In the world of shooting and hunting, there are always new calibers and cartridges being introduced. The 6mm Remington and the 6mm ARC are two popular cartridges that are often compared to each other due to their similar bullet diameter and usage. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at both cartridges and compare their features and performance.
Here is the short answer:
The 6mm Remington has been around for decades and has a reputation for being accurate and versatile, while the 6mm ARC is a newer cartridge that offers high ballistic performance and excellent accuracy.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how the two cartridges compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 6mm Remington
The 6mm Remington was introduced in 1955 by Remington Arms. It is based on the infamous 7mm Mauser cartridge, necked down to 6mm (.2435 caliber) bullet. The 6mm Remington was designed for use with a 1:12 twist rate so it could stabilize bullets as light as 75 grains for varmints or as heavy as 90 grains for game like deer or pronghorn. However, the 6mm Remington never really took off due to the release of the 243 Winchester at around the same time which has a 1:10 twist rate allowing it to stabilize the heavier 100 or 110-grain bullets. This was important at the time because it was a rule of thumb that you need a minimum of a 100-grain bullet to kill game like deer, and the 6mm Remington just didn’t meet this standard.
The 6mm Remington can be hand loaded with bullets that range from 58 to 115 grains but most factory ammo will use 100-grain bullets with a velocity of around 3100-3200 feet per second depending on the advertizer. With the right bullet weight and barrel length this round can effectively take deer out to 400 yards so it will work for just about any deer hunting scenario imaginable.
One of the drawbacks of the 6mm Remington is its tendency to burn out barrels quickly. This can be attributed to the cartridge’s high velocity and pressure, which can cause barrel erosion and shorten its lifespan. This is generally not going to be an issue for the hunter who shoots a box of ammo through his rifle every year but for a long range shooter this could be a costly cartridge to shoot.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6mm Remington with a 100-grain jacketed soft point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 3100 | 2134 |
| 50 | -0.3 | 0.2 | 2962 | 1947 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.8 | 2827 | 1775 |
| 150 | -0.8 | 1.8 | 2697 | 1615 |
| 200 | -2.9 | 3.4 | 2571 | 1468 |
| 250 | -6.2 | 5.3 | 2448 | 1331 |
| 300 | -11 | 7.9 | 2329 | 1204 |
| 350 | -17.4 | 11 | 2212 | 1087 |
| 400 | -25.6 | 14.8 | 2100 | 979 |
| 450 | -35.8 | 19.2 | 1990 | 879 |
| 500 | -47.9 | 24.1 | 1883 | 787 |
In-Depth Look at the 6mm ARC
The 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) was introduced in 2020 by Hornady Manufacturing Company. It was designed for use in the AR-15 platform and is based on the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. The 6mm ARC is a cartridge that is splitting hairs between the 243 Winchester and the 6.5 Grendel. If you want a balance between the two then this is a cartridge you may want to look at.
The 6mm ARC offers ballistics that are ideal for hunting game such as deer, pronghorn, or wild hogs. For long range shooting the 6mm ARC is best used for shooting around or under 500 yards. While it can be used for longer-range shooting with the right setup, the 6mm ARC is most commonly used with an 18-inch barrel and in an AR-15 platform which is by no means a precision rifle platform.
One of the significant benefits of the 6mm ARC is its versatility. It can be used for hunting, target shooting, and tactical applications, making it an excellent all-around cartridge. The cartridge’s design also ensures a longer barrel life than the 6mm Remington.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6mm ARC with a 108-grain ELD Match bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2750 | 1813 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 2665 | 1703 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.6 | 2582 | 1598 |
| 150 | -1.1 | 1.4 | 2500 | 1499 |
| 200 | -3.7 | 2.5 | 2420 | 1404 |
| 250 | -7.7 | 4 | 2341 | 1314 |
| 300 | -13.4 | 5.9 | 2264 | 1229 |
| 350 | -20.7 | 8.2 | 2188 | 1148 |
| 400 | -29.9 | 10.9 | 2113 | 1071 |
| 450 | -40.9 | 14 | 2040 | 998 |
| 500 | -54 | 17.5 | 1969 | 929 |
In-Depth Comparison
When comparing the 6mm Remington and the 6mm ARC, there are a few key factors to consider.
Ballistics: The 6mm ARC has slightly better long range ballistics than the 6mm Remington, particularly when it comes to velocity and energy. This is due to the 6mm ARC’s improved case design, chamber seating, and long high BC bullets which sit very shallow in the case allowing for better energy retention and better resistance to wind drift.
Accuracy: Both cartridges are known for their accuracy, but the 6mm ARC has a slight edge due to its better consistency and precision at longer ranges. This is due in part to the 6mm ARC’s chamber design, which promotes more consistent bullet seating and less bullet runout.
Recoil: The recoil of these two cartridges is virtually the same, around 10-foot pounds of energy. Neither one of these cartridges would provide a jarring amount of recoil for any shooter. This is very beneficial to long range shooters as you can shoot for long durations of time with no development of a flinch from recoil.
Availability and Cost: While both cartridges are popular, the 6mm Remington has been around longer and has a wider availability of ammunition, reloading components, and firearms chambered for the cartridge. The 6mm ARC is still relatively new, so it may be harder to find ammunition and reloading components.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 6mm Remington and the 6mm ARC are both great cartridges that offer excellent performance for their intended purposes. The 6mm Remington has been around for a long time and has a proven track record of accuracy and reliability, while the 6mm ARC is a newer cartridge that offers improved ballistics and precision at longer ranges.