6mm ARC ballistics in one line: Hornady’s 108 gr ELD Match leaves a 24-inch test barrel at 2,750 fps with 1,813 ft-lb and still carries 1,971 fps and 931 ft-lb at 500 yards, with about 45 inches of drop from a 200-yard zero. From the 12.5, 16 and 18-inch barrels Chattahoochee Munitions uses, velocity is lower and drop and wind drift grow. Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures 6mm ARC firearms on the CM7S bolt action (18 and 12.5-inch) and the CM15 AR15 (16 and 18-inch), all with 1:7 twist barrels, and this page shows what to expect from each length.
Where These 6mm ARC Ballistics Come From
Chattahoochee Munitions does not load 6mm ARC ammunition, so it has no chronograph data of its own for this cartridge. The tables below use two kinds of numbers, and each table says which it is:
- Published factory figures: Hornady’s tables for the 108 gr ELD Match and 103 gr ELD-X Precision Hunter, from 24-inch test barrels with a 200-yard zero.
- Chattahoochee Munitions calculations: point-mass trajectories in a standard (ICAO) atmosphere, with a G7 ballistic coefficient fitted to Hornady’s published velocity table (0.274 for the 108 gr, 0.262 for the 103 gr), a 1.5-inch sight height, a 200-yard zero and a 10 mph full-value crosswind. Shorter-barrel muzzle velocities are an estimate of 30 fps lost per inch below 24 inches. Your rifle and lot of ammunition will differ, so confirm with your own chronograph and dope.
Cartridge dimensions and pressure follow the ANSI/SAAMI centerfire rifle standard.
6mm ARC Ballistics: 108 gr ELD Match (Published, 24-Inch)
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (200 yd zero) | Wind drift, 10 mph (calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 2,750 fps | 1,813 ft-lb | -1.5 in | 0 |
| 100 yd | 2,582 fps | 1,599 ft-lb | +1.9 in | 0.6 in |
| 200 yd | 2,421 fps | 1,405 ft-lb | 0 | 2.5 in |
| 300 yd | 2,265 fps | 1,230 ft-lb | -7.8 in | 5.9 in |
| 400 yd | 2,115 fps | 1,072 ft-lb | -22.4 in | 10.8 in |
| 500 yd | 1,971 fps | 931 ft-lb | -44.8 in | 17.5 in |
6mm ARC Ballistics: 103 gr ELD-X (Published, 24-Inch)
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (200 yd zero) | Wind drift, 10 mph (calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 2,800 fps | 1,793 ft-lb | -1.5 in | 0 |
| 100 yd | 2,623 fps | 1,573 ft-lb | +1.8 in | 0.6 in |
| 200 yd | 2,452 fps | 1,375 ft-lb | 0 | 2.6 in |
| 300 yd | 2,288 fps | 1,197 ft-lb | -7.6 in | 6.0 in |
| 400 yd | 2,130 fps | 1,038 ft-lb | -21.8 in | 11.1 in |
| 500 yd | 1,979 fps | 895 ft-lb | -43.7 in | 18.0 in |
6mm ARC Ballistics by Barrel Length (Calculated)
These Chattahoochee Munitions calculations show the 108 gr ELD Match from each barrel length CM offers, using the estimated muzzle velocities in the first column.
| Barrel (estimated muzzle velocity) | Energy at muzzle | 300 yd: velocity / energy / drop | 500 yd: velocity / energy / drop | Wind drift at 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-inch CM7S or CM15 (2,570 fps) | 1,584 ft-lb | 2,103 fps / 1,060 ft-lb / -9.1 in | 1,820 fps / 794 ft-lb / -52.2 in | 19.4 in |
| 16-inch CM15 (2,510 fps) | 1,511 ft-lb | 2,049 fps / 1,007 ft-lb / -9.6 in | 1,770 fps / 752 ft-lb / -55.0 in | 20.1 in |
| 12.5-inch CM7S (2,405 fps) | 1,387 ft-lb | 1,956 fps / 917 ft-lb / -10.6 in | 1,683 fps / 679 ft-lb / -60.5 in | 21.5 in |
The same calculation for the 103 gr ELD-X gives about 1,035 ft-lb at 300 yards from 18 inches, 983 ft-lb from 16 inches and 897 ft-lb from 12.5 inches. The 12.5-inch CM7S gives up roughly 165 fps against the 18-inch barrel and adds about 8 inches of drop at 500 yards, in a rifle about 6 inches shorter. See 6mm ARC barrel length.
What 6mm ARC Ballistics Mean in the Field
- Point-blank use: with a 200-yard zero from an 18-inch barrel, the 108 gr bullet rises about 2.3 inches at 100 yards and falls about 4 inches by 250 yards, so a center hold works on a deer’s chest out to roughly 250 yards.
- Wind: the high-BC 6 mm bullets drift less than 223 Remington match loads at the same distance. See 6mm ARC vs 223.
- Energy for deer: many hunters use about 1,000 ft-lb as a working guideline for deer. From an 18-inch barrel, the calculated 103 gr ELD-X keeps about that much near 300 yards. See 6mm ARC for deer.
- Steel past 500 yards: 6mm ARC stays supersonic well beyond 500 yards from these barrels, so it remains predictable on steel at distances where 223 bullets fall off.
6mm ARC Ballistics Compared
| Load (published, 24-inch test barrel) | Muzzle velocity | Energy at 500 yd | Wind drift at 500 yd (calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6mm ARC 108 gr ELD Match | 2,750 fps | 931 ft-lb | 17.5 in |
| 223 Rem 75 gr BTHP Match | 2,790 fps | 515 ft-lb | 24.8 in |
| 243 Win 90 gr ELD-X | 3,150 fps | 855 ft-lb | 19.7 in |
| 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr ELD Match | 2,710 fps | 1,273 ft-lb | 15.4 in |
Read the full comparisons in 6mm ARC vs 243, 6mm Creedmoor vs 6mm ARC and 6mm ARC vs 6.5 Creedmoor. The 243 Winchester is covered in What Is 243 Winchester?.
Barrels Behind These 6mm ARC Ballistics
Every Chattahoochee Munitions 6mm ARC barrel is 416R stainless with a 1:7 twist, 5/8×24 threads and E100 Blackout Cerakote. CM7S barrels are manufactured in collaboration with Mos-Tek with 5R rifling. The CM7S comes as an 18-inch 6mm ARC bolt action rifle or a 12.5-inch 6mm ARC bolt action pistol or SBR, and the CM15 as a 16-inch 6mm ARC AR15 rifle or an 18-inch 6mm ARC DMR. See the full lineup at Overwatch 6.
More 6mm ARC Guides
- What is 6mm ARC?
- 6mm ARC rifle guide
- 6mm ARC twist rate
- 6mm ARC barrel length
- 6mm ARC bolt action vs semi auto
- 6mm ARC suppressor
- 6mm ARC for deer
- 6mm ARC for coyotes and hogs
- 6mm ARC vs 223
- 6mm ARC vs 6.5 Creedmoor
- 6mm ARC vs 243
- 6.5 Grendel vs 6mm ARC
- 22 ARC vs 6mm ARC
6mm ARC Ballistics FAQ
How far does 6mm ARC drop at 500 yards?
With a 200-yard zero, Hornady publishes about 45 inches for the 108 gr ELD Match from a 24-inch barrel. Chattahoochee Munitions calculates about 52 inches from 18 inches and 60 inches from 12.5 inches.
How much energy does 6mm ARC have at 300 yards?
Hornady publishes 1,230 ft-lb for the 108 gr ELD Match and 1,197 ft-lb for the 103 gr ELD-X from 24 inches. From an 18-inch barrel the calculated figures are about 1,060 and 1,035 ft-lb.
How fast is 6mm ARC from a 16-inch barrel?
Chattahoochee Munitions estimates about 2,510 fps for the 108 gr and 2,560 fps for the 103 gr, using 30 fps per inch below the 24-inch test barrel. Chronograph your own rifle.
Is 6mm ARC flatter than 223?
Drop is similar at the same muzzle velocity, but the heavier 6 mm bullet keeps more velocity and energy and drifts less in wind: about 17.5 inches against 24.8 inches at 500 yards in a 10 mph crosswind.
Does Chattahoochee Munitions publish 6mm ARC chronograph data?
No. Chattahoochee Munitions does not load 6mm ARC. These tables use Hornady’s published figures and clearly labeled calculations, and CM does not publish load data.
Is 6mm ARC good for long range?
For an AR15-size cartridge, yes. The 108 gr ELD Match keeps 1,971 fps at 500 yards in Hornady’s figures and stays supersonic well past that.
What zero should I use for 6mm ARC?
A 200-yard zero suits most hunting. The bullet rises about 2 to 3 inches at 100 yards from CM’s barrel lengths and lands about 9 to 11 inches low at 300.
Who makes a 6mm ARC rifle?
Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures 6mm ARC rifles: the CM7S bolt action in 18-inch and 12.5-inch configurations and the CM15 AR15 in 16 and 18-inch configurations, all 1:7 twist, plus CM7S barreled actions and a CM15 upper.