6 ARC or 6.5 Creed

[slatebuilder]

A friend of the family has a New Mexico Resident elk tag. I knew she had the tag, but did not realize her situation surrounding the tag until today. The short version of the story without getting into it is that she needs a rifle, a bolt rifle. This will likely be the only rifle she ever buys.

The first thing that comes to mind is a 6ARC and a case of 108 ELDM ammo. The 6mm is legal everywhere and is a light recoiling practice round. What bolt rifles are chambered in 6 ARC. Scope choice is easy.

The second rifle that comes to mind is a tikka t3x in 6.5 creed.

 

[VuduDoc]

Howa Mini for the 6 ARC

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Howa Mini for the 6 ARC or Tikka T3X in .243 or 6.5 CM


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Kaleb]

If it’s likely the only rifle she will buy that tikka 6.5 creedmoor you mentioned with a suppressor would be tough to beat. Or 243 for that matter.

I like my mini 6ARC but I changed the trigger stock and bottom metal. I doubt she wants to mess with all that when the tikka is fine enough as is.

Edit to say I can’t warm up to them but every Ruger American I’ve been around shoots great. My nephew has one in 6creed and it’s a Ruger American but it’s been a no drama rifle.

 

[CJ_BG]

The tikka in a creedmoor or 243 is a better rifle to me than the howa mini, but 6 arc is the cartridge that jumps out to me in this situation. Middle ground it is.

Tikka 243 and the UM 108 eld-m load should do good

 

[waspocrew]

I’d go Tikka in a 6.5 Creed. Easy button for sure.

 

[UnckleBob]

I really like my 6ARC bolt gun, but I don't really think it has enough velocity to be a good choice as an Elk rifle unless they were really short shots.

If she wants a 6mm cartridge, the 243 and 6 CM can shoot at higher velocities without a huge increase in recoil or the weight of the rifle.

I would go 7mm-08, 6.5CM, 6CM, 243 in that order if my wife suddenly took up hunting Elk.

For 3 of the 4 I would buy her a Tikka
For 6CM (not available in a Tikka), I would get her a Kimber Hunter or a X Bolt.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Looking to buy stock or customize something?

My wife absolutely loves her 16" RA G2 Ranch 6 ARC. I removed the stock spacer and put a high cheek riser on it and she won't let me do anything else to it.

I've got a Tikka in 6.5 CM that I love but she doesn't like it as much.

 

[The Guide]

Looking to buy stock or customize something?

My wife absolutely loves her 16" RA G2 Ranch 6 ARC. I removed the stock spacer and put a high cheek riser on it and she won't let me do anything else to it.

I've got a Tikka in 6.5 CM that I love but she doesn't like it as much.

I did the same thing with a 22" Gen II in 22 ARC for my wife. All the little gals (my wife is 5'2" and I have numerous short sister's in law and niece's) that have shot it, love it. For the money, a Ruger American Gen2 is high function.

Jay

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

No current bolt action rifle in 6 ARC is worth buying for me personally.

I’d honestly just buy her a Tikka 8 twist 243 and go kill with factory 95 SST ammo. With a SWFA fixed6 in MILs properly mounted it’s the easy button all factory big game killing combo if someone doesn’t want a 223.

 

[Castle Rock]

I’d go Tikka in a 6.5 Creed. Easy button for sure.

I wouldn’t recommend that at all, the recoil is substantial.
If 22 cal is legal i would definitely recommend the tikka 8 twist 22/250 or 243 if 6 mm was necessary and someone was loading for her.
Otherwise a Ruger 6ARC is the easy button

 

[JDBAK]

I wouldn’t go above 6Crees/.243win.
I shoot mostly 260 the last several years. But for hunting have switched to a couple T3x light 243s. Everyone in the family far prefers 243. And they far prefer 223 over that.

Recoil matters a lot, especially for smaller people.

 

[slatebuilder]

She is not going to be a long range shooter, so equipment and gear, including cartridge choice, that works close is good.

Since the 6X SWFA is sold out, how about a second choice on optics.

The trijicon huron 3-9x40 standard reticle is on sale at eurooptic right now. This seems like a decent option with a nice clean uber simple reticle.

 

[slatebuilder]

I did the same thing with a 22" Gen II in 22 ARC for my wife. All the little gals (my wife is 5'2" and I have numerous short sister's in law and niece's) that have shot it, love it. For the money, a Ruger American Gen2 is high function.

Jay

My daughter has a 243 in Ruger A that she has killed a number of deer with. She recently acquired a 223 in Ruger A as well. Both have been functional for her purposes. They are a good bang for the buck.

 

[kkp005]

Tikka in 243… factory 95gr Nosler ballistic tips or 95gr fusions

 

[HandgunHTR]

This rifle: https://www.eurooptic.com/jrtxe315-tikka-tikka-t3x-lite-243-win-syn-224--barrel-mpn-jr

This scope: https://www.eurooptic.com/trijicon-...il-square-1-in-matte-black-riflescope-2900042

UM or Sportsmatch rings.

Pick factory ammo in the 90-108 grain range that the rifle and shooter like.

Done.

 

[JDBAK]

BTW I would pick a 6 creed over .243 Win if there’s any chance of long range use. My Tikka .243s are 1:8 twist, cut/threaded and collared at 18”, and thoated long for 108 ELDMs at 2.875” COAL. Next I replace the Tikka “M” mags (.243/260/308) with 6.5 Creed M+ mags.

Works great, but 6 Creed would be simpler.

To add to the above, everyone really likes being able to spot shots with the Rokstock. It makes shooting so much more enjoyable.

There’s a substantial difference in the ability to spot shots with .243/6 creed with 108 bullets at 2850 vs .260/6.5 creed 140s.

 

[The Guide]

My daughter has a 243 in Ruger A that she has killed a number of deer with. She recently acquired a 223 in Ruger A as well. Both have been functional for her purposes. They are a good bang for the buck.

I would get your lady friend to go to a sporting goods store and get a feel on how she likes the stock on a Ruger American Gen2. A 20" model in 6mm ARC or 6mm Creedmoor would be about the optimal blend in handling and speed. Both cartridges have the 103 ELDX and 108 ELDM available for factory ammo. Either will kill an elk sub 400 yards. The bonus of the 6CM is the factory available Barnes 95 LRX loaded ammo. That bullet in the 6CM has been a great bullet for us. Has killed deer and antelope from near and far like a touch of lightning. I would have no problem with killing anything elk with it.

Jay

 

[Luked]

I'm with a lot of others.
I think I would go 6.5 CM. Would be an all around rifle for about anything.

I have a 6 Arc but its a gasser. its going to be my main Whitetail gun this year. But I don't think Its got enough behind it for anything much bigger. But I could be wrong.
I actually just shot mine today and out of my 20" Barrel gasser its pushing a 103ELDx at an average of 2667.

 

[The Guide]

I have a 6 Arc but its a gasser. its going to be my main Whitetail gun this year. But I don't think Its got enough behind it for anything much bigger. But I could be wrong.

So is the 6mm 103 ELDX you don't feel is sufficient for larger game? Because if the bullet is delivered at above 1800fps impact velocity, it doesn't matter what speed it started at. At a "minimum typical" elk DA of 4000', my 6mm ARC that has a MV of 2614 fps carries 1800 fps to 570 yards. If you say you have a maximum range of 400 yards you are still over 2025 fps at 400 yards. That would kill any elk or other big game animal easily. A bullet should provide the same damage at any impact speed irrespective of the initial starting speed. The same 103 ELDX sent from my 6CM will inact the same amount of damage at 710 yards as the 6mm ARC will at 570 because the velocities overlap at that distance. That same 400 yard velocity for the 6mm ARC is at 540 yards for the 6CM. All bullets of the same caliber should do the same work if delivered at the same velocity from the same twist barrel because irrespective of the starting speed, the bullet will carry the same potential kinetic energy at the same velocity delivered on target.

Jay