6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge (6mm ARC) Rifles, Dies, Casings, Bullets... Canadian Options

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Who else is shooting 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge? 6mm ARC

In several Govt/Mil range days with the Geissele Fighting Rifle (GFR) 6mm ARC in San Diego and Las Vegas and elsewhere starting in 2022, we watched US and International operators making repeated hits out to 1200m, sometimes in gusty wind conditions. It is like voodoo. This from basically an AR15 sized carbine with 16" or 18" barrels, shooting alongside with 6.5 Creedmoor and at the same targets. These are in profesional use, but unfortunately not currently legal for sale in Canada. I look forward to that changing, but there are many rifle options now that are.

The 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) is considered impressive for several reasons, particularly within the realm of intermediate cartridges. Developed by Hornady, it offers a balance of ballistics and versatility that appeals to both military applications and civilian shooting. Here’s why it stands out:

1. Superior Ballistics in a Compact Package​

  • High Ballistic Coefficient (BC): 6mm bullets generally have a higher BC than many .30 caliber or 5.56mm projectiles. This allows them to retain velocity better over long distances, reducing wind drift and improving accuracy.
  • Extended Effective Range: The 6mm ARC outperforms traditional cartridges like 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO in terms of effective range while maintaining manageable recoil. It's designed to be effective out to 1,000 yards or more.

2. Efficient Use of Energy​

  • Flat Trajectory: It achieves a flat trajectory similar to larger cartridges without requiring a full-power rifle like the .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor.
  • Reduced Recoil: The 6mm ARC offers low recoil, making it ideal for faster follow-up shots and better control in rapid-fire scenarios.

3. Versatility​

  • Adaptable Platform: The 6mm ARC works with AR-15 platforms, meaning shooters can achieve excellent long-range performance without moving up to the heavier AR-10 platform.
  • Wide Bullet Selection: The 6mm caliber has a wide variety of bullet weights and types, making it suitable for hunting, competition shooting, and tactical applications.

4. Military Origins​

  • The 6mm ARC was developed for the Department of Defense's multipurpose combat needs. It combines the lightweight advantages of smaller calibers with the ballistics required for long-range engagements.

5. Hunting and Practical Use​

  • Medium Game Hunting: With appropriate loads, the 6mm ARC is highly effective for hunting deer and other medium-sized game. It offers enough energy for ethical kills at extended ranges.
  • Lightweight Gear: Its ability to perform in smaller, lighter rifles is a big plus for hunters who want to carry less weight in the field.

6. Ammo Efficiency​

  • Lower Powder Use: Compared to larger cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6mm ARC achieves great performance with less powder, making it more economical to reload.
  • Long Barrel Life: Reduced pressures compared to magnum calibers contribute to longer barrel life.

Comparison Highlights​

  • Outshines 5.56 NATO in terms of range and lethality.
  • Surpasses 7.62 NATO in terms of weight and efficiency.
  • Provides nearly the same ballistics as 6.5 Creedmoor but in a lighter, more compact package.
The 6mm ARC is impressive because it bridges the gap between intermediate cartridges like the 5.56 and full-power rifle rounds like the .308, offering a combination of range, accuracy, and efficiency that has broad appeal for shooters across disciplines.

At Arms East USA, we have https://www.armseast.com/s/6MM%20arc, we will ship direct to your door in Canada. Please click -> to read our updated and simplified FAQ. TLDR- make your purchase, email front/back of PAL and Drivers License to us, and we take care of everything else).

We don't ship live ammunition, powder or primers from USA to Canada, but we do ship everything else you need to roll your own, almost 30 different choices of 6mm/243 reloading bullets, 6mm ARC Brass, dies from basic to very advanced.

Are you already shooting it? How is it performing for you on targets? Are you hunting with 6mm ARC? Plan to? What bullets are you using? I have largely stuck with the Hornady ELD-M 108gn, fantastic bullet, but am probably going to be trying others for comparison sakes in the coming months. Look forward to hearing others experiences.
 
Last edited:
dangertree said:
Who else is shooting 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge? 6mm ARC

In several Govt/Mil range days with the Geissele Fighting Rifle (GFR) 6mm ARC in San Diego and Las Vegas and elsewhere starting in 2022, we watched US and International operators making repeated hits out to 1200m, sometimes in gusty wind conditions. It is like voodoo. This from basically an AR15 sized carbine with 16" or 18" barrels, shooting alongside with 6.5 Creedmoor and at the same targets. These are in profesional use, but unfortunately not currently legal for sale in Canada. I look forward to that changing, but there are many rifle options now that are.

If you're not up to speed on the 6mm ARC, please read on.

The 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) is considered impressive for several reasons, particularly within the realm of intermediate cartridges. Developed by Hornady, it offers a balance of ballistics and versatility that appeals to both military applications and civilian shooting. Here’s why it stands out:

1. Superior Ballistics in a Compact Package​

  • High Ballistic Coefficient (BC): 6mm bullets generally have a higher BC than many .30 caliber or 5.56mm projectiles. This allows them to retain velocity better over long distances, reducing wind drift and improving accuracy.
  • Extended Effective Range: The 6mm ARC outperforms traditional cartridges like 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO in terms of effective range while maintaining manageable recoil. It's designed to be effective out to 1,000 yards or more.

2. Efficient Use of Energy​

  • Flat Trajectory: It achieves a flat trajectory similar to larger cartridges without requiring a full-power rifle like the .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor.
  • Reduced Recoil: The 6mm ARC offers low recoil, making it ideal for faster follow-up shots and better control in rapid-fire scenarios.

3. Versatility​

  • Adaptable Platform: The 6mm ARC works with AR-15 platforms, meaning shooters can achieve excellent long-range performance without moving up to the heavier AR-10 platform.
  • Wide Bullet Selection: The 6mm caliber has a wide variety of bullet weights and types, making it suitable for hunting, competition shooting, and tactical applications.

4. Military Origins​

  • The 6mm ARC was developed for the Department of Defense's multipurpose combat needs. It combines the lightweight advantages of smaller calibers with the ballistics required for long-range engagements.

5. Hunting and Practical Use​

  • Medium Game Hunting: With appropriate loads, the 6mm ARC is highly effective for hunting deer and other medium-sized game. It offers enough energy for ethical kills at extended ranges.
  • Lightweight Gear: Its ability to perform in smaller, lighter rifles is a big plus for hunters who want to carry less weight in the field.

6. Ammo Efficiency​

  • Lower Powder Use: Compared to larger cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6mm ARC achieves great performance with less powder, making it more economical to reload.
  • Long Barrel Life: Reduced pressures compared to magnum calibers contribute to longer barrel life.

Comparison Highlights​

  • Outshines 5.56 NATO in terms of range and lethality.
  • Surpasses 7.62 NATO in terms of weight and efficiency.
  • Provides nearly the same ballistics as 6.5 Creedmoor but in a lighter, more compact package.
The 6mm ARC is impressive because it bridges the gap between intermediate cartridges like the 5.56 and full-power rifle rounds like the .308, offering a combination of range, accuracy, and efficiency that has broad appeal for shooters across disciplines.

At Arms East USA, we have several 6mm ARC bolt action options, we will ship direct to your door in Canada. Please click -> to read our updated and simplified FAQ. TLDR- make your purchase, email front/back of PAL and Drivers License to us, and we take care of everything else). To our knowledge, there is no cheaper way or faster way to ship from US inventory, direct to your address in Canada.

We don't ship live ammunition, powder or primers from USA to Canada, but we do ship everything else you need to roll your own, almost 30 different choices of 6mm/243 reloading bullets, 6mm ARC Brass, dies from basic to very advanced.

After many months of fine-tuning the process of direct shipping from USA to your home addresses in Canada, big thanks to all our beta testers(!), we have now extended this service to all CGNers at no charge for a limited time. How it works? Read the FAQ <-CICK, but, for for parts over $500 purchase or anything else that requires US Licensing, we take care of all Canadian and US work, without any effort on the your side. We include documentation for CBSA to clear the packages quickly and without delay. You then have 12 months of unlimited 'license' items for direct shipping of rifles, shotguns, magnified optics, red dots, slides, barrels and so forth.

Are you already shooting it? How is it performing for you on targets? Are you hunting with 6mm ARC? Plan to? What bullets are you using? I have largely stuck with the Hornady ELD-M 108gn, fantastic bullet, but am probably going to be trying others for comparison sakes in the coming months. Look forward to hearing others experiences.
Click to expand...
Have been shooting and reloading 6 arc for about a year now, shooting about 100rnds a week bench rest with a gas gun. Using multiple powders cfe223/lever/varget. Really loved the varget and lever powder it was most accurate. I run the eldm 103s and 107s. Found the 107s way more accurate. I wont really ever switch from the eldms unless i go with the yellow box stuff, the hornady is soo accurate. My setup is jp fmos/bartlein barrel, in a semi DI config. Consistent .8 moa 10 shot groups at 100m, hoping to tighten that up but she aint a bolt rifle so i am happy with its current performance.
 
There is some pretty heavy 6 ARC propaganda here. 6 ARC is only reasonable if you are using it in a semi-auto platform. If not, there are many 6mm variants that are superior - 6 Dasher, 6 GT, 6 BR, 6 CM, 6x47 Lapua, to name a few. MDT did a bunch of tests on 6 ARC and found it inferior to those calibres in the 6mm category. Its only advantage is cycling on AR-15-style platforms. If you have a bolt gun, skip it.

No one shoots 6 ARC in PRS.
 
I’m not shooting PRS, but am ringing gongs at distance with gas guns. Have a gas gun in USA, Geissele GFR. Want a CDN rifle. Thinking about a bolt. My interest swings largely to military firearms and calibers.
 
Jeff_C said:
There is some pretty heavy 6 ARC propaganda here. 6 ARC is only reasonable if you are using it in a semi-auto platform. If not, there are many 6mm variants that are superior - 6 Dasher, 6 GT, 6 BR, 6 CM, 6x47 Lapua, to name a few. MDT did a bunch of tests on 6 ARC and found it inferior to those calibres in the 6mm category. Its only advantage is cycling on AR-15-style platforms. If you have a bolt gun, skip it.

No one shoots 6 ARC in PRS.
Click to expand...
Saw MDT test of 6ARC shooting 80 gr'ers, not a fair comparison imo
cannot find where they did a side-by-side

6ARC pushes 105's along with the other cartridges, not sure how it would be 'inferior'

Have been looking at the 6ARC since Howa started showing up here
Available stateside in the 1500 action, here so far just in the Mini, heres hoping though
 
I bought my son a Savage 110 Carbon in 6mm ARC, it's been a real good shooter. Have to get through a pile of factory ammo before we start reloading. Been mainly shooting 103gr Precision Hunter and a little bit of 80gr V-Match, soon to get into the deep stack of 108gr Match

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Wasn't familiar with the 6mm ARC, so I did a bit of research.
Basically a variant (shoulder forward, modestly increased powder capacity) of the outstanding 6mm PPC, probably the single best benchrest cartridge over the last 50 years.
No reason for it not to be extremely effective.
Its ability to function in a .223 sized auto rifle makes it very appealing. Very efficient in a bolt rifle as well.
But in a bolt rifle, not bound by the limits of .223 sized magazine, there are other cartridges that are going to be equally accurate, but with higher velocities, and enhanced long range performance.
 
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