Wilson Combat offering 6mm ARC barrels

[Gtscotty]

I've been yeeting occasional emails at Wilson Combat asking if they were going to start selling 6mm ARC barrels, but only got vague, non-committal replies.

Saw on the Hide today that WC is now offering light-ish 18" ARC barrels (for several hundred less than a Proof CF), and now have a fluted Recon on the way. If it shoots like my 6.5 G Recon, I'll be quite satisfied, anyway heads up to anyone who's been waiting for an option like this:

https://shopwilsoncombat.com/6mm-ARC/products/1489/

[Old Bob]

When I posted this information on the 6mm ARC forums three day ago, those 6mm ARC barrels were in stock & there were 9 different complete rifle options (camo paint schemes) also in stock. The barrels are gone & now there's only three rifle options still available on the Wilson site. 6mm ARC stuff sure flies out the door fast! :eek:

[kmon]

Wilson has been expanding their manufacturing facility and doubled the barrel making capability which is now running. They also purchased Lehigh bullet company https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/wilson...ll-wilson/

Bill has been busy.

[BlogSarge]

I love my two Wilson barrels; one in 5.56 and one in 300blk. I’d love to add a 10”-12” 6ARC.

[Gtscotty]

False alarm, apparently WC pulled a stupid, oversold the number of RLGS barrels they had in stock and then discontinued that version for the version with the MLGS. I got an email letting me know that the brand new product barrel that said "in stock" when I ordered it had been discontinued, but that I could get on the waiting list for the MLGS version if I wanted to.... Lol.

Sounds like a clown show over there at WC, after getting hung up on twice I finally got through the hold to customer service. The guy I talked to knew what I was calling about and said that basically the website inventory was wrong and they had oversold the barrels and then discontinued them because Ol' Bill likes the MLGS better. Hard pass on an 18" MLGS ARC, so the search continues for something lighter weight than my porky Odin Works.

Might should just go ahead and take advantage of the X-Caliber sale and get what I want on order.

[biodsl]

False alarm, apparently WC pulled a stupid, oversold the number of RLGS barrels they had in stock and then discontinued that version for the version with the MLGS.

I find this interesting considering the bandwagon of 'plus' (extended) length gas systems when the ARC first came out. Proof Research offers a RLGS 16" and and ILGS 14.5".

IIRC, Faxon had a 18" RLGS when they first started chambering in Grendel. They discontinued that in short order.

[Gtscotty]

I find this interesting considering the bandwagon of 'plus' (extended) length gas systems when the ARC first came out. Proof Research offers a RLGS 16" and and ILGS 14.5".

IIRC, Faxon had a 18" RLGS when they first started chambering in Grendel. They discontinued that in short order.

"Bandwagon" seems a bit pejorative, but yeah, everyone else is doing longer gas systems for the ARC, so either all the other barrel manufacturers are right (including Proof who worked on the development with Hornady), or Bill Wilson is.... I'm going with the former. My 21" +2 Odin Works runs fine suppressed or unsuppressed, and I have yet to hear a complaint about 18" +1 Proof barrels. Rifle length would be fine with me, but I'm not willing to bet the purchase price that mid-length 18" shooting suppressed won't have timing issues, even with an AGB.

Don't know what Faxon is doing with the Grendel, don't really consider them an accuracy focused barrel maker, but Wilson Combat's only 18" Grendel offering is RLGS... Strange logic for their lineup.

[BluntForceTrauma]

When I get around to stocking 18" 6mmARC barrels, they'll have a RLGS — like my 18" Grendels (when I get around to restocking them). In production now are 6ARC 16" and 20" and 65G 14.5".

Having said that, I don't think the 6ARC using CFE223 or LeveRevolution powder needs a non-standard gas tube length any more than 65G using those powders. And having said THAT, barrels longer than 20" in 556 and 65G and 6ARC probably should have always had RLGS + X. I don't know that from experience, just remember Bill Alexander hinting at that.

Yesterday was out function-testing my 6ARC 12" barrel and its CLGS ejected beautifully. THEORETICALLY, gas port locations can be tweaked as much as gas port hole diameters, and you could end up with a million different gas tube lengths. However, if the intention is to keep things simple and use standard tubes, the key is properly sizing the gas port and it works perfectly well in PRACTICE.

[Gtscotty]

When I get around to stocking 18" 6mmARC barrels, they'll have a RLGS — like my 18" Grendels (when I get around to restocking them). In production now are 6ARC 16" and 20" and 65G 14.5".

Having said that, I don't think the 6ARC using CFE223 or LeveRevolution powder needs a non-standard gas tube length any more than 65G using those powders. And having said THAT, barrels longer than 20" in 556 and 65G and 6ARC probably should have always had RLGS + X. I don't know that from experience, just remember Bill Alexander hinting at that.

Yesterday was out function-testing my 6ARC 12" barrel and its CLGS ejected beautifully. THEORETICALLY, gas port locations can be tweaked as much as gas port hole diameters, and you could end up with a million different gas tube lengths. However, if the intention is to keep things simple and use standard tubes, the key is properly sizing the gas port and it works perfectly well in PRACTICE.

Gas port sizing matters, but it doesn't change when the flow into the gas system begins or ends, gas system length and distance between the port and the end of the barrel determines that. That's why it's not surprising that a carbine length gas system works well on a 12" barrel ARC, I don't think carbine would be great for an 18"-20" barrel, nor would a pistol length system be as good for your 12" barrel, regardless of port size. And of course, putting a can on the end increases the length, if not magnitude of the positive pressure pulse on the gas system, making things worse.

Rifle length would be fine with me on an 18" ARC, and rifle length is the standard for accuracy focused 18" .223 ARs, it's the mid-length system that WC opted for here that is the anomaly. Rifle+1 would also be fine with me, I'm pretty confident that Proof did their homework when working with Hornady on the development, and of course, it's not like +1 systems are terribly rare either.

I might wind up picking up one of your 18" barrels, and probably already would have if they were available. When I had emailed a while ago it didn't sound like you were going to get to them before late summer or fall, so of course I have my eye out for other options that come up before then. I already have a 21" ARC, 16" Grendel and really feel 18" is the sweet spot for ARC, so unfortunately I'm not really interested in the 16" and 20" in the current batch.