Great info and thanks for sharing. Can't argue with those groups!
My barrel came in last week, will have to get it installed and tested soon.
26" criterion from North land shooters supply. Planning to load dev with Staball Match.
Cheers
6mm ARC (Bolt Action)
- Thread starter FuhQ
- Start date
My barrel came in last week, will have to get it installed and tested soon.
26" criterion from North land shooters supply. Planning to load dev with Staball Match.
Cheers
Yeah, I expect the Alpha brass to have less internal capacity than Starline, so this checks out. I'd be curious what the average H2O capacity is between a few pieces of your fired Starline compared to your fired Alpha. Barrel should definitely speed up some for you too.
Getting a 22" barrel for my Origin 
i played with the arc when this first came out. Is anyone running 2520, sw match exclusively? I know varget is slower and I don't believe i will be buying lever as it to temp sensitive for my use. From coyotes to summer range fun.
i played with the arc when this first came out. Is anyone running 2520, sw match exclusively? I know varget is slower and I don't believe i will be buying lever as it to temp sensitive for my use. From coyotes to summer range fun.
First 39 rounds through a new Benchmark 1:7t 26" looks like StaBALL match may have some potential. Was getting compression on new Alpha at 28.5 & 29 grains but I'm also jumping about .055" so less jump or once fired brass my change that a touch.
Factory Ammo, Hornady 108 ELD lot#3244067
2740 avg 14.1sd (very first 10 rounds fired through barrel)
StaBALL Match & 105 Hornady Aero Match bullet:
27.5 = 2572.8 SD 13.4 (5 shots)
28.0 = 2624.2 SD 6.4 (5 shots)
28.5 = 2661.4 SD 6.4 (10 shots)
29.0 = 2701.1 SD 6.9 (9 shots)
Factory Ammo, Hornady 108 ELD lot#3244067
2740 avg 14.1sd (very first 10 rounds fired through barrel)
StaBALL Match & 105 Hornady Aero Match bullet:
27.5 = 2572.8 SD 13.4 (5 shots)
28.0 = 2624.2 SD 6.4 (5 shots)
28.5 = 2661.4 SD 6.4 (10 shots)
29.0 = 2701.1 SD 6.9 (9 shots)
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Any insight on just how "stable" StaBALL Match really is? I wouldn't expect it to behave like Varget, but I'm curious what temperature swing looks like. This upcoming PRS season I'll be putting together a new load w/ 107 SMK or 105 Aeromatch.
Not really yet, we have had some swings in temps here but not much more than 25 degrees when I have been out shooting it. I am curious too.
Cfe223 works well alsoGetting a 22" barrel for my Origin
@MK20 did temp testing on it.
Staball Match
Thanks MK. Makes sense now. Will do definitely. 👍 I just posted this in the other Staball Match thread. Take a look. Match is a terrible powder choice for 6.5C @TryLikeHell - In addition to buying a paper back manual, you can download Gordon's Reloading tool for free. Be warned though, garbage...
www.snipershide.com
I've used the Staball Match in a 26" 223 W 8T bolt gun to get 2850 with 88's. Haven't tried it with 6ARC yet, but about to assemble a 26" PVA 6ARC CDG.
Staball Match is very very temp stable in my testing. Use with confidence.
Next 25 rounds fired.
Same factory Hornady 108 eld
2729.4 sd-8.4
Resized alpha with one firing on it and 105 aeromatch this time seated out alot longer. All 5 shots
Staball:
28.5 2694 sd-5.4
29.0 2726 sd 9.9
Varget:
28 2730 sd 5.4
28.5 2770 sd 2.3
Same factory Hornady 108 eld
2729.4 sd-8.4
Resized alpha with one firing on it and 105 aeromatch this time seated out alot longer. All 5 shots
Staball:
28.5 2694 sd-5.4
29.0 2726 sd 9.9
Varget:
28 2730 sd 5.4
28.5 2770 sd 2.3
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Thanks for posting.
I'm about to go through the same load dev with Staball Match.
Any crunch with 29.0 gr of Staball? Any crunch with 28.5 gr of Varget?
Curious to see how your barrel breaks in. Guessing that 2825-2835 fps with a 105 gr bullet and Varget is very obtainable.
As long as it groups well, it'd make for an awesome PRS load.
In 28 F temp, I shot 15 rounds of Hornady Black and 15 rounds of 108 ELD-M factory ammo to break in a new barrel and to get brass.
Ammo temp measured with IR heat scanner.
Black @ 68 deg ammo temp = 2746 fps SD 15, @ 29 deg ammo temp = 2648 fps, 16 SD
108 ELD-M @ 66 deg ammo temp = 2707 fps SD17, @ 28 deg ammo temp = 2617 fps, 14 SD
3 shot groups ranged from .33" to .56" at 100 yards. 5 shot group was .97" at 100 yards.
Recoil was similar to shooting a 77gr 223 from a shortie gas piston AR carbine.
Barrel just past the throat was barely warm as was the suppressor.
This is going to be fun
Yes and no, first time out when I seated deeper, I had compression. The brass was also new at that time.
Thank you much, I'll dig into that one. I had seen the Rob's Reloading video, but I don't recall walking away from the video feeling confident in his assessment. But it's been a minute, so I'll have to re-watch.@MK20 did temp testing on it.
Staball Match
Thanks MK. Makes sense now. Will do definitely. 👍 I just posted this in the other Staball Match thread. Take a look. Match is a terrible powder choice for 6.5C @TryLikeHell - In addition to buying a paper back manual, you can download Gordon's Reloading tool for free. Be warned though, garbage...
Good to know. I'm setup up for ball powder and get acceptable ES/SDs. If I can reduce temp variance, but avoid going extruded, I'd be very interested.
Kind of a bummer on the speed. I've got a 25" barrel and want to be 2750-2800 on the speed with 105 Aero or 107 SMK.
I remember why I didn't like that video, 3 reasons really.
1) 3 rounds per temp is a little low on the round count.
2) I question whether or not we get a really clear indication when we only change the temp of the loaded ammo and not the barrel, magazine, etc.
3) With 105 BTHP, I'm in the lands about about 2.210". Unless Rob's using a throated chamber or custom reamer (doubt that's the case), I would think with the 2.225" COL he's in the lands or real close.
Pretty sure Rob's 6 ARC is a 22" Savage barreled action with an upgraded MDT stock/chassis.
The other temperature less-sensitive powder I wanted to try is 8202 XBR but can't find any online.
3 shot groups and one 5 shot group from my scope zero and barrel break in. It's showing some potential.
Oh yeah, I can get the speed from that, CFE223 or BL-C(2). But I want my cake and eat it too with a powder that will be more stable throughout the course of the PRS season and still give me the numbers.
Lever is temp stable from my experience. I’d give it a shot, plus, you’ll get the velocity you’re wanting.
Just picked up my Aeros a few hours ago. Got my lands measurement. Gotta prep some more brass, but I'll be running pressure ladder soon with W748 and BL-C(2) with both 107SMK and 105Aero.
That seems to be a common theme in that burn range, at least with Hodgdon products. CFE 223 is the same way. 2800 with the Hornady 105 Aeromatch and StaBALL Match, CFE 223 or BL-C(2) should be achievable with 25". Need a new seating stem for that bullet it seems.
Made it out with the next set of loads. One difference to note, unlike my previous outings the rifle and ammo were exposed to 32 degrees for 9 hours prior to these being fired.
These were all loaded to jump .055" in new Alpha brass with federal 205's and StaBALL Match powder.
28.5 = 2661 sd 2.1
29.0 = 2704 sd 10.6
29.5 = 2737 sd 9.3
30.0 = 2790 sd 5.4
Groups suck compared to varget but still under .8 moa, so there is that...
These were all loaded to jump .055" in new Alpha brass with federal 205's and StaBALL Match powder.
28.5 = 2661 sd 2.1
29.0 = 2704 sd 10.6
29.5 = 2737 sd 9.3
30.0 = 2790 sd 5.4
Groups suck compared to varget but still under .8 moa, so there is that...
Nice info and great groups.
Any crunching with the 28.6 gr (I realize that you have a longer free bore)?
Thanks in advance
For comparison, here’s my 110 ATip load at about .030” off the lands and at 2.360”. Sits a little deeper but bullet boatail starts at the shoulder neck junction but a little more into the body of the case than above. I could load it a little longer but this is a SAAMI chamber.
Amazing the differences in cambering , and how it can shape the load possibilities of the same cartridge. I'm slightly tight on SAAMMI print . 28 grains of Varget in summer put me into the high 2800s with105 hybrid at .020 off the lands. Sticky lift and loose primers . The loading hammered in winter and was perfect at 2820, but sped up on me and right out of the node . Eagerly watching your results . How many rounds on your barrel ?No crunch for me but I'm clearing the donut at 2.400" (0.035" off the lands), the pressure and crunch story would definitely be different on a SAAMI chamber spec load
EDIT : Had to look back, was with a 108 Berger not a 105 . Reference target
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Think I might pull the thermal from the 6mm ARC for a little while, since I haven't been coyote hunting yet... And toss my spare DNT 7-35x56 on there for now, so I can take it to the range again. I miss shooting it...No recoil and flat-shooting with the Nosler 115 RDF's.
Please help a relatively new reloader.
What's causing bullet deformation in the 6mm Hornady 105gr Aeromatch bullets?
A circular deformation about 3/16" from the tip on 5 rounds I loaded, definitely a dent, not a scuff.
Non compressed loads, seated easily/smoothly.
I use the Hornady 6 Arc full length sizing and seating die set (Part Number: 546251).
I've loaded Hornady 105gr BTHP Match bullets and Sierra 90gr Tipped Game Kings without any issues.
Could it be the die, super soft copper jacket of the Aeromatch bullets, the bullet's hybrid profile, all of the above?
Is there a way to fix it by swapping out a stem in the seating die?
Thank you in advance.
What's causing bullet deformation in the 6mm Hornady 105gr Aeromatch bullets?
A circular deformation about 3/16" from the tip on 5 rounds I loaded, definitely a dent, not a scuff.
Non compressed loads, seated easily/smoothly.
I use the Hornady 6 Arc full length sizing and seating die set (Part Number: 546251).
I've loaded Hornady 105gr BTHP Match bullets and Sierra 90gr Tipped Game Kings without any issues.
Could it be the die, super soft copper jacket of the Aeromatch bullets, the bullet's hybrid profile, all of the above?
Is there a way to fix it by swapping out a stem in the seating die?
Thank you in advance.
Same one from the original.
Just got an email back from Hornady. Apparently the 105gr Aeromatch uses a different seating stem than the 105gr Match BTPH.
Note: I could not find #397113 anywhere, even in Hornady's website, ordered the #397139 designed for the 6mm 110gr A-Tip.
I hope that this helps someone out in the future. YMMY, happy shooting.
===============================================================================================
You will need the seating stem #397113 for the exact fit of the 105 Aeromatch. Otherwise if you have one of our A-Tip seating stems #397139, it will have enough clearance in it to seat them as well. Thanks
Hornady/SnapSafe Tech Team
Phone: 1-800-338-3220
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hornady.com
===============================================================================================
The Atip stem has been working for me unless I'm compressing a significant amount.
These were 105 berger hybrid's and my SAC gauge.
I use RCBS MatchMaster for my 6ARC. Seating stem in that one was also leaving a mark. I just received my custom stem from RCBS. Interior of new stem has a notably different angle and is cut much deeper. I can feel a difference just by fitting the Aeromatch by hand into the stems.
Don't know why I thought these were 105BTHP, thank you for clarification.
I should get a set of SAC gauges.
The barrel is a Shilen Select Ratchet, finished at 24" . Generally when shooting, DA is usually between 6000 and 9500
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