User Panel
Posted: 9/18/2023 11:39:38 AM EDT
[Last Edit: SpeyRod]
My Google foo is weak and I am not finding a lot of load data. I just ordered a barrel and it’s time to buy components. I see Tac and Varget listed for 103 & 107’s. I have both of those in my stash. Are there any others that Shine in the arc? Any load data you care to share?
|
|
|
[#1]
If going for a gas gun and looking for velocity, Leverevolution is your friend! Others have used CFE as well, but I can’t speak to its performance.
Also, if going with a +2 gas system, you may have some cycling issues with Varget. |
|
|
[#2]
CFE 223 and Lever are going to give you the best velocity, by a good 50-100fps if I remember correctly. Tac and Varget should work fine, just slower.
|
|
|
[#3]
Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: If going for a gas gun and looking for velocity, Leverevolution is your friend! Others have used CFE as well, but I can’t speak to its performance. Also, if going with a +2 gas system, you may have some cycling issues with Varget. View Quote Did go +2. I’ll pick up some leverevolution. How is it for accuracy? |
|
|
[#4]
|
|
|
[#5]
Originally Posted By SpeyRod: Did go +2. I’ll pick up some leverevolution. How is it for accuracy? View Quote I haven’t loaded much on this cartridge yet but from what I’ve heard, people seem to have the best accuracy pushing it towards max loads. There’s a mega thread on Snipershide for load data also. |
|
|
[#6]
|
|
|
[#7]
Originally Posted By SpeyRod: Did go +2. I’ll pick up some leverevolution. How is it for accuracy? View Quote Accuracy has been great, but I’m just now getting into cooler temps since really loading for it. I know LVR and CFE are temp sensitive. Brass can be hard to come by unless you order starline. Hornady match 108’s shoot great in the Craddock barrels. I use Varget for my bolt gun 6arc. It shoots very well. |
|
|
[Last Edit: SpeyRod]
[#8]
Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Accuracy has been great, but I’m just now getting into cooler temps since really loading for it. I know LVR and CFE are temp sensitive. Brass can be hard to come by unless you order starline. Hornady match 108’s shoot great in the Craddock barrels. I use Varget for my bolt gun 6arc. It shoots very well. View Quote Hornady brass hasn’t been my favorite but I’ll try to find some. I’ll also order some starline. Thanks! |
|
|
[#9]
Gunstop Reloading Has Starline and Hornady
Here is code for 15% off BackHalf0923 |
|
jme and I am a NRA Endowment Member
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. R W Emerson |
[#10]
Originally Posted By rn22723: Gunstop Reloading Has Starline and Hornady Here is code for 15% off BackHalf0923 View Quote Thanks for the lead. I added a couple boxes and tried to check out with the code. Unfortunately it doesn’t work on the brass. Still good to know where to find it. |
|
|
[#11]
Some one pointed out to me that the brass for 6 arc was almost as expensive as some of the loaded ammo. So I went to the local shop and bought some ammo. Turns out the Black box 105 hpbt ammo is $.31 more than the brass. I’ll be shooting factory to build my brass supply.
|
|
|
[#12]
Originally Posted By SpeyRod: Some one pointed out to me that the brass for 6 arc was almost as expensive as some of the loaded ammo. So I went to the local shop and bought some ammo. Turns out the Black box 105 hpbt ammo is $.31 more than the brass. I’ll be shooting factory to build my brass supply. View Quote That's how Hornady seems to have priced both 6.5G in the past and 6.5G and 6ARC now. I bought 600rds of 123gr 6.5G American Gunner back in the good ol' days for less than 600pcs of virgin brass. |
|
|
[#13]
Originally Posted By towerofpower94: That's how Hornady seems to have priced both 6.5G in the past and 6.5G and 6ARC now. I bought 600rds of 123gr 6.5G American Gunner back in the good ol' days for less than 600pcs of virgin brass. View Quote I remember those 200 round packs. I burned through a bunch of them in the Grendel. Still loading on that brass. Miss those prices. |
|
|
[#14]
Just ordered 500 of the Starline 6 arc brass. Back ordered but the barrel isn’t here yet so no worries.
|
|
|
[#15]
Found Leverevolution and CFE223 at cabelas today. I am ready to start loading. Cabelas has the Berger 108’s. Has anyone tried those?
|
|
|
[#16]
Ordered KM mandrels to set neck tension and for neck turning. Hoping to see the brass before the barrel to give me time to work it.
|
|
|
[#17]
I havent reloaded 108's yet, but LVR with 105 HPBT hornady works in my ar rifle. CFE223 didnt work for me.
|
|
|
[#18]
Not much loading data out there accept Hornady
Leverevolution and CFE223 can be temp sensitive Varget, 4895, more temp stable but you won’t get the speed Hoping for some other companies like Nosler and Sierra to publish load data. |
|
|
[Last Edit: SpeyRod]
[#19]
Loaded ladder tests for the 107 smk over cfe and lvr. This is for my 12.5” Faxon not the Bartlien barrel I am waiting for.
It will be a while before I can shoot them thanks to having c4-c7 fused on Monday. Still it’s something to look forward to. |
|
|
[#20]
Ladder test in the sbr was good and accuracy was great. Shot it at 600yds because that range was open. The top end of both cfe223 and LVR tightened up significantly. The cfe223 load topped out at 2,268 and the LVR load topped out at 2,209 with no pressure signs.
I have loaded up 3 steps of 5 each at the top to see what kind of es and sd I get. These should also give me an idea of the accuracy potential as well. |
|
|
[#21]
Finally starting to load for the Bartlien barreled Arc. Starting with 87 vmax’s, 105 eld match Berger’s and 107 SMK’s. All will be over LVR just because.
The 105’s & 107’s are very similar in ogive length to the lands. The vmax’s are ridiculously short at 1.155” to the lands. If they shoot well I won’t care but they look weird. The new Garmin Xero landed today so tomorrow I will be shooting over it. Looking forward to finding a load, hopefully in short orde. On Easter I’ll hide the eggs for the hunt and then set up and shoot 500 & 800 yds from the house before everyone get here. |
|
|
[Last Edit: SpeyRod]
[#22]
6Arc workup w/Lvr.
Best of: 87 Vmax Load 2 2,914fps, 12.0 sd Attached File Berger 105 eld target load 2 2,631.6 fps, 3.9 sd Attached File The target with 107 SMK’s on right. That load needs some work. Attached File |
|
|
[Last Edit: SpeyRod]
[#23]
I wasn’t happy with the speed of the 107smk’s over 25.8 of Varget. I pushed it a little bit and was able to gain @ 40fps. The sd came down with the heavier charge. Still not overly happy with it I tried the same bullet over CFE223. I got a solid 100fps gain and the sd was cut in half. Pretty happy with the load so tested it at 600 yds with the other loads I have worked up. Conditions were rain with a 3-8mph gusty wind from 7-9 o’clock.
Attached File Attached File Attached File The cfe load, only 4 rounds Attached File |
|
|
[#24]
Work up of the 105 Scenar and 109 Berger LRH bullets are done. Here is how it went. All in virgin Starline brass with 205mar primers seated .02 off lands.
105 Scenar Varget 24.5-25.7, 2,319.5 - 2,462.6, 2,360 Brass looks good. 105 Scenar LVR 26.2-27.4, 2,435.6-2,569.7, expected 2,450 last 5 in .5 moa. More testing! 109 LRH Varget 23.6-25, 2.266.7-2,389.7, expected 2,350 good accuracy 109 LRH CFE223 26.1-27.3, 2,357.9-2,442.8, expected 2,386 good accuracy Now I need to test for groups. The 109 at .02 off was too long for magazine loading. I’ll have to test it shorter. I like where this is going. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
|
|
[#25]
Accuracy testing day. This is two 5 shot groups with each 27.4 LVR, 25.0 Varget and CFE223. The last three groups definitely show signs of a magazine issue that I have had crop up. I need to test some different magazines. I am pretty happy with the 105’s over LVR running 2,567 and the 109’s over Varget running 2,353.
Attached File |
|
|
[#26]
Shot the 105 scenar load at 1,000 last weekend. If I wasn’t walking these rounds onto the dot this would have been an amazing group. Still 1 moa with my adjusting hold. The round on top of the dot is 338 Norma.
Attached File |
|
|
[#27]
Testing Berger 109 hybrid over heavier charges of Varget. First group of the day was the best. Last group would have beat it but I think I’m having magazine issues. I need to try and isolate the magazines the may be an issue.
Attached File Attached File That last round blew a .446 moa group up. |
|
|
[#28]
Turns out the magazine issue was a loader issue. I was being greedy and trying to use all the available length. Unfortunately the magazines are not all perfect in their dimensions and I was getting bullet drag. I shortened the coal up .01 and the problem was gone.
Then my 109Lrht load wasn’t as accurate as what I wanted. Decided to run a test on a clean barrel and BINGO! Second group I shot was .48moa. I’m taking it out to 1,000 this am to see if that will hold up at range. |
|
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.