Deer cartridges with minimal recoil

[KyleR1985]

Not really all that strange considering it was specifically designed for an AR15 platform. No one was hunting with ARs 70 years ago. So, what's your point? I've never denied that the 6ARC will kill deer sized critters.

The point is if it was less effective, or less efficient at doing so, than the .243, it wouldn’t have been developed or selected.

You gave the impression you wanted low recoil, lightweight, low budget gun with factory ammo available - with a wood stock. You mentioned some options.

There’s an easy button for this, but you continue to say that it’s not better than the .243 for your purposes. It is. Because it’s as effective, and more efficient. It doesn’t need 47 different factory ammo options because the ones available are designed and optimized and really efficient at killing.



This is all leaving aside that the difference in recoils is more significant than anyone who hasn’t shot a 6ARC a few hundred rounds, especially in the same shooting session as the .243(in my case 6creedmoor), can give credit to.


It is a demonstrable difference. And my 6cm weighs almost 12lbs, versus under 7 for the 6ARC.


Somebody said it in another post elsewhere - just get the minivan.

 

[Skydog]

The point is if it was less effective, or less efficient at doing so, than the .243, it wouldn’t have been developed or selected.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but...it wasn't developed because of any actual inadequacy/inefficiency in the .243...it's just that the .243 was too long to fit in an AR15 platform. Folks wanted something similar to the .243's ballistics in the AR15 and hence the 6ARC. Right? (maybe an oversimplification)

 

[Skydog]

This is all leaving aside that the difference in recoils is more significant than anyone who hasn’t shot a 6ARC a few hundred rounds, especially in the same shooting session as the .243(in my case 6creedmoor), can give credit to.

There would never be a situation where I would be shooting a few hundred rounds in the same session, not even close...but point taken.

 

[KyleR1985]

There would never be a situation where I would be shooting a few hundred rounds in the same session, not even close...but point taken.

Nor me.

My point was I’ve had both at a shooting session across that many rounds.

My first deer rifle was a 30-06. Then a 7mm-08. Then I learned why I was so crappy at shooting having not grown up in a hunting/shooting family.

I was a 20-50 rounds a year person for 15 years.

I’m not coming at this with anything other than there is a very specific tool to do the very specific thing you want. And it’s cheap and readily available. And dismissing it because of nostalgia is certainly your right.

you’ve done 90% of the mental gymnastics to arrive at the question you asked. The last 10% is accepting the answer. Or buying your .243 and have the ability to forget ammo at home.

All the same in the end. Just more powder and shoulder burnt for gain at all.

 

[KyleR1985]

Hey @83cj-7

How much powder behind a 6mm bullet do you need to kill deer like it’s your job?

Edit: inside 300 yards.

 

[Skydog]

Nor me.

My point was I’ve had both at a shooting session across that many rounds.

My first deer rifle was a 30-06. Then a 7mm-08. Then I learned why I was so crappy at shooting having not grown up in a hunting/shooting family.

I was a 20-50 rounds a year person for 15 years.

I’m not coming at this with anything other than there is a very specific tool to do the very specific thing you want. And it’s cheap and readily available. And dismissing it because of nostalgia is certainly your right.

you’ve done 90% of the mental gymnastics to arrive at the question you asked. The last 10% is accepting the answer. Or buying your .243 and have the ability to forget ammo at home.

All the same in the end. Just more powder and shoulder burnt for gain at all.

Probably a dumb question...but do the mini-actions create any unique challenges for mounting a scope, or do they accept all the same rails, bases, etc. that the short/standard actions take?

 

[Deere_Man]

Probably a dumb question...but do the mini-actions create any unique challenges for mounting a scope, or do they accept all the same rails, bases, etc. that the short/standard actions take?

Mine uses a weaver style two piece base and Vortex rings and the other uses Talley one piece Lightweights.

 

[BlueJay]

I have a 6 Creed and a 6 Arc that are used for pretty much all my big game hunting. Running both suppressed. The 6 Creed with a can is a dandy to shoot, but the recoil on the 6 ARC when suppressed is indeed noticeably less….I chuckle every time I pull the trigger it’s so fun. Another point to consider is the barrel life on the ARC is much much longer than the Creed or .243. Generally I only reach for my Creed if I’m sure shots might be longer than 400 yards. If your criteria are 300yrd max, low recoil, and enough barrel life to actually practice a lot in the off season, get a 6 ARC and don’t look back. The advantages you’re listing for a .243 are irrelevant at <300 yards, they’ll kill exactly the same.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Hey @83cj-7

How much powder behind a 6mm bullet do you need to kill deer like it’s your job?

Edit: inside 300 yards.

I know you asked @83cj-7 , but I will provide my answer. 24.5 grains of AR-Comp and an 80 grain Sierra SSP bullet in my 6X45 killed a pile of deer during a depredation hunt a few years back. I think it was 23 over a 3-day weekend. Shots were from 15 to 320 yards.

 

[KyleR1985]

I know you asked @83cj-7 , but I will provide my answer. 24.5 grains of AR-Comp and an 80 grain Sierra SSP bullet in my 6X45 killed a pile of deer during a depredation hunt a few years back. I think it was 23 over a 3-day weekend. Shots were from 15 to 320 yards.

And in your opinion,

Would having almost twice as much powder behind that bullet have done anything to improve your success rate, or enjoyment, or job getting done?

 

[Billy Goat]

Hey @83cj-7

How much powder behind a 6mm bullet do you need to kill deer like it’s your job?

Edit: inside 300 yards.

This thread has needed a meme or 2

 

[Skydog]

Reminder that the 6ARC was designed to professionally kill deer sized critters.

Edit: after the .243 had already been around 70 years. Strange right?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but...it wasn't developed because of any actual inadequacy/inefficiency in the .243...it's just that the .243 was too long to fit in an AR15 platform. Folks wanted something similar to the .243's ballistics in the AR15 and hence the 6ARC. Right? (maybe an oversimplification)

Actually...the 6ARC was developed by a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to kill two legged critters.

Interesting discussion about how the military's needs evolved from .556 to .308 to 6.5 Grendel to 6ARC. They also discuss all things 6ARC...

 

[KyleR1985]

Actually...the 6ARC was developed by a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to kill two legged critters.

Interesting discussion about how the military's needs evolved from .556 to .308 to 6.5 Grendel to 6ARC. They also discuss all things 6ARC...

Yes,


This is all my point.


Two legged critters have the same chest size and body mass as the four legged critters you want to shoot. People whose livelihoods and outright lives depend on these weapons performing reliably and efficiently. There is no meat left on the bone.

A cartridge, and interestingly enough- AFTER THE BULLET/CARTRIDGE - a specific weapon has been developed to do exactly what you want to do, as a side effect.


If your budget is bigger, or your maximum effective range were longer, or you wanted a very specific brand or model rifle - maybe things are different. But this sorting you’ve done lands on the Howa mini in 6ARC, or any number of .243 you want to put your hands on. But there is a real tradeoff being made to go .243, and not debatable. That that trade is worth it or not to you is up to you.


If it were me, the mini is the answer.

Second place with a slightly bigger budget would be to buy the exact short action rifle I want, sell the bolt and barrel take offs, and replace with 6ARC/Dasher/GT and use the take off money to help fund it.