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Posted: 1/12/2026 8:25:11 PM EDT
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As the title says. I'm interested in a rifle that can be shot at say, the vital zone of a deer, without doing any distance compensation at reasonable ranges. For this, I need a very flat trajectory. Does the 22 ARC offer a noticeable extension of point blank range in comparison to 223? My understanding is that the ARC case allows the shooter to use very heavy for caliber bullets, like the 80 grain ELD, which is excellent at maintaining velocity over distance. If I'm mistaken in this assumption, please correct me. To make this more interesting, I'd like to keep this build compact, so a maximum of 14.5" barrels for both calibers. Thanks! |
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Originally Posted By bluedog82: You are correct in your assumption. Find an MBPR calculator and plug in numbers. No 22 ARC here but my 14.5 5.56 does 2560 with IMI 77gr; the ARC probably adds a few hundred fps. Any reason you can’t/won’t consider the 6arc? I have a BCM 11.5” barrel that shoots about 1 MOA with PCM 77 grn match. However, it’s a pretty anemic loading at 2150-ish from my 11.5”. If the numbers don’t lie, I can get 250 fps more from a 6arc from a 12” barrel using a bullet with reasonably better BC. Of course, the kicker there is I can’t use a 5.56 can. |
Knight of Blunder - Fogo '21
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Originally Posted By Scott_S: Any reason you can't/won't consider the 6arc? I have a BCM 11.5" barrel that shoots about 1 MOA with PCM 77 grn match. However, it's a pretty anemic loading at 2150-ish from my 11.5". If the numbers don't lie, I can get 250 fps more from a 6arc from a 12" barrel using a bullet with reasonably better BC. Of course, the kicker there is I can't use a 5.56 can. 22 ARC or NAS3 5.56 will have the velocity advantage. Add in something like an 85gr Nosler RDF and you can start matching 6 ARC. There is a company loading those 85's in .223 Starline brass at mag length and it shoots 2,638 from my 18" 5.56. matches 18" 6 ARC ballistics. Put those in an NAS3 case and add 100+ FPS and that could be awesome. Won't be cheap though. I haven't looked at the ballistics or ammo pricing of 22 ARC. |
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Originally Posted By Scott_S: Any reason you can’t/won’t consider the 6arc? I have a BCM 11.5” barrel that shoots about 1 MOA with PCM 77 grn match. However, it’s a pretty anemic loading at 2150-ish from my 11.5”. If the numbers don’t lie, I can get 250 fps more from a 6arc from a 12” barrel using a bullet with reasonably better BC. Of course, the kicker there is I can’t use a 5.56 can. Originally Posted By Scott_S: Originally Posted By bluedog82: You are correct in your assumption. Find an MBPR calculator and plug in numbers. No 22 ARC here but my 14.5 5.56 does 2560 with IMI 77gr; the ARC probably adds a few hundred fps. Any reason you can’t/won’t consider the 6arc? I have a BCM 11.5” barrel that shoots about 1 MOA with PCM 77 grn match. However, it’s a pretty anemic loading at 2150-ish from my 11.5”. If the numbers don’t lie, I can get 250 fps more from a 6arc from a 12” barrel using a bullet with reasonably better BC. Of course, the kicker there is I can’t use a 5.56 can. For the purposes of this discussion, my primary consideration is "maximum point crosshairs, pull trigger" range. Silencer compatibility is a secondary, but nonzero consideration. That's rather counterintuitive, having a greater velocity from the 6 than the 22. |
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I’ve considered adding a 22 ARC since I already load for 5.56/223 and have a stock pile of bullets and powder. I shoot 6.5 Grendel so all I’d need is a 22 ARC barrel since I have extra bolts and magazines. I looked at the load data comparing the 22 ARC to 223 Remington on Hodgdon. ***22 ARC Hodgdon data 24” barrel*** 90 grain A-Tip, CFE223, 2753 85 grain Ber. Hybrid, CFE223, 2854 80 grain Sierra BTHP, Lever, 2896 77 grain Nosler RDF, CFE223, 2978 75 grain ELD-M, CFE223, 3074 69 grain SMK, CFE223, 3204 62 grain SFT, SCIR, CFE223, 3309 62 grain ELD/VT, CFE223, 3417, A2520 3418 55 grain V-Max, CFE223, 3460, A2520 3469 ***Hodgdon 223 Remington data 24” barrel*** 90 grain Sierra HPBT, A2520, 2586 82 grain Berger, Staball 6.5, 2675 80 grain Sierra BTHP, CFE223, 2812 77 grain Sierra MK, CFE223, 2811 75 grain BTHP, A2520, 2863 73 grain ELD-M, A2520, 2999 70 grain Speer SP, BLc2, 2924 69 grain Sierra MK, CFE223, 3029 68 grain Horn. BTHP, A2520, 3031 62 grain SFT SCIR, CFE223, 3110 62 grain ELD/VT, CFE223, 3149, A2520, 3176 55 grain V-Max, A2520, 3207 |
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I used the Hornady Ballistic calculator and their bullet/load library where I compared the 62 grain ELD/VT 22 ARC to the 55 grain V-Max. A better comparison would be 62 grain ELD/VT in 223 but that wasn’t an option. I will add that data later but for now I usually shoot 55 grain varmint bullets (vMax or Blitz Kings) in 223 R. Using a 250 yard zero with 2.75” height over bore scope the 22 ARC is +1.9” at 150 yards, zero at 250, 300 yards -2.7”, 325 yards -4.6”, 350 yards -6.7”. Using 250 yard zero with 223 Remington 150 yards +2.4” 250 yard zero, 300 yards -3.5”, 325 yards -6”, 350 yards -8.9”. Energy with 22 ARC is better and less wind drift because of higher BC but negated some if using the same bullet. |
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Comparing the 22 ARC to the 223 Remington using the 62 grain ELD/VT I used 3300 FPS in the 22 ARC and 3150 FPS with the 223 Remington with scope height of 2.75”. with the same 250 yard zero. The 223 Remington at 150 yards is +2.2”, 250 yard zero, 300 yards -3”, 325 yards -5.1”, 350 yards, -7.5”. At 350 yards 2340 FPS, 753 Ft Lbs energy, time of flight .3866. The 22 ARC at 3300 FPS at 150 yards +1.9”, 250 yard zero, 300 yards -2.7”, 325 yards -4.6” 350 yards -6.7”. At 350 yards 2450 FPS, 826 FT Lbs of energy, time of flight .3697 second. The 22 ARC provides the ability to use longer, heavier, higher BC bullets in the AR-15 compared to the 223 Remington. With varmint bullets the 22 ARC gains 150-200 FPS over the 223 Remington. The 22 ARC is a little flatter shooting than the 223 Remington but only you can decide if it is worth adding another cartridge. Any time you step away from the 5.56/223 in the AR-15 there isn’t as much corporare knowledge in the other cartridges like 224 Valkyrie, 22 ARC, 6 ARC, 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel. There is a learning curve when adopting any of these cartridges. |
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