Quote:Once I had developed my fundamentals, the idea that I could achieve more, faster, became attractive. If I am trying to win and be competitive, why not use whatever I can as an advantage within the parameters allowed?

Just about two years ago, after I had waited for my buddies to shake things out, I jumped into the world of 6mm ARC. It gave me large-frame ballistics in a small frame. It’s a beautiful thing, in theory. That’s just not how it worked out for me. The 6mm ARC has had more failure points than any other platform I’ve ever used for any reason.

Q: Can you get into some of the issues you were experiencing?

I have had an astronomical amount of carbon buildup that has completely seized my gas tubes in as little as 500 rounds and ONLY as many as 1,000 or so. That has happened consistently every 500 to 1,000 rounds for 8,000 rounds like clockwork for the last two years.

The second issue is the bolt. Generally, the 6mm ARC uses a 6.5 Grendel bolt and extractor, which is inherently frail. I’ve seen a number of, mine included, but other close competitors and friends of mine, snap extractors, crack and blow bolt lugs. Because of the case geometry, feeding of the system itself is not as ideal as other cases are. If I had to summarize, the level of maintenance I have had to put into this system to use it is exhausting. I have to track rounds on my gas tube, bolts, and extractors.

I’ve been seeking the answers to what’s been happening with my equipment and with my buddies’ equipment. There are easily 25,000 rounds between a handful of us on the clock, with 6mm ARC over the past two years. The only data point I can find is how we use our equipment versus others who are not competing with it. I see prolonged life and a lack of malfunctions for people who are hunters or recreational shooters, not “violently” using this platform.

Dino11 Wrote:I have probably put over 10,000 rounds down range since the release of the platform. One rifle has seen 4000+, rounds through it. Not once has my gas tube clogged on any of the gas guns. What powder are you using, and what load are you loading them with? These two items might help answer your question.

I have never broken a bolt or extractor either, but I never load to or above max load. I find that best accuracy SD and ES are a little below max, and their is no reason to load max with these Secant profiled bullets, they carry their velocity very well down range. So no need to try and hot rod them to shoot farther or get them to open up upon impact on game.

Load information will help answer your question, also what gas block are you using?

Double Naught Spy Wrote:I don't have 6 ARC by was intrigued by the query and so did some googling. Apparently, others are noticing carbon fouling issues, everyone, but some in the gas tube as well.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/6mm-arc-extremely-dirty.7129659/

Quote:And it's a low pressure round - so.

Zeneffect Wrote:carbon fouled gas tube after 500 rounds sounds like his rifle is a POS and he needs to re-evaluate the benefits of the lighter spring, choked gas tube, and garbage ammo he is trying to let off at a high rate.

"competition" means a lot of things... with "high rate of fire" this leads me to believe the guy aimed for a tacticool setup rather than a functional one. if dude is breaking bolts, extractors, plugging gas tubes... no need to look further other than his setup is complete dog sh*t and does not represent a typical, functional setup.

Race cars need work after every race, race guns do too. Guy should get with the program and stop complaining and just accept the fact that to be competitive, it requires a lot of work before and after a match.