Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • Guns
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Bolt Action
      • Lever Action
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Specialty Guns
    • Custom Guns
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
    • Rifle Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Night Vision
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
  • Gear
    • Ears & Eyes
    • Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Apparel
    • Tactical Gear
    • Storage
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
    • Less Lethal
  • Lifestyle
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
    • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
    • First Aid
    • Pop Culture
    • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • Guns
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Bolt Action
      • Lever Action
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Specialty Guns
    • Custom Guns
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
    • Rifle Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Night Vision
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
  • Gear
    • Ears & Eyes
    • Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Apparel
    • Tactical Gear
    • Storage
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
    • Less Lethal
  • Lifestyle
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
    • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
    • First Aid
    • Pop Culture
    • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
*FREE GUN FRIDAY* Enter to WIN >> IWI Zion-15 Rifle & Black Hills 5.56 Ammo

Hornady 6mm ARC: Bringing 6mm Performance to Standard ARs

Frank Melloni by Frank Melloni
March 11, 2022
in Ammo, Hunting, Lifestyle, Rifle Ammo, Sport Shooting
0
The Hornady 6mm ARC delivers 6mm level downrange performance in a 5.56 sized package
0
SHARES
473
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Several cartridges have been introduced over the years to try to remedy the lack of downrange energy and effective range of 5.56/.223 with limited success. Most would say that the 6.5 Grendel is the most prominent of the bunch, but even this cartridge runs out of steam at around 800 yards. The answer to that cartridge was the .224 Valkyrie, which cranked range to an eleven, but the projectiles didn’t have much ass when they got to these extended distances. The answer to these two issues was pretty much staring Hornady’s engineers in the face and with a little influence from the Department of Defense, they kicked one right between the goalposts with the Hornady 6mm ARC.

The Hornady A-Tip bullet is once again the bullet of choice of PRS
RELATED STORY

Hornady A-Tip Bullet Named Official Bullet of 2022 Precision Rifle Series

Hornady 6mm ARC: Best of Both Worlds

The 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge represents hundreds of lessons learned Hornady through the years. Its sights are set on being the most versatile cartridge that you can chamber an AR-15 in. By not having to go up to the larger AR-10 platform, shooters get to enjoy the lighter rifle weight and recoil. Additionally, they share more interchangeable parts with other shooters on the range (or in their squad). The 6mm bullet is the middle-ground between 5.56 and 6.5mm. It pulls a little of the best from both worlds by being driving faster and retaining more energy.

These qualities increase a shooter’s effective range and also add the ability to defeat intermediate barriers. These slippery little bullets are also known to be better resistant to wind displacement. However, they’re still delivering a level of recoil that allows for the triggerman to spot their own impacts. This still works even the close ranges and/or high scope magnifications. These features set the 6mm ARC up to be a favorite for target shooters, competitors and hunters. So, Hornady created a load to accommodate each of these needs. I fall into every one of these categories. I was certainly interested in taking all of these loadings to the range for a little T&E. However, I was missing a key component: a gun.

Building a 6mm ARC to Test

As I am no stranger to building an AR-15, I can put one together in short order. I started with one of SilencerCo’s new ambidextrous receivers and a host of parts from Brownell’s. I had my lower receiver together in less than an hour. For the barrel, I decided to go with a heavy 22-inch with a 1-in-7 twist from Ballistic Advantage. Some previous testing concluded that this is the length where velocity returns per-inch-of-barrel-length start to diminish.

I topped the rifle off with a Trijicon Tenmile 6-24x optic. This rifle was destined for long-range at some point in its career. For a mount I went with a Warne one-piece mount from its Vapor line. These are great to keep the weight down and are easy on the wallet. Moreover, they position the scope at the perfect height for an MSR. This allows me to use a stock that doesn’t need a cheek riser. The buttstock in question was a less expensive Luth-AR MBA-2. The Luth-AR stock is more rugged by design, perfect for animals like me who don’t care to baby their gear. After capping things off with a Caldwell XLA bipod, it was time to take all three loadings to the range.

Feeding The Beast

Hornady Black is premium ammo

The white-box Match line is Hornady’s most discriminating rifle food, featuring its highest-grade bullets and powders. The 6 ARC loading in this line is built on a relatively heavy-for-caliber 108-grain ELD Match projectile. The ELD Match bullet features Hornady’s heat shield tip. We averaged 2,633 fps from our sample. We also fired three-shot groups that all beat the MOA benchmark with longer five-shot strings hovered slightly over MOA. Cycling was trouble-free and recoil was much closer to 5.56 than it was 6.5 Grendel, allowing us to shoot quite a bit with no punitive repercussions to the shoulder. After finishing our groups at 100, we turned a box loose onto a full-sized Caldwell IPSC that was previously placed at 1,040 yards and connected with 18 out of 20 rounds. This certainly made me a believer and demonstrated in spades the value of trading off short-range accuracy and wind-beating capability. 

Hornady Black

Hornady’s Black line runs its best through the AR-15 platform by using specially selected propellants and bullets. It serves the black-rifle community by being a less-expensive alternative to match-grade ammo. Additionally, it’s not sacrificing enough to be considered undesirable range junk. The 6mm ARC loading here features a 105-grain BTHP projectile that surprisingly is only a few points lower in BC than the tipped 108-grain ELD Match. When fired out of my test build, I achieved an average velocity of 2,615 fps, which wasn’t much different from what we got with the Match loading.

Also surprising was the fact that this proved to be more accurate than the Match round, with 100-yard five-shot groups measuring as small as .96 inches. After wrapping up the close stuff, we dialed in nearly the exact same elevation and achieved an admirable long-range hit rate with 17 out of 20 smacking center mass on our steel. Not bad for “the cheap stuff.” 

The Hunting Round

The 6mm ARC is perfect for hunting

As the 6mm ARC retains a great deal of energy at extended distances, it makes an excellent choice for hunting. The AR-15 is light on the back and easy to shoot offhand, so there is no reason not to consider building or buying one chambered in this cartridge for your next medium-game rifle. After all, grandpa took many a deer with his .243 Winchester so 6mm is certainly adequate for whitetail. If you decide to hunt with this modern “.243,” Hornady Precision Hunter will be there waiting for you with a 6mm ARC load that contains the companies praised ELD-X bullet.

This 103-grain bullet also features the heat-shield tip. It performs much like its Match counterpart, except that it expands once it contacts tissue. In our testing, we averaged velocities north of 2,600 fps. Every group was more than tight enough to ensure an ethical hit on deer-sized game within conventional hunting distances. We reduced our long-range test distance to 500 yards for this round but also cut our target size down to just 12 inches. In this scenario, we were able to put 19 out of 20 rounds on steel with the nagging suspicion that “someone” pulled the one that didn’t connect. 

Final Thoughts

The 106 grain ELD is an extremely accurate round

My range time left me thoroughly impressed with both the rifle’s performance and the 6mm ARC’s as well. I loved that the least expensive ammunition shot the tightest. Thus, giving me a solution to extended long-range sessions while the Match load is capable of scoring that extra hit. It also tells me that this rifle is going to be very responsive to a bit of load development. I’d be a liar if I said I haven’t already been researching dies and powders. Another noteworthy observation is that all three rounds shared the same point of impact at 100 yards. That’s a tough feat to accomplish.

Not having to get to the range to re-zero in between tasks takes a lot of the headache out of owning a multi-role rifle. While versatility exists in the cartridge world, versatility on command is rare indeed. I am not entirely sure what Hornady plans to do next with the 6mm ARC, one thing is for sure; they can pick any direction they want to go with it. For more information, visit hornady.com.

PERFORMANCE: HORNADY 6MM ARC SPECTRUM

LOAD                           VELOCITY                 ENERGY                     ACCURACY

Black 105 BTHP                         2,615               1,594               0.96

Match 108 ELD                       2,633               1,662               1.25

Precision Hunter 103 ELD-X    2,627               1,578               2.09

Bullet weight measured in grains, average velocity in feet per second (fps) by chronograph, energy in ft. lbs. and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 100 yards.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

Safety Through Situational Awareness.

Eyes Wide Open: Using Situational Awareness to Avoid Trouble

American Defense Lightweight Tactical Competition Carbine

NEW: American Defense Lightweight Tactical Competition Carbine

America's first high-capacity autoloader, the Savage Model 1907.

Savage Model 1907: America’s First High-Capacity Autoloader

Take a John Farnam CQB Carbine training class.

Fight Like Farnam: Take Your CQB Carbine Training Next Level

Load More

WATCH NOW: TACTICAL-LIFE’s RELOADING ZONE

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

The Meridian Defense PMC Rifle.

The Meridian Defense PMC Rifle Offers the AK-47 Your Way

Known for its high-quality AK-47s, Meridian Defense Corp offers the PMC rifle with custom options. As a result, you can...

Read more

TRENDING

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

Top 12 .50 BMG Rifles TW March 2015 lead

Top 12 .50 BMG Rifles [2023]

...

Back when the west was wild, coach guns were your best bet against unwanted threats.

Best Coach Guns: the Stow-N-Go Defenders You Want Riding Shotgun [2023]

...

Shooting the budget long-range rifle build proved the quality of components.

Build a Budget Sub-MOA Long-Range Rifle With Optic for Under $1K

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Take a John Farnam CQB Carbine training class.

Fight Like Farnam: Take Your CQB Carbine Training Next Level

Semi-automatic rifles like AR-15s and AK-47s offer many advantages when it comes to personal defense in heavily-populated areas. But these...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

The Umarex Glock 17.

Paint Perfect: Force-On-Force Training with Umarex Glock 17

Active School Shooter Training: 14 Key Points to Consider

Active School Shooter Training: 14 Key Points to Consider

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

ar magazines maintenance

AR Mag Cleaning & Maintenance: Everything You Need to Know

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

The Smith & Wesson M&P 12.

Smith & Wesson M&P 12 Thrusts S&W Into Self-Defense Shotgun Market

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Arsenal SAM7SF lead AK evergreen

Top 20 AK Rifles & Soviet Weapons

The Avtomat Kalashnikova (better known to the world as the AK-47), the brainchild of Mikhail Kalashnikov, has the distinction of...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Specialty Guns
    • Custom Guns
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
    • Rifle Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Night Vision
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Gear
    • Ears & Eyes
    • Knives
    • Apparel
    • Tactical Gear
    • Knives
    • Storage
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
    • Less Lethal
  • Lifestyle
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
    • competition-shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
    • First Aid
    • Survival
    • Pop Culture
    • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.