What happened to the 6 ARC?

[Hudge76]

I built a 6 ARC AR and really like it, but as mentioned Ammo and brass has been limited. Yeah, I can neck down 6.5 Grendel, but that was limited for a while as well. I think one of the issues besides ammo availability was barrel quality. I have the Brownells/Faxson barrel and had good luck with it. I know a couple of others locally that bought the same barrels and had horrible experience with them as QC seemed to be off.

Now that other barrel manufacturers are making the barrels and ammo is becoming more available, maybe it will catch on more.

 

[Rset]

They brought the arc out during a shortage. It wont take off until components are readily available

And unfortunately, it doesn't appear to have lived up to the hype. I have one and haven't been able to get it to shoot to my standards. Not that it is not good, but it's not great either. Other proven carrtidges out there for those looking. I think this cartridge may have really taken off with full support, but given the shortages; general lack of support for it, and the lack of performance from those in the field, I have no confidence that this one will stick. Time will tell

 

[Ray123]

I like the 6mm ARC on the AR platform....I have 2. Only because I bought a complete Areo upper with
A Blastics Advantage barrel, and it shot 2" to 2.5" 5 shot groups with 108 match ammo. Ordered a Proof Research barrel and assembled a whole new rifle. Took em both to the range and shot em side by side. The assembled Areo upper again shot 2.5" 5 shot group the proof barrrel shot the same 108 ammo into .5" first 5 shots. So I ordered another 18" proof SS barrel it was even a slightly better shooter, 5 shots in .2s .3s .4s & .5 with a variety of bullets 105, 107, 108, 110,. Velocities 2580 to 2630 fps area are good enough for my intended purpose for an AR-15 platform. Not all BA barrels are inaccurate my 300 blackout shoots nice 5 shot groups. And their 308 was accepted with a few loads. We are getting some inferior quality products and barrels from quite a few manufacturers. Ran a finish chamber reamer in one Odin works because they used a worn chamber to reamer and it would not chamber any factory bullets over .3550" on 9mm chamber .3553 and above stick in chamber not going into battery and most 9 mm bullets measure. 3553 to .3556" Sent 2 Wilson Combat barrels back, and lapped one. And discarded two barrels from assembled AR 15s one had a nasty step in the chamber to throat transition area. So I gave up on trying to buy a decent assembled AR...it was s mixed bag with too many rejects. Even buying a medium quality barrel is not assured of accuracy or quality, but my chances have gone up greatly when I go to the $500 plus area in barrels for an accurate AR build. The ARC is an accurate round with good barrels in an AR platform, if you can accept the pressure limitations, and not 24" bolt gun velocities in an 18" AR.

 

[SD guy]

Expect If or when, ammo is readily available again this round will flourish.

 

[WyleWD]

You are correct Savage does make a good shooting heavy barrel rifle but is lacking a bit in the trigger. Everyone else has ignored it. Kudos to Savage only. Yes it is the parent case for many Long range cartridges but as far as short range it is the 6ppc, parent case 220 Russian. My point is the factory for the most part have ignored our part of the market and denied for the most part varmint hunters some great cartridges.

+1^^^ I'm in agreement with you on this one JEFFPPC. When Remington failed to bring out the 6br either before or after Salvage did..... it just went downhill from there for Rem. And yes, the factory did ignore an important part of their (potential) market. JMHO. WD

 

[LRCampos]

I dont own a 6ARC, but I have plenty of experience with 6s.
IMHO, the 6ARC is better served with a 90-95gr bullet. In other 6s, the 90-95gr shoots very well up to 600 yards.

 

[SD guy]

I am coming at this from a deer hunting perspective. If we are talking all copper bullet Id say 80 to 90 grain bullets is where the 6mm ARC shines. Cup & core, the 108 grain Elite Hunter does very well for me. Suppose the 90 to 95 grain projectiles may do well also if we are more selective about shot angle.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

For mono bullets in a case that size drop down to 70gr ish, your going to be making arrow holes with 95gr monos

 

[JSH]

6ARC, must be a regional thing, seems like I am the only one around here without one. I have heard zero negative from them, only complaint is they can’t get hand loads to equal accuracy of factory.


6BR, Remington didn’t drop the ball on it, they never had the ball. Stop and look at their marketing history, it never was good. How many stumbles did they have from the 60’s to present day.

 

[JEFFPPC]

6ARC, must be a regional thing, seems like I am the only one around here without one. I have heard zero negative from them, only complaint is they can’t get hand loads to equal accuracy of factory.


6BR, Remington didn’t drop the ball on it, they never had the ball. Stop and look at their marketing history, it never was good. How many stumbles did they have from the 60’s to present day.

They had the ball but we're either afraid or too dumb to pick it up.

 

[David Milisock]

6ARC, must be a regional thing, seems like I am the only one around here without one. I have heard zero negative from them, only complaint is they can’t get hand loads to equal accuracy of factory.


6BR, Remington didn’t drop the ball on it, they never had the ball. Stop and look at their marketing history, it never was good. How many stumbles did they have from the 60’s to present day.

I've seen the lower velocity posts and videos too. Not my experiance, I clocked my factory rounds in my 16" Aero Precision AR 15 M4E. I followed the Hornady data for has guns and + or - a RCH it worked.

I'm guessing that in situations where the reloader exactly matches Hornady data and their results are significantly different the rifle build has something different. I suspect freebore as the design is intended for military use but it's just my guess.

In most cases of low velocities I see significant differences in Hornady data, rifle specs and what the reloader is doing.

 

[86cookiemonster]

idk but in ohio you can't get your hands on the ammo for the stuff.

every time it comes it you got about a day to get it, if you snooze you loose.

I built one, my dad built one, and my friend built one.

It shoot lights out out of my ar, I have been very impressed with the round.

Just wish I could get my hands on some brass.

 

[darkangel_r2]

I expect it to nearly completely retire 6.5 grendel and 224 valkrie. It has significantly better ballistics than 6.5 grendel with the same barrel length (15+% less drop and 20+% less wind) with slightly less recoil (not that 6.5 grendel had a lot) and the same and better energy at 300+ yards. The cost for this is going from 8000 rounds of barrel life to 6000 lol.

6 arc has basically identical ballistics to 224 valk but delivers more energy on target at all ranges and has better barrel life for the cost of about 25% more recoil. But at this level of recoil a relatively conservative brake or compensator and an adjustable gas system can make all 3 of these very stable between shots.

I think 6 arc or any similar 6mm wildcat is about as perfect a round as the ar15 platform can accept. I think overall it is the most flexible out of any I have seen.

 

[moorepower]

I have a Sanders upper with a 22" barrel that shoots both the 105 Black and 108 Match, under 1". I ordered brass from Brownell's and 10 boxes of ammo. With a rifle length gas system, it's not hard on brass. I am picking up a Savage Switchback next week, and it will use the 6.5 Gr Lapua brass to make it easy to keep the loads separate, between bolt and AR. I have a rule, I won't buy a different round unless I buy brass for it first.

 

[David Milisock]

idk but in ohio you can't get your hands on the ammo for the stuff.

every time it comes it you got about a day to get it, if you snooze you loose.

I built one, my dad built one, and my friend built one.

It shoot lights out out of my ar, I have been very impressed with the round.

Just wish I could get my hands on some brass.

I bought a brass catcher.

 

[86cookiemonster]

I bought a brass catcher

I modified one, works pretty well. I would really like to get my hands on lapu brass vs the Hornady.

 

[David Milisock]

I modified one, works pretty well. I would really like to get my hands on lapu brass vs the Hornady.

The price of brass made it a smart choice to buy 500 rounds of ammo and a few bucks for a catcher. At the time what I could find was, loaded rounds were thirty cents more than the brass from the available sources. So I got 500 rounds of 1 lot of Hornady 105.

 

[Ksmirk]

With my 6 Grendel at 600 yards. LaRue OBR Lite, Lapua brass, Berger 105 Hybrid, TBAC Ultra 7 suppressor, S&B 4-16x42.

A couple thousand rounds later still holding strong.

I shoot the 243LBC version which is for the most part the same, that little round has impressed me enough I have a reamer have an AR and a bolt rifle and must say one of the easiest rounds to find a load for I've got! I stick with the 95gr bullets either 95gr SMK or for the hunting rifle 95gr Berger Classic Hunter and have no complaints on either well besides can't get Starline brass or 8208 for the AR but Lapua and H4895 for the bolt gun are not too bad. Awesome little round in my book! I think the ARC was a bit of theft from Ritch and Robert the original 243LBC/6AR but glad to see it come out and I'm sure if loading components ever get back out there the 6ARC will pick back up..... it's just a hell of a little round.

Kirk