6ARC Tikka

BLJ

WKR
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
2,421
Location
WV
I was getting 2700 fps from a 20” barrel with a max charge of varget and a 108 eldm. Shot small groups on paper too.
I’d be interested in your load info if you don’t mind. What rifle? Thanks.
 

BLJ

WKR
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
2,421
Location
WV
Agree. And fully understand your response. I should have asked a better question.

With powders that are not temp stable, is there a significant difference in POI out to 500 yards with the 6 ARC? Specifically a Hornady 105 HPBT, Starline brass, CCI 400’s and Leverevolution from a Ruger American Gen 2? I know this will be a general answer as different rifles do different things.
Does the pressure increase to a dangerous level in a modern bolt action rifle? For example a Tikka. Or in my case, a Ruger American Gen 2?

And for the POI question let’s say an 8-10” kill zone. Whitetail deer. Thanks.
 

Juan_ID

WKR
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
1,645
Location
Idaho
I’d be interested in your load info if you don’t mind. What rifle? Thanks.
It was a rebarreled tikka t3x. 223 bolt opened up and preferred prefit. I thought I had notes in my phone but couldn’t find them, it was right at a max charge (maybe just a hair over) of varget in necked down starline grendel brass and cci 450s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BLJ
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
9,668
Agree. And fully understand your response. I should have asked a better question.

With powders that are not temp stable, is there a significant difference in POI out to 500 yards with the 6 ARC? Specifically a Hornady 105 HPBT, Starline brass, CCI 400’s and Leverevolution from a Ruger American Gen 2? I know this will be a general answer as different rifles do different things.
Does the pressure increase to a dangerous level in a modern bolt action rifle? For example a Tikka. Or in my case, a Ruger American Gen 2?

And for the POI question let’s say an 8-10” kill zone. Whitetail deer. Thanks.

Pretty hard to speak in absolutes and I just haven't messed with powders that are volatile with temps much.

To me it's just a nuisance id rather avoid in most cases. If a guy is choosing it for velocity, hes going to get less of that when its cold out if he wants a load that's not going to be problematic in the heat.

That said, i'll be trying lever and tac more in 223 ammo just to throw charges for short range practice so maybe my thoughts will change.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BLJ

Formidilosus

Super Moderator
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
10,024
The way to use Lever is to work it up in the hottest conditions possible, then drop it a half grain or so. You’ll lose a bit of velocity in colder conditions, but it’ll be safe.
At least in 223 I/we haven’t seen a notable change in POI or data out to 600 yards from 90°’s to 30° in a couple of rifles.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Messages
2,726
The way to use Lever is to work it up in the hottest conditions possible, then drop it a half grain or so. You’ll lose a bit of velocity in colder conditions, but it’ll be safe.
At least in 223 I/we haven’t seen a notable change in POI or data out to 600 yards from 90°’s to 30° in a couple of rifles.
So in that statement, you're just saying that you haven't seen a dramatic change in speed that would change drops out to 600 yards in cold weather but you haven't done any evaluation of speed data with a chrono and hot and cold soaked ammo, right?
 

Formidilosus

Super Moderator
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
10,024
So in that statement, you're just saying that you haven't seen a dramatic change in speed that would change drops out to 600 yards in cold weather but you haven't done any evaluation of speed data with a chrono and hot and cold soaked ammo, right?


Correct.

I will in the next couple of months. I shot quite a bit of Lever from 223’s last year, and data was the same out to 600’ish.
 
Joined
May 16, 2021
Messages
1,395
Location
North Texas
In my experience with 6.5 Grendel and LVR powder with 100 grain class bullets, I’ve not found pressure in Texas summer temps with literally a full case of powder. I think I topped out somewhere around 31.5-32.0 grains of powder with 107 TMKs and saw average velocities of 2650 in a 20” Howa Mini.

The 6ARC may behave a little differently with the slightly smaller bore size.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

pods8 (Rugged Stitching)

WKR
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
4,516
Location
Thornton, CO
Does the pressure increase to a dangerous level in a modern bolt action rifle? For example a Tikka. Or in my case, a Ruger American Gen 2?
Depends on the situation and what you consider dangerous. It is unlikely you're going to injure yourself with a modern rifle but you can absolutely destroy brass and potentially damage rifle components if you've really screwed up. If you worked up the load in cold/cool temps that is already near max pressure (or above because you just backed off "pressure signs" which are usually well over max) and then fire it when its 100F outside it could blow out primers, destroy primer pockets, etc. Some powders reportedly spike quite a bit once they're over pressure so its potentially a compounding issue.

Some of the less stable powders have 100fps flections between reasonably hot and cold. But to your main point, how much affect does 100fps have on your given ballistic profile versus the size of the target you're after. Run the numbers and see. :) Then test your combo to know what you're working with if you go that route.
 

ThatDUDE

WKR
Joined
Oct 8, 2023
Messages
385
I am only getting 2560 out of my 20” barrel with hand loads in my Howa mini. I feel like I am way behind everyone else.
 
Joined
Jan 27, 2022
Messages
1,263
I’d called UM the other day about a 6arc tikka and they made it sound like you had to get a .223 bolt opened up rather than bushing a .308 bolt?

The suggestion was a 6 dasher or 6gt from whoever I talked to.

Any idea who else to call or who to chat with at UM to figure that out?

It is much easier to open up a .223 bolt face than it is to bush a standard bolt face. Not that bushing one can’t be done, it is just more work, therefore more money.

In regards to the comments about temp stable powders, I have found that the VV powders suitable for the Grendel-based cartridges tend to be a bit more stable than some of the other alternatives.
 
Joined
Mar 28, 2020
Messages
923
I’d called UM the other day about a 6arc tikka and they made it sound like you had to get a .223 bolt opened up rather than bushing a .308 bolt?

The suggestion was a 6 dasher or 6gt from whoever I talked to.

Any idea who else to call or who to chat with at UM to figure that out?
Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look at the big picture

A mild load in the 6 CM gives you the same thing with lots less drama, and the option to step it up if you want to
 

Spoonbill

WKR
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
854
By chance does anyone know what kampfeld charges to do the .473 bushing to bolt face?
I think it is around 130 when I had talked to him. Karl is pretty good about responding to emails, if you send him what you want done he can give you an estimate on cost
 

TX_Diver

WKR
Joined
May 27, 2019
Messages
2,577
Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look at the big picture

A mild load in the 6 CM gives you the same thing with lots less drama, and the option to step it up if you want to
Makes sense.

The factory ammo cost is the other main driver but at some point when I get back to reloading that becomes a non issue I think.
 
Top