I have a reloading question
I have a reloading question
I have decided to reload for my bolt action bullpup. I have an X-Caliber, 6 Arc,18 inch, 5R rifling, with a 7.5 twist barrel. I have had great success with Sierra Game King bullets and contacted them to find what the best bullet would be, its their #4100 6 90TGK. My problem is, though I can find load data for the this bullet in a bolt action the barrel they use is a 24 inch. I feel a faster powder is in order for the shorter barrel. Do any of you have experience with a shorter barreled 6 Arc or have a ballistic calculator to help find a load for this rifle/barrel combo?
Re: I have a reloading question
Use the same powders as you would for the 24" barrel.Freezer wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 10:25 pm I have decided to reload for my bolt action bullpup. I have an X-Caliber, 6 Arc,18 inch, 5R rifling, with a 7.5 twist barrel. I have had great success with Sierra Game King bullets and contacted them to find what the best bullet would be, its their #4100 6 90TGK. My problem is, though I can find load data for the this bullet in a bolt action the barrel they use is a 24 inch. I feel a faster powder is in order for the shorter barrel. Do any of you have experience with a shorter barreled 6 Arc or have a ballistic calculator to help find a load for this rifle/barrel combo?
The load manuals for almost all bottle neck cartridge will have a variety of powders to choose from, and some will burn faster and some will burn slower.
See what powders you have that match the 24" rifle data and go play
"The Untactical"


Re: I have a reloading question
At most you’re gonna lose 180-ish FPS from what the 24” load is doing. That gun, your ranges….meh. You’ll never know the difference.
“The shepherd slaughters more of the flock than the wolf ever will.”
Re: I have a reloading question
I used to be able to buy sample packs of powders , IIRC they were 4oz bottles. I don't shoot as much as I used to and don't want to spend $50 for a pound of powder I won't use. One powder that shows some promise that I have in stock is Varget...but. Just looking for someone with a little real world experience with this cartridge in a bolt gun.
Re: I have a reloading question
No experience with 6ARC yet, but I have played with my 6.5 Grendel a bit. 2000MR, H4895, Varget, Benchmark, and IMR 3031 have been my usual choices. I am not sure how well those powders cross over with the 6ARC though.
Re: I have a reloading question
We’ve seen pretty good velocity and accuracy in 6ARC using Leverevolution powder in bolt gun and AR loads. I load 75gr Vmax for coyotes and 106 ELD-X for pigs.
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JunkCollector
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Re: I have a reloading question
Ernie probably plays with that in a speciality pistol.Freezer wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 10:38 am I used to be able to buy sample packs of powders , IIRC they were 4oz bottles. I don't shoot as much as I used to and don't want to spend $50 for a pound of powder I won't use. One powder that shows some promise that I have in stock is Varget...but. Just looking for someone with a little real world experience with this cartridge in a bolt gun.
Go by what he recommended
He has the real world experience
Re: I have a reloading question
If you have Varget, try Varget. A bird in hand beats two in the bush. Do you have a chronograph?
“The shepherd slaughters more of the flock than the wolf ever will.”
Re: I have a reloading question
A very old one! I haven't done a load work-up in years. I have my set recipes I worked up years ago, the last was with Varget for my 308. IMR 4350 works for my 280 and 6.5-06. I have IMR 4227 for my XP-100 but that's a no no for the Arc. I'm ordering a tapped case for my bullet comparator and have enough once fired brass to get a good test base. I will do this once and that's what this gun will shoot. When I have to spend $50+ on an experiment I will choose between the highest velocity and most accurate load data. When I work up the load it's accuracy first. Once I have a load chosen I put it through my Chrono and then my nephew's new one.
Oops I did a load work up with Varget for my wife's 6.5 CM. I started low and worked up. Max load shot best and that's where it sits.
Re: I have a reloading question
Throw some Varget in the case and see what happens.
“The shepherd slaughters more of the flock than the wolf ever will.”