6ARC or 6.5 Grendel?
- Thread starter TxBowHunter409
- Start date
NZ_Fclass
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a Howa Grendel. It was fun a few years ago, but the Howa barrel just isnt up to great accuracy. I'm likely to re - barrel in 6 ARC - which is a great cartridge - when I can get some decent brass! It's already in an MDT chassis and has a half decent scope, so...
TxBowHunter409
Gold $$ Contributor
TxBowHunter409
Gold $$ Contributor
Well darn.. you know, I almost bought a couple of pounds that the Leverevolution the other day. Ended up getting some BLC-2, and some StaBall 6.5 to test in my 6.5 Creedmoor. Several of the powders that show up in load data I already have on hand, but Leverevolution isn't one. Yet!
TxBowHunter409
Gold $$ Contributor
I do have some CFE223 sitting on the shelf. I don't currently have any ATips though. Although they're pretty easy to come by.
TxBowHunter409
Gold $$ Contributor
That's what I'm hoping for, although I tend to have terrible luck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
And 101⁰ temps? You must be in the Hill County. I'm on the other side near the Louisiana border, but I do hunt out in Ozona.
You don’t have to use ATips. You can use it with other 105+ weight bullets.
DHD
Silver $$ Contributor
29 grains, a 450 primer, and in my case 105/108 Berger BT Target -.020". A 6ARC my friend has likes the same charge and primer, just substitute a 107 SMK. 2525 fps with low sd's and small groups out of 20" barrels.
Over Hornady max for gas gun but under max for bolt gun. I use it for both and it is safe in three different gas guns it has been shot out of many many times. It is my "control load" for when I have a head scratcher going on.
LeverRevolution is the speed champ for me in 6ARC (and Grendel) and typically will give 50 fps over CFE. Not necessarily better accuracy though. N540 really gets a ☆ from me in 6ARC, but isn't quite as fast as CFE or LeverRevolution. I have read too many times how N540 will smoke your barrel in short order, and I don't doubt the experience from the posters, but it puts those missiles into the same spot time after time. Heck, I like to buy barrels....
I have seen the same type of thread a few times across different forums. "I want to build a 6ARC boltgun" and invariably I see a "why? A 6mm blahblah is more better, do this and this because". Hey, I get folk like what they like. However, I do note many custom actions for long range type rifles now have a .441" boltface option. Wonder why? Because it must sell....
DHD
Silver $$ Contributor
I have not really thought about testing which is faster or dope differences. I may have to test it.
I have fraternal twin rifles and a pile of both 6mm and 6.5mm 107 SMK's. The fraternal twins are same upper/lower, fore end, stock, bolt carrier groups, all internals, 20" Proofs, and 5.5-22×50 NXS with the same reticle. The only difference is one is a 6ARC and the other is a 6.5 Grendel.
That might be an interesting test. I will say the Grendel tends to be the more accurate of the two, but just by a little.
I forgot to mention if you plan to do this I would hold off on buying a cheap 6ARC now and put that money towards a 6ARC barrel when you do that build. It will be a lot better rifle and money better spent.
Not that I disagree with this as I don't but I shoot with some fellows with very custom high end rifles, all in 6mm and I have a very hard time shooting the difference between those rifles and my rebarreled Savage action.
Mostly because at this point the difference is in me and my ability and not the quality of the rifle. Meaning it is me the operator that needs improvement. I still shoot that Savage very well. Will I ever achieve the skills that they possess? IDK, maybe, maybe not.
Your rifle is rebarreled. It’s not factory. Rebarreled factory rifles can shoot very good. I have a factory 700 action that is on its 9th custom .308 barrel and it shoots great but it’s not a factory rifle anymore. He is looking to buy a cheap factory Howa which will not be anywhere near the accuracy of a custom barrel on his build he will be doing. It will be a waste of money in my opinion if he can just wait a few months and get a custom barrel in 6ARC.
This rifle was also a barreled action when I purchased it used. No history what so ever. Paid $150.00 for it with the intention that it was to be barreled with an aftermarket prefit. So that and a $400.00 barrel along with a Boyd's stock ($175.00) I have a rifle that shoots very well and will easily adapt to whatever I desire, inexpensively.
Now then, if I were chasing state or Championship records I would look at it differently. But agree, the Howa is not what I would be looking at.
Now then, if I were chasing state or Championship records I would look at it differently. But agree, the Howa is not what I would be looking at.
Not about chasing records but getting the best rifle for your money and using that money smart. He is already planning a custom set up with a good action in a few months. That Howa money would be better spent on a barrel for that set up.
TxBowHunter409
Gold $$ Contributor
I already have some CFE223 sitting on the shelf, but I will be ordering some Leverevolution this week though as long as I can find it in stock. Already have some 105 Berger Hybrid Targets on order as well. N540 I have on the shelf as well. So I have plenty of options to at least get started.
And honestly I have zero experience with the whole 6mm craze. My AR's are in 223/556 and 308. So when I asked for opinions, I was legitimately needing recommendations. I just knew I had plenty of 223 stuff and wanted something different to kill paper with. Was kinda surprised how much some people can get so worked up if you even remotely discuss shooting something that they can shoot through their gas guns, but in a bolt. Nothing against gas guns mind you, I have allot of them. Hell I'm an FFL, so access to good deals on guns comes often. I just prefer bolt guns. And since I shoot allot, I was wanting something cheaper to reload. What's really crazy is that as of today, I have all the components to reload for 6.5 Grendel. Dies, brass, powder, etc, and I don't even own a Grendel. Bought a set of reloading dies for the 6.5 Grendel off a guy today, as well as a bunch of other components. So tell me how buying a 6 ARC made sense.
TxBowHunter409
Gold $$ Contributor
Well that advice is a day late and a dollar short now, since I ordered the gun last night while at work. But.. there are a ton of pre-fits out there for the Howa. So if this one won't shoot, expect me to be back asking what pre-fits people recommend.
Well I tried. lol
TxBowHunter409
Gold $$ Contributor
I know brother, and thank you. But honestly, when I bought the gun I already had the Plan B of the pre-fit. 80% of the time, cheap guns are just that.. cheap guns. But occasionally, even a blind squirrel gets lucky and finds a but. But it will still be something new and different to play around with.
It's not going to be a hunting gun, and it's not going to be a competition guy. I like to go to the range and shoot allot. I like doing my own reloading and seeing what I can get out of a gun. And I wanted a little different caliber than just the norm. Ballistically on paper, the 6 ARC wins. In real time though, there's not any real noticable difference between the two. And obviously, since I'm set up to reload 6.5 Grendel, and had to buy all the stuff for the 6 ARC, logical decision making is obviously not my strong suit.
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