34.58 grains of water. But the 6mm ARC drops 22.2 inches. This is, after all, a rifle forum and accuracy matters! Eight reasons to embrace the Hornady 6mm ARC and other low-velocity cartridges. Mag., the 6mm-204 essentially recreates the 6x47. Just striving for accuracy. Joseph Von Benedikt is with Jorge Spat to learn all about it. Dropped on my M16 lower doubles and triples stayed on a full-sized silhouette out to 25 yards, stretched doubles to 50 yards. It suffered no vertical stringing. It uses the ever-effective Hornady 100-grain RN InterLock with H4350 powder. August 14, 2022. Federal has created a safer, easier and more reliable way to shoot a muzzleloader. [9] The 6mm ARC utilizes the same bolt head size as the 6.5mm Grendel, and 6.5mm Grendel-compatible AR-pattern box magazines have also been used successfully with the 6mm ARC. Factory loads were available, and it was moderately popular for both varmint and deer hunting and target shooting. Photo shows 5 popular short rounds for the AR 15 platform, same short action the Hornady 6mm ARC is engineered to fit. No knobs, just a hold using the reticle, find it, read the wind, hold, and press, adjust as needed and repeat. There aren't any markings on the barrel, but it was advertised as being a 6 BR REM and the reloads that came with it seemed to chamber fine when the barrel was still attached to the action. Ammo capacity is about the same, 20 rounds with the longer Grendel mags. It is based on the 6.5 Grendel case, and time will tell if it, too, becomes one of the great ones. The 243 has a case length of 2.045" compared to the 1.49" of the 6mm cartridges. H2O. Its release as a commercial round was presaged by a number of successful 6mm wildcats like the 6mm AR based on the Grendel. if you are going to reload for it and want to shoot light bullets. That flattens trajectories somewhat and applies a bit more punch to the game. Retested today with 26.3 grs. . It fits in an AR mag. (In the 1960s, Speer made a 105-grain RN just for the .244 Rem.) I wasn't going to take a shot at more than 50 or 60 yards and would take my time before I squeezed the trigger. This makes it a factory cartridge, although no factory ammo is available, and guns chambered for it are all custom jobs. Do not attempt any of the processes or procedures shown or described on this website. Full house loads will likely burn about 27- to 29-grains of suitable powders such as H4895, Reloader 15, and AA 2520, so handloads should be relatively inexpensive to build. Joseph VonBenedikt is with Joel Hodgdon to talk about the improved accuracy and long-range potential of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line. It is chambered in many very good and some very inexpensive rifles, which have helped make it the hit that it is. Yes it is designed to run in AR15-platform rifles. Company literature in 1955 described both bullets as Soft Point.. Material connection (partnerships) information available at http://ultimatereloader.com/about/, 6mm ARC is so new that as of the writing of this article, published load data did not exist! Both can produce sub-MOA groups, but 224 Valkyrie seems to spread out faster than 6mm ARC. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. From an LE perspective, changing calibers is like pulling teeth on a ticked off Grizzley, very low rate of success and its hard to beat a .223 for patrol. See full disclaimer below. Some smaller capacity, low velocity rounds are tailored for sub-sonic, low-report firing for clandestine military engagements. The 6mm CM at 300yds is 2514 and 1446 and 6mm ARC is 2288-1197. Oct 7, 2010 530 254 44 Council Bluffs, Iowa. Typical social media and industry speculation fired up with a fury. 1,461. Always cross-reference load data with manufacturer's published data. Making those tweaks often feels like creating a powder that doesnt really exist. I have never had a easier caliber to load for. Her 6mm Creedmoor rifle is light and handy and shoots like a house afire, and recoil and muzzle blast are modest. wasnt the only knife in the drawer, even if it was the sharpest one. bullets. This isn't your grandpa's muzzleloading system. The newest 6mm cartridge is the 6mm ARC, which Hornady just introduced. projectiles make up for their lower MV with less wind deflection, the toughest variable to battle at long range. is One Gun To Rule Them All, New 270 Cartridges Challenge 6.5s and 7mms. What about your 6.8 SPC? While almost any combination of components seems to shoot well, my favorite powders are Hybrid 100V, Reloder 17, and Power Pro 4000MR. Short, relatively fat cartridges concentrate powder near the ignition flame for an even, consistent burn with a tendency to improve muzzle velocity consistency. 6mm BR vs 6mm BRA vs 6mm Dasher. In many ways, the race to the bottom is paying off. However, 25.3 inches of drop at 400yds is by no means terrible. I have a precision set up AR in 224 Valkyrie. has much kick to start with. I don't know the velocity, but I suspect something under 3k. I tested a bolt-action handgun in 24 Nosler last year and was so impressed with the round that I had a Remington Model 700 originally in .223 Rem. Review: Hornady 6mm ARC. The deer load had a 100-grain bullet, and the varmint load carried an 80-grain bullet. The 6mm ARC does what much larger cartridges can and everything that smaller cartridges can't. It delivers substantially better ballistics than the 223 and offers a much lighter gun/ammo system with 30% less weight than the AR-10/308 Win system. Its a long-distance for any of these and conditions were anything but ideal. Shop 6.5 Grendel Ammo If the wind is changing from 4 -7 miles an hour (and it ususally is), you will have more trouble bracketing or holding the 6BR in the 10 or X ring. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. This rifle is optimal for 6mm ARC because of the 20 barrel length, and the 1:7.5 twist rate. Those who are going to like or prefer the 6mm ARC will likely appreciate the 6mm ARC for its utility in either the AR 15 platform & or the mini action bolt action rifles. Above: 6mm ARC case capacity measured 33.96 grains H2O. While it did well the clear winner was the 6CM, high BC and extra velocity are hard to overcome at this range. was necked up to 6mm and called the 6x47. You get most of the good without most of the bad and that is a pretty good start. 600m: Out of ten cold shots at 600 meters 7 hit home, pretty impressive. The faster a bullet leaves the barrel, the farther it flies before hitting the ground, the less it deflects in crosswinds, and the more energy it carries when impacting the target. Its case is bigger and its report louder, but it is deadly effective in the field. But do you know how to properly use them? The handguard bolts to the upper eliminating impact shifts when setting the bi-pod or locking into a barricade or obstacle. Using already available magazines, bolts and the AR15 platform is a big plus. Curious? I did not have time to work up a load for accuracy, so Ill defer that discussion for a future post. Let us count the ways. Velocity can be a factor, but given the same weight, recoil should be similar so I kept the weights as close as possible. Those I know that can pick their own stuff are still proving out the 224V and many like it, not sure the differences are enough right now, time will tell. We show you how. With this testing behind me, I must say it was fun, I enjoyed it and will keep testing as new ammunition is available. Ultimate Reloader, LLC and Making With Metal can not be held liable for property or personal damage due to viewers/readers of this website performing activities, procedures, techniques, or practices described in whole or part on this website. Supporter. The 6mm ARC is basically the 6.5 Grendel necked down to hold a .243 bullet with the 30-degree shoulder pushed back a smidgen. remains a runaway hit to this day. The powder charge I used then is lost to history, but the bullet was a Speer 90-grain SP. The author marvels at the gun industry's ability to create ever more cartridges that keep the shooting sports fresh. The hardest thing about ladder testing for the 6 BR is deciding which load is the best because they are so good. Todays fast-twist .223s and heavy bullets have made it effectively obsolete. F-Class A to Z with Erik Cortina + Special Guest! 75 GRAIN BULLETS SECTIONAL DENSITY: 0.181 DIAMETER: 0.243" 75 gr. Modern Outfitters MC7, Proof Research 22 6CM, Bushnell Elite Tactical XRS 4.5-30, Hornady 108 grain ELDM. Give a Gift .563) from wobbling, the 6mm ARC will need at least a 1:7 twist. I previously tested them in other calibers. But no matter, new is new. Poll: What Reloading Components Cant You Find? Did not hit as hard but it was no slouch, anything it hit would notice for sure. This data and these techniques can not be assumed to be safe. Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented demand on the shooting supply industry. L. to R. are 243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, 240 Weatherby Magnum. In the 1970s, I had a Remington Model 700 BDL so chambered, and I took my first Texas whitetail with it. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Those held a water weight of 34.74 grains with a SD of .14 grains. Thread starter Travis224; Start date Aug 11, 2020; Forums. I know what. Closer to 43, I think. Using QuickLoad, I worked up the following load: For this load, I shot a group of 5 shots on the chronograph, and observed the following: This load produced very mild indications of pressure on the case rim, and functioned in the rifle well. [7] What the 6mm ARC does offer though is almost comparable velocities and ballistic performance, but out of a compact cartridge that has lessened perceived recoil and fits into the standard AR-15 length actions. Tested, selected and fielded by a specialized group within the U.S. DoD for its multipurpose combat rifle program, the versatile 6mm ARC does much of what larger cartridges can and everything that smaller cartridges cant. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }, Ultimate Reloader LLC / Making with Metal Disclaimer:(by reading this article and/or watching video content you accept these terms), This section is from my 6mm ARC Announcement Post. The 6.5 Creedmoor shoots 6.5mm/.264 class projectiles while the 6mm Creedmoor is necked down to shoot 6mm/.243. Lapua brass is easy to find, however the bullet (105 Hybrid) and powder (Varget/H4895) most run will be tough to find. The 6mm ARC uses commonly available 6.5 Grendel magazines/bolts. Obviously, they are not nearly as popular as the 6mm hunting cartridges. It is a 6 BR REM barrel that came off a rifle that I bought for the Remington 600 donor action. Long-range started with a cold shot at 600 meters using the reticle followed by one at 1100 meters using confirmed elevation dialed in, holding for wind. Follow up to the above. Again using QuickLoad, I developed the following load: Here I saw velocities averaging 2,631 FPS. You never know for sure, but its not a failure out of the box like so many others. I also confirmed velocity for existing conditions. What does all this mean? 1100m: This is more academic than real, but they claim 6mm ARC performs at this range (compared to the .223 and 308). All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. It is advanced for the AR platform. Photo Courtesy Berger Bullets. Shots are on 12 round steel and 22 x 16 silhouette steel at 600 and 1100 meters. Cartridge Specs. For those using 6.5 Grendel, its a 5-minute barrel change. Take a look at any good ballistics program Hornady and Federal both have an easy-to-use program on their websitesand you'll see the advantage of the better B.C. There is a lot of hoped for or imagined history related to the 22 BR and 6 BR cartridges. Ok from the perspective of one 6mm ARC lover. In the case of a bolt gun, I'm sure 6ARC would do great but 6BR has quite a few advantages in case/neck dimensions alone. Minuteman. ELD (l.) makes for an excellent long-range target round, while the 103-gr. MV consistency matters a great deal at extended ranges. The Barnes 80-grain Tipped Triple-Shock BoatTail sizzles with a velocity of 3,226 fps with a safe loading of VihtaVuori N550 powder, and the Speer 90-grain Hot-Cor can easily achieve 3,115 fps with VihtaVuori N160. SPC, 350 Win. ), 6mm ARC brass (new), 6.5x47 (New) Sierra 6mm Gamechanger 90gr and 6.5 130gr Gamechanger, Update on my BadRock 6mm ARC bolt gun and new Hornady Podcast, Custom 700 in 6mm Norma BR (ARC, Timney, Bartlein) *Price drop*. Did the 6 ARC outperform the .223? After entering my measured capacities, measured muzzle velocity with 27 grains of VARGET under the 108 ELD-M of 2554 is now within 2 FPS of Quickloads estimated 2552 FPS. In the 1970s, Remington experimented with a .308-sized case that was about 1.5 inches long and had a small primer pocket (like the PPCs). .458 Winchester Magnum History: The Complete Story, 6.8 Western Ammo Options: The Load of Long Yardage, A World Record Attempt: Practice Round and Media Day, Interview with Israeli Defense Forces, Part 1.