6mm ARC bullets for deer?

[rockhound78]

Just picked up a Bear Creek Arsenal bolt upper for my AR15 in 6mm ARC and wondering about which bullet to use on deer? I have some of the Sierra 85gr HP and some Seirra 90gr Gamechangers along with 87vmax and some 80 btsp. 1-8 twist

Think I remember a lot of you guys like the 85gr HP. That it shoots like a match bullet but performs great on deer.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

 

[SD guy]

Depends on the twist rate you went with. 7.5 is standard. Monolithics are my favorite. Hammer 87 gr Absolute Hammer & 90 gr CX Hornady offering have done well for me. In the cup & core line up the 108 grain Elite hunter shot The best of what I had tried. All of my testing was done in bolt action offerings. Majority of my bolt action testing was done with a re-barreled CZ-527, 22" Pacnor 7.5 twist FWW.

 

[spaniel]

Personally I'd use an Accubond or Partition, I've had too much bad luck with 6mm bullets failing on deer.

The absolute last thing you should use is a VMAX of any weight. You won't get decent penetration, and none if you hit bone.

 

[SD guy]

I have little doubt that 2 of the bullets you present may work well if you find the right load. I would like to think you will only need 1 round per, to get the job done. Yet I do expect the plastic tip game changers would feed better for you. I am with Spaniel, on this one, Varmint bullets / V Max would best to discard b4 even getting started for the task mentioned.

I would also expect the Accubond & partitions to do rather well also, along with at least a half dozen other actual hunting bullets designed for big game.

The bullets I list above 2nd post, are the only ones I have actual experience with on game. Each did very well for me.

 

[rockhound78]

Would be a 150lb max whitetail at 200yards at the most

 

[5spd]

The only 6mm bullets I use for game are sierras 85g jhp, sierras 90g TGK. The next best bullet is Noslers 90g HBT.
Both nosler and sierra 90g tipped shoot exactly the same in my rigs.
These drop deer, Antelope on the spot, well with my shooting they do.

 

[SD guy]

Just picked up a Bear Creek Arsenal bolt upper for my AR15 in 6mm ARC and wondering about which bullet to use on deer? I have some of the Sierra 85gr HP and some Seirra 90gr Gamechangers along with 87vmax and some 80 btsp. 1-8 twist

Think I remember a lot of you guys like the 85gr HP. That it shoots like a match bullet but performs great on deer.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Regarding your Sierra 90gr TGC the bullet in your current possession that I may have the most all around hope for, the following data may be useful. Be sure to verify you are looking at gas gun data. BTW How long of a barrel did you go with?

Load Data

sierrabullets.com

 

[rockhound78]

It has a 24" barrel. I am looking at bolt gun data. Should I stay with gas gun data even though it is a bolt gun?

 

[HandgunHTR]

Personally I'd use an Accubond or Partition, I've had too much bad luck with 6mm bullets failing on deer.

The absolute last thing you should use is a VMAX of any weight. You won't get decent penetration, and none if you hit bone.

That is absolutely not true.

I have dumped a pile of deer and hogs with 87-grain VMax bullets out of my 6X45. Ranges from 10-350 yards and even hits in the dreaded armor known as “shoulders”. Never had a problem with penetration or wound channels.

For the 6ARC, I would take advantage of the faster twist and shorter cartridge to shoot 108 grain ELDMs. They flat-out hammer deer.

 

[STOMP442]

The 85gr Sierra is one of the most accurate and deadly bullets I have ever seen and works well on everything. That being said the ARC is twisted for the heavies and I would run a 105 Berger either the VLD or Hybrid. They both kill very well and they will deliver better wind drift and energy on target maximizing the cartridges potential.

 

[SD guy]

It has a 24" barrel. I am looking at bolt gun data. Should I stay with gas gun data even though it is a bolt gun?

Inquiring with the manufacturer may be best line of information on this one.

 

[tdogg]

I'm using the Barnes 95gr LRX over CFE223. They are pushed ~2860fps out of a 20inch barrel. It's good out to 300 yds. I've shot sub 0.5 MOA groups with it at 100 yds. Very easy to shoot accurately. I love carrying a scary assault rifle hunting.

Cheers,
Toby

 

[AP2020]

Just picked up a Bear Creek Arsenal bolt upper for my AR15 in 6mm ARC and wondering about which bullet to use on deer? I have some of the Sierra 85gr HP and some Seirra 90gr Gamechangers along with 87vmax and some 80 btsp. 1-8 twist

Think I remember a lot of you guys like the 85gr HP. That it shoots like a match bullet but performs great on deer.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

75gr Hammer HHT

 

[SD guy]

It has a 24" barrel. I am looking at bolt gun data. Should I stay with gas gun data even though it is a bolt gun?

I will look forward to feedback on how this combination works out for you. Wish you well which ever way you should decide on in terms of bullet choice. Curious what the manufacturer has for input regarding if this platform will be up to bolt gun max pressures. I would not be surprised either way,

 

[rockhound78]

Mfg says to stay with gas gun pressure, but that its my gun and my decision what to do. Went thru my 6mm bullets again and found some 95grain and 70 grain ballistic tips and some 100 gr Hornady spbt. Probably go with either the 85gr Sierra or the 95gr ballistic tips since the range isn't real long.

 

[SD guy]

The lower pressure loads should go a long ways towards promoting your brass life. Suppose I would only encourage folks to leave the varmint bullets to Varmints & lean on a projectile that will retain 50% weight in the base or more.

Personally I test my projectiles shooting through a series of 1 gallon jugs filled with water. Capturing the bullet in one of the latter jugs offers a fairly good hint as to how the bullet may hold together on game, or not. The water jug test is how I have weeded out projectiles as rifle season closes in.

 

[dk17hmr]

Right now I'm planning on using 87gr Bergers in mine this fall for deer and antelope. 18" gas gun shooting it at 2960fps with lever evolution powder.

At under 200 yards it doesn't really matter what you shoot. Figure out that groups the best and use that.

 

[HandgunHTR]

The lower pressure loads should go a long ways towards promoting your brass life. Suppose I would only encourage folks to leave the varmint bullets to Varmints & lean on a projectile that will retain 50% weight in the base or more.

Personally I test my projectiles shooting through a series of 1 gallon jugs filled with water. Capturing the bullet in one of the latter jugs offers a fairly good hint as to how the bullet may hold together on game, or not. The water jug test is how I have weeded out projectiles as rifle season closes in.

While water is not a great indicator of performance on game, try your test with a 87 grain VMax at 6X45 or 6ARC velocities. I think you will be surprised.