Hornady 6mm ARC "New" cartridge

[Adam in WI]

.By the way I find it ironic that everyone is always trying to fit an AK based cartridge into their AR but no one is ever trying to fit a 556 into their AK.

You've never seen a 5.56 AK?

 

[riflewoman]

Not another 6PPC nock off!! We already have to many of them, and they are NEVER as good as the PPC. Just make a frigin PPC, how hard is that? Good news is though is that there will be more rifles that can be converted to PPC.

By the way I find it ironic that everyone is always trying to fit an AK based cartridge into their AR but no one is ever trying to fit a 556 into their AK.

the Israelis made the Galil and the Finns did the M76 Valmet....

 

[David Milisock]

Putting this out there and maybe someone knows the details. I'm thinking that the military pushed the desired end specifications and Hornady just made it work and got the deal.

 

[Kurz]

Here is the list of current cartridges in use either for testing or issue ammunition:

"One phenomenon that has emerged from the U.S. special operations community over the last 10 to 12 years involves exploration and acquisition of small arms in new ballistic calibers.


Rather than the better known weapon designs in 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, .50 caliber, and even the U.S. Army’s emerging 6.8 mm Next Generation Squad Weapon, the community has embraced calibers like the .300 AAC (Advanced Armament Corporation) Blackout (.300 BLK), 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge), and both .300 and .338 Norma Magnum."

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine...perations-community-embraces-wildcat-calibers

 

[Grimstod]

You've never seen a 5.56 AK?

Yes I have but there are very few and far between compared to the ARs that get converted to shoot the AK based cartridge.

 

[Grimstod]

the Israelis made the Galil and the Finns did the M76 Valmet....

As I said earlier it like two examples compared to the many many that have been done to the AR.

 

[Hohn]

Yes I have but there are very few and far between compared to the ARs that get converted to shoot the AK based cartridge.

With cheap Russian Ammo largely gone, the days of x39-caliber ARs are ending.

 

[dolek]

With cheap Russian Ammo largely gone, the days of x39-caliber ARs are ending.

Plenty of ammo and guns out there , you are wrong.

 

[Hohn]

Plenty of ammo and guns out there , you are wrong.

Happy to be so.

 

[riflewoman]

There’s ammo out there, but it isn’t as cheap as it used to be. I can remember “spam cans” for way less than $100. The real problem with the 7,62x39 AR was functionality. Many of the conversions weren’t all that reliable. The 300 blackout was supposed to be more reliable and give suppressed capability.

 

[Hengehold]

Obviously there is a trend developing with Hornady using a previously existing cartridge and renaming/standardizing it with SAMMI.

The 6XC is the same as the Creedmoor family and the 6ARC same as 6AR. I always found it odd that the 6XC did not become SAMMI shortly after it was developed.

I don’t see why Standardizing a cartridge such as the Creedmoor family or six ARC can be considered Anything other than positive for the consumer. More options now for factory loaded ammo and factory rifles.

 

[rockhound78]

Only problem I had with my X39 reliability, was the mags. If I had a good mag, it would run just fine.

 

[Zero333]

Lets not forget to thank the chinese for inventing gunpowder

That's pushing it a little LOL

 

[Oso]

And just when I had just finally decided to build that 6.5 Grendel... because I didn't need another one-off cartridge like the 6mmAR.

Agree that this is nothing more than a minor tweak that allows for a proprietary "renaming" by Hornady. That said the 6mmAR (6mm Grendel) has been a proven performer, but not widely accepted because it required you to be a reloader who likes wildcats. Now the challenge/inertia is removed and it may gain the following that it deserves.

When necked down to a 22 cal ("22ARC"), I expect it to be the death blow to the 224 Valkyrie. Think of all the primer pockets that it will save!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Unless I am reading the prints wrong, this 6ARC case is .030” shorter to the shoulder, than standard 6.5 Grendel SAAMI. So if this is correct, it is not a necked down 6.5 Grendel.

This makes no sense, since it would be alot of extra headspace if this brass is used in the “OLD STD” 6AR chamber.

This ammo would also load and probably fire in a AR chambered in a 6.5 Grendel.

I dont think they even considered it to be a direct drop in for a cartridge of a different name. If it doesnt function in the wrong chamber it wouldnt surprise me at all.

 

[Sandstorm]

I do like the Grendel's & x39's and all the PPC's and BR's and 220's...etc,,etc ,etc..So Another standardized cartridge in the collection is a plus
for us shooter's in general..perhaps even pick up some new shooters. since they can buy ammo for it.

 

[RustyPin]

The AR world only knows the Grendel. For some reason Hornady opted to use the PPC Brass and improve the shoulder. Perhaps someone indicated the Grendel brass too long for adequate Ogive spacing or the Brass cost less to manufacture. The ARC no doubt is a plane jane Cartidge to fit in the 2.3" box of the AR15 and nothing more and that's all that's needed.

Forum Boss: No, I believe Hornady moved the shoulder back .030” simply so that you couldn’t just neck down Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass and shoot it in the 6mm ARC chamber. Pushing a shoulder back .030” is a more complicated operation for hsnloaders. They modified the 6-6.5 Grendel just enough to make it proprietary. Consequence is that you are stuck with less capacity with softer, inferior brass.

 

[David Milisock]

I do like the Grendel's & x39's and all the PPC's and BR's and 220's...etc,,etc ,etc..So Another standardized cartridge in the collection is a plus
for us shooter's in general..perhaps even pick up some new shooters. since they can buy ammo for it.

I'm combing a few responces here.

Judging from the article I read the discussions on chamber, brass, magazine and any other specs were partially if not completely controlled by the government requirements. To extend the accuracy and lethality range of their 20" M16 style rifle. They need to exceed the 450+ practical accuracy/lethality range of their arms into 600+ yards.

With the announced military adoption of this cartridge I believe we'll see a surge in shooters using it. I've decided to get an upper chambered for it. My AR15 A2 , 1 in 7 twist is ok for larger sized targets in the field at 500 yards but only with the 68 grain projectiles, in poor wind conditions it's more like 400- for 100% reliable hits. Heavier 22 projectiles are ok for range work but IMO not for field variables.

It's my belief for combat the 6mm ARC should fill the void where the 6.5 is both too much and too little. Too much for the close in work, fine for the 600 yard+ work but not enough for 1000+ longer ranges fitting only 1 of 3 needs where the 6MM ARC should fit 2 out of 3 needs. In military use, time will tell if it displaces the 5.56 which surely has been pushed to new boundaries.

 

[AllThingsAI]

Whether you love or hate the round....having different commercially available brass is never a bad thing. It actually helps the reloading/wildcatters out there. Maybe we get more PPC bolt faces made available in off the shelf bolt guns.

Keep the sport moving forward...It’s good for us all.

 

[Rustytigwire]

So who has a 24" AR Barrel and dies. Lets get a goin!