2kish to spend on a 6mm ARC- what do YOU do?

[Bearcat06]

I'm looking to get a rifle for mostly target and plinking fun. I'd like it to be chambered in 6ARC. My preference is some sort of chassis type setup that's a bit heavier to help with spotting trace and fun stuff like that. I know the cheap and easy button is Ruger American or Howa mini but, if possible, I'd like to get a better feel if that makes sense. I love my Ruger American in .204 that I have in the oryx chassis, but it doesn't give me the warm and fuzzy when I run it like my Bergara rifle does. Budget doesn't have to include the scope, and it isn't a hard stop number, but I do need to keep it close. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice from previous experience you can offer. (not sure I have the money or patience to go custom haha)

 

[rbutcher1234]

Tikka 223, bolt opened up, LS wild prefit, Rokstok carbon, SRS tikka rail, bottle of loctite 380,

 

[eric1115]

Tikka 223, bolt opened up, LS wild prefit, Rokstok carbon, SRS tikka rail, bottle of loctite 380,

Aaaaand, close the thread. This is exactly what I was going to recommend. OP you won't find an option in your price range that is better combination of function, reliability, accuracy. If you want more weight and a more of a tactical/gamer/ chassis a. Krg bravo would be worth considering

 

[Austin Kaufman]

I put these howa minis together. Trybe defense chassis (made by MDT) pretty similar to the oryx chassis. I have 360 rounds through the 6 arc with carbon barrel and 950 rounds through the 223 in the last two months. I’ve really enjoyed both guns. The actions have got a lot smoother since I have shot them a lot. Both super fun to shoot and can easily watch your trace. I wouldn’t hesitate on a Ruger American or howa mini with some upgrades for the easy button.


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[Bearcat06]

I put these howa minis together. Trybe defense chassis (made by MDT) pretty similar to the oryx chassis. I have 360 rounds through the 6 arc with carbon barrel and 950 rounds through the 223 in the last two months. I’ve really enjoyed both guns. The actions have got a lot smoother since I have shot them a lot. Both super fun to shoot and can easily watch your trace. I wouldn’t hesitate on a Ruger American or howa mini with some upgrades for the easy button.


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those are some slick looking rifles! are you able to shoot 10 ish shots without heating the barrels up heavy on those howa's?

 

[Bearcat06]

Aaaaand, close the thread. This is exactly what I was going to recommend. OP you won't find an option in your price range that is better combination of function, reliability, accuracy. If you want more weight and a more of a tactical/gamer/ chassis a. Krg bravo would be worth considering

Can you tell me more? is this done at a gunsmith or does Tikka have the interchangeable bolt heads? definitely interested to hear more I'm just not sure I follow.

 

[Austin Kaufman]

those are some slick looking rifles! are you able to shoot 10 ish shots without heating the barrels up heavy on those howa's?

Yeah I go out and shoot 50-100 rounds at a time through the 223 without ever worrying about cooling and make impacts out to 600 with cheap 55 fmj ammo. Havent noticed any changes. The 223 shoots .75-1.25 moa 5-10 shot groups depending on the factory ammo. I have shot 20-30 shot strings through the 6 arc out further and haven’t noticed any changes in accuracy. Factory 108 ELDMs shoot 0.4-0.6 moa 5 shot groups. I’ve been pretty pleased with both rifles.


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[eric1115]

Can you tell me more? is this done at a gunsmith or does Tikka have the interchangeable bolt heads? definitely interested to hear more I'm just not sure I follow.

A gunsmith opens up the bolt face. Lots of different ones can do it, anyone that can't probably shouldn't call himself a gunsmith. Kampfeld Customs is who I have used in the past (not for this exact task, but have been very happy with him on the other work he's done for me). He has done very good work and makes the shipping process extremely easy. If it were me I would definitely send the barrel as well and let him spin that on and check headspace.

 

[waspocrew]

Kinport Peak will open a Tikka .223 bolt face to 6 ARC for $100.

Tikka 6 ARC would be great (I’m waiting on a barrel and Rokstok right now for mine).

I have a Howa Mini 6 ARC - honestly haven’t been super impressed with it. Maybe a new barrel would change my mind, but the factory barrel has been picky.

A Zermatt Origin with 6 ARC bolt face is super easy as well. Prefits galore, add trigger and chassis of your choosing.

 

[eric1115]

I also wanted to add, I have a Howa mini in 6Arc and while it is a sweet little rifle after doing some work on the trigger, magazine, mag release, and stock, and as noted by @Austin Kaufman it has smoothed out a fair bit after several hundred rounds, it is not at the same level of reliability, function, etc as my Tikkas. Magazine seating and bolt binding are my two biggest gripes.

Mine has been plenty accurate and not very picky for what I've run through it (mostly 108 and now some 109 ELDM hand loads and about 100 rounds of factory 108 Match), but accuracy has been kind of a gamble with these. Lots shoot great, but they seem to put out more lemons than some companies. A prefit barrel (especially if a Smith installs it and checks headspace) will almost certainly be an accurate rifle.

The super short action is neat and fun, but for me the Tikkas run enough better to recommend the extra work on the front end. Also while I don't at all mind the 2-stage Howa trigger (after clipping a bit off the spring) there are some guys that really don't like 2-stage.

 

[General RE LEE]

You can get a Howa Mini barreled action from Brownells and have a smith like BugHoles put a custom barrel on it and you’ll have a tack driver without having to monkey with the bolt face.

 

[Bearcat06]

You can get a Howa Mini barreled action from Brownells and have a smith like BugHoles put a custom barrel on it and you’ll have a tack driver without having to monkey with the bolt face.

View attachment 956745

I had contemplated this route as well. I will check out the video later than you!
(is the barrel swap on these Howa's an easy at home project with the right vice or are they not that reliable to fit up without needing some machining? I'm very uninformed in the world of barrel swaps)

 

[Lawnboi]

Do you reload or plan to for this rifle?

 

[Bearcat06]

Do you reload or plan to for this rifle?

Yes I do and plan to reload all ammo for this rig as well.

 

[General RE LEE]

I had contemplated this route as well. I will check out the video later than you!
(is the barrel swap on these Howa's an easy at home project with the right vice or are they not that reliable to fit up without needing some machining? I'm very uninformed in the world of barrel swaps)

I don’t do barrel swaps. I know there are several on here that do and I may start eventually. Bug Holes is one of the best custom builders in the country. Turn around time is typically 5 months but the job will be done right.

 

[Lawnboi]

Yes I do and plan to reload all ammo for this rig as well.

I’d atleast consider just getting a tikka, selling the barrel and getting a 6br prefit. That would avoid the odd bolt face, you would be burning nearly the same powder, in a cartridge that is known for accuracy.

 

[Bearcat06]

I’d atleast consider just getting a tikka, selling the barrel and getting a 6br prefit. That would avoid the odd bolt face, you would be burning nearly the same powder, in a cartridge that is known for accuracy.

I've went down the similar rabbit hole in my head with the 6 GT that you can get in a Bergara barreled action. I love the way my Bergara rifle feels and cycles and it is just a b-14 not even premiere.

 

[Lawnboi]

I've went down the similar rabbit hole in my head with the 6 GT that you can get in a Bergara barreled action. I love the way my Bergara rifle feels and cycles and it is just a b-14 not even premiere.

For 2k, if you’re smart about it, you can likely get a pretty decent tikka setup in one of the BR based cartridges. I could understand an arc if you were shooting factory but it would be hard to look past a 6br or dasher tikka if your reloading.

 

[huntsman22]

You can always drop a Ruger American in a MDT Timbercore or Woox ....

 

[nm.otter]

Or start with one of these instead.