I’ve been asking for someone to check my work on this, but really would like a second-look, preferably from someone that’s been shooting LR for 10 years or more and knows their way around ballistics programs and real-world results.
From 18” barrels, Grendel with the 100gr ELD-VT really beats the 6mm ARC 108gr ELD-M, even if we hand-load the 6mm 75fps faster than Hornady’s data up to 24” velocities from Hodgdon’s.
I’m using Hodgdon’s 6.5 Grendel load data for the 100gr Partition (which is harder to drive into the lands) with an average between their CFE223 and LVR data from 24” barrel (2873-2900fps), then run down to 18” velocity of 2750fps through a Grendel internal ballistics engine. I’ve personably loaded the 100gr NBT to 2675fps from a 16” Grendel as well before we had CFE223 or LVR data.
6.5 Grendel 18” barrel, 100gr ELD-VT, 2750fps, .226 G7 Hornady program, 6300ft elevation, 59˚F
600yds 3.7 mils drop 1.1 drift
800yds 6.0 mils drop/ 1.6 drift (592ft-lbs)
1000yds 8.8 mils drop/ 2.1 drift (436ft-lbs)
6mm ARC 24” barrel, 108gr ELD-M, 2650fps hand load, Hornady Doppler Radar Data, 6300ft elev, 59˚F
600yds 4.1 mils / 1.3 drift
800yds 6.8 / 1.9
1000yds 10.2 / 2.6
18” ARC data shows 2575fps max in Hornady’s manual. Seems about right if Hodgdon’s is showing 2650fps from a 24”.
That really kills the ARC in that weight class. ARC is still relevant with the 55-87gr bullets for varmint, but I’m just not seeing the attraction in the 100-110gr class. Let me switch to the 110gr 6mm A-TIP to see if it will do it....
24” 6mm ARC, 110gr 6mm A-TIP, 2650fps Hodgdon’s max data, Hornady Doppler program, same conditions:
600yds 3.9 drop / 1.1 drift
800yds 6.4 drop / 1.6 drift
1000yds 9.5 drop / 2.2 drift 433 ft-lbs
From 18” barrels, Grendel with the 100gr ELD-VT really beats the 6mm ARC 108gr ELD-M, even if we hand-load the 6mm 75fps faster than Hornady’s data up to 24” velocities from Hodgdon’s.
I’m using Hodgdon’s 6.5 Grendel load data for the 100gr Partition (which is harder to drive into the lands) with an average between their CFE223 and LVR data from 24” barrel (2873-2900fps), then run down to 18” velocity of 2750fps through a Grendel internal ballistics engine. I’ve personably loaded the 100gr NBT to 2675fps from a 16” Grendel as well before we had CFE223 or LVR data.
6.5 Grendel 18” barrel, 100gr ELD-VT, 2750fps, .226 G7 Hornady program, 6300ft elevation, 59˚F
600yds 3.7 mils drop 1.1 drift
800yds 6.0 mils drop/ 1.6 drift (592ft-lbs)
1000yds 8.8 mils drop/ 2.1 drift (436ft-lbs)
6mm ARC 24” barrel, 108gr ELD-M, 2650fps hand load, Hornady Doppler Radar Data, 6300ft elev, 59˚F
600yds 4.1 mils / 1.3 drift
800yds 6.8 / 1.9
1000yds 10.2 / 2.6
18” ARC data shows 2575fps max in Hornady’s manual. Seems about right if Hodgdon’s is showing 2650fps from a 24”.
That really kills the ARC in that weight class. ARC is still relevant with the 55-87gr bullets for varmint, but I’m just not seeing the attraction in the 100-110gr class. Let me switch to the 110gr 6mm A-TIP to see if it will do it....
24” 6mm ARC, 110gr 6mm A-TIP, 2650fps Hodgdon’s max data, Hornady Doppler program, same conditions:
600yds 3.9 drop / 1.1 drift
800yds 6.4 drop / 1.6 drift
1000yds 9.5 drop / 2.2 drift 433 ft-lbs
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