Ruger predator 6 ARC

[kyotekiller25]

Thinking of picking one of these up for the wife as a cheaper way to get her into some LR steel/comps. Can pick one up from my local bimart for $600 right now.

What are the real world velocities with 105-108s from a 22" bolt? 27-2750? Bought a box of Hornady precision hunter 103g ELDX and they claim 2800fps on the box. Guess I'm kind of committed at this point. What good is a box of ammo with no rifle haha.

I've got an extra vortex 5-25x strike eagle sitting here, got pile of SR primers, powder, and 108 ELDMs. All I really need is brass and dies. Would definitely pick up some Peterson brass for it.

I was also thinking about using it for a lighter weight calling rifle for dogs with 70g Noslers also. Thinking 32-3300 fps might be do able?

All the reviews I've seen on these have been pretty positive and for a cheap rifle, they seem to shoot.

 

[Frankm]

I ve found 2650 fps is kind of the sweet spot with a 22” barrel. Another 50 fps or possibly a little more is available IF you want to push your brass AND use ball powders. ( both which I didn’t personally care to do. ) A 24” barrel could get you to 2700 or so more comfortably if you re ok with more barrel length.

IMO a 90-100 gr bullet strikes a better basic tic balance for the small case size.

Good luck.

 

[chromatica]

I ve found 2650 fps is kind of the sweet spot with a 22” barrel. Another 50 fps or possibly a little more is available IF you want to push your brass AND use ball powders. ( both which I didn’t personally care to do. ) A 24” barrel could get you to 2700 or so more comfortably if you re ok with more barrel length.

IMO a 90-100 gr bullet strikes a better basic tic balance for the small case size.

Good luck.

What he said...

I have a custom target rifle with a 30 inch 6 ARC barrel. Shooting Berger 105 HTs, I can push it to 2800 fps with handloads. Gordon's Reloading Tools shows that you lose about 20 fps for each inch of barrel. So you would be looking at a velocity deficit of 160 fps which would put you in the mid 2600s.

I think you would have better luck with 87 grain bullets such as the V-Max.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Buy her, a Threaded Tikka, 24", T-3, in 6.5 Creed, add a good BRAKE, Load 130 gr. Horn, ELD-M's or, 130 gr. Berger OTM Hybrids @ 2,850 fps for,.. ACCURATE,.. LR Steel Plate, FUN ! ( 6.5 Bullets,..RULE, on, L-R steel ! )
Avoid,.. the Rugger,..IMO ! Spend a couple of Hundred $$$'s More, on a TIKKA,.. Sorry, to Be,.. Blunt !

 

[kyotekiller25]

What he said...

I have a custom target rifle with a 30 inch 6 ARC barrel. Shooting Berger 105 HTs, I can push it to 2800 fps with handloads. Gordon's Reloading Tools shows that you lose about 20 fps for each inch of barrel. So you would be looking at a velocity deficit of 160 fps which would put you in the mid 2600s.

I think you would have better luck with 87 grain bullets such as the V-Max.

Perfect. Thanks for the info. I'll look into the 95g vld for LR steel/ comps then. I have it in my mind to shoot Nosler 70g NBTs for coyotes. Nothing wrong with the 87 vmax, I just prefer the little extra speed and trajectory of the 70s for a calling rifle.

What would velocity be like with the 87s and 95s from a 22" tube? Will use 8208XBR and 4895. Not a ball powder fan either.

 

[jds holler]

I’m kind of doing what you’re doing with a cheap Ruger only mine is a 243. I had planned on sticking with the 90-ish grain bullets. I’ve loaded 243 for years and that seems to be a pretty sweet spot although I don’t know what they’ve got these days for ELD types.
I was kind of wondering what your guys main complaints are with the ball powders?? I have just recently started using staball 6.5 for two different midsize cartridges and I am loving it. It’s supposed to have copper magic as well as better heat sensitivity. I’ve been planning on going right with that on the 243.
jd

 

[jmkasza]

Perfect. Thanks for the info. I'll look into the 95g vld for LR steel/ comps then. I have it in my mind to shoot Nosler 70g NBTs for coyotes. Nothing wrong with the 87 vmax, I just prefer the little extra speed and trajectory of the 70s for a calling rifle.

What would velocity be like with the 87s and 95s from a 22" tube? Will use 8208XBR and 4895. Not a ball powder fan either.

I bought the Savage 110 switchback a while back for a similar reason, but also for the occasional coyote and potentially whitetail hunt. Been getting a consistent 3045-3052 with the Berger 95gr classic hunter with a 22" barrel.

FWIW my average was 2688 with the 108gr ELDM factory ammo.

 

[kyotekiller25]

I bought the Savage 110 switchback a while back for a similar reason, but also for the occasional coyote and potentially whitetail hunt. Been getting a consistent 3045-3052 with the Berger 95gr classic hunter with a 22" barrel.

FWIW my average was 2688 with the 108gr ELDM factory ammo.

That's really good speed from the 95s! What powder? That would do pretty well out to 800 yards with a 95 vld at those speeds for her I think. Even 3K would do nicely.

 

[jmkasza]

That's really good speed from the 95s! What powder? That would do pretty well out to 800 yards with a 95 vld at those speeds for her I think. Even 3K would do nicely.

Lever. Just about the top-end of Hornady's load data for the 87's.

 

[koger]

I have the rifle pictured. It loves 70 gr bullets of about any kind at 3400fps and 85 gr Sierra Game Kings at 3000fps. Only two loads I have ever needed for Varmints/deer here in KY. The 70 gr shoots in the low .3's and the 85 in the low .4's. I shoot H335 because I had nearly #10 of it.