I'd like to know what muzzle velocities are actually being achieved with optimum handloads (most accurate) tipped with Hornady 103-gr ELD-X bullets when fired from a 6mm ARC gas gun with either an 18" or 20" barrel? Also, what kind of powder is being used with those handloads to attain the reported muzzle velocities?
6mm ARC Gas Gun Barrel Lengths and Muzzle Velocities
- Thread starter ArmoryBrat
- Start date
There are several older threads around with a lot of load data and velocity info in them. I would definitely take the time to search them up and read through them. That said, i have a PVA 20” 6ARC AR that has about 110-115 rounds down the tube so it could still be speeding up a little bit. I have just started the berger 108gr elite hunters with Leverevolution. My starting load was 28.0gr with Starline brass and i was right at 2500 fps. I then jumped to 28.5gr and velocity went up to 2560ish. I will keep creeping up slowly to 29.0gr and watch for pressure.
This is just my specific setup and just know that every barrel will be different.
This is just my specific setup and just know that every barrel will be different.
Im currently waiting on a 18” osprey. Did you get yours with a headspaced bolt? I have brand new Alpha brass ready to go once the barrel comes in.
Thanks for the responses! I've already reviewed a lot of old threads both on the "Hide" and elsewhere, and gleaned some worthwhile information from them, but not quite what I'm looking for. In addition, I've looked at bullet and powder manufacturer's charts such as the one that WeR0206 posted...but again, with the same outcome. I'm looking for real world 6mm ARC gas gun muzzle velocity data with 103-grain ELD-X tipped handloads fired from 18" and 20" barrels.
I currently have a custom 20" Bartlein (0.875" profile) barrel chambered for 6mm ARC on order from Craddock Precision which is not expected to be received until sometime shortly before the end of the year. A headspaced bolt will be received with the barrel. And like WeR0206, I too have already acquired 100 pieces of new, Alpha brass for future reloading operations. Meanwhile, I've been vacillating back and forth for some time on whether or not I should change the order to get an 18" barrel instead of one that is 2" longer. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to resolve my dilemma with the receipt of the desired information.
Based on what little information that I have been able to find on-line thus far, it appears as though a 6mm ARC handload when charged with LeverEvolution powder will propel a 103-grain ELD-X bullet with reasonable accuracy from an 18" barrel at about 2,635 fps and approximately 2,685 fps from a 20" barrel. However, I'd like to acquire and review more such data before ultimately making up my mind on this matter. I'm having trouble reconciling in my mind wether or not the extra 2" of barrel length along with an additional 50 fps increase in muzzle velocity and some extended range capability will be worth the added transport weight and some anticipated decrease in maneuverability of the rifle while hunting coyotes and whitetail deer.
I currently have a custom 20" Bartlein (0.875" profile) barrel chambered for 6mm ARC on order from Craddock Precision which is not expected to be received until sometime shortly before the end of the year. A headspaced bolt will be received with the barrel. And like WeR0206, I too have already acquired 100 pieces of new, Alpha brass for future reloading operations. Meanwhile, I've been vacillating back and forth for some time on whether or not I should change the order to get an 18" barrel instead of one that is 2" longer. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to resolve my dilemma with the receipt of the desired information.
Based on what little information that I have been able to find on-line thus far, it appears as though a 6mm ARC handload when charged with LeverEvolution powder will propel a 103-grain ELD-X bullet with reasonable accuracy from an 18" barrel at about 2,635 fps and approximately 2,685 fps from a 20" barrel. However, I'd like to acquire and review more such data before ultimately making up my mind on this matter. I'm having trouble reconciling in my mind wether or not the extra 2" of barrel length along with an additional 50 fps increase in muzzle velocity and some extended range capability will be worth the added transport weight and some anticipated decrease in maneuverability of the rifle while hunting coyotes and whitetail deer.
I haven’t looked through it much but below is another forum outside of the hide you can try searching that’s dedicated to 6 arc, im pretty sure they share load info, velocities, etc.
That particular forum, which I've perused a number of times, is dedicated to just about everything 6mm ARC, but it too doesn't offer much in the way of what I'm seeking. Given the popularity of the 6mm ARC, I'm somewhat surprised that there isn't more information posted on-line of the type that I'm seeking. Regardless, I sincerely appreciate your continued efforts in trying to help me!
You’re quite welcome. Im surprised as well, that’s a bummer. On a brighter note I did find this post on the hide today that has real world data for berger 105’s with N140. It’s for 105gr bullets not the 103 that you were looking for but it should give you a decent barometer
Post in thread '6 ARC Gas Guns'
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/6-arc-gas-guns.7213649/post-12099796
The information you're looking for and more has been discussed in this thread, worth doing some reading there.
www.snipershide.com
I have a 21", an 18", had a 12.5", and have a 13" on order. My 18" is my general purpose rifle, light enough for hunting and accurate/fast enough for non-match range use. Outside of a more specialized range only gun, I don't have any interest in going longer again, and sometimes think the 18" would be better as a 16", but it shoots too good to chop or replace. The 13" should scratch that itch and be another good hunting rifle though.
Here's one of my go to loads for the 18":
It's accurate and I wound up using it in a 12.5" upper to take two deer this year, worked well, although was starting out closer to 2,400 fps in that barrel length. LVR gives top velocity and good accuracy in the ARC, but the price you pay is temp sensitivity and it's fairly dirty.
I did play with AR-Comp some and it shows promise at lower velocities, but I suspect is probably still over gas-gun pressures.
Most folks using a gas gun seem to be using factory ammo, or loads with LVR, AA2520 or CFE223. It also seems like a lot of the bolt breakage stories seem to come from people trying to run Varget and the like at decent velocities.
New 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge
I hadn't seen this posted here yet, but SAAMI added a 6mm Grendel derivative called the 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge or 6mm ARC to their newly accepted cartridges list. 6mm ARC introduction pdf The case looks like the shoulder has been moved back, and the neck is a little shorter as compared...
www.snipershide.com
I have a 21", an 18", had a 12.5", and have a 13" on order. My 18" is my general purpose rifle, light enough for hunting and accurate/fast enough for non-match range use. Outside of a more specialized range only gun, I don't have any interest in going longer again, and sometimes think the 18" would be better as a 16", but it shoots too good to chop or replace. The 13" should scratch that itch and be another good hunting rifle though.
Here's one of my go to loads for the 18":
It's accurate and I wound up using it in a 12.5" upper to take two deer this year, worked well, although was starting out closer to 2,400 fps in that barrel length. LVR gives top velocity and good accuracy in the ARC, but the price you pay is temp sensitivity and it's fairly dirty.
I did play with AR-Comp some and it shows promise at lower velocities, but I suspect is probably still over gas-gun pressures.
Most folks using a gas gun seem to be using factory ammo, or loads with LVR, AA2520 or CFE223. It also seems like a lot of the bolt breakage stories seem to come from people trying to run Varget and the like at decent velocities.
Thanks for sharing the MV data for your 18" "general purpose rifle!" That's the sort of data that I'm searching for! The MV data that your shared for your 103-grain handloads with the LVR powder is very close to the same MVs that I've seen on-line so far for 20" barreled rifles shooting that same bullet and powder. The MV data that I've seen on-line for 18" barreled rifles shooting 103-grain bullets with LVR averaged around 2,635 fps. However, unlike your data, no ambient air temperature information was provided for those MVs of around 2,635 fps and 2,685 fps from 18" and 20" barreled rifles, respectively. I now suspect that those MVs were shot with cooler air temperatures than the 85-degree conditions under which you shot your MV average of 2,685.4 fps with an 18" barreled rifle. Do you have any other MV data that you could share for your 18" barreled rifle while shooting 103-grain ELD-X bullets with LVR powder, under cooler weather conditions?The information you're looking for and more has been discussed in this thread, worth doing some reading there.
New 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge
I hadn't seen this posted here yet, but SAAMI added a 6mm Grendel derivative called the 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge or 6mm ARC to their newly accepted cartridges list. 6mm ARC introduction pdf The case looks like the shoulder has been moved back, and the neck is a little shorter as compared...
I have a 21", an 18", had a 12.5", and have a 13" on order. My 18" is my general purpose rifle, light enough for hunting and accurate/fast enough for non-match range use. Outside of a more specialized range only gun, I don't have any interest in going longer again, and sometimes think the 18" would be better as a 16", but it shoots too good to chop or replace. The 13" should scratch that itch and be another good hunting rifle though.
Here's one of my go to loads for the 18":
View attachment 8661613
It's accurate and I wound up using it in a 12.5" upper to take two deer this year, worked well, although was starting out closer to 2,400 fps in that barrel length. LVR gives top velocity and good accuracy in the ARC, but the price you pay is temp sensitivity and it's fairly dirty.
I did play with AR-Comp some and it shows promise at lower velocities, but I suspect is probably still over gas-gun pressures.
View attachment 8661612
Most folks using a gas gun seem to be using factory ammo, or loads with LVR, AA2520 or CFE223. It also seems like a lot of the bolt breakage stories seem to come from people trying to run Varget and the like at decent velocities.
