Make sure to watch till the end. Follow @UReloader 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. ZEV cleaned house using the David Tubb DTR reticle. All of the design criteria that went into the 6.5 Creedmoor that make it a top performer were also used in the development of the 6mm Creedmoor. Hornady Precision Hunter 6mm ARC 103 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Centerfire Rifle Ammunition, 20, SBT (Save 10%) $2.15/Round. So far, I have not laid my eyes or hands on a single 6mm ARC cartridge or rifle, so I will withhold judgment until I test one. As the dust settled and reality set in this dissipated a bit. 2730 FPS and way over-pressured though SDs were single digits, groups were all just over 1.25 MOA. However, I must confess that Hornadys factory loads shoot so well that the reloader is hard-pressed to better them. ELD-Match, and Berger 115-gr. The rim diameter of the 6mm ARC is 0.441 inches, while the 243 is slightly larger at 0.471 inches. Alaska. Give a Gift Both hit at around 12 mils, the 6ARC just hit harder. [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. 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. Were going backwards! The 6.5 Creedmoor shoots 6.5mm/.264 class projectiles while the 6mm Creedmoor is necked down to shoot 6mm/.243. 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. VLD, Hornady 108-gr. bullets straight and seated above the powder reservoir. Party-poopers will gleefully point out that the 6.5 Grendel was based on the 6mm PPC case necked up, and here it is necked back down to 6mm. Do not attempt any of the processes or procedures shown or described on this website. While it is the same length of 20, my twist is faster at 7 rather than Gavins 7.5. Ultimate Reloader LLC is not responsible for errors in load data on this website. Handloads are easy to prepare, and while my limited use of the .240 Wby. The 6mm Creedmoor and it's smaller siblings like the 6mm Dasher, BR . WARNING: The load development techniques and load data shown in this video are experimental and are for DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. It recoils about 50% less than any long-range 308 Win. Above: 6mm ARC case capacity measured 33.96 grains H2O. Shooters needed cartridges that would fit these increasingly popular, super-short actions. Thread Modes. However, 25.3 inches of drop at 400yds is by no means terrible. I have a precision set up AR in 224 Valkyrie. The powder loads for the test spanned 1.6 grains and I fired 24 shots and only two were more than 1 MOA out. Doesn't the 6mm ARC have a smidge more powder capacity over the 6mm BR? Jeff, did you mean to type - 6.5BR? Recoil is primarily a product of bullet weight. Its case is bigger and its report louder, but it is deadly effective in the field. You will not find better quality and consistency when it comes to Lapua. In the 6mm ARC vs. the rest of the calibers vying for your attention, we have to ask if it the next 6.5 Creedmoor. Does the 6 mm arc not have 30 degrees shoulder angle?is wikipedia wrong? 6mm AR (L), 6mm BR (R) Good luck, John 1shot Mar 4, 2013 #4 It was the wildcatters who brought it back to life by fiddling with a couple of popular designs. As much as I like shooting my 6 Creedmoor, every builder outside custom shops tells me it is a complete PITA to get to work on a large scale using factory ammunition, a real consideration. Ok from the perspective of one 6mm ARC lover. range.) This morning, using the same scale and method as Gavin, I measured the case capacity using water weight in two sets of fired but not resized cases. Low velocity coupled with relatively light bullets reduces recoil. All barrels will be . The hunter can add about 100 to 150 fps of additional velocity to most game-weight bullets. To keep the 115-grain Berger VLD (G1 B.C. It would also be used as a deer rifle for new shooters (small deer, sitka blacktails). Your email address will not be published. In 100-200yd benchrest competition, the 6PPC is still the "winningest" cartridge around. GD. The .223 does have advantages, though. Of course, handloading the 6mm Creedmoor is a reloaders dream. If I was gonna go to a 6mm cartridge I would either do 6x47lapua because I already brass and all I need is a smaller neck bushing, or I would go all in on 6br. What does all this mean? No factory rifles or ammo was available, but for a while, Federal offered nickel-plated 6x47 cases. I have never had a easier caliber to load for. 100-300m: Consistent 100 meter groups in the .60 -.75 inch range, 2.5-3.0 inches at 300 meters were the norm. Each session started with a cold shot at 100 meters confirming zero while showing repeatability out of the bag. Your email address will not be published. Should I consider another upper? The powder charge I used then is lost to history, but the bullet was a Speer 90-grain SP. All testing was completed using 108 grain ELDM from Hornady. Mikey Hartman, Lt. Col. Advantage, magnum. Hornadys 80-grain GMX and 103-grain ELD-X and the Speer 90-grain Hot-Cor all are accurate and deadly. It is formed by using a shortened .22-250 Remington case, and it has thinner walls for increased powder capacity and the Ackley improved shape. 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. Accuracy was up to par, and shooters took to the rifle-cartridge combo like a duck, well, you know. This increased size means the 243 has a case capacity of 53-54.8 gr H2O. 600m: Out of ten cold shots at 600 meters 7 hit home, pretty impressive. I think the point of the arc is that it works in an ar 15. Its almost boring. Poll: Whats your number one reason for reloading? 6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 PRC: Which is Better? It is accurate, produces good velocities, and the copper eraser stuff in this powder makes barrel cleaning a breeze. Posts: 11,077. Travis224 Sergeant. From a precision standpoint, 6mm ARC does tend to beat 224 Valkyrie. The Hornady 6mm ARC is at its best with long for caliber, high BC bullets like this Berger 108-grain Elite Hunter. It is larger than the 6x47L and matching the 6-Creedmore capacity. the problem is your average guy wants to shoot a long ways, they don't get the fast and light principles. Minuteman. This made sense. It is NOT for use in AR-15 style (gas gun) rifles. The 6mm ARC is a medium-power cartridge comparable to the 6.5mm Grendel, but with better ballistics thanks to the greater muzzle velocity achieved by using lighter 6 mm bullets and enough power to make use of the heavy 6 mm bullets. While almost any combination of components seems to shoot well, my favorite powders are Hybrid 100V, Reloder 17, and Power Pro 4000MR. For an ordinary AR-15 rifle chambered for the .223 Rem/5.56mm NATO, a new barrel, magazine and bolt are required to convert to the 6mm ARC. He gave it a 32-degree shoulder and called it the .243 Rock Chucker.. was introduced in Remingtons Model 722 short-action bolt gun, and while the Model 722 was a very accurate rifle, it was rather plain. 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. Check one out and join the race to the bottom. Mag. Poll: Where are you finding reloading primers and powder? Messages. Shots are on 12 round steel and 22 x 16 silhouette steel at 600 and 1100 meters. I'm pretty sure that the dies were marked 6 BR REM. Its a long-distance for any of these and conditions were anything but ideal. Maybe in a rural area where ranges stretch out, but movement here will be a rarity. Five shot rapid-fire was not bad. As the heaviest rifle tested recoil with the LMT Mars-H in 6.5CM was about the same as the Zev in .223 Wylde, the next best performer for groups. I fall into the latter category. Recoil is subjective and using the same bullet weight they were all close. Some may scoff at the old-fashioned roundnose bullet, but it is a terrific game bullet, and I have never had to use a second shot to down a deer. The 6mm ARC produces a larger splash signature that allows shooters to self-spot impacts and make rapid adjustments. L. to R. are 243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, 240 Weatherby Magnum. I did a ladder test one time at 300 meters on an electronic target, the Norwegian ones that have verified accuracy. .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. H-4895 is closer to the 6.5 Grendel sweet spot, so I thought it would be worth a try. Making those tweaks often feels like creating a powder that doesnt really exist. Slightly bigger still is the 6CM, which invokes much cooler H1000 powder (to best all these in barrel life). 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. 6 BR REM, not 6.5. Joseph Von Benedikt shows his custom 500 and how well it shoots. H4895 with 5-shot groups from the high .5s to 1.0 MOA. The first groups were the 6.5 Grendel cases that I modified for the 6mm ARC. $1.75/Round. LMT shot softer, exhibited a tank-like build, and proved great to shoot. The .222 Remington, introduced in 1950, was top dog in benchrest circles until the advent of the PPCs, after which, the 6mm PPC was used by virtually all serious benchrest competitors. I never cleaned it with anything. With more case capacity, the 6mm BR can drive the heavier, higher BC bullets needed at long distance. It's no surprise Hornady chose a 6mm bullet, either. V-MAX Item No. [5] Clearly better to galivant around the countryside with then an AR10. was not, and the .243 Win. 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. Barrel-length is an issue. Range Report 6mm ARC vs 6 PPC vs 6 Grendel. It doesn't need a .308 sized action to work. The current reincarnation of this round is the 6mm BR Norma, with essentially the same case dimensions. Dropped on my M16 lower doubles and triples stayed on a full-sized silhouette out to 25 yards, stretched doubles to 50 yards. This is a much more confidence inspiring correlation with regards to safety and predictability. The 6 ARC proved at 2720 fps with a Density Altitude of 8800 feet. 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. Copyright 2020 SHWAT | All Right Reserved. Lower velocity means less flame and heat for longer barrel life. It debuted in 1955 and has been immensely and justifiably popular ever since. Fred Huntington, founder of RCBS, developed a then-new 6mm cartridge by necking down the .257 Roberts case. 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! 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. It hits way above its weight class. The Zev Technologies .223 is still the most fun you can have with an AR out to 600 meters. 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. I fall into the latter category. Really liking the 6mm Arc in this CZ 527 platform. shoots the same cadre of 0.243-inch bullets as the .243 Win. Lighter and tougher and more precise than ever, it's the perfect back country hunting rifle. Many handloaders like the 6mm Rem.s sharper shoulder and longer case, and while its not nearly as popular as the .243 Win., it is nonetheless a great 6mm round. HunterMann Well-Known Member LRH Team Member Joined Jan 18, 2021 Cartridge experimentation was in its heyday in the 1950s, and it was a rare cartridge case that didnt get shortened, blown out, or necked up or down. Or hunting? Editors Note: Looking for a deeper dive on the 6.5 Grendel vs. 6mm ARC? This colored our perception of lower velocity rounds. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. Distance is its forte and with its 2020 introduction and ability to flatten the trajectory curve, the 6mm ARC might ought to have been called the "Corona cartridge.". However, the 6mm BR is superior at 300m and beyond. Ballistic Calculators & Field Results . Hornady 6mm ARC Losing Ground Hornady is claiming its 6mm ARC will yield 2,750 fps with a 108-grain ELD-M bullet from a 24-inch barrel. I had a heavy-barreled Sako single shot in the 1970s, and it shot like almost all 6mm PPCs: great. It was essentially the Huntington cartridge, but with a 26-degree shoulder for easier case manufacturing. Posts. 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. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. The difference between the 6 mm BR Rem and the 6 mm BR Norma are slight, but in a tight chamber . Guns & Ammo's first sample rifle chambered in 6mm ARC was a Ruger AR-556 MPR with an 18-inch barrel. As Jackie says there's a big difference in the cases. The 6mm ARC was designed to match specific DOD requirements while fitting in the AR15 platform. ARC stands for "Advanced Rifle Cartridge." The caliber is 6mm or .243. 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. This is only a slight victory, however. This increased size means the 243 has a case capacity of 53-54.8 gr H2O. All of the eyeball'ed loads produced sub-MOA groups. It is based on the previous 22 Nosler and has two features to make it compatible with AR-type rifles: a slightly rebated rim that is the same diameter as the .223 Remington and an overall cartridge length set at 2.26 inches, the same as other AR rounds. 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. Looking at putting together on of lower powder capacity 6mms in an effort to possibly extend barrel life a touch and have a nice smooth/easy shooting gun. Overall, the 6mm ARC delivers optimum all-range performance and barrel life. 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. continues to ride the crest of the 6mm-caliber wave, the tried-and-true 6mm Rem. Cal December 9, 2018 Leave a comment. Excessive recoil, debilitating blast, and marked overpressure remain its claim to fame, thereby making it unsuitable for comparison for most of us. The second set of data is loaded to a MAP of 62,000 psi, which is stated to be for use with bolt action guns such as the CZ 527. That doesnt take anything away from what the 6 ARC does and the companies who developed it. The old 243 Winchester can beat that by about 300 fps. Nearly two dozen rifle makers are already chambering for the round, including Browning, Proof, Christensen, Barrett, Mossberg, and Howa. However, after completely missing five consecutive bucks with my 6mm, I decided that I needed to hunt with that Remington 6mm like I hunted with my 2-3/4 inch 12 gauge. H2O. The 6 ARC can be built on mini actions such as the CZ 527, Howa Mini, Sako AI. The newest 6mm factory round is the recently announced 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). If you have any doubt how well Hornady does this look no further than the 6.5 Creedmoor. This 6 ARC was an excellent performer, not a precision rifle but thats not what its for. WT?, Tactical Time Lord. Based on the .204 Ruger, which was created from the .222 Rem. I had only some pre-primed new Hornady 6mm ARC brass to start with and the SAAMI Specs for 6mm ARC. The author marvels at the gun industry's ability to create ever more cartridges that keep the shooting sports fresh. Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented demand on the shooting supply industry. Unlike the WSSM, the Hornady 6mm ARC was engineered around a long, high B.C. Just striving for accuracy. Its why the 308 is absent from this test. But do you know how to properly use them? The benchrest crowd has not been overlooked in the 6mm derby, and one cartridge literally rewrote the record book. These did not shoot well at all for me at 100 yards with an average of 1.9 MOA and after two lackluster 5-shot groups, I discontinued testing with them. 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. In 1955, on the heels of the .243 Win., the .243 Rock Chucker was modified slightly by Remington and became the .244 Remington. Its release as a commercial round was presaged by a number of successful 6mm wildcats like the 6mm AR based on the Grendel. remains a solid performer with todays high-tech bullets, new powders, and fast-twist rifle barrels. VLD Match. Some smaller capacity, low velocity rounds are tailored for sub-sonic, low-report firing for clandestine military engagements. wasnt the only knife in the drawer, even if it was the sharpest one. However, I would not want to carry it far. It started as a popular wildcat before its approval by SAAMI. Most Popular. Its 26-inch barrel made the rifle a bit heavy for toting over hill and dale, plus the 1:12-inch twist limited bullet weights to 90 grains or lighter. Reduced recoil minimizes flinching and enables shooters to see their hits or misses so they can correct for subsequent shots. Whats more: Its already SAAMI approved! .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. My handloads for the round have all been for Missouri deer, and I can confidently recommend my favorite. Let us count the ways. Advanced Marksmanship Unit. Wait a minute. Some of the super short cartridges created to fit the increasingly popular AR-15 platform rifles with 2.26" magazine length. At the time of the 22 PPC and 6mm PPC being developed by Ferris Pindell and Dr. Louis Palmisano (thus the PP), the bench rest winners were often the 222 Remington and the 6x47 Remington (the latter being a necked-up 222 Remington Magnum). The 6.5 Grendel was made by modifying the 220 Russian parent case. bullets of the 6mm Creedmoor. I also shot mine with an Ultra 9 direct-thread suppressor. Sneak Peek of Bryan Litz's New Book: Volume III of Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting. : 2.095" G1 B.C. You may know one or two more. The strings netted three or four out of five, misses were off the edge. 6mm ARC is so new that as of the writing of this article, published load data did not exist! You must log in or register to reply here. The release of the new Hornady 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) supports the perception that gun and ammo makers are engaged in a race to the bottom. has not been on game, some loads stand out. | Standard practice is to start tweaking burn rates, bullet weight and weighting factor to make calculated muzzle velocity match actual. With this testing behind me, I must say it was fun, I enjoyed it and will keep testing as new ammunition is available. Eight reasons to embrace the Hornady 6mm ARC and other low-velocity cartridges. The new Mossberg rifles chambered for the new 6mm ARC should give similar results with even less recoil -- not that the old 243 Win. [10] The 6mm ARC therefore can also be a suitable chambering for shorter "micro-action" bolt-action rifles. Soft-report, low-recoil cartridges prove ideal for starting new shooters, many of whom never see the need for escalation. Required fields are marked *. I started out a skeptic, not terribly excited about the 6mm ARC. That doesnt mean others in that community or those in contact with them may not want 6mm ARC someday, or even give it a try sooner than later. The ARC seems to be knocking on the heels of a BR. Joined. Its accuracy is simply phenomenal, and it makes a superior varmint cartridge. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For this load, I shot a group of 3 shots on the chronograph, and observed the following: (better chrono data coming in future stories, I had limited components and time). The 6mm GT easily attains more than 3,000 fps. Both can produce sub-MOA groups, but 224 Valkyrie seems to spread out faster than 6mm ARC. Required fields are marked *. Some have long and storied histories, while others are just now making their own legends. The original 6 mm/.244 Rem is basically the .257 Roberts/7x57 case necked down, while the 6 mm BR Rem/Norma (only slightly different case specs between them) are much shorter cases. So what about Hornadys published 2,750 fps number for the 108 grain ELD-M bullets in 6mm ARC? The short reality is somewhat different. It is advanced for the AR platform. Tests varied from 100-1100 meters (110-1200 yards, for the metrically challenged). Legend, 450 Bushmaster. So, the 6mm ARC outperforms any magazine length 5.56x45mm NATO load simply through a combination of sheer horsepower and more efficient projectiles. [5], The cartridge makes use of 6mm (.243 in) bullets, which are known for their high ballistic coefficients due to the high sectional density with less drag and better energy retention at extended ranges. and 6mm Rem., but it pushes them a little faster. I decided that since I didnt have any load data, I would have to generate my own! I must note here how hard it hit. Not a contest. This is the Great short, fat 6mm PPC that was developed by Dr. Louis Palmisano and Ferris Pindell. Here I am shooting a Smith & Wesson M&P chambered 5.56x45mm. As for the 6ARC, I would take a vital shot at 600 meters without hesitation given a solid platform. A memorized trajectory curve combined with a ballistic reticle or turret dialing could compensate. I cant speak for the ARC, but for the 6BR. Accordingly, the firm introduced two loads. That said, I just got a 6BR for my new PRS rifle. The handguard bolts to the upper eliminating impact shifts when setting the bi-pod or locking into a barricade or obstacle. Short, relatively fat cartridges concentrate powder near the ignition flame for an even, consistent burn with a tendency to improve muzzle velocity consistency. The .240 Wby. Long-range precision shooting is one of the fastest-growing segments of the shooting sports. MV consistency matters a great deal at extended ranges. Absolutely, but not significantly better than the 224V with the 90 grain SMK.