New to 6arc questions

crapshoot

crapshoot

Well-known member
I have a 16" 223 carbine upper that i am looking to convert to 6 arc.
Im looking at a 16" 6 arc barrel with mid-length gas system . I know i will need (and already have) a mid-length gas tube and will probably get an adjustable gas block as well. I'll need to change out the carbine handguard for a 12"one.
Im assuming that with the carbine buffer tube that im probably better off upgrading to an H2 buffer?
Can i just replace the bolt to a 6.8/6arc bolt but use my existing bolt carrier?
And I'll need new magazines i presume.
Anything else?
 
You could do all that, but it would be easier to buy or build a 6 ARC upper. Then you have two uppers that work on the same lower.
Doing it in the way you described, you're only saving yourself the cost of an upper, a bolt carrier, and possibly a charging handle. All of which are pretty cheap.

However, to your questions...
- Yes to the adjustable gas block.
- You'll probably be fine with the standard buffer, especially if you tune gas with the gas block. Personally, I run H3 buffers in everything because it's all suppressed and I want that bolt to hold still as long as possible after I pull the trigger.
- Yes, your existing bolt carrier will work with a Grendel / ARC bolt. However, often it's not much more to buy a complete BCG. I recommend Nickel Boron or DLC for ease of cleaning.
- Yes, you need new magazines. I like ASC mags. When you search, look for 6.5 Grendel mags. They are the same mag, but not everyone has added the "ARC" to their compatibility descriptions.
 
I haven't shot this gun/upper since i SBRd my other lower. Everything else i run is 10" or shorter and is run suppressed. Besides, this was a franken upper built with all used parts bought off ar15.com and has a birdcage flash hider that never gets removed.
It wont be missed any. The 6ARC would be used unsuppressed and as a short range deer/antelope gun.
 
This is a super budget build since I'm such a cheap ass. Was looking at the BCA 16" with midlength gas system (because i already have a midlength gad tube.
 
MPFD said:
I'd look at Ballistic advantage over BCA. Why take a chance on shooting $1+ a shot ammo into patterns...
Click to expand...
Because in from Vegas and like to gamble, besides being a tight ass.

Online research says BA barrels are just as much a gamble and only cost more.
 
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crapshoot said:
Because in from Vegas and like to gamble, besides being a tight ass.

Online research says BA barrels are just as much a gamble and only cost more.
Click to expand...
Actually every barrel is a gamble.... and being a tight arse myself I lean toward the one that gives the highest probability of my desired results.
Now is that BCA or BA ? I don't know. It maybe a wash, just talking (using) those two only between the offerings available.
The BCA maybe a great buy and offering just not enough personal experience with them to state either way.

Heck go for it I'm sure it will send the bullet out the muzzle, now how it groups welll... Worst case is your not happy with it. Best you get a "hummer" which is what we all want. It may fit your desires to a TEE.
 
crapshoot said:
Because in from Vegas and like to gamble, besides being a tight ass.

Online research says BA barrels are just as much a gamble and only cost more.
Click to expand...
I bet you can find 20 bad BCA barrels for every one BA. The 6 ARC community currently is high jacked by Proof fanboys. I've sent 4 BCA barrels back, never a single Ballistic advantage has ever needed replaced and I've bought double digits numbers worth of barrels from them. My 20" 6 Arc BA barrel shoots 3/4-1/2 MOA depending on the load, and my 12.5" grendel BA hanson barrel shoots even better, 5.56, 6.5 creedmoor, 224 valk, .308 all BA and sub MOA.
 
I've been a harsh critic of Ballistic Advantage over the years, ONLY on their .223/5.56 barrels having returned three.

I have the Ballistic Advantage 18" RLG 6mm ARC and 22 ARC and they both shoots great (sub MOA), as do the other NON .223/5.56 Ballistic Advantage barrels I have. I can recommend Ballistic Advantage for a 6mm ARC barrel.

Besides, they have a MOA guarantee that you can take advantage of in the unlikely event it end up a turd... but I highly doubt that will be the case with a non .223/5.56 barrel.
 
Bowhntr6pt said:
I've been a harsh critic of Ballistic Advantage over the years, ONLY on their .223/5.56 barrels having returned three.

I have the Ballistic Advantage 18" RLG 6mm ARC and 22 ARC and they both shoots great (sub MOA), as do the other NON .223/5.56 Ballistic Advantage barrels I have. I can recommend Ballistic Advantage for a 6mm ARC barrel.

Besides, they have a MOA guarantee that you can take advantage of in the unlikely event it end up a turd... but I highly doubt that will be the case with a non .223/5.56 barrel.
Click to expand...
That's odd. I've had great luck with modern series 416 barrels in 5.56. I shoot a 77 smk hand load in them and regularly shoot it out to 600 on targets as small as 4-5"
 
I would stay away from BCA for sure.
I went the cheap route and bought a BCA 6Arc Upper. Thing was junk and when I went to rebarrel it cause I liked the Side charging feature the barrel nut was on so tight it ruined the upper, the barrel nut and the barrel stud when trying to get the barrel nut off.
 
MPFD said:
That's odd. I've had great luck with modern series 416 barrels in 5.56. I shoot a 77 smk hand load in them and regularly shoot it out to 600 on targets as small as 4-5"
Click to expand...

I believe that.

I have two BA barrels right now that are .223/5.56 and they shoot pretty good, one 18" SPR and one 16" SS fluted... like already mentioned, you just don't know for sure what you will get when it comes to the .223/5.56 offerings. BA is just down the road from me and they were once a fantastic option... I have no idea what happened to them. Maybe they just went through a spell with a certain maker/process, who knows.

Some years ago I had two of the Ops cut 18" SPR barrels, they shot 10"-12" and worse at 100 yards. In fact, I damaged my AEM5 suppressor and had to send it back to Ron Allen to get it fixed. When I sent both barrels back, I asked MULTIPLE times for BA to advise what they found but they never did. Some people also have issues with their customer service but each time I reached out they were responsive... all in all I replaced three barrels w/o issue. I did a pretty long and detailed write up with pics on ARFCOM but that thread is long gone.

I've had no issues with their .308, 6.5G, 6mm ARC, or 22 ARC barrels, all those shoot within expectations.
 
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