1st Reloading of 6ARC.

[KMW 1954]

Over the weekend I was able to obtain some 87gr Hornady VMAX and some 105gr Hornady Match. Powders I have on hand are Benchmark, TAC, A2460, M135, BL-2C and access to a bunch of Reloader 15 if I want it. Will be using Hornady fired brass. Also I have a box of Hornady Black 105gr to use as a baseline.

For a start I decided to load 15, 3ea. in 0.5gr increments of the 87gr with Benchmark, TAC and A2460. Just to get a start and run a small ladder. The 0.5gr charge is larger than I like to normally run so again this should prove interesting too. I did do a seating jam with a fired case and bullet. Not sure how exact this is but it should prove close as this is the way I've done it in the past. By this measurement it should be .010 off touch.

 

[DHD]

What rifle? AR15 or a boltgun?

 

[KMW 1954]

Savage 110 Switchback bolt, 22" heavy barrel with a brake.

 

[Walt Krafft]

It is always safer to start with slower powders and move to faster powders if you run out of room before getting the velocity you want.

 

[CaptainMal]

My AR15 6 ARC likes LeverRevolution and the 105 Hornady's.

 

[Sandstorm]

Tac works well in the Grendel and its the same case size as the Arc...
Im thinking it will work for you around 27gr.....but work your way up please.

 

[KMW 1954]

As this is meant to be a target gun I am not as much interested in bullet speed as I am shot consistency. Started with the Benchmark powder because it was the last powder used and still on the bench.

As a bolt gun these will most likely exceed the pressures of the AR and at this time I do not have any LeveRevolution to try in it. So again will be using what I have.

Note about the A2460 powder. There really is not a lot of data out there for this powder. I am thinking that it is partially because it is not one of the more popular powders. Hornady only has one listing for it and that is with using a 90gr GMX solid copper bullet. Yes it is very close in weight to the 87gr VMAX but they are in no way similar. Also the load weights are way off from the lead core bullets. By almost 1 full grain heavier.

Funny and interesting this is that Hodgdon in their 6ARC data for most of the heavies from 95gr up to 110gr ATIP. but nothing for the 87gr. So seeing as I have a lot of experience with this powder I believe I came up with a safe starting load and will work it up very slowly.

 

[BridgmanJH]

What distance do you intend to be target shooting at? The reason I ask is that it should be a significant factor in your bullet choice. If you are just using it at 100yd bench rest distances then an extremely high BC bullet may not be as significant and the higher bearing surface to size of a non boat tail bullet could have an advantage (see 6mm PPC bench rest data for reference). So give us more of your intent and maybe we can provide more options for your recipe,

 

[KMW 1954]

What distance do you intend to be target shooting at?

100-300yds. Also taking into consideration current availability. Not willing to spend endless hours hunting for components that are not easily and readily available.

 

[BridgmanJH]

100-300yds. Also taking into consideration current availability. Not willing to spend endless hours hunting for components that are not easily and readily available.

At those distances, I would look to see what most bench rest shooters are using and copy their results as the case capacity is pretty close to 6PPC. I know for the 100yd bench rest guys, the 65grain V Max used to be popular so that 85 may work well when you stretch the distance out a little further. Sounds like a fun project. Please let us know your results. I have a 6 ARC gas gun that I load for. You have a seating depth advantage as I am limited by magazine length and have to search a little for a node that accommodates the larger jump but once dialed it is the best shooting AR I have ever owned. For me, with my 18" proof research barrel the 103 ELDX has been the hot ticket over the other heavies. I have not experimented lighter as the rifle seems to need the bullet length to help with seating depth.

 

[KMW 1954]

Also looking towards the 95gr items as well. Yes I am finding I can load longer than mag length.