6.35 Grendel vs 300 HAM'R

[Oso Polaris]

I periodically get asked this question amongst friends of what cartridge they should build in AR15 for hunting and general purpose/plinking. Shoot range within 300 yards, and not looking to use for long range shooting. It is a versatile platform with a wide variety of cartridges and bullet weights.

Smaller Bullets (<= 230gr): 20 Practical/Tactical, 204 Ruger, .223/5.56, 223AI, 224 Valkyrie, 22 Nosler, 6x45, 6TCU, 6ARC, 25x45 Sharpe, 6.5 Grendel, 277 Wolverine, 6.8 SPC, 7TCU, 300BO, 7.62x39, 30ARX, 300 HAM'R, and 350 Legend

Large Bullets (>230gr): 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 50 Beowolf... the "Big 3"

- I've bolded the most common cartridges (likely to find ammo on the typical store shelf in normal market environment). I have included 224 Valkyrie and 6ARC... may not be as main stream but can/will find it at bigger stores, like Academy, but not every store. I think the interest in 224 Valkyrie will decrease in favor of the 6ARC, which is a more versatile cartridge.

- If I overlooked any cartridges then not intentional...30 Remington, 6mm Hagar, 30HRT, 338 Spectre, 375 Whisper, 500 Phantom, etc.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___________________________
Process of Elimination:
> Bullets under 80gr may be great for plinking, but are less than ideal for hunting. All cartridges .224" or smaller aren't as practical for hunting. There are some 80-90 gr .223 caliber bullets, but they are high BC for long range, and not as effective for hunting.
> Cost of ammo and limited range of the "Big 3" makes them a poor choice for the dual role, hunting and plinking.
> 6ARC probably trumps all the other 6mm cartridges. The only potential downside to 6ARC is its long throat, which may mean excessive jump when loading with lighter bullets (80-95gr bullets).
> 6.5 Grendel edges out the 6ARC from hunting perspective.
> 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC are interchangeable within 450 yards. I prefer the 6.5 Grendel... Red Pill / Blue Pill.
> Availability and reliability of 300BO in AR15 edges out most of the .30 cal. cartridges, and it fits both roles of hunting and plinking. However, it suffers from slower velocities.
> 300 HAM'R is proving to be the best contender of the .30 caliber cartridges with its increased case capacity and barrel twist providing significant improvement in performance over the 300BO.
> 350 Legend is handicapped (reloader's perspective) with the .355 bullet.

I think the final decision is between 6.5 Grendel and 300 HAM'R

YES - I caught the fat finger "635 Grendel" in the Thread Title... not sure how to change it. Might need Forum Boss to do it

[Oso Polaris]

300 HAM'R - Pros:
> Velocities exceed 300BO by 200-300 fps in 16" barrel. This makes it comparable to 6.5 Grendel.
> Even in short barrel, it has higher velocities than 300BO in same barrel length. HAM'R and Grendel both suffer the same shortcoming in SBR of potential Fireball from large percentage of unburnt powder igniting in front of muzzle.
> Reloading components are same as 300BO. Cases can be made from .223/5.56 cases. Starline is making brass. LEE & RCBS dies.
> Only requires new barrel and se of dies ...everything else is same as 5.56/300BO. No special bolt or mags.
> 300 HAM'R is already a SAAMI Cartridge so sourcing materials will only get easier with time.

300 HAM'R - Cons:
> Limited source of factory ammo... similar to what Grendel looked like 10 years ago.
> Limited source of off-the-shelf barrels at present. Wilson Combat, Shaw and a couple of others. Standardized cartridge design so easy to have reamer and custom barrel made.
> Limited Range (designed to optimize out to 300 yards). Lower BC bullets so not as flat shooting as some other cartridges.

[Oso Polaris]

6.5 Grendel - Pros:
> Optimized cartridge for AR15 with good match of bullet weight and velocity.
> Wide selection of reloading components (bullets & brass)
> Wide selection of rifle components
> Factory Ammo available on the shelf
> Straighter shooting and with long range capability as result of higher BC bullets

6.5 Grendel - Cons:
> Risk of equipment failure at higher pressures
> Reloading components pricing is higher for 6.5 as compared to .30 cal components.

[Oso Polaris]

Not trying to stir the pot.... legitimate question/assessment. I have limited experience with 300 HAM'R. This came up in discussion amongst friends admiring the last 6.5 Grendel build. The 300 HAM'R is relatively new having been released right before COVID lockdown so there isn't much detail on real world results or meaningful comparisons to 6.5 Grendel. I was a bit surprised by the reported velocity of the HAM"R.

With the qualification of 300 yards for hunting and plinking, I think 6.5 Grendel is the winner just based on availability of factory ammo. IF there wasn't a limiting distance factor then 6.5 Grendel is the clear winner with its higher BC.

Any thoughts? Did I miss anything?.

[grendelnubi]

I believe the 300 Ham'r is a legitimate cartridge with pretty good performance. What impresses me most is the high velocity they are getting and the reported accuracy seems to be pretty consistent. Also Bill Wilson is very forth coming with load data and bullets that work which is a very good thing.

My next build will be either be a 300 ham'r or a 6.5 grendel bolt gun but due to cost, this decision will have to be made in the future.

[kmon]

I have thought about the HAM'R but really don't need another cartridge to load for these days but it makes more sense to me than the 300BO unless you are wanting to shoot subsonic. I got into the Grendel about the time SAAMI specs came out and do not plan to be without at least a couple.

As to the 300 HAM'R I have read more about it than many other cartridges that had been around longer, mostly on one thread on the Texashuntingforum. Mr Wilson is responsive and has taken lots of game with the HAM'R testing it out. Loading data and bullet information is easy to find as well, even on just one long running thread on that site. There are quite a few members here that know what I am talking about. That one thread is at https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/...topics/7506626 and will soon have 1800 posts on it. Bill took it to Africa and used it on quite a variety of game there along with deer, bunch of hogs and exotics in Texas. Bill is a fan of larger caliber bullets 30 and above.

Like I said I will stick to my Grendels and doubt I ever change off of them, I can take them long and they also work well at shorter ranges and everything I have shot with it has died quickly so no complaints. Accuracy with the Grendel is very good as well.

[tdbru]

OP,
for the AR platform, you will see a bit of a difference on game between the 6.5 Grendel and the 300HAM'R I think. but likely not huge. and only if 200 yards or less I think. However that range does cover a lot of actual shooting distances. This is like splitting hairs I think. It is also my opinion that the 6.5 Grendel is the more versatile all around round for the AR platform. If you get outside of an AR platform, as in bolt actions, then you might as well go to a 30-06 or a 270Win or something like that for hunting. Way more performance. Way easier for factory ammo or reloading components. Or a host of other mid range bolt action calibers. The two you're debating here exist, in my opinion, only because of the AR platform. One nice thing about the AR platform, is that to try another caliber, it's just an upper and perhaps some new magazines.

I agree that the 300 Blackout exists mainly due to the proliferation of suppressors. otherwise, again, I think the 6.5 Grendel is a more versatile AR caliber.

I also agree with you that the difference between the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC out to 300 to 400 yards isn't very much. both are quite capable and I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference on game with the same shot placement.

For strictly paper punching or ringing steel, the 6ARC does seem to edge out the 6.5 Grendel, in an AR platform. But when you add big game hunting to the list, I would still prefer the 6.5 Grendel to the 6ARC.

Again, in my opinion, choosing between the 6ARC, the 6.5 Grendel, the 6.8 SPC and the 300 HAM'R is splitting hairs. Personally I think the 6.5 Grendel is the jack of all trades leader. But that is my opinion.

Before Biden closed the doors on cheap imported ammo, if someone tried to convince me that, on a cost basis for a non reloader, the cheap steel cased 7.62x39 would be the way to go for a general utility AR if you wanted something bigger in caliber than the ubiquitous 5.56x45 NATO, I'd have a hard time arguing with them. Something to be said for cheap ammo you can just shoot and forget so to speak.
-tdbru

[lazyengineer]

I periodically get asked this question amongst friends of what cartridge they should build in AR15 for hunting and general purpose/plinking. Shoot range within 300 yards, and not looking to use for long range shooting. It is a versatile platform with a wide variety of cartridges and bullet weights.

Smaller Bullets (<= 230gr): 20 Practical/Tactical, 204 Ruger, .223/5.56, 223AI, 224 Valkyrie, 22 Nosler, 6x45, 6TCU, 6ARC, 25x45 Sharpe, 6.5 Grendel, 277 Wolverine, 6.8 SPC, 7TCU, 300BO, 7.62x39, 30ARX, 300 HAM'R, and 350 Legend

Personally I think 40 gr to 230 gr is a very wide range. In general, I categorize by powder chargeload, as more informative, than bullet weight; at least when it comes to power. It's the gunpowder that makes it do what it does. To me, the spectrum is:
Small: ~20-30 gr (which is most anything that fits in a small-frame AR). Smaller than 10 gr is pistol category
Medium: ~30-50 gr (which is mostly anything that could fit in a "large" frame AR)
Large: > ~50 gr (which are truly the large rounds, of 338 etc)

By and large, performance is dominated by powder charge first, and bullet design second; is my philosophy. Since we're talking everything in the "small" rifle category, what we're really doing is splitting hairs within that category. Which is worth doing and has some effect, but by and large, a good shoot within effective range from one, is often going to be an shot (within that rounds effective range; which is where bullet weight/design matters), from another. Bullet design and weight here in the "Small" category has more to do with how far the effective range is, within reason. There are of course some aspects of terminal performance, which I'll expand on below. Keep in mind of course - all of which is just my opinion of some guy at a keyboard.

Large Bullets (>230gr): 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 50 Beowolf... the "Big 3"

- I've bolded the most common cartridges (likely to find ammo on the typical store shelf in normal market environment). I have included 224 Valkyrie and 6ARC... may not be as main stream but can/will find it at bigger stores, like Academy, but not every store. I think the interest in 224 Valkyrie will decrease in favor of the 6ARC, which is a more versatile cartridge.

- If I overlooked any cartridges then not intentional...30 Remington, 6mm Hagar, 30HRT, 338 Spectre, 375 Whisper, 500 Phantom, etc.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___________________________
Process of Elimination:
> Bullets under 80gr may be great for plinking, but are less than ideal for hunting. All cartridges .224" or smaller aren't as practical for hunting. There are some 80-90 gr .223 caliber bullets, but they are high BC for long range, and not as effective for hunting.

By and large, I agree. Once a bullet gets light enough, its ability to maintain >800 or >1000 ft-lb of energy on impact on a game sized animal at distance suffers. And its ability to have sufficient mass at sufficient energy for penetration, hydrostatic impact shock, and damaging wound cavity shot, are affected by mass. They are affected by both mass and velocity, so over-fixation on mass can be just as misleading as overfixation on velocity, because within the small rifle category, investment in one is at the expense of the other.

> Cost of ammo and limited range of the "Big 3" makes them a poor choice for the dual role, hunting and plinking.

I'm not sure what the big 3 are, if at a guess this is .223/Grendel/300 BO; then to me Grendel is hands-down the winner, due to low cost Wolf option; giving the round the ideal dual role capability of hunting (with premium) and plinking (with Wolf). We'll see what happens to Russian imports, and 2020/2021 has been odd.

> 6ARC probably trumps all the other 6mm cartridges. The only potential downside to 6ARC is its long throat, which may mean excessive jump when loading with lighter bullets (80-95gr bullets).
> 6.5 Grendel edges out the 6ARC from hunting perspective.
> 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC are interchangeable within 450 yards. I prefer the 6.5 Grendel... Red Pill / Blue Pill.

While many are excited by 6ARC, I am not. It's an odd-ball of an odd-ball, so logistics supply chain will never be up to what I consider acceptable. Grendel just barely made it for me; and Wolf Steel availability was the validator of that. In the end, it's wider adoption is why I picked it over 6.8. I waited years before I bought my 6.5 Creedmoor; because I wanted to wait to see who won long-term between .260 and 6.5 CM. There are things I actually like about .260 better, but I remember BetaMAX too... More importantly, I view 6ARC the same way I view .224 Valk. A barrel burner that shoots a skinny bullet that will either want to ice-pic through game or want to explode at the skin. Getting it to penetrate and expand, requires a certain diameter and mass ratio - which I personally think 6.5 Grendel is better at - yet 6.5 Grendel still has very long legs. I have zero interest in 6ARC. If I want longer legs than 6.5Grendel, then I'm just target shooting, as no way am I going to ethically try to take game at >600 yards with a Small frame rifle anyway. And if I'm play gong-shooting, then I'm likely not humping that rifle 4 miles for 5 hours, so I like 6.5 Creedmoor just fine. Just my own personal tastes, it's OK for others to like stuff I don't.

I agree, 6.8 and 6.5 G are pragmatically interchangeable within the first few hundred yards, where the vast majority of shots are going to be taken. I like 6.8's higher pressure rating, I like 6.5 Grendels slightly longer legs (for those days I am gong-playing), and the availability of cheap Wolf Steel for 3-gun play. But really, I think 6.8 is a great round and would be happy with either.

> Availability and reliability of 300BO in AR15 edges out most of the .30 cal. cartridges, and it fits both roles of hunting and plinking. However, it suffers from slower velocities.

"it fits both" is a more informative choice of words than many fans of .300 really acknowledge. I can't stand that round. I think it's a systemically dangerous round that has blown up a hell of a lot of guns, and should have never been SAAMI approved. Frankly, its dinky 18-19 gr charge gives mediocre performance for any roll other than subsonic suppressed. Where it does a nice job competing with the same muzzle power as a suppressed 1911 .45 ACP shooting hot 230 gr loads; but at least holds 30 rounds I guess.

One of these rounds in this tray is a .300 BO


Ever single .300 BO kaboom was with an attentive shooter who smugly said they would never be so carelessly sloppy to...

> 300 HAM'R is proving to be the best contender of the .30 caliber cartridges with its increased case capacity and barrel twist providing significant improvement in performance over the 300BO.
> 350 Legend is handicapped (reloader's perspective) with the .355 bullet.

I will agree with this. While the larger powder charge in .300 is a big deal in terms of performance, for me, it's an inherently safer round, as I believe it's impossible for a 5.56 chambered gun's bolt to close on a .300 HAM'R casing - even an empty one. This is a much bigger deal to me than people recognize; and brings cartridge design back to the industry guideline standard of "try not to make a casing that will easily fit in another gun and kaboom" (e.g. why .357 Magnum is longer than .38 Spcl, etc).

I think the final decision is between 6.5 Grendel and 300 HAM'R

YES - I caught the fat finger "635 Grendel" in the Thread Title... not sure how to change it. Might need Forum Boss to do it

if You're looking for a hard hitting supersonic .30 cal diameter bullet at powder charges approaching Grendel (compared to .300 BO's pathetic <20 gr powder charge); sure .300 HAM'R is definitely the one. I think people way overfixate on the .30 cal mass, and over-fixate on the "availability" of bullets for a casing that' isn't available, unless you plan on converting .223 casings to it (which is way more of a long-slow PITA than people seem to appreciate, IMHO)

To me, 6.5 Grendel continues to be my top recommendation for a general purpose hunting/plinking/defense/distance/precision round. It's quite good at all of it. The selection of any other round is done to increase one of those 4 items, but at the expense of the other three.

[StoneHendge]

OP, the ARCs throat is not an issue with lighter bullets. I'm (unfortunately) almost through 1k of factory pulled 95 gr Berger Hybrid Hunter's and load them 0.1" off and they are as accurate as can be. I've also been shooting discontinued 80 gr Speer SPs I got for a song at 0.1" off. Dead on to 400 before the flat base makes things wonky. I also had 70 gr Nosler BTVs working very well above 3k but stopped in when things dried up since they're my favorite bullet in 6x45 (along with the Benchmark I was using).

[Oso Polaris]

Stonehendge - Thank you for the information on 6ARC throat/compatibility with shorter/lighter bullets (80gr-100gr).

LazyEngineer - Bullet size... perhaps "Normal" & "Supersized" ? Yes - I included 230gr bullets under "Small" because if I only captured the common weight of supersonic 300BO (110gr - 125gr) then someone would get in a huff about ultra-heavy (190gr-230gr) for subsonic in 300BO.

I like the 6ARC/Grendel concept for target and also for various smaller game (ignoring perfect shot placement). I think 6.5 Grendel is better for larger game (shoulder/vitals placement) not just because of it's bigger entry/exit hole or heavier-weight bullets, but also it's broader tip is more likely to ensure expansion. The heavier-weight bullets in 6ARC (105gr - 108gr) are high BC and may be less effective for hunting. The elongated ogive may result in a fragile tip that doesn't open/expand, and leads to more pass-throughs. I think you and I are on same wave link on this.

The "Big 3" I specified in my original post: "Large Bullets (>230gr): 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 50 Beowolf... the "Big 3" " These are Super-Sized Bullets (heavy and slow), which are not good for distance and not affordable for plinking.

Actually, I am intimately aware of the risks/concerns of overlapping calibers. I had a guest pick up a 300BO (125gr TNT) off the ground and load it into a 5.56 magazine and fire it through my rifle, destroying a Daniel Defense. No one was hurt, it killed my rifle (no one volunteered to reimburse me), and it made me revisit safety protocols. I built a custom 6x45AI (equivalent of a 6TCU)... ordered a custom reamer, the whole ball of wax. The reason I went with a AI cartridge as my base instead of the standard 223 case (6mm-223) was not to gain extra powder capacity/velocity, but rather to ensure that this 6x45AI cartridge couldn't be mistaken for a .223 and wouldn't accidentally be loaded and shot through a .223/5.56 bolt rifle or AR15. I am all about belt and suspenders... different mags with labeling for different calibers, custom dust cover with boldly written caliber on both inside and outside so always visible, etc. I do also appreciate the added safety of 300HAM'r not being able to fit into another rifle that is chambered in any .223 derived cartridge.

6x45AI Bullet Comparison resize.jpg
6x45AI, 6x45, .223 .... If I didn't tell you then more than likely you wouldn't notice that the middle cartridge is not .223.

Technically, the 300BO does loosely fit both criteria of being for general purpose/plinking as well as hunting. Yes, it is a compromise.... 308 is great for supersonic, but is incapable of running subsonic rounds through AR10, and even suffers when attempted through a bolt rifle. The 300BO is right-sized to do both. Now if you only want/need it to do one or the other than there are better options... 300 HAM'R. For what it is worth, my CZ527 300BO (18" / 1:8) shoots 125gr bullets at 2460fps (1/2" groups) with only 66% of case capacity of my 6.5 Grendel Howa Mini (20" / 1:8) shooting 123gr bullets at 2600fps, and both rifles are shooting approx. same size groups. Despite what some may think, this is closer than you would have guessed. The 6.5 Grendel is only 200fps faster and requires a 50% greater case capacity/powder to achieve this.

If at the time I got into 300BO, the 6.5 Grendel wasn't hamstrung with Trademark stranglehold, and instead had been immediately SAAMI approved then more likely then not I would never of had reason to buy a 300BO.
By the same logic... for an average guy who is not interested in pursuing mid-range or long-range precision shooting and looking for a straight-forward caliber for hunting and plinking. What is the right caliber for an AR15 or bolt rifle??? That was the basis for the mental exercise while being intellectually honest with as little personal bias as possible.

Over past few years I have pointed a fair share of shooters down the path of Grendel. However, for a ordinary hunter that: (1) only goes to range a couple of times a year; (2) most of their shots while hunting are within 100 yards; and (3) they are new to AR15's - then the 6.5 Grendel may not be the best caliber to fit their needs. Honestly, this is the 300BO's primary market niche. Easy to shoot, easy to find ammo, easy on the wallet, and has a cool name. Now if they want/need a little more horsepower to shoot a little further then what is best fit?

I think 6.5 Grendel wins, but if we were to revisit this same analysis in a couple of years from now (after panic ends) then the result may be flipped on its head as the market becomes full of options/multiple sources of complete rifles, barrels, and ammunition for the 300 HAM'R. What does all of this look like when there are 5-10 quality makers/providers of completed rifles (AR15's and bolt rifles), 300 HAM'R barrels to swap out existing AR15's barrel, and a variety of factory ammo from several major sources in major retailers/gun stores. It only took 15 years for the 6.5 Grendel to achieve widespread acceptance, and during those hard years the 300BO was introduced and gained widespread popularity/acceptance and became the most popular AR15 cartridge behind the .223/5.56.

Plus 10 years ago, I did a similar evaluation between 300BO and 6.5 Grendel ... I choose the 300BO because of availability of ammo and ability to make my own cases easily (not at risk during a panic), abundance of 30 caliber bullets in a variety of weights (95gr - 147gr for supersonic), subsonic for home defense, and realistic range requirements (within 150 yards). Everything I have shot with 300BO has dropped where I hit it.... I guess it must all be about my shot placement, and yet I don't feel like repeating it with a 223. If I had a time machine then maybe I would have picked the Grendel all those years ago...

[LR1955]

I periodically get asked this question amongst friends of what cartridge they should build in AR15 for hunting and general purpose/plinking. Shoot range within 300 yards, and not looking to use for long range shooting. It is a versatile platform with a wide variety of cartridges and bullet weights.

Smaller Bullets (<= 230gr): 20 Practical/Tactical, 204 Ruger, .223/5.56, 223AI, 224 Valkyrie, 22 Nosler, 6x45, 6TCU, 6ARC, 25x45 Sharpe, 6.5 Grendel, 277 Wolverine, 6.8 SPC, 7TCU, 300BO, 7.62x39, 30ARX, 300 HAM'R, and 350 Legend

Large Bullets (>230gr): 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 50 Beowolf... the "Big 3"

- I've bolded the most common cartridges (likely to find ammo on the typical store shelf in normal market environment). I have included 224 Valkyrie and 6ARC... may not be as main stream but can/will find it at bigger stores, like Academy, but not every store. I think the interest in 224 Valkyrie will decrease in favor of the 6ARC, which is a more versatile cartridge.

- If I overlooked any cartridges then not intentional...30 Remington, 6mm Hagar, 30HRT, 338 Spectre, 375 Whisper, 500 Phantom, etc.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___________________________
Process of Elimination:
> Bullets under 80gr may be great for plinking, but are less than ideal for hunting. All cartridges .224" or smaller aren't as practical for hunting. There are some 80-90 gr .223 caliber bullets, but they are high BC for long range, and not as effective for hunting.
> Cost of ammo and limited range of the "Big 3" makes them a poor choice for the dual role, hunting and plinking.
> 6ARC probably trumps all the other 6mm cartridges. The only potential downside to 6ARC is its long throat, which may mean excessive jump when loading with lighter bullets (80-95gr bullets).
> 6.5 Grendel edges out the 6ARC from hunting perspective.
> 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC are interchangeable within 450 yards. I prefer the 6.5 Grendel... Red Pill / Blue Pill.
> Availability and reliability of 300BO in AR15 edges out most of the .30 cal. cartridges, and it fits both roles of hunting and plinking. However, it suffers from slower velocities.
> 300 HAM'R is proving to be the best contender of the .30 caliber cartridges with its increased case capacity and barrel twist providing significant improvement in performance over the 300BO.
> 350 Legend is handicapped (reloader's perspective) with the .355 bullet.

I think the final decision is between 6.5 Grendel and 300 HAM'R

YES - I caught the fat finger "635 Grendel" in the Thread Title... not sure how to change it. Might need Forum Boss to do it

OP:

Can't find a way to change the Thread Title. May be there but I can't find it.

LR55

[Oso Polaris]

OP:

Can't find a way to change the Thread Title. May be there but I can't find it.

LR55

I appreciate you trying. My fault dragging caveman fingers.

[Laman]

I won't comment on the lengthy opinions given only to say that the comments about the long skinny bullet of the 6ARC will just pencil through game and fail to expand flies shows a lack of knowledge of the number of excellent .243 bullets available to shooters now. If your referring to the heavier target type bullets I'll somewhat agree, although there are many hunters who will provide evidence that some target type bullets are adequate killers. I can assure you that within reasonable range with 6ARC velocities even the lowly soft point cup and core bullets will expand for certain and take whitetails efficiently. The Hornady ELD-X 103 gr. bullet at ARC velocities for certain will take any deer sized game within at least 300 yard.

I have killed a number of deer with the Grendel and will continue use it with the mini-howa. I have also built an ARC do test the cartridge on deer this year so i can build a mini for my grandson in ARC with complete confidence that used properly it will be a deer slayer.

[Oso Polaris]

Laman - Yes, my concern was with the ultra heavy class bullets in 6mm. There is a great selection of 6mm bullets in the 80gr-90gr range that are well-proven hunting bullets that have been field tested for decades in .243 Win and 6mm Remington, and more recently in upstart 6mm Creedmoor. I shoot a modified 243 for long range with 105's and 115's, and low 80gr bullets in a 6x45AI (6mm-223AI). I am a fan of 6mm before it became cool, again. My gunsmith asking/pleading why I would want a 6mm when the recently introduced 6.5 Creedmoor was just like lightning. Now the only discussion is 6XC, 6 Creedmoor, 243 Win, 6x47... or go a little smaller with 6BR, 6 Dasher, 6GT... at some point 6ARC might also come up in the conversation.

I know that 6ARC is throated for Hornady's two heavy bullet offerings for target and hunting. I don't have any experience with the 6ARC so I was concerned about its long throat and the potential jump required for some of these "lighter" 6mm bullets if/when loaded in 6ARC.

[Laman]

Oso- The 103 eld-x has proven to be the most accurate bullet in my 6ARC but the 90 speer hot core, 85 grain sierra and the 90 SSt have all been more than hunting adequate in my long throat ARC and I really have done no what I would call load development. Even 68 grain custom benchrest bullets are impressive.