6mmAR, I'm impressed

[*Nine]

A few months ago I ordered a reamer from PTG and sent it and some parts off to my favorite smith (hsss here on the Hide.) A couple of weeks ago I got a package back from him. I intended this project mostly as an experiment to see how effective I could make an AR15 from an external ballistics standpoint, and so far I've been really impressed with it. Sending the Hornady 105 HPBT bullets at 2770 is no problem with the 24" barrel, and the brake on there is only bored .008" over the projectile diameter so recoil is shockingly low. I kind of want to get my hands on a 6mmAR Turbo Improved reamer now and see just how hard I can push those little 105s.

I have a long range class coming up in a week and initially I was going to bring it along as a backup rifle but I am having so much fun with it I plan to shoot it as my primary rifle and use my .260 as my backup.

The rifle:

Some ammo ready to go:

It shoots pretty well:

 

[ssatt68]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

MG ive been putting some seious thought into building a 6mm Ar as well. What upper did you build on?

 

[*Nine]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

I used a VLTOR MUR upper since it's forged and has thicker walls.

 

[dmpowder]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

That's a Grendel case necked down correct? I know when I had my Grendel everytime I was at the loading bench I couldn't stop thinking about how much cooler it would be with a 6mm pill instead.

It's a shooter for sure! What brand of barrel is it?

 

[*Nine]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmpowder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's a Grendel case necked down correct? I know when I had my Grendel everytime I was at the loading bench I couldn't stop thinking about how much cooler it would be with a 6mm pill instead.

It's a shooter for sure! What brand of barrel is it? </div></div>

Yeah, it's just 6.5G necked down to 6mm. The barrel is a Brux 8 twist that started out as a Varmint contour blank.

 

[Lofty]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

Now THAT is interesting.

I'm digging that.

 

[Lofty]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

Tell me about resizing the brass.....did you custom order a die?

 

[ssatt68]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lofty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tell me about resizing the brass.....did you custom order a die? </div></div>
Did you buy all your stuff directly from Whitley? Have you tried any of the Hornady 6.5G brass?

 

[*Nine]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

I bought the Redding dies from Whitley. Resizing the brass is as simple as running it through the sizing die. I've used both the Hornady and AA brass and they both shoot great.

 

[ssatt68]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

MG who is your smith? What was the turn around time? Cost? Ive got a few ARs laying around that could use a face lift

 

[RufDog]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

How hard are you pushing to get those velocities? Can it take more?

 

[Playerz1337]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

Who makes that free float tube?

PM me please.

 

[KLin]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

I dig the heck out of this rifle... Been eyeballing George's 6mm AR brass in his basement but the last thing I need is another project. Hope you will provide some updates on loads etc.

Scott: smith is hsss here on the Hide

playerz: it's one of the Vtac hanguards.

 

[Bruiser_Joe]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ssatt68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MG who is your smith? What was the turn around time? Cost? Ive got a few ARs laying around that could use a face lift </div></div>

And there goes te neighborhood

 

[*Nine]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ssatt68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MG who is your smith? What was the turn around time? Cost? Ive got a few ARs laying around that could use a face lift </div></div>

Like Ken said, it's James Thomas of High Speed Shooting Systems. He posts here on the Hide as hsss. Turnaround was a couple of months. Cost was "reasonable," similar to rebarreling a normal bolt gun since the work is similar.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RufDog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How hard are you pushing to get those velocities? Can it take more?</div></div>

Pretty hard. If it were a 26" barrel I'd be up at/near 2800fps. It can probably take a little more, but at the cost of lower brass life. So far I've got 4 firings on some of my Hornady brass and while the primer pockets aren't as tight as the new brass, they're still pretty snug. They've definitely got a few more firings ahead of them.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Playerz1337</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Who makes that free float tube?

PM me please.

</div></div>

I'll PM ya.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KLin@GAP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I dig the heck out of this rifle... Been eyeballing George's 6mm AR brass in his basement but the last thing I need is another project. Hope you will provide some updates on loads etc.

Scott: smith is hsss here on the Hide

playerz: it's one of the Vtac hanguards. </div></div>

Thanks! I plan to update this thread. I'll post an update after my class with this rifle next weekend. Also, I want to try some hBN on the bullets, but I'll have to go to a faster powder since the RL15 I'm using now is a slightly compressed load. Also, I want to try the Berger 105 Hybrid. I don't think I'll be able to load it to mag length in a normal magazine, but I've been talking to hsss about an idea to make it work.

 

[*Nine]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

Update.

I successfully completed my class this past weekend with the rifle. It ran flawlessly and kicked ass on the steel out to 900. Past 900 (1000 and 1183 yard targets) the wind was a bit tougher but I did make hits. At 900 and in first round hits were no problem. The lack of recoil made spotting hits really simple. The load I ran this weekend was 29.1 grains of RL15, CCI BR-4, and Hornady 105 HPBT. I think I can actually push the load a little harder if I want to, but it shoots so well with this load.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

congrats the 6MM Ar is a wesome in an AR platform , I have had one for a little over a year now and it pushes the 105 right at 2800FPS out of a 26" barrel, accuracy is great too.

 

[steve123]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

That 6mmAR shoots great!

They are such capable little cartridges it's amazing. I've won some matches with mine and finished pretty high in others.

To answer your question about how fast the Turbo40 is. I have a 6mmART40 with a 26" barrel. The highest velocity I was able to get was 2925 fps with AA2520/105 Amax in the summer. That same load dropped 125 FPS in the cold of mid winter. Lesson learned concerning temp unstable powders.

I switched to H-4895 and 105 Amax at 2885 fps. It was the most accurate load I've shot out of the rifle but it appears looking back that this was too much pressure for the system to work reliably. I'd get a malfunction once in a while. I know it was pressure related because I bought a new 8lb keg of powder and fireformed some new brass and the old load was way too hot of a load. By this time the barrel had nearly 2000 rounds through it so I decided to slow the velocity down to preserve the barrel for another year. Now it's at a mild 2730 fps. No malfunctions since.

The 6mm AR series is the best going for AR15. The thing I don't like is Robert throats them for single feeding. Eventually I'll order my own reamer with zero freebore and have the barrel throated for whichever bullet strikes my fancy at the time. I bet the new barrel will shoot even better next time!

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

Nice!

I can only imagine how well a straight 243 will perform out of an AR...if only someone can come up with a solution for the 1,500 round barrel life.

What barrel life are y'all expecting outta your builds?

 

[65nut]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

Shit......i need one now

 

[Scottmilk9]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

anyone ever try the 6woa, 6.8spc necked down to 6mm?

 

[346ci]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tx_Flyboy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice!

I can only imagine how well a straight 243 will perform out of an AR...if only someone can come up with a solution for the 1,500 round barrel life.

What barrel life are y'all expecting outta your builds? </div></div>

I'm waiting on ARP to finish his Melonite 6mmBR barrel. I know that doesn't answer your question but Melonite has proven to extend barrel life. The treatment should work well for the barrel burners.

 

[346ci]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scottmilk9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">anyone ever try the 6woa, 6.8spc necked down to 6mm? </div></div>

Black Hole Weaponry(BHW) has a 6X6.8 out that a few have been running on their forums and the 6.8 fourm. The accuracy and velocity are looking very nice. That caliber has sparked my interest since I have so much 6.8 brass...

 

[Scottmilk9]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 346ci</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scottmilk9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">anyone ever try the 6woa, 6.8spc necked down to 6mm? </div></div>

Black Hole Weaponry(BHW) has a 6X6.8 out that a few have been running on their forums and the 6.8 fourm. The accuracy and velocity are looking very nice. That caliber has sparked my interest since I have so much 6.8 brass... </div></div>

Yeah........I'm banned there! long story, if you want the details search my posts here. They aren't doing anything new, but I will say most of their barrels shoot very good if not excellent. the 6mm using the 6.8 case is phenominal, I'd like to try the 6mmAR as well, as Im a big fan of grendels(and make quite a few).
Back on topic................Anyone ever try the 95gr Sierras in their 6mmAR?

 

[*Nine]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tx_Flyboy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice!

I can only imagine how well a straight 243 will perform out of an AR...if only someone can come up with a solution for the 1,500 round barrel life.

<span style="font-weight: bold">What barrel life are y'all expecting outta your builds?</span></div></div>

No idea really. I figure it'll surely be better than a normal .243 since it's pushing ~13gr less powder. I'd be ok with 3-4k rounds of "field accuracy." By then the cost of a new barrel is a drop in the bucket compared to match fees, ammo, etc...

 

[leadbullet]

Re: 6mmAR, I'm impressed

the 6MM AR is not a barrel burner, any caliber in the 3000 FPS + is a barrel burner and this cal doesn't come close to it with 105-107 gr. it will have a better barrel life than the 6BR since it uses less powder.
hope this helps.