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6mm ARC or 338 ARC for Hunting Under 200 Yards

bacb

I’m looking to waste more money buying a new AR15. This year’s waste will be between either an 11” 6mm ARC or a 7” 338 ARC. Both will be shot suppressed.

I am a huge fan of short/compact ARs when hunting due to lots of walking in the areas I hunt. So, ideally the 388 ARC will this battle.

I primarily hunt deer and hogs all within 200 yards. (I have enough long range rifles for my Midwest hunting trips)

I’m looking for opinions on if the 338 ARC in a 7” barrel will suffice for my hunting needs or if I should go 6mm ARC. The thing that’s drawing me to the 338 ARC is the ability to hunt suppressed in an ultra short rifle. But, if does not have decent terminal ballistics, would I better of going with thr 6mm ARC?
 
With the short barrel you are better off going 6.5 Grendel than 6ARC…

I would also go to 10.5” barrel for the 338ARC. Aside from those inches adding a lot of velocity (supersonic), from a usability/practicality perspective the extra 2”-3” allows for a longer front rail which is meaningful real estate for carrying and shooting or adding a light.

Buy what you like, and slap a Superlative Arms adjustable gas block to tame you setup.
 
I have an 11.3" 6.8spc that is a great deer killer with 90gr gold dots at 2700ish fps.

I am getting 2960fps with an 18" 6arc with 87gr Bergers. I would think an 11" 6 arc would be in the 2700s with that same load.
 
bacb said:
I’m looking to waste more money buying a new AR15. This year’s waste will be between either an 11” 6mm ARC or a 7” 338 ARC. Both will be shot suppressed.

I am a huge fan of short/compact ARs when hunting due to lots of walking in the areas I hunt. So, ideally the 388 ARC will this battle.

I primarily hunt deer and hogs all within 200 yards. (I have enough long range rifles for my Midwest hunting trips)

I’m looking for opinions on if the 338 ARC in a 7” barrel will suffice for my hunting needs or if I should go 6mm ARC. The thing that’s drawing me to the 338 ARC is the ability to hunt suppressed in an ultra short rifle. But, if does not have decent terminal ballistics, would I better of going with thr 6mm ARC?
Click to expand...
I'd go for the 338 with supersonic rounds. I'd want the bigger caliber hole with the reduced velocity because of the short barrel.
 
bacb said:
I’m looking to waste more money buying a new AR15. This year’s waste will be between either an 11” 6mm ARC or a 7” 338 ARC. Both will be shot suppressed.

I am a huge fan of short/compact ARs when hunting due to lots of walking in the areas I hunt. So, ideally the 388 ARC will this battle.

I primarily hunt deer and hogs all within 200 yards. (I have enough long range rifles for my Midwest hunting trips)

I’m looking for opinions on if the 338 ARC in a 7” barrel will suffice for my hunting needs or if I should go 6mm ARC. The thing that’s drawing me to the 338 ARC is the ability to hunt suppressed in an ultra short rifle. But, if does not have decent terminal ballistics, would I better of going with thr 6mm ARC?
Click to expand...
Seems like you have decided in the 338 ARC already. Not sure why you even mention the 6mm ARC. Truth is either may serve you well as would the 6.5 Grendel. Expense of components do shy me away from the 338 ARC. I am of the opinion that hunting projectiles for the 338 ARC tend to be limited & rather costly compared to the 6mm or 6.5mm offerings.

Suppose I know rather little about the 338 ARC load options for hunting. No doubt that this could do well. Just feel the 6mm would cover many roles that the 338 Arc may do well only the 6mm would do it better. Yet as a subsonic game getter, the 338 would win that one hands down.
 
Suppressed supersonic would likely perform and sound about the same with either round. If you are considering hunting with subsonic then you always want to go bigger. Both of your choices are severely hampered with the barrel limitations that you put in place. You will have very little bullet performance with such short barrels. HOWEVER, with that being said, they are both ideal lengths for subsonic velocities! I will confirm with the utmost in confidence that the Hornady Sub-X bullet performs LIGHT OUT at sub velo's on whitetail deer. It's down right Impressive!

Dan
 
This is all helpful information! I learned recently that the manufacturer of the gun that I want to buy also offers an 11" barrel option in 338 ARC. After reading everyone's thoughts, I think the 11" barrel would be the way to go in 338 ARC.

Now the question I need answered is how much more velocity and knockdown power will the 11" barrel provide over the 7" barrel? Is it enough to make the jump to 11” or is it minimal compared to the 7”?
 
What velocity are you looking for? Looking at load data, looks like 300gr bullets in a 16" barrel max out around 1075fps. Lots of 45 Colt take down deer around that velocity, sounds viable at least. Give it a go.
 
Pardon my ignorance if the laws have changed, but aren't all barrels under 16" considered SBR that require a pistol brace and can't use a rifle stock? Also, are the SBR an NFA item requiring a tax stamp?
Scott
 
I am trying to think of a load combo that would provide good terminal ballistics from a 7" 338 ARC per your request out to a 200 yard maximum range. I don't think there is. Subsonics by nature are mediocre compared to a good supersonic load.

If I had to pick the most effective cartridge and barrel length for an SBR, it would a 12.5" 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel. It generates enough velocity actually expand to 200 yards, and be reasonably flat shooting.

Any slower, or shorter, ends up being a < 100 yd proposition with marginal lethality.
 
mic2377 said:
I am trying to think of a load combo that would provide good terminal ballistics from a 7" 338 ARC per your request out to a 200 yard maximum range. I don't think there is. Subsonics by nature are mediocre compared to a good supersonic load.

If I had to pick the most effective cartridge and barrel length for an SBR, it would a 12.5" 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel. It generates enough velocity actually expand to 200 yards, and be reasonably flat shooting.

Any slower, or shorter, ends up being a < 100 yd proposition with marginal lethality.
Click to expand...
I already have a 12.5” Grendel. It’s a great gun!

I can also get the 338 ARC in 11”. Wondering if that would work?
 
The reason to consider going with an 11" 338 ARC would be suppressed/subsonic. However if you want maximally effective subsonic round, bullet diameter is king unless relying on exotic copper bullets.

For subsonic, you would have to upload the 338 ARC and 307 Subx to reach the ideal 1050 fps velocity. However I am not sure the 307 Subx is available as a component bullet yet. 338 cal 300 gr Makers are potentially hard to come by.

If you went supersonic, there are very minimal bullet options in the 160-185 gr range, with Barnes making the 160's. An 11" 338 ARC is not going to push a Barnes 160 or a Nosler 185 fast enough to get very good expansion.

No doubt a 11" 338 ARC is interesting but you are a bit hamstrung.

My friend's 6 ARC 12" SBR has been a surprisingly good killer with factory 103 ELDx ammo. That would be my vote.
 
Supersonic, seems you already have a 12.5" Grendel, which is perfect. I don't think any of the options you are considering add anything to your stable in a supersonic setting. Except noise, even with a suppressor.

Suppressed, IMHO 200 yards is a long poke. In my experience subs aren't as accurate to begin with, and the trajectory at that range is crazy. The Maker bullets are a good choice though, that's all I use. In a short sub AR platform, IMHO, go 458 SOCOM with the 400-500gr Makers. Mine's a bolt action but the performance is really good, those 500gr Makers make big holes.
 
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