6 Arc or Chop my .243

[Notch Johnson]

Since getting my suppressor, I'm in the process of getting my rifles threaded. I currently have a Ruger M77 .243. In order to have it threaded, with enough shoulder, it will need to be cut from 22" down to about 17"-18". I won't be selling the rifle either way, as I shot my first deer with it. However, my daughter is old enough to hunt deer this year and is quite recoil shy, hence needing a suppressed gun. Question is, does the loss in 4" of barrel on the .243 lead to enough velocity loss to warrant buying a 6 Arc upper instead? I have the lower and would be willing to take the chance on an inexpensive BCA upper.

 

[crapshoot]

Do both.

 

[coyote_thumper]

3 options:

1. If you want to try out a 6mm arc and are looking for an excuse, then sure, go for it.

2. Cutting the 243 barrel down to 17-18" should work, if you want a short rifle.

3. There are ways that you can thread your 243 and maintain barrel length. With custom cut threads you can sometimes get away with a minimal shoulder. Or you could get an adapter that threads over the barrel and has an internal shoulder that centers the adapter on the front face of the barrel. The adapter then extends past the barrel and can be threaded for your suppressor. The outer diameter of the adapter can be as large as you need to provide enough shoulder.

Is your suppressor 1/2x28 or 5/8x24 threads?

 

[Notch Johnson]

Do both.

I figured that would be the response I would get on here.

 

[crapshoot]

I doubt you'll notice enough change in velocity to effect killing proficiency of the 243 unless you are shooting over 500 yrds.
Just re-sight and adjust dope.

 

[Notch Johnson]

3 options:

1. If you want to try out a 6mm arc and are looking for an excuse, then sure, go for it.

2. Cutting the 243 barrel down to 17-18" should work, if you want a short rifle.

3. There are ways that you can thread your 243 and maintain barrel length. With custom cut threads you can sometimes get away with a minimal shoulder. Or you could get an adapter that threads over the barrel and has an internal shoulder that centers the adapter on the front face of the barrel. The adapter then extends past the barrel and can be threaded for your suppressor. The outer diameter of the adapter can be as large as you need to provide enough shoulder.

Is your suppressor 1/2x28 or 5/8x24 threads?

It is 5/8", but I just ordered a 1/2" thread plate for my AB suppressor. I have been using 1/2" to 5/8" adapter, for my other guns, which I don't like messing with. The 18" range is where I can get close to .600", which is what I understand is necessary for 1/2" threads. I don't think I want to mess with another adapter that would go over the barrel. Being lazy, as I'm sure I can look it up, but would a .243 with a 18" tube be similar velocities to a 6 ARC in the 18" to 20" range?

 

[coyote_thumper]

A quick search says a 87 gr vmax from 6mm arc with 18" barrel is 2680 fps. And a 87gr vmax from a 243 win with 24" barrel is 3240 fps.

With reloading you could probably skew those numbers a bit.

Rule of thumb for barrel length and velocity for barrels in the range of 16-26" is you get 50 fps per inch of barrel.

A 22" barrel 243 already reduces the 3240 fps to 3140 fps.

So cutting a 22" 243 barrel down to 18" would reduce the velocity by about 200 fps. So you'd be 2940fps from a 243, vs 2680 fps from a 6mm arc.

 

[DoubleLungRage]

If you aren't stuck on the 6 ARC in an AR, buy a Howa Mini. They are very affordable and very good rifles. Buy the 20'' version. If you want to shoot coyotes with it, buy some 75gr vmax and go to town. If you want to shoot deer with it, there's a few different factory rounds good for that too.

I haven't shot any deer with mine yet, I plan on doing that next week, but with coyotes man, I love it.

One of the main things that I have grown to LOVE about the 6 arc is that it is VERY quiet whenever suppressed.

 

[SupressYourself]

... would a .243 with a 18" tube be similar velocities to a 6 ARC in the 18" to 20" range?

Nope. Given the same barrel length and bullet, the 243 is always going to be a few hundred FPS faster. It's just a function of burning like 25% more powder, however, at the cost of increased recoil.
Yes, at a certain point, a long 6 ARC may match a short 243 Win, but that's part of the trade-off.

I would get a 6 ARC, but don't cheap out on the barrel. I know opinions are mixed, but I wouldn't buy a thing from BCA.

 

[Notch Johnson]

A quick search says a 87 gr vmax from 6mm arc with 18" barrel is 2680 fps. And a 87gr vmax from a 243 win with 24" barrel is 3240 fps.

With reloading you could probably skew those numbers a bit.

Rule of thumb for barrel length and velocity for barrels in the range of 16-26" is you get 50 fps per inch of barrel.

A 22" barrel 243 already reduces the 3240 fps to 3140 fps.

So cutting a 22" 243 barrel down to 18" would reduce the velocity by about 200 fps. So you'd be 2940fps from a 243, vs 2680 fps from a 6mm arc.

Thanks for doing the search for me. Makes sense.

 

[Notch Johnson]

If you aren't stuck on the 6 ARC in an AR, buy a Howa Mini. They are very affordable and very good rifles. Buy the 20'' version. If you want to shoot coyotes with it, buy some 75gr vmax and go to town. If you want to shoot deer with it, there's a few different factory rounds good for that too.

I haven't shot any deer with mine yet, I plan on doing that next week, but with coyotes man, I love it.

One of the main things that I have grown to LOVE about the 6 arc is that it is VERY quiet whenever suppressed.

I hadn't thought about the suppressed difference. That would be a much nicer for my kids.

 

[Notch Johnson]

Nope. Given the same barrel length and bullet, the 243 is always going to be a few hundred FPS faster. It's just a function of burning like 25% more powder, however, at the cost of increased recoil.
Yes, at a certain point, a long 6 ARC may match a short 243 Win, but that's part of the trade-off.

I would get a 6 ARC, but don't cheap out on the barrel. I know opinions are mixed, but I wouldn't buy a thing from BCA.

Is there a decent barrel in the $250-$300 range? I probably won't spring for a Proof barrel.

 

[TXCOONDOG]

I have four 243's and many suppressors. I have an 18" that I seldom use because of the increase in flash, suppressor get much hotter and doesn't suppress as well as my 22 & 24". I also just built a 22 CM using a Solus Action and 20" X-Caliber Carbon Fiber wrapped SS barrel and it really heats up my 6.5", 8.25" & 9" suppressors so I run my NOMAX 33 with a 5.56 end cap, it's a much larger (made for 33 XC and 338 LM) with greater internal volume just to get the suppression I wanted.

No way I would cut down a M77 that short just to run a suppressor....I would buy or build something!!!!!

I built a 6x68 SPC with an 18" Black Hole barrel for my grandson, not only does it suppress better than my than the 18" 243 but it takes 23.5% less powder too.

In short, 6 or 22 ARC would be my choice for anything shorter than 20" and I'm building an AR in 22 ARC using an 18" Sattern barrel.

For deer and hogs my grandkids (age 6-13) use suppressed 16" AR's chambered in 6.8 SPC II.

PS: Not sure where you live, but if you can make your way over to me (near Houston Texas), I'm happy to let you see/hear the difference in open country and wooded areas.

 

[SupressYourself]

Is there a decent barrel in the $250-$300 range? I probably won't spring for a Proof barrel.

Black Hole Weaponry have been excellent for me. I've had several in both AR and bolt. IMO an 18" with Rifle-length gas would be a sweet shooter.
A Craddock RTR would be a good choice too. I have a 18" 22 ARC, and it's a solid 1 MOA gun (sometimes much better) with factory ammo.
Although I've not had one, X-Caliber is widely regarded as 'good for the money' too.

 

[Notch Johnson]

I have four 243's and many suppressors. I have an 18" that I seldom use because of the increase in flash, suppressor get much hotter and doesn't suppress as well as my 22 & 24". I also just built a 22 CM using a Solus Action and 20" X-Caliber Carbon Fiber wrapped SS barrel and it really heats up my 6.5", 8.25" & 9" suppressors so I run my NOMAX 33 with a 5.56 end cap, it's a much larger (made for 33 XC and 338 LM) with greater internal volume just to get the suppression I wanted.

No way I would cut down a M77 that short just to run a suppressor....I would buy or build something!!!!!

I built a 6x68 SPC with an 18" Black Hole barrel for my grandson, not only does it suppress better than my than the 18" 243 but it takes 23.5% less powder too.

In short, 6 or 22 ARC would be my choice for anything shorter than 20" and I'm building an AR in 22 ARC using an 18" Sattern barrel.

For deer and hogs my grandkids (age 6-13) use suppressed 16" AR's chambered in 6.8 SPC II.

PS: Not sure where you live, but if you can make your way over to me (near Houston Texas), I'm happy to let you see/hear the difference in open country and wooded areas.

That’s good to know. Thanks for the offer, but it would be a haul from Nebraska to TX, although I bet it’s a lot warmer there right now. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Notch Johnson]

Black Hole Weaponry have been excellent for me. I've had several in both AR and bolt. IMO an 18" with Rifle-length gas would be a sweet shooter.
A Craddock RTR would be a good choice too. I have a 18" 22 ARC, and it's a solid 1 MOA gun (sometimes much better) with factory ammo.
Although I've not had one, X-Caliber is widely regarded as 'good for the money' too.

Thanks. I have a BHW barrel on my .204. It has served me well. I’ll look at that first.

 

[Brandon Sneed]

Is there a decent barrel in the $250-$300 range? I probably won't spring for a Proof barrel.

In that price range, I'd say pick up a Satern Barrel, or purchase one from Midway under their Stoner line. I've had great success with Ballistic Advantage as well and will be within that price range.

And I'd definitely agree that if you wanna spend a little extra, XCal and BHW would be my choice there, and for cut rifled, Proof Stainless would be next.

 

[Notch Johnson]

I was pretty set on an Upper in 6 ARC, but after looking at the Howa Mini, that looks like it could be a sweet little gun. Any major issues with a Boyd stock, specifically their models with adjustable LOP? I see I can get the Howa Mini barreled action for about $400.

 

[TXCOONDOG]

I have a few Boyd' s. The only one that has an adjustable LOP is the AT-One and I've had it on a Savage Model 12 for 5 years or so now. No issues with any of mine.

Edit: Pic added

 

[coyotekilla83]

Bear creek uppers have done right by me, have a 1:7 223 16" & a 1:8 6.5g 20". For $200 you can't beat a Bear creek. They shoot too, that's the 6.5 during sight in.