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6 Arc barrels

My buddy has one. It's a bit gassy but otherwise fine.

I went with the bcb/brt 12.5" barrel. Smaller gas port, more oriented for suppressed use.
 
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My buddy has one. It's a bit gassy but otherwise fine.

I went with the bcb/brt 12.5" barrel. Smaller gas port, more oriented for suppressed use.

I'm waiting on one more part to ship before I can go test it out but I've heard great results.

Do you know who makes the bcb blanks?
 
I looked at that very barrel this morning.
Curious myself.

With Rainer having gone out of vogue after ratting out a bunch of law abiding citizens in NY State (why does anyone still live in that shithole, oh yeah, “but it’s so pretty upstate”), choices for an affordable 6Arc barrel get a bit thin.
 
I think it's Vortakt but I'd have to check.

no confirmation of the blank manufacturer from Beer City, but they did say it was 5R Cut rifled. Vortakt's 500 series are cut rifled, so that would make sense.

I picked up a lightly used one in the PX for a steal. Will report back on how it shoots once I do load development.

BCB was very helpful and quick to respond:

"we used Black River Tactical as our OEM for these barrels. BRT has a great reputation for making quality barrels. The blank source was not called out specifically in our purchase agreement. What was specified was that the barrels would be a match grade SS barrel with hand lapped rifling. Our focus with our barrels was on offering something lighter than the behemoth offered by Proof without sacrificing accuracy and an emphasis on getting the gassing right. Proof, rainier, Noveske, and most other offerings outside of a custom turned barrel are brutally overgassed. Especially for anything suppressed. We have been very happy with the results. D.Wilson.MFG, New American Arms, Onyx Arms, and I believe Trajectory Arms are all FFL’shave had the opportunity to shoot, inspect, or sell our barrels and I’m sure any one of them would be happy to speak to their experiences with them. If you decide to give us a shot let us know first and we have a discount code available for them as well!'

Their response to my question of they were cut rifled:

"Absolutely! These barrels utilize 5R rifling"
 
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I looked at that very barrel this morning.
Curious myself.

With Rainer having gone out of vogue after ratting out a bunch of law abiding citizens in NY State (why does anyone still live in that shithole, oh yeah, “but it’s so pretty upstate”), choices for an affordable 6Arc barrel get a bit thin.
Well, shit!! Not sure how I hadn't heard about this. I just bought my 1st Rainier Ultra Match a few weeks ago, and I never would have. I'm still firmly in the Fuck Springfield Armory and Fuck Rock River Arms camps. Fuck the NRA too, but I was at the convention when the news about SA & RRA broke.
 
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Getting tricky trying to figure out where to buy. I quit buying golf stuff at Dicks, figured since Bill died Ruger was okay, S&W is alright now that they aren’t Limey owned…….

That said, if Kamala Harris herself had 300 pieces of new, Starline .38 Special brass, she’d be counting $20’s and I’d be pulling the press handle…..

I’d also mention that while some companies are hostile to our 2A rights, are they any more hostile that the folks telling us the real cost on primers is up 300% since 2016? Where is the righteous indignation and boycotts?

Jeez, at least Rainer seems reasonably priced, even if they do let NY.gov know I’m building an assault/sniper rifle😬
 
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I just got a 12.5" mid gas bartlein. I'll report back once I get the upper assembled. I was gonna go BCB or Mos-tek but got to good of a deal on the bartlein.
 
I just got a 12.5" mid gas bartlein. I'll report back once I get the upper assembled. I was gonna go BCB or Mos-tek but got to good of a deal on the bartlein.
Keep thinking of how advantageous a 12.5 ARC would be. I have an 18” proof that is awesome. Keep us updated on the 12.5. On paper should be an awesome package
 
I just got a 12.5" mid gas bartlein. I'll report back once I get the upper assembled. I was gonna go BCB or Mos-tek but got to good of a deal on the bartlein.
I’m wanting a 12.5, too.

Where did you get your Bartlein?
 
I’m wanting a 12.5, too.

Where did you get your Bartlein?
Friend of a friend was selling one brand new. Should work out nice for what I'm going to do with it (shooting pigs at night). Got the upper assembled this weekend, just need to order a thermal now.
 
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I bought a couple of 22" Shaw 6 ARC barrels for $210 each. I've only built one up so far and it's a great shooter with handloads. I've had quite a few 5 shot 100 yard groups in the .4 to .6 MOA range using Berger 109s. Factory ELD-M has run .7 to 1.5 and ELD-X is a bit worse. It's grouped at a bit over an MOA at 1000 yards with handloads. They also sell an 18".
 
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Update on this barrel:

Using factory 108 ELDM, I had multiple half inch groups. Opened the adj GB up some and it ran well with elander mags. Rifle +1 gas system, 18” barrel. 2460 avg velocity @50 degrees today.

I’m happy and looking forward to developing loads with it using lever.

 

Anyone have experience with the Noveske 6 arc barrels?

I’m looking at this, rainier Ultramatch or proof. Seems like the ultra match are getting mixed reviews (on top of the anti gun stuff) and the proof stainless is heavy but at least I know it’ll shoot.
That's weird that they offer this caliber in a 12.5" barrel length. What would be the purpose of a 6mm Arc SBR build?

I might be wrong, but I heard somewhere that the Rainer Ultramatch might be Criterion barrels or blanks so if so, they sound like a solid pick.
 
That's weird that they offer this caliber in a 12.5" barrel length. What would be the purpose of a 6mm Arc SBR build?

I might be wrong, but I heard somewhere that the Rainer Ultramatch might be Criterion barrels or blanks so if so, they sound like a solid pick.

It would make a fun and handy night Gun. People used shorty 6.5 Grendel’s for years and the short 6 arc would be even better
 
Just shot the Noveske 18 inch 6 arc for the first time today. Pretty pleased, ran a couple dry patches through it after I installed it and went and started shooting. Function was flawless from asc mags. Several groups were all like the ones shown 4 touching and one flyer. Probably me, overall pretty impressed with the factory 108’s. I’ve got 100 rounds through it now, planning on cleaning it tomorrow and hitting the 1000yard range Wednesday. I’ll get a few more groups in from prone this time, these were all shot at a 100 yard indoor range with rolling benches and rolling chairs. (That’s my excuse for the fliers anyway)! I’m trying to get 200 rounds through it and then work up a load with Berger 108 BT’s and lever.
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Highly recommend proof. Here’s a 18” stainless group. 21-25 rounds fired through barrel. 5 shot group at 100 yards to test zero before going to 1k.
 

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What ammo was that with? A buddy of mine is having a hell of a time getting his proof to shoot factory 105's.
The Hornady 105 bthp ammo is very good as well, if your buddy is trying to use 105 Berger VLD’s I can see why he’s having issues. Those need touching or in some cases jam against the lands to work well and the SAAMI chamber for 6mm ARC doesn’t have a short enough freebore to allow this, plus touching or jamming a bullet in a gas-gun isn’t a great idea.
 
The Hornady 105 bthp ammo is very good as well, if your buddy is trying to use 105 Berger VLD’s I can see why he’s having issues. Those need touching or in some cases jam against the lands to work well and the SAAMI chamber for 6mm ARC doesn’t have a short enough freebore to allow this, plus touching or jamming a bullet in a gas-gun isn’t a great idea.

.... https://bergerbullets.com/vld-making-shoot/
 
WOA isn't getting into it, from their website-

UPDATE: We have no plans to introduce a 6mm ARC barrel.



ORIGINAL POST: We have been getting a lot of calls and e-mails in the last week or so asking if we are chambering barrels for the new Hornady 6mm ARC. While we have not yet made a decision about 6mm ARC we are quite familiar with the various 6mm cartridges that are designed to work through the AR-15 platform and the limitations and advantages of most of them. The idea of a 6mm cartridge with a case capacity in the 27-30 gr range out of the AR-15 is a great idea with a ton of versatility. You can shoot anything from a light varmint bullet at well over 3400 FPS for varmints to a long 108 or 107 at 2700 for long range target work, or a 87-95 for an effective hunting round with the accuracy and terminal performance to take medium game out to 500 yards. (Sorry, but while you may be able to hit one at much longer ranges, you will not have the terminal velocity for effective bullet performance and good kills past that range.)

Many such cartridges have been developed. Most based on either the 6.8 SPC case with it’s .420 head diameter or the 7.62x39 case with a .440 head size. Hornady chose to go with the larger .440 head size for the 6mm ARC cartridge.

We have built many rifles in various wildcat cartridges on the .440 head size case, as well as the .264 LBC. What we found is that they just do not give the reliability and longevity that we as target shooters need at the pressures that we typically shoot. In the crucible of competitive highpower shooting, where we tend to tip the powder can to the limit of what the case will hold, they did just not hold up. Other gunsmiths built them and had success with them, but lug set-back and breakage was at a level that I was personally uncomfortable with. At that time I made the decision to not chamber for the .440 head size cartridges. In addition, I feel there are other cartridges that are better for the specific demands of the across the course match rifle shooter.

Hornady confirmed by my feelings by limiting the new cartridge to 52,000 PSI max pressure. At that pressure bolts and barrel extensions should last a long time. Start tipping the powder can and all bets are off. If you are one to add powder until primers fall out then back off slightly, don’t expect to keep all the lugs on your bolt if you shoot a lot.

I will have to be convinced that the reliability and longevity are there before we start selling them to our customers. We will keep you informed.
 
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I bought a couple of 22" Shaw 6 ARC barrels for $210 each. I've only built one up so far and it's a great shooter with handloads. I've had quite a few 5 shot 100 yard groups in the .4 to .6 MOA range using Berger 109s. Factory ELD-M has run .7 to 1.5 and ELD-X is a bit worse. It's grouped at a bit over an MOA at 1000 yards with handloads. They also sell an 18".
Shaw can make a good inexpensive barrel if they have good button specs. They make a lot of OEM barrels for companies that most think are made by those big names.
 
Update, shot the Noveske 6 arc again today after a cleanup with boretech carbon remover followed up by boretech copper remover. Shot a couple groups at 100 with FACTORY 105’s and 108’s just to make sure the Z hadn’t shifted. same size for both .6-.7 range although the 105’s were 1mil low and .5 mil left of the zero for the 108’s wheird. Got too excited and left the paper up at 100 so no pics.👎 took it to a UKD range and walked it out to 940 yards. In the process the barrel sped up 24 fps it now has 220 rounds through it MV now 2614 (and I harvested all the brass!). It was 45 degrees with wind from 2:00 at 8 gusting to 22. Pleased with this barrel. Next time I’ll get some target pics! Gonna shoot a match with some factory ammunition and start a load development with lever and Berger 108 bt’s.
 
Update on this barrel:

Using factory 108 ELDM, I had multiple half inch groups. Opened the adj GB up some and it ran well with elander mags. Rifle +1 gas system, 18” barrel. 2460 avg velocity @50 degrees today.

I’m happy and looking forward to developing loads with it using lever.


Started load development with this barrel, finally. Had the magnetospeed on the end of the can so not really looking for groups, yet, but I did still have some groups in the .55 realm.

ran OCW test from 28 gr to 30.1 gr using LEVER, CCI450, 108 ELD and resized hornady 6.5 grendel brass.

The node I found was between 29.2 - 29.8. All single digit SD from 4 fps at 29.2, 8fps at 29.5 and 6 fps at 29.8. Pressure signs at and above 29.8.

velocity was 2620 at 29.2, 2632 at 29.5 and 2660 at 29.8. all loaded to 2.25 COAL. Can't remember CBTO off hand.

I will likely settle around 29.2 to 29.5 as it was only 50 degrees and lever is temp sensitive. Don't want too much pressure over summer time. Then some minor seating depth testing with decent jump
 
I picked up a Shaw SS 1:7.5” 18” long.
Seekins upper. Omega can. Magnetospeed V3 after 60 rds “break in”

3/21/23
60F 20% 30.34 in
Hornady Black 105 BTHP
2512, 2554, 2559, 2558, 2532,
2556, 2536, 2545, 2547, 2550
SD 13.9
(Pics below)

3/22/23
55F 59% 30.31 in
Sierra 95 gr TMK
Lever 30.0
Hornady brass x 1
BTO 1.6580
COL 1.4900
2705, 2011

Nosler 95 gr BT
Lever 30.0
Hornady brass x 1
BTO 1.7725
COL 1.4900
2722, 2711

Berger 95 gr VLD Hunter
Lever 30.0
Hornady brass x 1
BTO 1.6600
COL 1.4900
2740, 2689

Hornady 103 gr ELD-X
Lever 30.0
Hornady brass x 1
BTO 1.6730
COL 1.4900
2677

Berger 108 gr Elite Hunter
Lever 29.0
Hornady brass x 1
BTO 1.6555
COL 1.4900
2582, 2610

Hornady 106 gr TAP
2593, 2615, 2636, 2621,
2621, 2589, 2625, 2584 SD 18.2




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I bought a couple of 22" Shaw 6 ARC barrels for $210 each. I've only built one up so far and it's a great shooter with handloads. I've had quite a few 5 shot 100 yard groups in the .4 to .6 MOA range using Berger 109s. Factory ELD-M has run .7 to 1.5 and ELD-X is a bit worse. It's grouped at a bit over an MOA at 1000 yards with handloads. They also sell an 18".
18” Shaw SS rifle length gas
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Has anyone messed with the 90gr ELD-X in the 6mm ARC yet? Or just the 103gr?
 
Finally settled on a load of 29.4gr of lever, 2.245 COAL. Up to 2660 fps. My SD was between 3-6 fps and consistent .5 moa groups. Took it out to 700 yards and had consistent hits. The almost non existent recoil is a joy.

I’m very content with the BCB 18” barrel and a believer in the 6 ARC going forward.
 
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Has anyone messed with the 90gr ELD-X in the 6mm ARC yet? Or just the 103gr?
Caveats: Powder= LVR, brass= virgin Starline 6.5 Grendel converted, primer=CCI 400, CBTO/COAL= 1.655/2.167, barrel= 18" Ballistic Advantage, RLGS. This was pressure testing ONLY. The highest load shown is under Hornady's published MAX. No pressure signs or behavior was noted. These were rounds fired during the barrel break-in, within the first 150-200 rounds down the tube.


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