Howa Mini Action (6.5 Grendel vs 6mm ARC vs 22 ARC)

[KYwhitetail606]

22 ARC vs 6 ARC vs 6.5 Grendel for a 300 yard deer rifle. I’m stuck between these 3.

22 ARC - 80g ELDX or 88g ELDM

6mm ARC - 108 ELDM

6.5 Grendel - 123 ELDM

This is going to be a light recoiling 300 yard max deer rifle. More like 100-200 yards. I just bought a 6.5 creedmoor tikka t3x, but I’ve been wanting a bows mini action and the ARC cartridges give me a reason to get one. Very intrigued by them.

I do plan on adding a 6mm creed next year at some point.

I have a 223.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

factory ammo? what's most likely to find on the shelf? legal in all places you may hunt? available in stainless? which one is on sale? barrel life be good on them all but the 6.5 is as close to .22lr as you'll get, which one has the coolest name? flip a coin, lots of overlap performance there and 300 is well within all their limits, the OG 6.5 was shot show released in 2004 so been around quite awhile the 2 arc copies are much newer releases at 2020 and 2024, maybe max mpbr distance is important to you but they all flat enough to your 100-200 yard majority, I like 175 zero for grendel from 16" barrel at 2386 fps launch for a coyote tight 205 yard mpbr but 200 zero works well for deer size the other two just add some yardage typical mpbr's to normal short action cartridges, that's all I can think of for questions to ask yourself, they are all awesome no fat modern choices on a great little case

 

[nm.otter]

.22 ARC has the most optimal ratio of case capacity to bore diameter. If I was already planning another 6mm, I'd pick that.

 

[KYwhitetail606]

You’d pick

.22 ARC has the most optimal ratio of case capacity to bore diameter. If I was already planning another 6mm, I'd pick that.

22 arc?

 

[nm.otter]

As long as I didn't live in a state with a larger caliber requirement, absolutely.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I picked 6.5mm Grendel and I really like shooting it, but if I had to do it again, I might pick 6mm ARC instead. It honestly came down to the name being cooler and the CZ 527 being available in 6.5mm Grendel.

22 ARC seems like a good cartridge that is utterly pointless since .223 exists. If I could use .224 bullets for deer, I would just get a .223 and call it good. The 22 ARC and 22 CM are great designs that just don’t offer enough to overcome the sheer availability and “does just enough” ability of the .223.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[sniper20]

I have witnessed the 223 Rem/5.56 Nato take down the long pig and the Odocoileus Virginianus (deer). My issue with the 22ARC is the bullet diameter. I just don't think they are big enough to ETHICALLY kill. Will they kill, yes. But shot placement is going to be super key along with bullet design.

The 6mm and the 6.5mm are going to be a lot more forgiving in that area I think. I have taken deer with a 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and 6.5 Grendel. I haven't shot the 6mm ARC at anything but steel. However, due to the bullet size/weight, they would be the options I would go with.

Again, I know the 22ARC is capable as I have seen the 223 kill deer. I wasn't a fan of the fact the guy was using it, but his hunt, his choice... It killed them, but they usually ran a ways before expiring, even with vital shots.

There is no right or wrong answer, but I would opt for bigger bullets.

 

[KY_coop]

I went with 6 arc for deer hunting central ky. I believe its gonna do just fine. By end of gun season I should have 2 or 3 deer down with the 108's.

 

[coyotekilla]

I went grendel, I'm quite happy with it. Its mostly my coyote rifle, did get a deer with it too. I handload a 95 vmax to 2825. Its not the fastest bullet in my stable, but it's cheap to shoot, accurate, long barrel life, and hits critters hard