Caliber Battle: 6mm ARC vs 6.5 Creedmoor for Deer Sized Game

[General RE LEE]

Literally doesn’t matter… pick one and shoot it… a bunch.

6 ARC barrel life from what I’ve read is comparable to 308 so lots of guilt free shooting.

 

[General RE LEE]

In the right action, the 6mm ARC is perhaps the finest medium-game cartridge ever made. As you can see with the ballistic chart I recently generated comparing the ARC to the .223, it's an impressive round through a 16-inch barrel. Compared to the 6.5 CM, the recoil difference is substantial.

The only limiting factor to the ARC is actions sized to the round. Besides ARs, there's Howa's Mini Action, which maybe isn't custom-level quality but still very usable. Paired with the right stock, scope, and suppressor, a Howa in 6mm ARC would be a world-class deer rifle.

I currently have three ARCs and another planned. On the AR front, I have an 18-inch gasser and a 16-inch straight pull. My bolt-action 6mm ARC is a NULA with 20-inch barrel. A future ARC in my collection is a stainless Sako A1 currently in 7.62x39. I'm pumped for that one; dinky Sako actions are the coolest actions ever made.
View attachment 646813

6 ARC Howa Mini bolt gun 108 ELD-M at 600 yards today. Velocity drops below 1800 FPS beyond 600.

 

[mahonsr]

Nice! Hey @General RE LEE your hub battery is low whatever that is haha! Whats your load and barrel length? Looking forward to my howa mini action in 6arc whenever brownells finally gets them back in stock

 

[General RE LEE]

Nice! Hey @General RE LEE your hub battery is low whatever that is haha! Whats your load and barrel length? Looking forward to my howa mini action in 6arc whenever brownells finally gets them back in stock

22” barrel Howa Mini 108 ELDM 27.5 grains of TAC.

 

[wabash503]

For just deer, maybe not... But if you want to start shooting more often, reloading is considerably less.

 

[General RE LEE]

This one is still up for debate less than two weeks before season. It's a tough decision for me, but I am leaning towards my 6.5 Creedmoor cause its a Tikka UPR and the trigger and stock are better in many ways that my Howa Mini.

 

[wind gypsy]

In the right action, the 6mm ARC is perhaps the finest medium-game cartridge ever made. As you can see with the ballistic chart I recently generated comparing the ARC to the .223, it's an impressive round through a 16-inch barrel. Compared to the 6.5 CM, the recoil difference is substantial.

The only limiting factor to the ARC is actions sized to the round. Besides ARs, there's Howa's Mini Action, which maybe isn't custom-level quality but still very usable. Paired with the right stock, scope, and suppressor, a Howa in 6mm ARC would be a world-class deer rifle.

I currently have three ARCs and another planned. On the AR front, I have an 18-inch gasser and a 16-inch straight pull. My bolt-action 6mm ARC is a NULA with 20-inch barrel. A future ARC in my collection is a stainless Sako A1 currently in 7.62x39. I'm pumped for that one; dinky Sako actions are the coolest actions ever made.
View attachment 646813

Saw this old post and you got me curious about that sako A1 now! Wasn’t aware they were a thing but that sounds like fun!

 

[BjornF16]

Saw this old post and you got me curious about that sako A1 now! Wasn’t aware they were a thing but that sounds like fun!

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/101610416

A 6mm PPC would work as well…

 

[wind gypsy]

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/101610416

A 6mm PPC would work as well…

Single shot?

This new consideration has my mind a spinnin. An old sako with a wood stock chambered in 6 ARC.. sounds incredible.

 

[fwafwow]

Saw this old post and you got me curious about that sako A1 now! Wasn’t aware they were a thing but that sounds like fun!

Me too, damnit. If you get farther down the rabbit hole before me, please summarize what you find.

 

[BjornF16]

Single shot?

This new consideration has my mind a spinnin. An old sako with a wood stock chambered in 6 ARC.. sounds incredible.

There are some repeaters out there in 6mm PPC

 

[wind gypsy]

Don’t let me find one available like this.. https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...r-rare-caliber--like-new.cfm?gun_id=100824968

 

[The Guide]

Don’t let me find one available like this.. https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...r-rare-caliber--like-new.cfm?gun_id=100824968

That is a thing of beauty!

Jay

 

[General RE LEE]

Bump cause it’s 2025. 6.5 CM or 6 ARC for medium sized game

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Bump cause it’s 2025. 6.5 CM or 6 ARC for medium sized game

New to me this year, I have a 20”CTR in 6.5 CM and a 22-250 8 twist. I’m running 140 Bergers and 85.5 Bergers, respectively. I will be using both this year deer/elk hunting. I have confidence in both. Where am I going with this?

I’ve contemplated the 6 ARC for years now and still do not have one. I’m uninterested in the gas guns as they are anemic compared to their bolt action cousins. And, the bolt actions are anemic to the 22-250 and 6.5 CM I mentioned above, as well as many other rifles I own chambered in varying cartridges.

I don’t care for the funky bolt head dimension. If you want to change to something later, it funnels you into the ARC/Grendel family of cartridges. Meh. If you want it in a Tikka, you have to mill the bolt head. Big no for me.

I suppose if I had to get an ARC cartridge it would be the 22 version. Not hating here, it just doesn’t fill I niche I need filled. So to answer your question…6.5CM.

 

[nm.otter]

6mm GT if I had my 'druthers.

6mm Creedmoor T3xs are coming soon.

 

[bnsafe]

you have no idea the mental gymnastics im putting myself thru right now trying to decide between a 6 arc and 243, both shooting 95 gr tmk. I will never shoot at a animal past 400, but struggling with this, alot

 

[Ajsomp]

you have no idea the mental gymnastics im putting myself thru right now trying to decide between a 6 arc and 243, both shooting 95 gr tmk. I will never shoot at a animal past 400, but struggling with this, alot

If you are looking for a factory tikka - 243 it is. Even 6 creed is easier to build in 6 creed than it is for 6 arc. 6 arc is great but takes some additional work to make it happen with bolt selection from tikkas. Maybe after @Unknown Munitions gets their action and bolts it will be a non-issue

 

[bnsafe]

yea, im pretty much decided on a howa mini with poss upgraded barrel, or tikka 243. not sure im getting much other than recoil in the 243, but, its a tikka

 

[Q_Sertorius]

yea, im pretty much decided on a howa mini with poss upgraded barrel, or tikka 243. not sure im getting much other than recoil in the 243, but, its a tikka

The easy solution is to get a 1:8” twist .243 Tikka or just get the Howa Mini or RAR in 6mm ARC and roll with the factory barrel. I’m sure it’s good enough.

My complicated solution is to get a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 and rebarrel it to 6mm ARC. You could also do this with a 527 in 6.5mm Grendel, but they usually cost more than the 7.62x39 ones. I did this with an 18” PAC-NOR barrel in 6.5mm Grendel and it shoots lights out. If I could do over that decision, I would have done 6mm ARC instead of 6.5mm Grendel.

Edit - I have an “extra” CZ 527 American in 6.5mm Grendel. It’s all factory original and shoots lights out. I bought it intending to cut it down, but it shot so well I couldn’t bear to do that. Neither of my brothers can be convinced that it is an adequate round for whitetails, so it’s not staying in my family. PM me if you are interested.