Apparently, the new 6mmARC officially released today, June 3, 2020 was originally developed at the request of an unnamed, but well-known, U.S. military unit.
This is not the same as the bogus hype that surrounded the early days of the 6.8 SPC this is the real deal.
Are the Blooded Warriors and Vile Unwashed Masses of the Grendel Horde surprised? No.
We always knew that within the constraints of the AR15 receiver and magazine package, that a short, fat cartridge case with sleek, long-for-caliber bullets was the optimum military solution.
The 5.56 is obsolete. The 6.8 SPC is dead. The 224 Valkyrie is stillborn. The 6.5 Grendel is very proud of its favorite son.
(With development, the 6.5 Grendel could still challenge the 6mmARC. For example, I've got a 6.5mm 120gr bullet design with an estimated 0.595 G1 BC that just needs capitalizing.)
[FONT=&]The 6mmARC is a brand-new cartridge that we developed to meet a need for a Department of Defense entity that wanted something that would replace their current platform which was based off of a .308 or 7.62 cartridge. Neil Davies, Hornady Marketing Director.[/FONT]
[FONT=&]They were looking for an option which allows guys to get from point A to point B with as light a kit as possible. So we were looking for something that would match up with, or provide better than, .308 ballistics that utilized an AR15-style platform. Scott Javins, Hornady LE/Military Product Manager[/FONT]
[FONT=&]What we found was we were able to build something thats unique, fits in the platform they want, and meets the requirements they asked for. I was there the first time they shot it. And to have somebody from the military actually pull the trigger and then look at you and smile and say, That things awesome! that gets me excited. Jason Hornady, Hornady Vice President
And if the military in all of its NGSW research truly thinks ultra-high chamber-pressure cartridges are a good idea I'm dubious then apply that technology to the 6mmARC. Wicked.
What you guys think?[/FONT]
:: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets
Im not surprised ... I always thought the dept would adopt the 6mm because its so much better. Interested in seeing barrels and ammo available from different manufacturers at this point but stoked to here the news.
"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country." James Madison
06-04-2020, 03:52 PM (This post was last modified: 06-05-2020, 06:23 AM by m796rider.)
It's interesting that the "special" DoD group fast-tracked a caliber change to fit within the size envelope of the AR15, whereas Big Army is trying to supersize their small arms upgrade plan with NGSW, 338 Norma machine guns, etc. Seeing as how the new SIG NGSW high-pressure round is named 6.8x51, the weight savings come almost entirely from the bimetal case vs using a smaller round than 7.62NATO.
Barrett makes 30 round steel 6.8SPC mags, so I wonder if DoD tested these and found them unreliable or whatever -- using 6.8SPC mags for 6.5 Grendel can be hit-or-miss for sure. Also interesting that Barrett is providing REC7 DI rifles with 18" Proof CF barrels -- so trying to save weight while at the same time giving more barrel to the round for acceptable threshold MV (probably for barrier defeat).
Lots of interesting info coming out about the DoD use of this round.
rabiddawg Wrote:Why the vagueness on who is using it. Makes me wonder if hornady is bsing.
Lol and Barrett is bsing too with there announcement on the 3rd they have delivered ahead of schedule REC7 DI rifles to the military for a contract? If you like the Grendel stay with it and dont worry if others are excited for the 6mmARC. The military wanted a round to stay in the AR15 platform but perform past 600 yards since the insurgents stayed that far away since they new 556 wasnt a threat.
If someone developed a 6.5mm bullet that was in the 1110-115gr area with the comparable bcs then the Grendel would be out there. But I think its probably not possible and the next option was the 6mm and they made a small adjustment to case and boom we have the birth of a great round.
Ive seen speeds in the 2600-2650 range for 18 barrel and around 2300-2400 for a 11.5 barreled 6mmARC. Soon as other ammo manufacturers get on board well have cheaper ammo and itll be a fun addition to your family of AR15 if you choose to get one
Ok, I dont know where people are getting the impression I dont like 6mm arc. Just because I dont share the enthusiasm of others on here only means I dont (yet?) see where it is a big improvement over my 6.5 grendel.
Why cant they say which dod unit has it? Top secret yet hornady released it to the public.
Knowing everthing isnt as important as knowing where to find it.
Not saying which one, was probably a part of the contract terms... which I would definitely agree to. For as long as we can do it I'd like it that the enemy doesn't know what rifle they're facing....
Anyway, no I don't think this will replace my 6.5 Grendels but yes, I am interested. I look at it as a 243-short in an AR15 frame.
Not for everyone, agreed there also; but then again, no caliber is "for everyone"... having choices is one thing that makes this country great.
It looks to have plenty of zap for my tastes.
Plus it's another little project I can adopt.
AR and/or bolt, whichever comes along...
"Down the floor, out the door, Go Brandon Go!!!!!"
06-05-2020, 08:02 PM (This post was last modified: 06-05-2020, 08:07 PM by VASCAR2.)
From a historical perspective I find it interesting that the same basic case which is used in 7.62x39, 5.45x39 has been adapted to the 6 MM ARC. The intermediate cartridges starting with the 8 MM Kurz and 7.62x39 have morphed the 5.45x39 in the east and the US went 5.56 and is looking at the 6 ARC. The 6 MM ARC should be a good intermediate cartridge with better ballistics than the 5.56x45 with less pressure. I would like to see ballistic testing of a 6 MM version of the M855 A1 EPR bullet in the 6 MM ARC.
For military/LE the 6 MM ARC looks appealing and might prove popular with PRS shooters. Whether the 6 MM ARC will make inroads into two gun will depend on recoil/recovery times compared to 5.56/223.
I find the 6 MM ARC interesting but time will tell if I buy a barrel. Unfortunately I havent had the opportunity to shoot much the last year or two, let alone at 500+ yards.
VASCAR2 Wrote:I would like to see ballistic testing of a 6 MM version of the M855 A1 EPR bullet in the 6 MM ARC.
THIS. I saw a photo of a 6.8 bullet for the NGSW that had been given the EPR treatment, and I'm sure they could or have? done the same for 6mmARC.
UPDATE: Found the photo. I could easily see this projectile design same thing they've done in 5.56, 7.62, 6.8 NGSW adapted to 6mmARC. Has both sleek form factor and hardened steel tip for AP capability at range.
:: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets
One of the videos on YouTube from someone who was in the SOF got his hands on the ARC to try before the release. He had a box of Hornady TAP ammo in the video, so Im guessing thats what the military is using. Eventually thatll get released but Im sure it wont be anytime soon. Gotta be secret in all so our enemies dont know what where using lol.
I read one report where Russia didnt think the US military could afford to field the 6.8 NGSW. Im way more interested in the performance of 6 MM ARC compared to the 5.45x39 and 5.56 M855A1 than any 6.8 NGSW which I think is doomed to failure. Whether the 6.8 NGSW will fill a specialized role or be used as DM like the 7.62x54 rimmed in the Dragunov might play out in time.
BluntForceTrauma Wrote:THIS. I saw a photo of a 6.8 bullet for the NGSW that had been given the EPR treatment, and I'm sure they could or have? done the same for 6mmARC.
UPDATE: Found the photo. I could easily see this projectile design same thing they've done in 5.56, 7.62, 6.8 NGSW adapted to 6mmARC. Has both sleek form factor and hardened steel tip for AP capability at range.
Very cool, but the steel tips will chew up the feed ramps on the upper receiver unless someone comes up with mags that present the rounds higher than current 6.5 Grendel mags do. This is potentially a bigger problem for 6ARC than for 5.56 because the fatter cases push the noses of the rounds lower in the mag.
m796rider Wrote:Very cool, but the steel tips will chew up the feed ramps on the upper receiver unless someone comes up with mags that present the rounds higher than current 6.5 Grendel mags do. This is potentially a bigger problem for 6ARC than for 5.56 because the fatter cases push the noses of the rounds lower in the mag.
I would think it's a little tweak to the blueprint and a simple fix in the factory, if the military truly needs it fixed.
:: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets
Current polymer technology does not allow Magpul to make a magazine with walls strong enough for the fatter Grendel case and still fit within a standard AR mag well.
:: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets
