6mm ARC: Difference between revisions

| is_SI_specs = yes

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

| bullet = 6.18

| bullet_ref = <ref name="6mm-ARC-drawings">[https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/6mm-ARC-Public-Introduction-Rev-2020-06-18.pdf Public Introduction - 6.5 Creedmoor - 6mm-ARC-Public-Introduction-Rev-2020-06-18.pdf]</ref>

The '''6 mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge''' (6×38mm), or '''6mm ARC''' for short, is a [[6mm caliber|6mm (.243) caliber]] [[intermediate cartridge|intermediate]] [[rifle cartridge]] introduced by [[Hornady]] in 2020, as a low-[[recoil]], high-[[accuracy]] [[long range shooting|long-range]] [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]], designed for use in the [[AR-15]] platform at request of a specialized group within the U.S. DoD for its multipurpose combat rifle program.<ref name="Hornady-6mm-ARC-info-page" />

 

The cartridge makes use of 6&nbsp;mm (.243) [[bullet]]s, which are known for their high [[ballistic coefficient]]s due to the high [[sectional density]] with less [[drag (physics)|drag]] and better [[kinetic energy|energy]] retention at extended ranges. With the release in 2020, Hornady also launched three factory loads with {{cvt|103|,|105|and|108|gr|g}} bullet weights and advertised G1 ballistic coefficients of .512, .530 and .536 respectively.<ref>[https://www.all4shooters.com/en/shooting/ammunition/hornady-6-mm-arc-new-ar-15-caliber-features/ Brand new rifle caliber: 6 mm ARC, Hornady's Advanced Rifle Cartridge! | all4shooters]</ref>

 

An additional likely performance handicap, applicable to any magazine-fed firearm, will be to the maximum round length that can be used in its magazine. A shorter maximum cartridge overall length (COAL) lowers powder capacity, and hence potential performance, due to the bullet’s parasitic intrusion into the case. Due to the length of the heavy bullets the 6 mm ARC is designed to use and its limited COAL, this is an issue unless over-length rounds are single-fed.

 

[[File:6mm-Advanced-Rifle-Cartridge-6mm-ARC.png]]

 

Several firearm manufacturers have announced that they will be offering factory rifles chambered in the 6mm ARC.<ref>[https://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/rifles/rifles-hornady-6mm-arc/ “With the announcement of the Hornady 6mm ARC cartridge, an incredible 22 companies plan rifles for the consumer market, with more on the way.” – Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews]</ref><ref>[https://www.ammoland.com/2020/06/cmmg-announces-new-rifles-chambered-in-6mm-arc/ CMMG Announces New Rifles Chambered in 6mm ARC]</ref>

 

* [[6.5 Grendel]]

* "[[6mm Optimum]]", a concept of a 6&nbsp;mm cartridge bridging the gap between the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge