6mm ARC - What would yours look like

Im into 6mms and the ARC's got me going.

Ive got a reamer and gauges coming.

I know there are some more shooters interested in the calibre and was thinking, why not find out what other shooters/hunters like?

What would your 6ARC look like?

Twist rate?
Barrel profile? Heavy/Light
Barrel length?
Preferred action?
Stock and what type?
Or rather chassis?
Hunting or competition?

Im building mine on a Howa mini, medium profile barrel, 20 - 24", 7.25 twist. Howa mini stock will suit me.
Any suggestions on what colour to duracoat the metal parts?

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Originally Posted by Jaco Goosen

Im into 6mms and the ARC's got me going.

Ive got a reamer and gauges coming.

I know there are some more shooters interested in the calibre and was thinking, why not find out what other shooters/hunters like?

What would your 6ARC look like?

Twist rate?
Barrel profile? Heavy/Light
Barrel length?
Preferred action?
Stock and what type?
Or rather chassis?
Hunting or competition?

Im building mine on a Howa mini, medium profile barrel, 20 - 24", 7.25 twist. Howa mini stock will suit me.
Any suggestions on what colour to duracoat the metal parts?

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IIRC the Howa Mini will be available in 6mm ARC as a factory offering by the end of the year.

Same as what you listed but a 1:8 twist and 22" barrel.

Interesting
https://www.hornady.com/6mmARC#!/

If I ever shoot out my 6.5 Grendel CZ527 then it'll be reballed to 243LBC or 6ARC.

Good in Howa. I'm aware of their plans to start producing this fine calibre. I'm expecting the howa's to be available in NZ and the rest of the shooting world outside the US by mid to late 2023.

Ive just never been good at waiting till everyone's got one.

I’m keen on one of these Howa Mini Action Carbon Stalker 6mm ARC. Tried tracking one down online to import, but couldn’t find one.
Howa have brought out a factory carbon stock with a lite barrel…

https://www.howausa.com/wp-content/u...Catalog_LQ.pdf

I have asked the Outdoor Sports NZ the following…
When could we expect the see the Howa 1500 mini action carbon stalker rifle released on the NZ market?
And could you provide an indicative price range?

And got the following reply…
Unsure if we will be bringing them in as a mini action yet. We have some other model 1500 super light’s on order, which we may see later this year or beginning of next. Won’t know a price until closer to that time sorry.

I also contacted Legacy Sports USA on 19 April 2022 and got this reply…
You will not find that rifle in stock for at least 90-120 days out due to the Port of Long Beach. If you haven’t place an order already 10 to 1 you might not get it this year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Interesting
https://www.hornady.com/6mmARC#!/

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All that looks good, but I am still a bit of a skeptic - it is written by a marketing department afterall.

The energy over a .223 is significant, as is the flattish ballistics. The 24" barrel is a bit unrealistic for the average rifle, especially in the AR platform for which it was conceived, but not ridiculously so for a bolt action, especially if the action is short or mini. The biggest advantage over a 6mm Creedmoor seems to be barrel life, with the 6CM half that of the 6.5CM.

I'd be very excited to give the 6ARC a go if the AR's were still allowed. In a Howa Mini action, I'd give it a go with a 20" medium heavy 1/8 or faster barrel in a KRG Bravo stock or maybe a TSP X-Chassis. Add a muzzle forward can like the DPT all finished in a stealthy bead-blasted finish in titanium grey for the Duracoat. Top it with a decent dialable scope (too many preferences to go down that rabbit hole) and distant goats beware!

https://shootingsurplus.com/howa-how...alt-6mmarc-cf/

https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page...rod/hcbn6arcka

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_....+carbon+fiber

I've got a barreled action on pre-order for when they arrive.
Thinking about putting it in a boyds pro varmint stock.

Hopefully be using it as my fallow and goat gun

Nice project, Greg at Custom Guns has dies on the shelf . .. .he had a reamer too. The dies caught my eye the other day, he was itching for a commission! I know you are a gunsmith too, I hope you get to do a few of them.

If i dont have to sell my model 7 (due to currently self inflicted house building poverty) I think it would be a great candidate, offering a little more mag length that a mini action to shoot nice efficient boolets.

Have you done a few Remmy extractor conversions??

6x45....... oh wait, invent something "new" instead so they all rush off and buy one. Or, does this new carry on do something different/better? Saw something that gave an 80gn pill 2750, seems a bit anemic.

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

6x45....... oh wait, invent something "new" instead so they all rush off and buy one. Or, does this new carry on do something different/better? Saw something that gave an 80gn pill 2750, seems a bit anemic.

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Dunno. Factory chambering. Factory components. Fast twist standard. Relaxed 2,600 fps 107 grn (22" barrel)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Dunno. Factory chambering. Factory components. Fast twist standard. Relaxed 2,600 fps 107 grn (22" barrel)

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Wasn't looking for logic here dammit! Ok, you win.

I have - don't own a mill currently, and can't offer the service. Hope the pic is not to large

Attachment 198206Attachment 198207

The Sako extractor conversion is easier to do with way less machining - just don't have any photos of conversions Ive done on me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

6x45....... oh wait, invent something "new" instead so they all rush off and buy one. Or, does this new carry on do something different/better? Saw something that gave an 80gn pill 2750, seems a bit anemic.

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You looking at the AR loadings. Look up the bolt action loadings and you will see it much better

Will they have brass or neck down 6.5 grendel?
I'm still farting around with a 250 savage to shoot well for a light cal deer rifle but if I finally crack the shits with it then id be interested in a howa 6arc.
Bit more smoke than 6 x 45

Here's a link to the Bolt action page: https://www.hornady.com/assets/site/...m-arc-bolt.pdf

A mate has one built on a Ruger American ranch, feeding from AR mags. Shot it out to 1640m with a first or second round impact. Bloody awesome build.

The 6ARC comes as a package with COAL inside AR length but accommodating a much heavier bullet than the 6mm PPC. The package has a fast twist barrel unlike the PPC . Its commercialised and standardised which is great. I guess they are trying to overcome the low velocity drawback of cartridges like the 6.8SPC and 6.5Grendel.

In a bolt gun it must have a short barrel 18” at the most but prefrably 16. If you go yo 20” you are better off to use a 16” 243 or 6Creed which will give far better exterior and terminal ballistics.

It remains to be seen whether they will get the kinetic energy needed for hunting out of a short barrel and whether they have made a bullet that will expand well enough at a low impact velocity like 1600fps.

The howa carbon sporter looks nice. I dont know THE answer for scopes but you’ll need some finesse to place the bullet beyond 100m. Its shoot small or go home. Yet it will be mostly a bush gun so low end low light performance is important.

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

In a bolt gun it must have a short barrel 18” at the most but prefrably 16. If you go yo 20” you are better off to use a 16” 243 or 6Creed which will give far better exterior and terminal ballistics.

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This here is exactly why my 6x45 is in danger of being relegated to the bench. This reality dawned on me when I saw it and the model 7 side by side in the safe - the M7 action is basically the same size as the ‘little’ BSA Hunter, but has so much more power capability. Why try and wring the neck of a small cartridge when I can use a bigger one, in a package the same size. With no disadvantages…. Except a bit more powder burnt.

The ARC has merit in a true mini action, for a niche capability I think. I had contemplated it to go in the BSA action, but after this revelation, I won’t be.

Why "must" it have a 16" barrel if it really performs with a 20" to 24" inch barrel. You just making a slow bullet even slower. You better off with a 16" 308 then.

It definitely looks like a good AR platform cartridge for extending the range but I will stick with my 6.5G at the moment. I prefer the 123 grain as a minimum for a deer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

This here is exactly why my 6x45 is in danger of being relegated to the bench. This reality dawned on me when I saw it and the model 7 side by side in the safe - the M7 action is basically the same size as the ‘little’ BSA Hunter, but has so much more power capability. Why try and wring the neck of a small cartridge when I can use a bigger one, in a package the same size. With no disadvantages…. Except a bit more powder burnt.

The ARC has merit in a true mini action, for a niche capability I think. I had contemplated it to go in the BSA action, but after this revelation, I won’t be.

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Yes, agreed. Ive also been thinking about this recently, when ive been playing around with reduced loads for my 8 year old lad to shoot 243 and 6.5 Creed (both in Model 7 actions). You can easily load a bigger case down if need be, whereas you cannot load a smaller case up.

I originally was looking at getting another rifle for him, a small case 6mm, or another 6.5 Grendel etc (already briefly had a Howa Mini in 6.5G and didnt really like it for my use at that point).

I loaded the 243 down to around 6x45 velocities with an 80gr at 2700 fps, and I loaded the 6.5 Creed down to 6.5 Grendel velocities with a 123 gr eldm at 2570 fps, both using 30gr of IMR4198. Both of these loads each shot 3 shot groups in the .3s" area.

Obviously, both rifles/cartridges have the ability to step up the powder charge, bullet weight and velocity when my lad is ready for that. Also, more importantly, particually in the case of the M7 6.5 Creed, when im taking this rifle on a hunt where theres a chance my boy will be able to take a shot (if in range for him and his reduced ammo), if there is a shot on offer that is too far away for him and we cannot get closer, i can simply chamber a full power 140gr round at 2850 fps and take the shot myself, something i couldnt do if we had a 6.5 Grendel out on the hill with us.

And the M7's are smaller and lighter package than the Howa 'mini' anyway.

So this works for me and my intended use anyway.

Model 7s are smaller and lighter than howa mini?
My memory must be off as the model 7 260 I had wasn’t near as light as my skinny barrel mini
The mini is a bit blocky stock wise but I thought it would be miles lighter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Bill999

Model 7s are smaller and lighter than howa mini?
My memory must be off as the model 7 260 I had wasn’t near as light as my skinny barrel mini
The mini is a bit blocky stock wise but I thought it would be miles lighter

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Nope it's not. I expected it would be too, but its not. The Howa mini is pretty chunky in it's fat and hefty factory stock.

The Hi-Tech mini stock is a massive improvement.

I believe there's a new mini coming out with a slimmer lighter stock in more of a model 7 shape, what they should have done from the start.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=Bill999;1323610]Model 7s are smaller and lighter than howa mini?
My memory must be off as the model 7 260 I had wasn’t near as light as my skinny barrel mini
The mini is a bit blocky stock wise but I thought it would be miles lighter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE


@Bill999

Here's a standard M7, newer one with barrel cut to 18" from 20"

Compared to the Howa mini I had, pic was while I was thinning down and lightning the factory stock. There's a section of the foreend that's been cut out. Also drilled out the solid pistol grip

Took close to 200grams out of it. Also note the recoil pad is much lighter than factory one.

The Howa mini pictured was the standard 22" barrel.

I didn't have a pic of weight of rifle before I started lightning it.

You get the idea, the Howa mini isn't that light.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b79d227f5c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e2ed088e95.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...239ba96d4b.jpg

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When Sako chamber 6ARC in their XS action I will buy a carbonlight in it.
They did it once upon a time with 6PPC in the Vixen.
Maybe the 6 will have enough wind advantage over 5.56 for varmint or target shooting to attract a customer base.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

When Sako chamber 6ARC in their XS action I will buy a carbonlight in it.
They did it once upon a time with 6PPC in the Vixen.

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Aye, but back then Sako actually made nice rifles out of wood and blued steel, not plastic fantastic safe queens.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

When Sako chamber 6ARC in their XS action I will buy a carbonlight in it.
They did it once upon a time with 6PPC in the Vixen.

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Aye, but back then Sako actually made nice rifles out of wood and blued steel, not plastic fantastic safe queens.

I got Greg at Custom Guns to build me one on a American Ruger action running a 1in7 hardys no.5 contour 22", timmy trigger, Boyds AT-one stock with a Nightforce 5.5x22-50 NXS on top. was lucky enough at the time to get factory hornady brass once thats gone have got lapua grendel to take it's place. brass life seems good at this stage batch of 200 cycled atleast 5x each expecting 15 plus. rifle was primarily built for wallabies fallow and the likes will do some prs with it down the track once i got some more time. One of the big factors in the build was the reloading price and shootability .
I'm not by any means trying to push them hard running hornardy 105 hpbt at 2580fps using cheapest powder available W748 at 27gr a drop. defiantly can get more speed but more then happy with it's accuracy and killing power.
So far in the field have taken down a number of Fellow deer, Goats, Wallabies, Arapawa sheep and Pigs. have one shot killed a fellow at 380 and a pig at 340
so all in all the round itself is great fun too shoot highly recommend it. simple terms it's a 223 on steroids

your going to love it as a fellow goat gun they just chew them up only down side is finding your precious brass in the grass

Attachment 207154

Based on NZMeathunter's recommendations I've build this wee fella for a NI hunter.

So by all accounts these builds are hot on the heels of a fast twist 243?

Anyone considered doing an M7 6ARC build? Nice handy action with a 2.8" magbox to take advantage of, although I'd wager the internal box and follower might need tweaking for reliable feeding...

Not even close to a fast twist 243. where they win over a 243 is recoil, run less powder and can be run in a mini action. longer mags you could push a bit more out of the case but you wont see 3k

6x45 or even better 6mmTCU with fast twist barrel I think is a better thing, almost the same performance and no worries looking for your precious brass in the grass, Never hard to find 223 brass

Speaking as a longtime 6.5TCU user :D
Had mine out for first time in nearly 2 years after finding some 107TMKs, 5 shots on a 4 inch plate at 535 with the first "test load" with new projectiles !! but knda wish I had got a 6TCU as well

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikee

6x45 or even better 6mmTCU with fast twist barrel I think is a better thing, almost the same performance and no worries looking for your precious brass in the grass, Never hard to find 223 brass

Speaking as a longtime 6.5TCU user :D
Had mine out for first time in nearly 2 years after finding some 107TMKs, 5 shots on a 4 inch plate at 535 with the first "test load" with new projectiles !! but knda wish I had got a 6TCU as well

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The arc's main advantage over these is shorter case length, so better suited to run a variety of pills in the mini action. Same thing with 260 vs creed.

It looks very interesting and on a mini action (L461/Mini Mauser/Howa Mini) could be a nice little rifle for a lot of my hunting, especially with Hornady offering factory ammo options like the 103gr ELX Precision Hunter loading - Anyone using one ?? Any comments/thoughts/plus/Minus?

Posted on the shooting forum too

I'm pretty pleased the way mine is going, Jaco built it using a Criterion 1:7.5 twist barrel, on a Savage action. It just got a Leupy 3.5-10×42 CDS as a means of minimizing weight. It has a very fugly Atlas AICS dbm and I run a flush fitting 308 magazine for carrying and 8 shot Valkyrie mags for more capacity. 3.5
kgs with supressor.

It's my current "out the door rifle" meaning it's first on the rack for all but specialist duties. Just plain shoots and the very low recoil makes it easy to see trace and impact.

Tonight's results at the range (was on RO duties so not much time). I wanted to test this load, which is right at max,(don't copy it without a very careful work up, you have been warned) in hot conditions, but it was fine at the 25 degrees we had here at 6.00 pm.

Attachment 239856

I shot a Fallow at 260M a couple of weekends ago, bullet passed right through leaving a big splash of blood and lungon the ground behind it (it was lying down) , and a blood trail. I'd be confident of going to 350M on just about anything with this rifle.