rifles come with 1:10 twists, which are not quite quick enough to stabilize today's longest, highest B.C. The ARC is also an excellent choice for smaller game animals. The fact that the case length of the 6mm Creedmoor is shorter than that of the 243 Win, but that it can be loaded to a higher rated max pressure of 62 000 PSI compared to the 60 000 PSI of the 243 Win, means that the newer, more modern longer bullets with higher BCs can be loaded further out in the 6mm Creedmoor before reaching the magazine max overall length, compared to the 243 Winchester. There have been a few surprises regarding the barrel life of a 6mm Creedmoor rifle, and that depends on various factor including what type of barrel it is and from which material combination it was made, the cleaning methodology applied to the barrel, and the loads shot through the barrel. Ruger and Hornady decided to capitalize on growing demand in the United States and began selling factory 6mm Creedmoor ammunition and rifles for the cartridge during 2017. Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. So, the Creedmoor has about 17% more energy at the muzzle than the 6mm ARC. The cartridges are otherwise identical up to the shoulder and both cartridges have the same SAAMI maximum pressure of 62,000. The 6mm Creedmoor 108-grain ELD Match is 2,960 fps. The problem is that Hornady, which developed the 6 mm ARC, made a slight alteration to the case length so that it would be compatible with very long 6 mm bullets that have a high BC. Comparing 6mm ARC to 6mm CR is is apples and oranges again. Why would a guy opt for the ARC over the Creedmoor in a bolt action? There are several other factors that contribute to a bullets stopping power. The statistics shown above demonstrate the advanced speed capabilities of the 6mm ARC. Its large case capacity gave it a slight ballistic advantage . Employee communication . 6.8 SPC. Originally dubbed the 6mm HOLE (Hornady-Outdoor Life Express), Snow paired the new cartridge with a custom rifle built by George Gardner of GA Precision in 2009. 243 vs 308 vs 7mm-08: Which Is Right For You? The 7mm obviously stands []. In a bolt action The 6 Creedmoor rifle is easier to come by in good rifles. Of the three cartridges though, the 6.5 Creedmoor is likely the most popular of the three cartridges, followed by the .243 Winchester. Minors should not handle firearms without parental supervision. These shooters we poled shot bench rest, PRS, F-Class and simi auto class. So where do we stand overall with the .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, and 6.5mm Creedmoor? This is the loaded equally with most efficient powder. There are a few things that could potentially shorten its lifespan, but there are also many factors that suggest it will be around for a long time. The 6mm Creedmoor is a very well designed cartridge that offers some marginal advantages over similar cartridges. A shorter action and longer barrel life. Its release as a commercial round was presaged by a number of successful 6mm wildcats like the 6mm AR based on the Grendel. In this article, Im going to discuss the pros and cons of the 6mm Creedmoor cartridge in detail. Compared to the 6mm Creedmoor, the 6.5 Creedmoor shoots heavier, larger diameter, and more aerodynamic bullets at a slower velocity. For those reasons, flat shooting, medium bore, high velocity (up to a point), and mild recoiling cartridges with a long barrel life have a big advantage in these competitions. You'll need a new barrel, bolt, and mags. Depending on how much shorter he actually made it, this could be the case as the rare wildcat 244 Mashburn cartridge also had the same rim, also very little tape in the case body, and also featured a 30 degree shoulder, but this again could not be verified other than that claim. With the numbers we use, it appears these cartridges each have their advantages. Posted: 3/17/2020 1:36:19 PM EST [#2] Quote History . fps Burn % Pressure max 6mm ARC - Alliant Reloder-17 *T 109.3 30.9 2621 98.4 62000psi 6mm Creedmoor - Alliant Reloder-26 *C 102.3 47.8 2837 99.4 62000psi If you have any doubt how well Hornady does this look no further than the 6.5 Creedmoor. From the ballistic standpoint, the .244/6mm Rem. Video marketing. Since this article is focused on the performance of these cartridges for hunting, I didnt include any ballistic data past 500 yards in the table above. September 26, 2019 at 5:48 pm. However, if youre looking to compete at the highest levels, then youll want to choose the caliber that is best suited for your specific needs. When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. Lastly, I am . The case volume of the 6mm Creedmoor is on average 51.7gr H2O, with a case length of 48.77mm, and for the 243 Winchester of 53.6gr H2O with a case length of 51.94mm. Case in point. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To re-barrel or chamber a rifle to a difference caliber or cartridge, it is important to know if the bolt face will work with the new case head diameter. bullets. The bullet diameter is .243, the same as any other .243 or 6mm centerfire cartridge like the 243 Win, 6mm Remington, 6XC, 6GT, 6mm BR and 6mm Dasher. Required fields are marked *. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between these two rifle calibers and help you decide which one is right for you! The cartridge is also well suited for handloaders and since it uses the same .243 bullets as 6mm cartridges like the .243 Winchester, the 6x47mm Lapua, the 6XC, and the .240 Weatherby Magnum, there are a variety of great .243 bullets currently available. I know of several instances of people that Ive known who have bought new rifles in a particular cartridge specifically because they could get ammo for it. The same goes for rifles. 6.8 SPC The 6mm ARC has more match bullet options and is a better long-range performer. Ill also provide some information on how it stacks up next to the .243 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges so you can decide if it fits your needs as a hunter. bullets. John Snows article for Outdoor Life was used as a reference for the history of the 6mm Creedmoor. The differences in trajectory are of course smaller at shorter ranges, but that 200fps advantage in muzzle velocity the 6mm Creedmoor has does result in a noticeable improvement in performance. Find the perfect load for your rifle and shoot accurately. In fact, while the selection of 6.5 Creedmoor rifles and ammo are also good, things are as good, and maybe even a little better with the 6mm Creedmoor with the ongoing ammo shortage. Review: Hornady 6mm ARC. But it's a coyote hammer! The .220 Swift's effective distance came in at 275 yards. Variations on a theme. Using dramatically less powder, it is believed that the barrel on an 6mm ARC will far outlast a 6mm Creedmoor's. It kicks less and has very similar performance regarding wind drift, which after accuracy and consistency is the biggest issue for long-range shooting. The 6mm, refers to the bore diameter of the barrel, more specifically actually a .243 or 6mm bullet diameter. The 6mm ARC cartridge is a new SAAMI-spec cartridge based on the 6.5 Grendel case necked down for 6mm bullets, with the shoulder moved back 0.030. The sixmm ARC has enough stopping power to take down small game, but it is not ideal for self-defense against larger animals or humans. Like this unbelieveable 6mm Creedmoor of PRS Pro Shooter Jake Millard from Panhandle Precision who has recorded 2500 rounds through his 6mm Creedmoor and the rifle is still grouping well and shooting very low SD and ES as can be seen below: For safe reliable reloading data to start your load development journey with your 6mm Creedmoor, I would recommend working with the reloading data provided by either your powder manufacturer, like the Hodgdon reloading data portal, or the reloading data provided by your chosen bullet manufacturer. Unfortunately, thats not the case with the 243 Winchester. With similar advantages for precision rifle competition shooting as the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6mm Creedmoor is also a superb competition cartridge, especially for small caliber long range shooting and PRS competition shooting. The 6mm Creedmoor being faster, less recoil and flatter shooting, the 6.5 Creedmoor having larger and better BC bullets, allowing the spotting of bullet trace, hits and misses better on target and doing better with the higher BC bullets out at extended distances, and greater availability of bullets and components. This is especially true when relative availability of the 2 cartridges during the ongoing ammo shortage are taken into account. The difference is even bigger with the InterLock bullets though and the 243 has almost 6 more bullet drop than the 6mm Creedmoor at 500 yards. Always follow manufacturers instructions. For the the heavier bullets like the 108gr ELD-Match, Hornady recommends 1-8 inch twist barrel, which is what I am also shooting them with in my PRS 6mm Creedmoor rifle and it suits those bullets perfectly. The 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge (638mm), or 6mm ARC for short, is a 6 mm (.243) caliber intermediate rifle cartridge introduced by Hornady in 2020, as a low- recoil, high- accuracy long-range cartridge, designed for use in the AR-15 platform at request of a specialized group within the U.S. DoD for its multipurpose combat rifle program. These bullets arent quite as heavy and have a little bit lower BC than the Hornady ELD-X, but theyre still very aerodynamic and very accurate. I think my buddy said 2700 fps rather than 2750 fps out of a 18" barrel. In short, the 6mm Creedmoor has the advantages of the .243 Winchester (flat trajectory and low recoil) and combines them with the best features of the 6.5mm Creedmoor (wind resistance and the ability to use long, low drag, high BC bullets). If you already have an AR chambered in 6.5 Grendel, the ONLY thing you need to change is the barrel. 100-grain load exiting at 3,100 fps, and the .243 Win. Other shooters took notice of how well the rifle and cartridge performed during PRS competitions that year and began ordering 6mm Creedmoor rifles from Gardner. This video or description may contain affiliate links. Update July 2021: Ammo supplies finally look like theyre starting to recover. With that said, lets take a closer look at the terminal ballistics of the two calibers in question. It also has very little recoil, making it a great choice for shooters of all experience levels. Your email address will not be published. Even though it has the longest case of the bunch, the .243 Winchester has a 20 degree shoulder, which is not quite as sharp as the 30 degree shoulder shared by the 6mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridges.