My little story of reloading the 6mm ARC

[jeffreybehr]

Finally tired of Brownell's and CMMG NOT delivering that 6ARC-chambered AR-15 (ordered Nov. 05!) and cancelled the order.. Discovered that Uintah is now taking orders so ordered an AR-style bolt-action, 22"-barreled UP-15.

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

Hornady's bolt-rifle data run maybe 2 grains higher charges than their gas-gun data, so velocities look plenty enough for me.. Ought to be fun shooting and developing data for.

Should have it within 6 weeks.. We'll see how this goes.
-------------------------------------
I did a little bit of loading for the 'new' 6ARC rifle by removing the lowest-charge candidates and designating them to be break-in cartridges and then adding one trio each of a couple long bullets, the Nosler RDF105 and Berger LRHT109..

While doing so, I used a new neck-expanding die, a PMA Tool diebody with its carbide expanding mandrel instead of the normal expanding ball included with a full-length-resizing die.. HOLY SMOKES what a difference!!!!!!!!! A smooth, low-effort expansion going into and out of the case neck--with NO lube, of course--and hence no stretching of the case length.. TYVM PMA Tool people for coming up with a GREAT idea and tool.. I just ordered another pair for this 6ARC die turret.

 

[GoldieMI]

Finally tired of Brownell's and CMMG NOT delivering that 6ARC-chambered AR-15

yes, CMMG is saying 5 months + and no guarantee. Mine was ordered October 2

 

[jeffreybehr]

Little has been happening on my 6ARC end; of course the Uintah bolt rifle, ordered Jan. 26) is not here..

But a kind soul contacted me about cases and offered me almost 200 Lapua .220 Russian cases that had been fireformed into 6PPC and that are quite close to 6ARC cases.. I bought them, expanded the necks to 6.5mm, and then resized the cases (necks, actually) only enough to allow them to fit correctly into a 6ARC Wilson Cartridge Case Gage, the first I've ever owned.. I then trimmed them to correct length and inside and outside chamferred them.. Two are in the center in this pic, flanked by two Hornady pulls and then by two Hornady cartridges.. The slightly shorter body height of the 6PPC cases is evident, which is why I created the locating shoulder at the base of the necks.


I'll load some of the Lapuas with 80g. GMXs to add to my break-in rounds.

UPDATE March 06--'excess' factory ammo SOLD!--I still have many dozens of Hornady primed cases (pulls) to use, and I still have too much Hornady (NEW!) ammo, both the Black 105s (3 boxes) and the Match 108s (7 boxes).. If anyone is interested in buying them at NOT-outrageous prices, PM me; I imagine we could come to a deal.

 

[EOD Rob]

Finally tired of Brownell's and CMMG NOT delivering that 6ARC-chambered AR-15 (ordered Nov. 05!) and cancelled the order.. Discovered that Uintah is now taking orders so ordered an AR-style bolt-action, 22"-barreled UP-15.

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

Hornady's bolt-rifle data run maybe 2 grains higher charges than their gas-gun data, so velocities look plenty enough for me.. Ought to be fun shooting and developing data for.

Should have it within 6 weeks.. We'll see how this goes.
-------------------------------------
I did a little bit of loading for the 'new' 6ARC rifle by removing the lowest-charge candidates and designating them to be break-in cartridges and then adding one trio each of a couple long bullets, the Nosler RDF105 and Berger LRHT109..

While doing so, I used a new neck-expanding die, a PAC Tool diebody with its carbide expanding mandrel instead of the normal expanding ball included with a full-length-resizing die.. HOLY SMOKES what a difference!!!!!!!!! A smooth, low-effort expansion going into and out of the case neck--with NO lube, of course--and hence no stretching of the case length.. TYVM PMA Tool people for coming up with a GREAT idea and tool.. I just ordered another pair for this 6ARC die turret.

Finally got my LaRue Ultimate upper kit, LaRue Lower and X-Caliber 22" 6 ARC barrel. 3.5 months later. Pretty happy with how it turned out, but I am pretty cereus how good the Ulinthah do! Considering ordering one as well to switch out with the gas upper. Keep us posted on how it shoots please!
Rob

 

[EOD Rob]

Little has been happening on my 6ARC end; of course the Uintah bolt rifle, ordered Jan. 26) is not here..

But a kind soul contacted me about cases and offered me almost 200 Lapua .220 Russian cases that had been fireformed into 6PPC and that are quite close to 6ARC cases.. I bought them, expanded the necks to 6.5mm, and then resized the cases (necks, actually) only enough to allow them to fit correctly into a 6mm ARC Wilson Cartridge Case Gage, the first I've ever owned.. I then trimmed them to correct length and inside and outside chamferred them.. Two are in the center in this pic, flanked by two Hornady pulls and then by two Hornady cartridges.. The slightly shorter body height of the 6PPC cases is evident, which is why I created a locating shoulder at the base of the necks.
View attachment 1234040

I'll load some of the Lapuas with 80g. GMXs to add to my break-in rounds.

I still have many dozens of Hornady primed cases (pulls) to use, and I still have too much Hornady (NEW!) ammo, both the Black 105s (3 boxes) and the Match 108s (7 boxes).. If anyone is interested in buying them at NOT-outrageous prices, PM me; I imagine we could come to a deal.

PM sent Sir.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Cases, we have cases, we have lots and lots of cases...*

In addition to the Hornady cases I bought as cartridges that I pulled apart, I found what turned out to be 174 Lapua .220 Russian cases that had been resized into 6PPC cases and that I then resized into 6ARC cases.. As discussed above, that required necking up with a .264-caliber neck-expansion button and then resizing with a 6ARC FL resizer very carefully to leave a bump at the base of the neck to locate the case in the chamber...or in my case, a Wilson Cartridge Case Gage since I don't yet have a rifle.. Those are in the middle Lapua box in this pic.

Then I bought four boxes of new .220Russian cases from Bruno's.. These cases are also available online at BlueCollarReloading.com...

Lapua 220 Russian Brass #4PH5013

Product Information Cartridge: 220 Russian Finish: Brass Condition: New Quantity: 100 Primed: No Primer Size: Small Primer Pocket *This is not loaded ammunition.

www.bluecollarreloading.com

These will be upnecked to .257 using a PMA stainless-steel mandrel**...

25cal. Expanding Mandrel (.256")

The highest quality, most innovative reloading tools and shooting supplies for precision riflemen. Unparalleled customer service. Shop Now - PMA Tool

www.pmatool.com

...and sort-of-lots of case lube on the inside of the necks.. Then they'll be resized in a 6ARC die while creating a bump in the neck for fireforming purposes.. I've read of several reloadists' use of some material other than a bullet to fireform the .220 cases to 6PPC, but that all sounded too messy for me, and I've got LOTS and LOTS of 6mm GMX80 bullets to use, and a barrel to break-in, so that's what I'll do...if I only had a rifle***.

But we've got affordable cases now, HUH!?!?!?!?

* Most of you are not old enough to remember the musical-variety TV show that included the male star--Dean Martin?--singing the little jingle 'Letters, we get letters, we get lots and lots of letters...'.

** One also needs a Expander Die Body...

Expander Die Body with Lock Ring

The highest quality, most innovative reloading tools and shooting supplies for precision riflemen. Unparalleled customer service. Shop Now - PMA Tool

www.pmatool.com

...to use the mandrel.

***and that reminds me of another song from a musical.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Rifle will arrive this Wed. the 24th! YAY!

Note from Wednesday the 24th--it shoots! The rifle and (old Vortex 3-9X50) scope work perfectly so far.. (The trigger feels EXCELLENT!) Got about 11 rounds of barrel-break-in shot and copper-scrubbed; more tomorrow at Usery.. The rifle feels lighter than I thought it would, and that's good.. WHAT A PITA this shoot-and-clean routine is!

 

[JSH]

I have been watching this thread. I have zero interest in a gas gun for this cartridge. I look at it as close as we will get to a PPC in a factory cartridge. Imho the market has suffered from not having a small well mannered 6mm. I have a soft spot for 6-223/6TCU, over looked by many.

Building a rig and still undecided on an action but is narrowed down to the Nucleus or one of the Bighorns. This will be a switch barrel rig and the barrels will be switched. I have not ruled out having one of each action mentioned.

The 6ARC has my attention but all of the “shooters” that think they are Shooters, have not got their closet full yet. Causes grief for projects as the OP, me and am sure other folks.
Brass being the main issue, I would like factory correct head stamp, but using 6.5 Grendel or the 220’s I have not ruled out.

Bullets, I am more inline with 55’s-80’s as I have a couple in this range ;-).

Look forward to more work from folks with this case and various platforms.
Jeff

 

[457ciSBC]

I have been watching this thread. I have zero interest in a gas gun for this cartridge. I look at it as close as we will get to a PPC in a factory cartridge.
Jeff

Both Sako and Ruger produced 22 and 6PPC factory guns,they were ahead of their time.

 

[JSH]

Both Sako and Ruger produced 22 and 6PPC factory guns,they were ahead of their time.

Cooper chambers a wide selection of chamberings, with no support of factory ammo it is still a small number today that play with wildcats.
I have no issue with making or playing with wildcats. I myself see no reason the 6BR and the 6 and 22 PPC have not been picked up by a major gun and ammo company. The track record for the three need no explanation. Then again that may be a good thing that they have not been picked up.

Did Sako offer 6PPC ammo at one time? Seems like there was some years ago.

 

[av8nmac]

PM sent

 

[SD guy]

Updates? photos?

 

[jeffreybehr]

Updates? photos?

Sold it a month ago, along with another 6mm rifle.. I'm finished with 6mm and am rebarreling my Savage 12 Bench Rest to .25WSSM..

.25 WSSM thread.. I'm starting over.

I have simply given up trying to find a subhalf-minute load for the 6XC after spending hundred$ sending about a thousand rounds thru the new barrel...SO...I'm starting over with a new bullet diameter, .257", and a new caliber, the Winchester Super Short Magnum.. I've always liked 25s, and my...

forum.accurateshooter.com

Already have bullets, powder, (large-rifle) primers, cases, dies, etc. along with some new tools.. Barrel (28" bull Shilen SS Match with 7" twist) won't be here until middle of August-earliest, and my right-shoulder-joint REreplacement surgery is scheduled for June 08; wish me luck.

 

[SD guy]

Prayers sent, Gods will, will be done. Hope your surgery goes well.

 

[EOD Rob]

Took the new 6ARC AR to the range this AM to test some loads and shoot 5 shot groups at 100 yards. I think this thing shoots OK. It was pretty windy. Used Leverevolution from 29.0-30.3 grains with Bart's 80 BTs and 0.005 jump.

Nice looking Rig afret! Just started the same with mine.

 

[EOD Rob]

Looking great! I think you'll have a lot of fun with it.

Just loaded up some 108gr BTT Berger's over CFE223 for testing. i'll start with that and see how she runs. I've shot some factory hornady 108gr match and it didnt look to bad. After one box during break in, all 5 shot groups were around .75 moa. Just had it at 100yds.