6mm ARC

6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge
Place of originUnited States
Production history
ManufacturerHornady
Produced2020–present
Specifications
Parent case.220 Russian/6.5mm Grendel
Case typeRimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter6.18 mm (0.243 in)
Neck diameter6.96 mm (0.274 in)
Shoulder diameter10.924 mm (0.4301 in)
Base diameter11.201 mm (0.4410 in)
Rim diameter11.20 mm (0.441 in)
Rim thickness1.5 mm (0.059 in)
Case length37.85 mm (1.490 in)
Overall length57.40 mm (2.260 in)
Case capacity2.20 cm3 (34.0 gr H2O)
Rifling twist190.5 mm (1:7.50 in)
Primer typeSmall rifle
Maximum pressure (C.I.P.)380.00 MPa (55,114 psi)
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)358.53 MPa (52,000 psi)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
6.67 g (103 gr) ELD-X Precision Hunter 853.44 m/s (2,800.0 ft/s) 2,429 J (1,792 ft⋅lbf)
6.80 g (105 gr) BTHP BLACK 838.2 m/s (2,750 ft/s) 2,388 J (1,761 ft⋅lbf)
7.00 g (108 gr) ELD Match 838.2 m/s (2,750 ft/s) 2,459 J (1,814 ft⋅lbf)
Test barrel length: 610 mm (24 in)
Source(s):

The 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge (6×38mm), or 6mm ARC for short, is a 6 mm (.243) caliber intermediate rifle cartridge introduced by Hornady in 2020, as a low-recoil, high-accuracy long-range cartridge, designed for use in the M16 platform at request of a specialized group within the U.S. DoD for its multipurpose combat rifle program. When compared to the military 5.56mm NATO platform, 6mm ARC is dimensionally incompatible regarding barrel, bolt and magazine components.