My little story of reloading the 6mm ARC

[jeffreybehr]

Preliminaries--
Ordered an AR15 (CMMG Resolute 200 Mk. IV with 16'' barrel) last week.. Have scoured Hornady's and Hogdon's data and have sort of settled, without shooting a thing, on Hornady GMX80s(1) as my 'plinking' load and Sierra TMK95s as my 'target' load.

I use these terms with thumb planted firmly in cheek, as I'm a somewhat-casual user(2), now almost 77 years old, with not much AR-rifle experience and NO serious goal with the 6mm ARC--just trying to enjoy myself reloading and shooting a cartridge that fascinates me...so don't be too hard on me.. I use a Caldwell Lead Sled Solo (that I've owned for years but not used much) with my current 6X45-chambered 18" AR15, and that works better than I expected, helping me produce a few bugholes at 50 yards.

I also have coming some 103g. BTHPs that Midway is selling as 'factory seconds' and Nosler RDF105s.

Based strictly on the two published loading sources, I bought 8 pounds of LEVERevolution and the Sierras and will concentrate on those two initially.

I hope I don't bore anyone with my notes.. FWIW, I received the Hodgdon data via e-mail and will send it to anyone who asks; e-mail me at jeffreybehr(at)cox(dot)net with something like 'Hodgdon data' in the subject line and I'll forward it.


(1) Midway sold these as factory-seconds, and since I love all-copper bullets and they were quite inexpensive, I bought a BUNCH...as in 1225.

Factory Second 6mm, 243 Cal (243 Diameter) Bullets 80 Grain Polymer

MidwayUSA has just made a huge purchase of blemished bullets and we are passing the savings to our customers. Blemished bullets are bulk-packaged,...

www.midwayusa.com

(2) I was a fairly good thousand-yard benchrest shootist around 2007, having shot a 4-9/16" 5-shot and a 7-odd-inch 10-shot group one day with a damned-expensive (for me) 6.5/284 Shehane.. It was all downhill from there.

 

[SG4247]

I shoot the 95 TMK’s in several of my 6ARs with excellent results. I think you will like them.

 

[Ron Mitchell]

I use the Nosler 105 RDF's pretty much exclusively. They shoot sub MOA out of my Odin Works match grade barrel, .3 to .5 MOA. I load them with 29.4 gr. Leverevolution 2.205 OAL with CCI 450 magnum primers. I have been working on various loads with different powders and bullets since the end of June, I jumped on board with this platform right at the beginning. The Noslers 105 have been the best ones to date.

I have three 6 ARC guns, two 18" and a 20", One Odin and two Faxon barrels. The 18" Odin shoots the best and I am going to compete with it next year in the PRS gas gun class.

I was at the range about a month ago and a Hornady rep was their and he was amazed at the accuracy my gun was shooting. The other 18" Faxon barreled gun is set up identically as the Odin gun except the barrel and it is used for a practice and load development gun. The 20" has barely been shot, maybe a 150 rounds so far.

This coming weekend I am going to be testing some BLC 2 powder, it falls between CFE223 and Leverevolution, and these are the two best powders I have tryed as far as speed and accuracy. 8208XBR is third best but a little on the slow side, really good though out to about 600 yards but drops off past that but is still very accurate.

 

[jeffreybehr]

I shoot the 95 TMK’s in several of my 6ARs with excellent results. I think you will like them.

TY; I certainly hope so. I have in hand big jugs of LEVERevolution, BL(C)-2, 748, and 8208, two boxes of these Sierras, and the jillion GMX 80s. Have had several K of CCI400s for a while and have been diligent and lucky to have increased that inventory by about 5K the last few months.

 

[jeffreybehr]

I use the Nosler 105 RDF's pretty much exclusively. They shoot sub MOA out of my Odin Works match grade barrel, .3 to .5 MOA. I load them with 29.4 gr. Leverevolution 2.205 OAL with CCI 450 magnum primers. I have been working on various loads with different powders and bullets since the end of June, I jumped on board with this platform right at the beginning. The Noslers 105 have been the best ones to date.

I have three 6 ARC guns, two 18" and a 20", One Odin and two Faxon barrels. The 18" Odin shoots the best and I am going to compete with it next year in the PRS gas gun class.

I was at the range about a month ago and a Hornady rep was their and he was amazed at the accuracy my gun was shooting. The other 18" Faxon barreled gun is set up identically as the Odin gun except the barrel and it is used for a practice and load development gun. The 20" has barely been shot, maybe a 150 rounds so far.

This coming weekend I am going to be testing some BLC 2 powder, it falls between CFE223 and Leverevolution, and these are the two best powders I have tryed as far as speed and accuracy. 8208XBR is third best but a little on the slow side, really good though out to about 600 yards but drops off past that but is still very accurate.

TY Ron; all that, especially about the RDF105s, is encouraging.. I can hardly wait to get started.

 

[SG4247]

My go to load has been with 8208 and the 95 Sierra TMK. Its won a pile of trophies and medals in the last two years.

In fact, that 8208/95 TMK load/bullet won a shoot off at our local steel plate match last week, hitting a three inch plate at 547 yards with no sighters - from a 24” AR-15 chambered in 6AR. Was not me shooting unfortunately, but a buddy who did that. I built the upper. I was amazed!

 

[jeffreybehr]

Bored almost to tears while waiting for everything, I'm now playing with new 6mm bullets I have.. Hmm...seems it was just a few weeks ago I was selling all my 6mm stuff!

Got more Sierra 6mm TMK95s from Brunos (and have more coming from somewhere) and also 90- and 95g. Bergers.. Left to right and with OALs, these are the 80g. Hornady GMX factory-second (1.1106"), Berger 90g. Boat Tail Target #24425 (1.050"), Berger 95g. VLD target #24427 (1.126"), and Sierra 95g. Tipped MatchKing #7295 (1.187")..


I have coming three heavier bullets including the Nosler RDF105 and Hornady ELD-M108.

 

[jeffreybehr]

5.7X28 left, 6mm ARC Hornady 108g. ELD Match in center, 6X45 right.. The first and third are my reloads.. The way things continue to look this week, I won't find 6ARC cases for many months, so the 500 or so factory loads I've ordered will be mostly my source for once-fired brass, somewhat expensive at c. $1.50 each, delivered.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Bullets, dies, ammoboxes, etc., have been dribbling in, and finally 10 boxes of Hornady ammo arrived.. Those allowed me to pull the bullets (and primers) and use the cases for my loads.. I always full-length all new cases before loading including inside-chamfering the case mouths.

Assembled some 'pressure-testing' loads using the five bullets I have, and here's a pic.. Probably it'll be a while before I can shoot them since the rifle isn't here, but I'll be ready.

Left-to-right, the bullets are the Midway factory-second Hornady 80g. GMX, Berger Boat Tail Target 90, Berger VLD Target 95, Sierra TMK 95, Midway factory-second 103, and Nosler RDF 105.. Far right is the Hornady ELD Match 108 cartridge.

 

[rsbhunter]

I bought a 243lbc barrel (24" bull) back in April, so I actually received it in 2 months...I have a friend that has 3 barrels ordered in 6 ARC , 24" since May, and isn't expecting anything for months!!!!! How can a new cartridge be hamstrung so easily by lack of components ? If I was so hot for a 6mm arc, I would consider buying a reamer, barrel blanks and a gunsmith that could chamber, install barrel extension, etc. I know it would be expensive, but again, having all of the parts except a barrel is expensive... And useless, to a point....done venting....for me, less case sticking out (.125 vs .136) and availability of components (actually being able to shoot it) tops factory..rsbhunter

 

[Rustytigwire]

Bullets, dies, ammoboxes, etc., have been dribbling it, and finally 10 boxes of Hornady ammo arrived.. Those allowed me to pull the bullets (and primers) and use the cases for my loads.. I always full-length all new cases before loading including inside-chamfering the case mouths.

Assembled some 'pressure-testing' loads using the five bullets I have, and here's a pic.. Probably it'll be a while before I can shoot them since the rifle isn't here, but I'll be ready.
View attachment 1213303
Left-to-right, the bullets are the Midway factory-second Hornady 80g. GMX, Berger Boat Tail Target 90, Berger VLD Target 95, Sierra TMK 95, Midway factory-second 103, and Nosler RDF 105.. Far right is the Hornady ELD Match 108 cartridge.

But..but..but..
87 vmax???
Great info!!

 

[jeffreybehr]

But..but..but..
87 vmax???
Great info!!

TYVM,

No, no varmint bullets, but I load one, Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 40s, as my practice load in my Ruger 5.7X28 carry pistol.

Here 'tis on the right; the EDC Speer GoldDot is on the left, with a Barnes TAC-XPD factory load for my 40S&W backup carry piece second-left, and a 6X45, probably the Speer SPBT85, second-right.

The 6ARC rifle is so new it's not here yet, so I play on the computer and find more bullets to buy, with six on hand and one more, another Midway factory-second, a Hornady GMX90, on the way.. Three of the seven bullets--GMX80, GMX90, and HPBT103--are Midway factory-seconds.

I've been using Forster Ultra Micrometer seating dies for most of my cartridges over the decades but they do not yet have one for the 6ARC, so I ordered a Hornady Custom Seater Die and a Microjust Seating Stem to make it easier on me with seven different bullets to load.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Received a bunch of new-to-me 6mm Hornady GMX bullets​

They're more Midway factory-seconds. The GMXs are the all-copper-alloy, tipped hunting bullets, and the new one is the 90g. on the right.. They cost about twice the 80g.'s 27-cent price.

The 90 has a significantly higher ballistic coefficient of 0.422 v. the 80's 0.300.. Loaded three trios with them; I now have 20 trios to shoot next time at the range.. That's way too many to shoot and chrono during one of Ben Avery's 1-1/2-hour sessions, so I'll have to book two consecutive ones (for $15 total) or go to our east-Valley Rio Salado Sportman's Club...
https://rsscaz.com/divisions/public-range
...at Usery Pass (north Mesa) for $15 per day.. Decisions, decisions! The selection will be heavily influenced probably by my lack of patience because I'll want to do it the day after I receive the rifle.. Rio Salado SC is open every day each week but gets FULL on weekends, while it's difficult to schedule two consecutive sessions at BA (my preferred range, with better benches, better target frames, and closer to house) at the same table unless you book them maybe two weeks in advance.

We'll see! If nothing else good happens, at least I'll have around 60 once-fired cases to further process, having bought a new Forster casetrimmer including inside-neck reamer.. Also found 100 StarLine 6.5 Grendel cases (quickly NLA @ Brownell's). Will be wacking lots more of those factory shells!

Waiting is not nearly as enjoyable as shooting. I'm still hoping for the end of November for the rifle.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Well...if the rifle takes long enough to arrive, I'll have ALL the handloads that I've assembled unloaded and changed to something else.. I confess to loving Sierra stuff for many decades, having started with them while in my teens, so I think I'm wanting the TMK95s to be my favorite bullet.. Also, since I don't perceive the 6mm ARC to be a particularly long-range cartridge (or at least rifle) even with its 7-1/2" twist rate, I pulled the five loads with the 103- and 105g. bullets and replaced them with more GMX80 and TMK95 loads.. Still have 20 trios to shoot and test.

Sure wish that rifle would get here!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ormandj]

Well...if the rifle takes long enough to arrive, I'll have ALL the handloads that I've assembled unloaded and changed to something else.. I confess to loving Sierra stuff for many decades, having started with them while in my teens, so I think I'm wanting the TMK95s to be my favorite bullet.. Also, since I don't perceive the 6mm ARC to be a particularly long-range cartridge (or at least rifle) even with its 7-1/2" twist rate, I pulled the five loads with the 103- and 105g. bullets and replaced them with more GMX80 and TMK95 loads.. Still have 20 trios to shoot and test.

Sure wish that rifle would get here!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve been shooting my 6mm ARC 10.5” at 800y and 18” at 1000yds with great success, both in AR15 platform rifles, with 108 ELD-Ms.

 

[jeffreybehr]

I’ve been shooting my 6mm ARC 10.5” at 800y and 18” at 1000yds with great success, both in AR15 platform rifles, with 108 ELD-Ms.

After I get mine running, maybe I'll try something like that.. As far as I can see on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility site, they accommodate public shooting at paper target at 5 - 300 yards (on two different ranges) and rifle-steel targets from 150-300 yards.

What scope do you use at 1000 yards? I have a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9X50 that works well on my '15s and also a Nightforce 12-42X56 on my (unused) benchrest rifle, but the latter is about as long as what I think my incoming '15 will be. (I exagerate, of course.)

 

[ormandj]

After I get mine running, maybe I'll try something like that.. As far as I can see on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility site, they accommodate public shooting at paper target at 5 - 300 yards (on two different ranges) and rifle-steel targets from 150-300 yards.

What scope do you use at 1000 yards? I have a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9X50 that works well on my '15s and also a Nightforce 12-42X56 on my (unused) benchrest rifle, but the latter is about as long as what I think my incoming '15 will be. (I exagerate, of course.)

ZCO 420 and ZCO 527, primarily, depending on the rifle. I've got a 527 on my 10.5" SBR right now, which is hilarious, but I am waiting on a backordered 420 to replace it with (much shorter).

 

[457ciSBC]

I loaded up some lightweight ARC rounds (65&75 VMAX, 70 Blitz, Berger 69 varmint LD) yesterday as I’m building 2 gas guns just for varmints.I have really no burning desire to shoot the 87+ grain bullets as that’s what my gas 6 Creed is for. I have been toying with the PPC case in 6mm, 22 and 20 since the 90’s and the Grendel since 2006. The more things change, the more they stay the same and very little is actually new. The 6mmArc is nothing more than the 6mmPPC USA with the base to shoulder lengthened .045 with a .275 neck.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Still no rifle nor estimate of shipping date.. I'm seriously considering Uintah's real-bolt-action AR-type rifle, still in 6ARC.

UP-15 Complete rifle – Bolt Action AR Uppers | AR-10 & AR-15 | Uintah Precision

***DUE TO ORDER VOLUMES, UP15 BACKORDERS HAVE ABOUT A 2-4 WEEK LEAD TIME*** ***In stock quantities represent components on hand to complete rifles. At this point, due to order volume, orders are being assembled as they are received.*** The UP-15 is a TRUE bolt action AR rifle with a 3-lug...

uintahprecision.com

I keep thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of a gas gun--higher rate of fire, lower recoil, etc, offset by dirtier operation, more-frequent and -difficult cleaning, etc.. I think the real reason I haven't chosen one clearly over the other is because my requirements aren't focused--IOW, I don't know clearly what I want.

Meanwhile I'm moving from my 6Creed Savage 110 Tactical Desert...

Another little loading story, this time a 6mm Creedmoor

I've been fantasizing about having a companion for my incoming 6mm ARC-chambered AR15, and I've found it--a new Savage 110 Tactical Desert in 6mm Creemoor... https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=57137 I had at least three requirements for this rifle, those being not...

forum.accurateshooter.com

...to the Savage 110 Elite Precision rifle in 6Creed.

Savage’s New 110 Elite Precision Is Competition-Ready Out of the Box

If you’re in the market for a rifle to compete in a PRS Base Class or the NRL, the Savage 110 Elite Precision is an excellent choice. It's is an out-of-the-box option for new and experienced shooters alike.

www.gunsamerica.com

Should be here Monday.. This was a easy decision for me since I have ALL supplies and tools I need for the caliber.. Already have the break-in loads planned to combine with my initial load-pressure testing.. Long bullets included in this initial series are the RDF105, MK110, and Berger LRH109, plus the TMK95s.

 

[Rustytigwire]

I have followed this thread with great interest. My habit to deviate from the norm. I bought a barrel 9 twist 24" rifle +2 inch gas block. So far all the loads published are for 7 or 8 twist with 100 plus grain bullets. On a whim this evening i looked and found Hornady has load data from 58 vmax and up. Eureka!
I have plenty from 87 vmax and lighter. 70s 65s...
Plinker heaven.
No leverrevolution powder but i do have cfe223 and most of the other top choices.
Guess its time to get to work!
Thanks everyone.
Tom