Might be a dumb question...Need some help picking a powder

[Luked]

Have a 6MM Arc in a Gas gun.
Right now all i have is just factory ammo but this stuff is hard to find around me.
My want is to shoot the 95gr TMK for whitetail around home.
When looking at Sierra Reloading info for the 95s and a gas gun each powder that is listed I dont have.
But when looking online at IMR reloading data it shows Varget listed.
But the Varget it lists is for a 95gr Barnes bullet, not the 95gr TMK

So my question is...Is it safe to say that is should be able to use the same Varget starting data for the Sierra that IMR lists for the Barnes?

 

[Pickettpuncher]

I personally would

 

[WSMHNTR]

I wouldn't be afraid to go from Barnes data to cup and core. If anything you might be able to go over what's published due to the shorter bearing surface on the TMK. Start low and work up

 

[seand]

I would look at Hornady they have refernce data for varget and 95’s.

 

[MO-CHSPKE]

Have a 6MM Arc in a Gas gun.
Right now all i have is just factory ammo but this stuff is hard to find around me.
My want is to shoot the 95gr TMK for whitetail around home.
When looking at Sierra Reloading info for the 95s and a gas gun each powder that is listed I dont have.
But when looking online at IMR reloading data it shows Varget listed.
But the Varget it lists is for a 95gr Barnes bullet, not the 95gr TMK

So my question is...Is it safe to say that is should be able to use the same Varget starting data for the Sierra that IMR lists for the Barnes?

Where do you see Varget and Barnes 95gr? I don’t see that combo in the Hodgdon book.

I’m actually wanting to work up a load with Varget and the 95gr LRX.


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[rbaney]

https://hodgdonreloading.com/?__hstc=187183031.b51bea422de8f91223d7ddceec3fbf9f.1739229249925.1739229249925.1739229249925.1&__hssc=187183031.1.1739229249925&__hsfp=3867785717&hsCtaTracking=7834cea2-cc10-44fc-b233-415ea86cdd8b|c35a1714-1095-4c8f-a31b-916762cde47d
Try here

 

[KyleR1985]

Varget at 2.26” OAL with the 95tmk starts to get crunchy around 28gr in hornady once fired brass.

25-26gr should be a very safe load to start with for you.

https://static.hornady.media/site/hornady/files/load-data/6mm-arc-gas-58-105gr-data.pdf

For what it’s worth,the last load pressure testing was 95tmk f205 hornady brass 29gr varget 2.3”OAL was 2750fps in 16” barrel. I did not push past this, and don’t recommend you do either.

But 2600-2650fps with Varget in 16” gasser is imminently doable.


Any particular reason you want to use Varget?

 

[MO-CHSPKE]

This is what shows on the 2025 Hodgdon app. But it does show up online when looking. Interesting.

I have LVR to use as well but it’s dirty, especially suppressed. I was looking at Varget because it’s more temp stable. My LGS has CFE223, BL-C2 and 748 readily available as well.


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[Luked]

Varget at 2.26” OAL with the 95tmk starts to get crunchy around 28gr in hornady once fired brass.

25-26gr should be a very safe load to start with for you.

https://static.hornady.media/site/hornady/files/load-data/6mm-arc-gas-58-105gr-data.pdf

View attachment 837384

For what it’s worth,the last load pressure testing was 95tmk f205 hornady brass 29gr varget 2.3”OAL was 2750fps in 16” barrel. I did not push past this, and don’t recommend you do either.

But 2600-2650fps with Varget in 16” gasser is imminently doable.


Any particular reason you want to use Varget?

Biggest reason to use Varget for me is I have it already. And its known to be temp stable.
like @MO-CHSPKE said I have also heard that the LVR is very dirty and not temp stable either.

 

[KyleR1985]

Biggest reason to use Varget for me is I have it already. And its known to be temp stable.
like @MO-CHSPKE said I have also heard that the LVR is very dirty and not temp stable either.

Fire away then.

The velocity drop from lever to Varget is not going to matter for the likely distances you’re using the gun.

Your bigger issue will be sourcing the bullets you want to use.

 

[SloppyJ]

Good luck. I've ran into a few guys shooting with Lever powder at matches. They had good results but it's not very temp stable from what ive read.

 

[KyleR1985]

I’m new to reloading.

I’m an idiot.

But I personally am tolerant of the alleged issues with Lever. I’m into my second can of it, across two gas guns and one bolt gun, mostly load development, and some hunting. I’m guessing 200-250 rounds. Whatever dirtiness is there I must be ignorant of. I just clean the actions, my guns function fine I’ve had no issues.

I don’t clean barrel bores.

As far as temp stability goes - all of my loading was done in 65* office. All shooting was done in 20-50* weather, with the exception of a recent hunt in 70* weather. The loads I shot on that hunt were probably considered hot by some. I hit where I was aiming, my gun functioned, deer died.


I’m going to pressure test at 90* temps this summer, and will settle for whatever load works there. I’ll concede the velocity drop next hunting season - because it will still be faster than Varget. And the distances and conditions I’ll use that load wont allow for me to even perceive the precision loss.




TLDR: I use lever and kill deer and my guns work and I have my fingers. I hear “It’s dirty and not temp stable” over and over, and I hear less about how those things impact anyone in the real world. I know it’s there. I just think we’re making a boogeyman too.

 

[MO-CHSPKE]

That’s definitely good to know. I’m fairly new to metallic reloading and very green to loading for a gas gun. I’ve been loading for shotguns for quite awhile and jumped into metallic a couple of years ago and just now a gas gun with my 6arc. With shotguns, i didn’t worry about the dirtiness of the powders because i shoot an O/U. I would hear of others having issues with their semi’s and various dirty powders, so i made that assumption on this side of the fence. Nothing frequent cleanings don’t fix, but still warranted caution in my mind. Appreciate your feedback @KyleR1985


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