Hornady announces new 6mm AR cartridge (6mm ARC)

[Hohn]

Didn’t see a thread on this announcement yet.

It’s basically a necked down Grendel with a bit longer neck. Should push 108s to 2700+ in 18” gun. Same PPC bolt face, Grendel mags work. Same 52ksi pressure.

In a bolt gun it should approach a Dasher, but with affordable factory ammo and brass.

Robert Whitley’s excellent 6mm AR is basically a SAAMI round now.


[video=youtube_share;z4fA3ji3fw4]https://youtu.be/z4fA3ji3fw4[/video]
I predict success.

 

[Areoflyer09]

I’m excited for it, but I really enjoy my 6mm Creedmoor so I’m a bit biased towards the 6mm.

 

[Hohn]

I suspect this might end up a Grendel killer. The Grendel is excellent. But for most of what you want a Grendel to do, it’s better as a 6mm.

 

[Areoflyer09]

When looking through things this morning after the release, I came across this article. Seemed very well written, a lot better than typical fluff pieces that come out with new releases.

https://gununiversity.com/6mm-arc-review/

 

[Mgderf]

Sounds like all I'll need is a new barrel and some ammo.

 

[bwframe]

https://www.brownells.com/guntech/6...utm_campaign=2020_06_03_ARC&utm_content=Rifle

 

[Ggreen]

I suspect this might end up a Grendel killer. The Grendel is excellent. But for most of what you want a Grendel to do, it’s better as a 6mm.

I'm interested to see the short barrel performance. Grendel is the short barrel king.

 

[edwea]

This has my attention. I love my Grendel and don't have any interest in rebarreling it or replacing, but I do have a complete lower half just sitting around taking up space...
I wish the ballistic comparison charts would use cartridges that are more similar. Why not show how it compares to the Grendel? It's enough different than the 308 that it doesn't seem relevant to me. It's not competing with the 308 for space in the safe. It's competing with 6.5 Grendel, 6 and 6.5 cm, and maybe 243. Let's see those charts.

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

I've drank the Grendel kool-aide too and like it... Tagged.

 

[Maximinus Thrax]

Worth watching but I always lag behind the curve on adopting new products. I prefer to let others do the proving for me. If it survives, I'll get on board.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Still just getting going on 6.5 creedmoor. And I see no good reason not to shoot it out of an AR 10 platform.

 

[DadSmith]

So a harder hitting flatter shooting cartridge for the AR 15's? If this works out the military should adopt it. This would be an all around cartridge.

 

[Areoflyer09]

So a harder hitting flatter shooting cartridge for the AR 15's? If this works out the military should adopt it. This would be an all around cartridge.

Per the previously linked article from Gun University, their testing was done with DOD spec Barret Rec-7 rifles.

 

[Areoflyer09]

Still just getting going on 6.5 creedmoor. And I see no good reason not to shoot it out of an AR 10 platform.

It’s weight for me. I love my 6CM, but it weighs 12.5lbs and it’s a small frame AR10.

 

[rkwhyte2]

It’s weight for me. I love my 6CM, but it weighs 12.5lbs and it’s a small frame AR10.

+1 any way you look at it that is a chunk to be hauling around.

 

[Areoflyer09]

+1 any way you look at it that is a chunk to be hauling around.

Very much so. Perfect for what it was built for, sitting on a rest. Not one I would choose to carry around though.

There is appeal to 7-8lb rifle with a 16-18” barrel that can do most of the same things, for my uses, that the 6CM can. The 6.5G could do that, but I like the 6mm.

 

[Hohn]

I'm interested to see the short barrel performance. Grendel is the short barrel king.

That's the truth. For longer barrels, it might be a "grendel killer" but I'm skeptical it can approach the Grendel's performance in a 12.5 or so. Generally bigger bores are more amenable to shorter barrels.

 

[Hohn]

Still just getting going on 6.5 creedmoor. And I see no good reason not to shoot it out of an AR 10 platform.

It’s weight for me. I love my 6CM, but it weighs 12.5lbs and it’s a small frame AR10.

As AR10s go, the 6.5 is about is much as the platform is capable of. Arguably a 7-08 also fits in there (assuming a tweaked chamber and twist).

If you are willing to give up some of the range and flatness, a 6 ARC gets you a lot of what a 6creed give you but in a rifle package that can come in under 8# in most cases. With a 108 ELD, you can expect speeds about like:

2750fps from a 6 ARC (18" bbl)
2900fps from a Dasher (bolt gun)
3050fps from a 6 creedmoor (24" bbl)

So if they are losing only 300fps after dropping down in cartridge and going 6" (!) shorter on barrel length, that's pretty impressive.

Even at 2750, a 108 ELD is still comfortably sonic at 1000y under standard conditions.

 

[smythe012]

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/06/04/stt-15-6arc/

I saw this article and thought, “what Pmag is that?”

Am I crazy or don’t you have to use a 6.5 Grendel magazine?

 

[DadSmith]

It’s weight for me. I love my 6CM, but it weighs 12.5lbs and it’s a small frame AR10.

My 308 AR 10 weighs in at 10.5 lb with 20rd mag loaded.

I've got a 6.5 Grendel if this catches on and the ammunition is affordable I'll do the switch from 6.5 Grendel to this cartridge.