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Thoughts on optimum powder considerations for bolt 6mm ARC - 80gr ELD-VT

SD guy

I am looking at trying the 80 GR ELD-VT in a 22" bolt action 6mm ARC with a 7.5 twist rate barrel. Hodgdon offers data for this exact bullet for gas gun's. Delma here, is of the 12 propellants listed, only one max charge is not a compressed load, That was the TAC.

With the higher pressure are there other propellants a guy may wish consider for the higher pressure bolt action application?



Leverevolution ----------------MAX CHARGE 32.4C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3203 C
CFE 223 ----------------------MAX CHARGE 32.0C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3136 C
Accurate 2520----------------MAX CHARGE 31.3C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3133 C
Winchester Staball match ---MAX CHARGE 31.2C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3049 C
Hodgdon BL-C 2 ------------ MAX CHARGE 31.0C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3049 C
Winchester 748 ---------------MAX CHARGE 30.2C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2977 C
IMR 4895 --------------------- MAX CHARGE 29.2C----- MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3003 C
Varget --------------------------MAX CHARGE 29.2C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2973 C
Accurate 2495- ---------------MAX CHARGE 28.5C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2908 C
IMR 4064 ----------------------MAX CHARGE 28.4C----- MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2904 C
Ramshot Tac ------------------ MAX CHARGE 28.0-------MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2926
H4895 --------------------------MAX CHARGE 27.5C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2970 C
 
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Additional Gas gun data is available with Vihtivori with the 80 grain ELD-VT & by comparison velocity seems a bit anemic compared to the Hodgdon data. Perhaps not so anemic when the 20" barrel is taken in to account vs the 24" Hodgdon barrel, The Vihtivori propellants listed are as follows.

N133 MAX CHARGE 23.1 -----MAX VELOCITY 20" BARREL = 2762
N135 MAX CHARGE 25.2C--- MAX VELOCITY 20" BARREL = 2828C
N140 MAX CHARGE 27.8F ----MAX VELOCITY 20" BARREL = 2802F
N540 MAX CHARGE 29.2C----MAX VELOCITY 20" BARREL = 2877C
N150 MAX CHARGE 28.9C ----MAX VELOCITY 20" BARREL = 2815C
 
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I had a 6 Grinch
Which I think is the original wildcat name for the Arc?
I shot 95 gr Berger’s within-135
It was competitive in 600 yard Benchrest.
CW
 
While I havent tested that specific bullet in 6ARC, AR Comp has been the best powder I've tested hands down with 80gr class bullets in my 22" 6ARC..

No temp sensitivity, excellent accuracy and super low ES/SD...
 
Back in the day we used to get data from reloading manuals that included pressure, it is my understanding that is still available with quick load and Gordon's reloading tool. We believed that the best power you could use was one the produced the highest speed with the least pressure.
 
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SD guy said:
Do You recall what velocity you were getting? What barrel length were you working with?
Click to expand...
I will look for the records for that barrel soon.
CW

Edit

The barrel was a 26" 7.7 twist Bartlien.
I ran ladder tests with N-135 from 29.0-31.2gr with the Berger 95gr boattail bullets.
The upper charges were hot and I should have stopped before finishing.
I did not find the target which has most of the data........ EDIT found the target
According to my notes
Lapau 6 Grendel brass, CCI BR-4, N-135, Berger 95's.
The volume of my cases will not be the same as yours and there are likely all sorts of small changes in shape?
29.0-29.4 is the range that shot small. Several groups under 2" at 600 in competition.
Going from memory...... NO NOTES...... the rascasls were near 3000.

I was shooting a 10.5 lb PPC that I put this Grinch barrel on. The purpose was for some of my granddaughters to shoot with the old guy without having to wait on a new build. It worked, they changed direction, barrel is in the corner. I posted a bunch of stuff on it as I was developing loads.

I will try and dig up that thread.
CWIMG_7848.jpeg
 
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Have not tried any of the lighter bullets yet because I have been shooting 105gr bullets in a league gun.

Have looked at 87gr and 95gr bullets to try and use with A2460 and Benchmark.

What I am using is a 28" Shilen Select Match 4 groove Bull profile with 28.7gr of LVR and getting around 2780fps. shooting .5MOA or better.
 
Mulligan said:
I will look for the records for that barrel soon.
CW

Edit

The barrel was a 26" 7.7 twist Bartlien.
I ran ladder tests with N-135 from 29.0-31.2gr with the Berger 95gr boattail bullets.
The upper charges were hot and I should have stopped before finishing.
I did not find the target which has most of the data........ EDIT found the target
According to my notes
Lapau 6 Grendel brass, CCI BR-4, N-135, Berger 95's.
The volume of my cases will not be the same as yours and there are likely all sorts of small changes in shape?
29.0-29.4 is the range that shot small. Several groups under 2" at 600 in competition.
Going from memory...... NO NOTES...... the rascasls were near 3000.

I was shooting a 10.5 lb PPC that I put this Grinch barrel on. The purpose was for some of my granddaughters to shoot with the old guy without having to wait on a new build. It worked, they changed direction, barrel is in the corner. I posted a bunch of stuff on it as I was developing loads.

I will try and dig up that thread.
CW



View attachment 1628774
Click to expand...
I would surmise this was some 600 yard work?
 
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Made in out late this afternoon experimenting with a number of propellants. Thus far I am finding Win 748 & H4895 to look the most interesting in terms of accuracy. With 25 deg F & a 15 MPH wind blowing up my tail conditions left a lot to be desired.
 
I just recently picked up a Ruger American Gen II bolt action in 6mm ARC. My understanding is the the ARC was built (twist rate etc) to handle the heavier bullets (100+). Over the years, I've picked up quite a few 75-80 grain bullets that I occasionally load in my 6mm Remington. Does the ARC's 7.5 twist fare well on those lighter bullets? To date, I've only shot factory 103 and 108 grainers, but I have ordered a set of dies and am sat to start reloading.
 
All 80 grain bullets are not constructed the same. In the case of the 80 grain ELDVT offering, this bullet is considerably longer than an average cup & core constructed bullet. So this particular 80 grain bullet happens to be thriving on the faster twist rate offered by the 6mm ARC. To put this another way the 80 gr ELD- VT would not be recommended for a 10 twist 243 Winchester for example, due to inadequate stabilization.

Will look forward to hearing reports on how you are fairing with your Ruger American.
 
SD guy said:
I am looking at trying the 80 GR ELD-VT in a 22" bolt action 6mm ARC with a 7.5 twist rate barrel. Hodgdon offers data for this exact bullet for gas gun's. Delma here, is of the 12 propellants listed, only one max charge is not a compressed load, That was the TAC.

With the higher pressure are there other propellants a guy may wish consider for the higher pressure bolt action application?



Leverevolution ----------------MAX CHARGE 32.4C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3203 C
CFE 223 ----------------------MAX CHARGE 32.0C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3136 C
Accurate 2520----------------MAX CHARGE 31.3C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3133 C
Winchester Staball match ---MAX CHARGE 31.2C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3049 C
Hodgdon BL-C 2 ------------ MAX CHARGE 31.0C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3049 C
Winchester 748 ---------------MAX CHARGE 30.2C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2977 C
IMR 4895 --------------------- MAX CHARGE 29.2C----- MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 3003 C
Varget --------------------------MAX CHARGE 29.2C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2973 C
Accurate 2495- ---------------MAX CHARGE 28.5C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2908 C
IMR 4064 ----------------------MAX CHARGE 28.4C----- MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2904 C
Ramshot Tac ------------------ MAX CHARGE 28.0-------MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2926
H4895 --------------------------MAX CHARGE 27.5C-----MAX VELOCITY 24" BARREL = 2970 C
Click to expand...
Your saying you only want to get as much powder in a case as possible. What about an accuracy load.
 
I think I may be mis-understood here. All I am saying is that it turns out that the max charge of Hodgdon 's listed data for this projectile happens to be a compressed load in 11 out of 12 propellants offered. I tend to prefer to avoid compressed loads or at least keep density of the powder down to a minimal compressed load I suppose 103% is pushing my comfort zone I suppose.

Yes, accuracy is a first & foremost consideration.
 
VV data is some of the most lawyer proof max loads out there.

From the sidelines with no 6ARC experience, only 6 BRA, I would work up N135 and IMR 8208 for the 80 gr class and see where I get pressure signs.
 
SD guy said:
I think I may be mis-understood here. All I am saying is that it turns out that the max charge of Hodgdon 's listed data for this projectile happens to be a compressed load in 11 out of 12 propellants offered. I tend to prefer to avoid compressed loads or at least keep density of the powder down to a minimal compressed load I suppose 103% is pushing my comfort zone I suppose.

Yes, accuracy is a first & foremost consideration.
Click to expand...
Sounds as though you should have considered this before selecting this cartridge
 
SD guy said:
All I am saying is that it turns out that the max charge of Hodgdon 's listed data for this projectile happens to be a compressed load in 11 out of 12 propellants offered. I tend to prefer to avoid compressed loads

Yes, accuracy is a first & foremost consideration.
Click to expand...
That being the case, then maybe you need to consider a different projectile. That or a reduced charge that is not compressed and give up that extreme velocity.
 
Ken,

Not at all. Cartridge is exactly what I was seeking then as well as now. Just learning & looking to assess how I'll utilize another projectile in this rifle with the 6mm Arc cartridge. As it works out, the Cartridge was selected to fit a walk about mini action CZ 527 hunting rifle that I have a soft spot for.

This combination has served me well as a deer hunting rifle with projectiles ranging from the 108 gr Elite hunter to the 87 gr Absolute Hammer to a 90 gr CX using LVR, IMR 8208 & CFE 223 respectivly.

Porter, is on the track I am seeking as well with the reduced charge considerations.

Suppose the thing may be that the load data out there that I am seeing is for the lower max pressure of the AR. Find it interesting that a higher velocity load for a bolt action application does not seem to be a option in the case of this lighter longer sleek ELD-VT varmint bullet. Rare situation that intrigues me I suppose.
 
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