6ARC "Bolt" gun loads

[Raptor]

Looking for loads for the 107MK with the following powders, W748, W760, BLC-2, IMR4895 and Varget. Looking for any data you might have on these loads with those powders. Trying to get away from LVR and CFE. They are just so damn dirty to shoot!!! Thanks guys!!!

 

[22vartarg]

All of that data is available in Hodgdon reloading site with the exception of IMR 4895

Reloading Data Center

www.hodgdonreloading.com

 

[SD guy]

Not sure why you are worried about dirty burn in a bolt gun. Rather insignificant from my perspective. Now for temp stability I could see going Varget or H4895. You will likely give up near 150 FPS by breaking away from LVR, CFE223 or Power pro 2000. If that fits your goals you may be interested in extrapolating from Hornady data.

https://static.hornady.media/site/hornady/files/load-data/6mm-arc-bolt.pdf

 

[SD guy]

Of your choices offered, Varget seems to be the top option to start working up a load with. IMR 4895 would be a distant second choice for the application at hand. N540 also comes to mind.

 

[alf]

I've had three ARC uppers, and all doted on Lever. I didn't see it as an exceptionally dirty powder in an AR, and should be cleaner in a bolt gun, especially with the upper loads attainable in a bolt.

A few minutes in a tumbler fixes that anyway......

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Strange that the arc has been so well marketed as a long range cartridge when a ppc was never intended for such and has had more than a little success in the 100-300 yard realm. Don't get me wrong, I love the PPC/ARC/Grendel cases but I think these are all more at home at under 600 yards and with a bit lighter bullets. At the very least, I think I'd test 87-95 grain bullets and see how they do. Impressive little cartridge but those bullets are much closer to its wheelhouse, if you will. Sometimes there's just no replacement for displacement. I think that's the case here when trying to push the 105-108 class bullets from such a small case. Much like a 280AI will run right with a 7 mag with lighter bullets but when it comes to the heavies, it just runs short of horsepower to run with it. Nothing wrong with shooting the heavies in the Arc. I just think we get caught up in bc and might be missing where its best performance lies.

 

[alf]

I think these are all more at home at under 600 yards and with a bit lighter bullets. At the very least, I think I'd test 87-95 grain bullets and see how they do. Impressive little cartridge but those bullets are much closer to its wheelhouse, if you will.

My last two ARC's shot 87 Bergers better than anything bigger. 1st one wouldn't shoot anything.....

 

[SD guy]

Strange that the arc has been so well marketed as a long range cartridge when a ppc was never intended for such and has had more than a little success in the 100-300 yard realm. Don't get me wrong, I love the PPC/ARC/Grendel cases but I think these are all more at home at under 600 yards and with a bit lighter bullets. At the very least, I think I'd test 87-95 grain bullets and see how they do. Impressive little cartridge but those bullets are much closer to its wheelhouse, if you will. Sometimes there's just no replacement for displacement. I think that's the case here when trying to push the 105-108 class bullets from such a small case. Much like a 280AI will run right with a 7 mag with lighter bullets but when it comes to the heavies, it just runs short of horsepower to run with it. Nothing wrong with shooting the heavies in the Arc. I just think we get caught up in bc and might be missing where its best performance lies.

For my purposes the 6mm ARC does very well out to 400 yards. Not that it does not have utility beyond 400 yards. I just don't shoot beyond 400 yards hardly ever.

I for one Like the 108 grain Elite hunter in a bolt action 6mm ARC over 29.4 grains of LVR.

Also like the 90 gr CX over 29.3 gr of CFE 223 in my 22" bolt action guns.

Another favorite for me is the 87 gr Absolute Hammer over IMR 8208.

The faster twist 6mm ARC scratches an itch I have been wanting to scratch for decades.

 

[alf]

The faster twist 6mm ARC scratches an itch I have been wanting to scratch for decades.

My 1st three ARC's were all slow twists, then ordered a 6 Hagar in 12" twist for the light bullets. This had the "normal" .117" freebore, which I felt I was leaving some on the table, so did another Hagar with zero freebore. When the smoke cleared, they both shot the same.

Those are all now gone, and I just put together a 6x6.8 in a 10" twist for their replacement. I have what I think is a great load, but the scope on top is the one that shit the bed.

 

[Bill K]

Hornady Load Data on the web. Many start loads and work up as you should or would with any rifle.
Might be sooty, but CFE give good accuracy and just about the fastest FPS of any powder.
Cleans out well with solvent and patches.