Now, that obviously needs some explaining.
These matches test the ability of both you and your equipment to hit small targets way out there.
Its frustrating, challenging and fun.
Is this the king of long-range shooting? The author offers compelling reasons to support the idea.
But distance is only one factor in the challenge of making impacts.
Most of the shots are fired while trying to get steady off improvised props.
Targets are placed randomly all over the desert and surrounding hills.
The “Baby BeAR” roars. Here, the author engages a target with one of his modified Springfield SAINT 6mm ARC rifles.
The sizes of the targets vary, and distances are not evenly graduated.
So, think more like 562 yards rather than 550 or 575.
These matches are designed for and ruled by the magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle.
Here the author is shooting a modified SAINT Victor .308 rechambered in6.5 Creedmoorduring a Precision Rifle Series competition.
But there is a division specifically for the semi-auto platform called Gas Gun.
This has been my passion of late.
(Learn gun builds for PRS.)
The author engages targets with his Springfield Armory SAINT he chambered for the .224 Valkyrie cartridge.
But Why Not … ?
Before you hit me with, My .223 can hit all those targets!, let me explain.
Remember, if the spotter cant confirm the hit, you dont get it.
The 6mm ARC has a lot of power compared to the .223. A 106-gr. TAP round is shown here fired into ballistic gelatin.
So, what do you do?
Remember those options I just mentioned?
6.5 Grendel can launch 130-gr.
All three of Leatham’s “Little BeARs” in 6mm ARC, including the 19-lb. beast on the far right.
bullets of high ballistic co-efficient (BC), but it is very slow but still better than .223.
The .224 Valkyrie is a vast improvement, sending very high BC bullets at reasonable velocity.
Its one of my favorites and has stretched the AR-15s effectiveness to distances much farther than the .223 can.
As the author demonstrates — both in the article and on the range — the 6mm ARC is a formidable cartridge.
Still, more would be nice.
Those bullets reduce both bullet drop and wind drift at longer ranges.
This gives you great ballistics with the lightest possible recoil.
So, recoil matters.
I always had to go to a 7.62 AR to get the needed ballistics.
Enter the Hornady 6mm ARC.
The 6mm ARC pushes small frame AR-15 long-range capability to new heights with factory available ammo.
You get a 103- to 108-gr.
bullet going 2,750 fps out of a 22 barreled AR-15.
This is no small feat.
The 6ARC has legit long-range capability.
Ill tell you now that I am an ARC convert.
All of this makes the 6mm ARC the best AR magazine-fed round for long-range use in my opinion.
My Setup
Let me give you my basic recipe for my 6mm ARC rifle.
I start with aSpringfield Armory SAINT Victor.
This gets me most of what I need right out of the box.
Our SAINT Victor AR .223/5.56 line of rifles come with 16 barrels that function well and are very accurate.
When the basic gun you start with works, everything else is a snap.
Thats what good receivers, handguards and bolt carrier groups do for you.
Interchangeability is very nice.
This will give you a multi role platform.
I have done it both ways with great results.
Story Time with Uncle Rob
Let me tell you about The Three BeARs.
It has a 1 in 7.5 twist and prefers to eat Hornady 108-gr.
It was my first ARC and has the most experience.
The lower is fitted with a TriggerTech Diamond trigger.
This one prefers the Hornady 103-gr.
ELDX hunting load and has an ATC ARGOLD flat trigger installed.
Papa BeAR is the beast (LOL) of the family.
Papa BeARs barrel is about as big and long as is prudent for an AR-15.
Its very possibly too big.
Since AR 15s have great standardization, many parts should be interchangeable.
Ive found that a good upper fits perfectly on Springfields SAINT lowers.
Papa shoots all 3 loads OK but is best with the 108 ELDM Match.
Hes not everyones cup of tea, but a great shooter and very interesting experiment.
This lower also sports an American Trigger Corporation AR Gold flat trigger.
All three of my BeARs have many things in common.
The most important part regarding accuracy is the barrel.
Since the 6mm ARC uses a larger than .223/5.56 rim diameter, it needs a new, larger-faced bolt.
I have switched to the appropriate JP 6mm ARC bolts installed into the factory bolt carriers.
Again, it is nice to have quality parts to begin with.
All currently have Magpul PRS Gen3 stocks on them with the standard Springfield SAINT carbine length buffer tubes.
This is a personal preference for a PRS-jot down gun and is not required.
They all use the standard SAINT springs and buffers, lowers, grips and pins and things.
All of my ARs for long-range work have ARCA rails installed on the nice long SAINT Victor handguards.
This is easy to do with the M-Lok slots that come standard on the Victor free-float handguards.
This allows easy mounting and positioning of bipods and mounting the gun to tripods.
I swap them around amongst my 5.56 AR and 7.62 AR SAINT rifles all the time.
Currently, Baby BeAR has an ATACR 4-1642, Mama an ATACR 4-1650 and Papa an ATACR 7-3556.
These are all easy to sight in and zero the knobs.
As I stated earlier, 6mm ARC isthe kingof long-range AR guns.
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