6mm ARC: Difference between revisions

| production_date = 2020-present2020–present

| parent = [[.220 Russian]]/6.5mm Grendel<ref>[https://www. name="firearmsnews.com"/editorial/new-from-hornady-6mm-arc/376909 Hornady 6mm ARC Cartridge - What You Need to Know]</ref>

| bullet_ref = <ref name="6mm-ARC-drawings">[{{Cite web |url=https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/6mm-ARC-Public-Introduction-Rev-2020-06-18.pdf |title=Public Introduction - 6.5 Creedmoor - 6mm-ARC-Public-Introduction-Rev-2020-06-18.pdf] |access-date=2020-07-24 |archive-date=2020-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001120735/https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/6mm-ARC-Public-Introduction-Rev-2020-06-18.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 6mm ARC is a medium-power cartridge comparable to the [[6.5mm Grendel]], but with better ballistics thanks to the greater muzzle velocity achieved by using lighter 6 &nbsp;mm bullets and enough power to make use of the heavy 6 &nbsp;mm bullets. Some have stated that it offers comparable ballistics to larger 6 &nbsp;mm cartridges like the 6mm Creedmoor and [[.243 Winchester]], but out of a smaller cartridge, however this simply is not true when comparing muzzle velocities between them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loaddevelopment.com/6mm-creedmoor-hunt-and-competition/|title=6mm ARC vs 6mm Creedmoor|website=loaddevelopment.com}}</ref> What the 6mm ARC does offer though is almost comparable velocities and ballistic performance, but out of a compact cartridge that has lessenedless perceived recoil and fits into the standard [[AR-15]] length actions.

In addition to the above comments there is some confusion regarding the 6 &nbsp;mm ARC's performance. This is because loading data given in some manuals such as the ''11th Edition Hornady Reloading Manual'',<ref>[https://www.hornady.com/reloading/handbook Hornady 11th Edition Reloading Manual]</ref> ,for example, has two sets of data. The first set of data is loaded to the SAAMI maximum average pressure (MAP) of 52,000 psi, which is stated to be suitable for gas-operated firearms such as the AR-15 platform and its derivatives. The second set of data is loaded to a MAP of 62,000 psi, which is stated to be for use with bolt action guns such as the [[CZ 527]]. The Hornady manual states that this second set of data should not be used in gas-guns. Due to the lower MAP, the performance of 6mm ARC ammunition loaded to gas-gun pressures will, on average, be less than firearms loaded to bolt action pressures when using the same barrel length. When using shorter barrels, which are common on gas-guns, the difference will be even more pronounced.

For example, the data in the Hornady 11th Edition Manual for an 18 in (457 &nbsp;mm)-barrelled AR-15 platform firearm was on average 200-300 200–300&nbsp;ft/s (60-90 60–90&nbsp;m/s) less than the data for the 24 in (610 &nbsp;mm)-barrelled CZ 527 bolt action rifle.

For an ordinary AR-15 rifle chambered for the [[.223 Remington|.223 Rem]]/[[5.56mm NATO]], a new [[gun barrel|barrel]], [[magazine (firearms)|magazine]] and [[bolt (firearms)|bolt]] are required to convert to the 6mm ARC.<ref>[https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/hornadys-new-6mm-arc-odin-works-barrels-first-field-tests/ Hornady's NEW 6mm ARC & Odin Work's Barrels - www.gunsamerica.com]</ref> The 6mm ARC utilizes the same bolt head size as the [[6.5mm Grendel]], and 6.5mm Grendel-compatible [[STANAG magazine|AR-pattern]] [[box magazine]]s have also been used successfully with the 6mm ARC.<ref>[https://gununiversity.com/6mm-arc-review/ gununiversity.com | 6mm ARC Released / Hands-On Testing and Comparisons, by Ryan Cleckner 3 June 2020]</ref> The 6mm ARC therefore can also be a suitable chambering for shorter "micromini-action" [[bolt-action rifle]]s.{{CnCitation needed|date=September 2021}}

* [[6.5mm PPCGrendel]]