QL 6 ARC , bolt gun

[frankm]

Dr Mike, Fotis, Scotty….
Would someone be so kind to run a QL for me on my new Howa Mini 6 ARC??

Here’s important part:
22” barrel
Max PSI 62,000 K
CFE223

Bullets:
108 Eldm COL 2.280
105 AMax COL 2.270
100 TGC (if available) COL 2.300

Thx in advance. I m having fun with this 4 lb 10 oz pop gun!! ( 5 lb 15 oz with scope mounted)

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : 6 mm ARC
Bullet             : .243, 105, Hornady A-MAX 24562
Useable Case Capaci: 29.762 grain H2O = 1.932 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.270 inch = 57.66 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon CFE223 *C

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   93    27.72   2494    1450   42758   7918     94.5    1.259
-09.0   94    28.03   2522    1483   44250   8010     95.0    1.240
-08.0   95    28.34   2551    1517   45799   8100     95.5    1.220
-07.0   96    28.64   2580    1552   47407   8186     95.9    1.202
-06.0   97    28.95   2608    1586   49079   8270     96.3    1.183
-05.0   98    29.26   2637    1622   50816   8350     96.7    1.165
-04.0   99    29.57   2666    1657   52622   8427     97.1    1.147
-03.0  100    29.88   2695    1693   54500   8501     97.5    1.129  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0  101    30.18   2723    1729   56454   8572     97.8    1.112  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0  102    30.49   2752    1766   58488   8639     98.1    1.095  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  103    30.80   2781    1803   60605   8702     98.4    1.078  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0  104    31.11   2810    1840   62812   8761     98.7    1.062  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  105    31.42   2838    1878   65113   8817     98.9    1.046  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  106    31.72   2867    1916   67512   8868     99.1    1.030  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  107    32.03   2896    1955   70012   8915     99.3    1.014  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  108    32.34   2924    1994   72625   8958     99.5    0.999  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    103    30.80   2852    1896   66915   8629     99.7    1.037  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    103    30.80   2698    1697   54716   8651     95.9    1.126  ! Near Maximum !

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : 6 mm ARC
Bullet             : .243, 108, Hornady ELD-M 24561
Useable Case Capaci: 29.528 grain H2O = 1.917 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.280 inch = 57.91 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon CFE223 *C

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   93    27.45   2467    1459   43176   7886     95.0    1.270
-09.0   94    27.76   2495    1493   44679   7976     95.5    1.251
-08.0   95    28.06   2523    1527   46241   8062     95.9    1.231
-07.0   96    28.37   2551    1561   47862   8146     96.4    1.212
-06.0   97    28.67   2580    1596   49547   8227     96.8    1.194
-05.0   98    28.98   2608    1631   51297   8304     97.1    1.175
-04.0   99    29.28   2636    1666   53117   8379     97.5    1.157  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0  100    29.59   2664    1702   55008   8450     97.8    1.140  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0  101    29.89   2692    1738   56975   8517     98.1    1.122  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0  102    30.20   2720    1775   59026   8581     98.4    1.105  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  103    30.50   2749    1812   61158   8641     98.7    1.089  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0  104    30.81   2777    1849   63379   8698     98.9    1.072  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  105    31.11   2805    1886   65694   8750     99.1    1.056  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  106    31.42   2833    1924   68109   8799     99.3    1.040  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  107    31.72   2861    1963   70628   8843     99.5    1.024  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  108    32.03   2889    2001   73256   8883     99.6    1.009  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 5% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 5% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    103    30.50   2817    1903   67539   8550     99.8    1.047  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 5% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    103    30.50   2668    1707   55205   8610     96.4    1.136  ! Near Maximum !

 

[SJB358]

Frank, do you have a Carbon Mini?

I have been using Lever and 108's in my AR and a little in the mini so far at 2700 and man, what a great shooting little rifle. Kinda thinking about trimming mine back to 20" but haven't shot it enough yet to make the call.

105/107's at 2700 sure do carry well at distance!

 

[frankm]

Dr Mike, thank you Sir! Much appreciated.

Scotty, yes got the Carbon Fiber Mini… it’s a nice handy little rifle.

Shot some CFE223 in it the other day and 30 grs got me 2710 with an ES of 12 fps with the 108 Eldm. Velocity with same charge and a 100 gr TGC did 2760 fps. I like that !

Shot 30 grs with 105 AMax at 2.275 oal today and right at 3/4” so not gonna chase my tail too much more. The 108 s in both reloads and factory don’t shoot as good of a group for me. Ran them from 2.340 jam to 2.270 oal so about dropping that one.

For a coyote/rockchuck load put 28.6 grs of H4895 under an 80 gr Sierra Blitz at 2.105 oal (.030 jump) and went 2950 fps and consistent 3/4” /sub moa.

Forgot how hard it is to group a real light rifle !

 

[frankm]

Dr Mike, QL right in line with actuals. Part of my goal is to not push the envelope too much on pressure so my brass will hold out; it’s like finding hen s teeth!!

If I really need/want more velocity just need to get 6 CM out.

Thx again.

 

[SJB358]

That's awesome Frank! You are way ahead of me in load work, but so far mine is jamming pretty decent with the factory 103's and 108's. Once I get my stuff put back up the little ARC is one of the first ones to get some solid range time.

It is a handy little rifle. I think I am going to chop it to 20" myself, but it ain't horrid as is either for me. I am waiting for Jefferson Outdoors to get some more BM in stock to get rid of the plastic, but overall, it's a dandy rifle.

 

[frankm]

Scotty, if those bottom metal come in stock give me a holler when you get one; I d like to get rid of the plastic bottom assembly/magazine too.

 

[SJB358]

Will do!

 

[frankm]

Scotty, scored one from Wayne York at OregonGunsmithing.

If your wanting one sooner than later might give him a call.

Mine scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Wayne had been waiting for some follower springs and must of just got his shipment. He sells a ton of them from what he told me.

 

[SJB358]

I ordered a Jefferson unit for mine. Should be at the house when I get home tomorrow. Looking forward to airing out the little fella some more. Love that little 6 ARC.

 

[frankm]

Good deal. Pls share your load data as you work with that 6 ARC Mini !!

So far I ve seen where the Hornady bolt gun load data seems pretty hot. Don’t know if that Mini reacts to pressure a little different than a full size bolt like the Savage or not? Thus my interest in your experiences and findings Scotty.

 

[Ridge_Runner]

Dr Mike, QL right in line with actuals. Part of my goal is to not push the envelope too much on pressure so my brass will hold out; it’s like finding hen s teeth!!

If I really need/want more velocity just need to get 6 CM out.

Thx again.

6.5 grendel brass,, necked down and trim 20 thou