Looking to give these projectiles a try in the coming months in a 22" bolt action rifle. Anyone care to share their experience in gas or bolt 6mm ARC with this 80 grain projectile. Especially interested in bolt gun load data experience, though don't shy away from sharing gas gun experience as well w factory loads & reloads. What have you got?
6mm ARC & 80 gr ELD-VT's Gas & bolt gun
- Thread starter 17Loony
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DoubleLungRage
Well-known member
I've read mixed reviews on the ELD-VTs.
I shoot the 75gr vmaxs out of both of my bolt 6mm arc's. They are accurate and do great on coyotes and cats.
I shoot the 75gr vmaxs out of both of my bolt 6mm arc's. They are accurate and do great on coyotes and cats.
I'll keep the 75's in mind. How hard are you pushing the 75's? Gas or bolt guns?
DoubleLungRage
Well-known member
I've never shot them through a chrono. The company that I buy them from advertises them right under 3,000fps with a 18'' barrel.
Sounds like Hornady offers Some Bolt action data in there app format loading data.Personally I have not done a app as of yet. My take away is the Gas gun data happens to achieve as high of velocity as the Bolt data. As it works out LVR CFE223 & A2520 are some of the propellants that offer top velocity in a gas gun. Top end loads seem to be compressed to a point that increasing charge weight with these propellants may not be a good option for bolt action pressures due to volume limitations. Look into this & feel free to correct me if I am on the wrong track here.
I am looking forward to getting out & trying the propellants mentioned above, as my barrel tends to reach velocity & pressure at slightly lower charges than book. This barrel may do well with max book Gas gun data with LVR & CFE 223 along w a few other lower velocity options.
MPFD
Well-known member
I have used both 75 Vmax and 87 hpbt with 8208, Lever and IMR3031.
27 grains of 3031 and a 75 grain Vamx got me to 3000 fps from a 16" gas gun and was fairly easy on the brass. I'm sure you could push it faster, but it shot really well.
27 grains of 3031 and a 75 grain Vamx got me to 3000 fps from a 16" gas gun and was fairly easy on the brass. I'm sure you could push it faster, but it shot really well.
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DoubleLungRage
Well-known member
As you see, there are guys on here that can answer those questions. I do not reload.
I do know that there are two SAAMI specs for the 6mm arc. One for gas guns and one for bolt guns. I have yet to find a "factory" loading that is loaded with the bolt gun data. Whenever I asked Druid Hill and others they said they did not want to take on the liability of a +p load.
wolverines
Well-known member
That would be spot on with the Hornady (gas gun) data with the 75gr vmax and 18" barrel. I went all in on the 65s and bought several pounds of Xterminator. I see there's data for that powder and the 75s that are 3000fps at max. I think I'm gonna try them if/when I find some bullets at my local shop. No rush, still have a bunch of 65s loaded I need to shoot.
Hodgdon Gas gun Data will do fine for starting data for our bolt guns. The Gas gun data may leave room for upping charge weight in the event that case capacity allows a heavier charge.
Today was the end of a warmer weather stretch for us. Think we had temps above 30 deg Fahrenheit. Coming 4 days will be bitter cold, so I opted to get out & try a few loads to get an idea what I think of the 80 gr ELD VT.
Just did 6 rounds each with upper end gas gun load data. Tried Benchmark, CFE 223, IMR 8208, Lever evolution & H4895. Think I ruled out Benchmark & the other four propellants all show promise in terms of accuracy. No surprise Leverevolution offered top velocity. I have only reached 3111 FPS with the 80 gr ELD VT over LVR so far.
Made it out today testing out the 80 grain ELD -VT Factory 2nds today. Finished up with a few rounds in to a series of water jugs. Clearly this round is very much a varmint round, as 2 milk jugs full of water was all it took to stop the bullets I was testing. Impact velocity should have been running roughly 2630 in this case. Have not weighed the projectiles though I would classify weight retention at less than 20% of original weight found in the last jug.
Was also giving some Ginex primers a test with these loads. Lets just say the BR4's were yielding better results igniting the N133 powder in terms of consistency.
Was also giving some Ginex primers a test with these loads. Lets just say the BR4's were yielding better results igniting the N133 powder in terms of consistency.