@@randomidiot8142 I think what'll give this a chance is specifically the combination of the high case capacity, potential for a standard 30 round magazine capacity, and the 5.56 bolt. Any one of those things wouldn't be enough to be compelling, but all of them combined could be the magical combo.
It kills me to see people complaining about companies being innovative and releasing new cartridges. In today’s industry company have to be innovative. The more cartridges and options the better. Leaves options we as shooters didn’t have 10 years ago
Reintroducing variations of failed cartridges is not innovation. They could have just picked up 6 x 45 or 6-223 and instead they are bringing out yet another wildcat that has the same flaws as its predecessors. The reason the six arc is sticking around is because the case is shorter. You can't shoot vlds out of a 556 case in an AR magazine.
I agree, but it goes both ways, I've heard the same thing about 6.5 Grendel, 224 VLK, 6 ARC. The same people that hyped all these cartridges crapped on them 2 years later when the new one came out. I think waiting 5 years and let the market tell us what's effective.
The more options, the higher the average cost per round goes. If nothing is mass manufactured then everything is an expensive wildcat. I like the idea of the 6 max but only if the competition dies completely.
Having handled and researched this cartridge. The military use implications of this cartridge are insane! The round is virtually the same size and wieght as a 556. Carry the same amount of ammo as a 556 load out, with 1000yard plus capability. In a mk12 style setup. Then flip it and run 105grains out of a mk18 style setup still pushing 2700fps. These guys are on to somthing. And I can't wait to see more
Oh my stars. This has my attention. We are going to be watching this round for a while. If it pans out, we are going to seriously get a 16"-18" upper. Many thanks.
More choices are always good. I like the variety of ammo you're planning to release. That has been an issue with the ARC, 3 loadings, all basically the same "long range" crap. I haven't seen any bolt issues with Grendels or ARCs personally, but I can attest to them being very temperamental about the gas system and feed ramps. Good luck with the new cartridge. I'd love to see a head to head between this, the ARC, and some other 6mms all in 18" or 20" ARs. Let's get real about the rounds and get away from the 24" "test barrels"
Love this type of stuff. Great video and best of luck to these guys with getting it out to market. I hope they are successful! Thanks for all the fun insider info!
This is what the Military should adopt to replace 5.56. This has literally every advantage over 5.56, and is an even better choice than 6mm ARC and 6.5 Grendel, when you consider that it uses the same Bolt-Face and BCG, so it only requires a simple barrel swap to work!
Oh heck yeah!!! I'm glad i held off on going 6 arc! I'm all for this, especially with sons on board for making the rifles! I want one as soon as theyre available!
@@thefrogking481umm, almost every other person including the US government have been trying to find a better round for the M4/AR platform for a couple decades now. The 5.56 is a good round but it falls short in a lot of ways.
Reviewing these comments, It appears we have A LOT of Certifiable ballasticians here... Hornady better fire their staff who stole the 6ARC and start interviewing these folk in the comments. Performance looks great!!, availability in components, reloading dies, gunsmiths who know how to build an AR barrel and ammo demand will weigh factor. Ive personally used Starline straight wall 350 legend brass to form a 6x45, alot of work was needed to convert that brass
I went with the 6mmAR which necks down the 6.5 Grendel case. No malfunctions in the AR platform, only draw back is it never caught on since it was an exclusive design. More accurate then most of my bolt rifles.
some pretty good numbers qouted @ 4:30 and they say it's from a 20" AR 58gr v-max - 3528fps 85gr speer BTSP - 3015 90gr eld-x - 2826 for those asking how this varies from other 6mm wildcats based off of 5.56 brass, looks like since they used 350 Legend as the parent case, the lower taper and steeper shoulder angle used allow case capacity to go from 27gr to 35gr.
Glad to see SOLGW is in on this one. My buddy and I are huge fans of the 6ARC and our gears are always turning and thinking of new better calibers. We had always wondered if a 6mm bullet could be used in a 5.56 case. Will be putting a new upper together for the 6 max.
This cartridge is definitively a winner to some capacity, what is important is that we contextualize use case. Irrespective of nswdg having adopted the 6mm arc. Some of you may be wondering what the value proposition of this wildcat cartridge is, what will allow this to take off, and whether or not this wildcat will fizzle out like other wildcat rounds in the past (224 Valkyrie, 6.8 spc). Fundamentally speaking this round has been able to solve the most pertinent problem plaguing both the 6mm ARC and the 6.5 grendel, which is the extractor failures in gas guns. The purpose of this cartridge IS NOT to deliver superior ballistics over 6ARC but rather, it is to deliver nearly identical ballistic performance while having much greater RELIABILITY in the AR platform. 6MM ARC is a great round... in a bolt gun, the same can be said for 6.5 Grendel. However, both of those rounds have noteworthy reliability issues in gas guns, so much so that I would advise against running either of those two rounds in a gas gun. It's also important to note that whenever you are running a 6mm arc in a gas gun that you need to be very careful with the types of loads you are shooting. This new 6mm max however, has finally come to market for those looking to achieve maximum performance in small frame AR's safely and reliably. Is ammo availability going to be an issue for the 6mm max? For the next two to three years yes, but the question remains are you willing to sacrifice ammo availability for superior reliability, standard ar parts compatibility, and functionality. For many of the consumers in this specific market segment; the answer is yes, as anyone interested in pushing a small frame gas gun toward exhibiting performance reminiscent of a .308 more than likely has some experience with reloading, has already squared away a very solid general purpose rifle, and more than likely has 1000 rounds of their preferred general purpose ammo on hand. Does this new 6mm max cartridge make the 6mm arc and 6.5 grendel obsolete? No, not by a long shot it's simply matter of delineating appropriate use case for each of these rounds. I believe if this 6mm max cartridge is marketed properly, the 6mm arc and 6.5 grendel will be more heavily favoured in bolt guns AS THEY SHOULD BE. With the 6.5 grendel being a slightly superior option for hunting due to its' heavier larger projectiles, and the 6mm arc being the superior choice for competition shooting with a flatter trajectory and wider range of available 6mm projectiles for hand-loaders. The 6mm Max presents itself as a much better candidate for tactical applications with that improved reliability and standard ar parts compatibility. I will most definitely be building out an upper in 6mm max upper for my safe. All that being said however, initial adoption will come down to effective marketing, if that is executed properly we have a winner here boys.
I can't believe you get so much performance out of basically switching the parent case from .222 Remington to the .350 legend. 5.56 was based off .222 if I remember correctly. This looks freaking awesome! Definitely need to start up a new build for this! Haha!
Very neat. Using the 350 legend case is genius. I see this working best with longer dmr rifles "20+ And I think 6mm ARC will still remain popular especially with barrels 18" and shorter.
we currently have saami load data published for 55-100gr loads. We are currently shooting the 103gr ELD-X and will release saami load data in the coming weeks. we are a balance between the hagar and the arc and yes we shoot 103 ELDX at 2.300 which is our standard certified mag length for this cartridge. @@LRRPFco52
The only weakness of the 6mm MAX I can think of is that it does not have the ability to use heavy weight, high BC bullets (I think 87gr is the limit. which is around 0.400 BC). In my opinion that is not a bad thing because I think 90 ish grains in an intermediate cartage platform is a good weight for 6mm projectiles.
I had wondered about the functionality of a larger diameter case head and you guys answered my questions for the AR-15 platform. Did I miss you mentioning magazine compatibility or is that already assumed because of the 350 Legend parent case? A lot of naysayers here aren’t talking about why many new cartridges fail and some become a 270 Winchester. The first necessary condition is a well defined use case/purpose. The second necessary condition is to actually have something “new and improved.” Many recent cartridges are “better” simply because they’re designed for new bullet designs, longer bullets with higher BC, and faster available twist rates. Third is some serious marketing and manufacturing support by significant market players. That means both firearms and ammo production and availability, plus reloading dies, brass and published reloading data. Then there’s old fashioned timing and luck. Often times trends in competitive shooting sports drive that last part, and changes can be unpredictable.
I think even still, the lead is a bit buried here. This cartridge is looking to the future of the AR platform. Maybe not the future of weapon systems in general, but the AR itself the way we know it it as Stoner rifle. 6mm MAX has the potential to enhance the lethality of this system exponentially and the real magic comes in how it performs on shorter barrels. Its a solution for the dreaded "its only good to a 100yd's" problem the MK18 presents. If you can have a system that's shorter and lighter but maintains lethality, naturally you'd want that. The bullet choice available with this cartridge is going to make it a heavy hitter in all barrel lengths. But all while not compromising reliability and with less other compromises in general.
Been wanting to build something new. Looked at 6.5G, 6ARC, then I saw the 6MAX. Seems to me the MAX is better than both 6ARC and 6.5G. Keeping the 556 bolt is a major plus. I hope it catches on and gets more factory support.
Usually when we hear about a new AR cartridge it turns out to be a hot mess. (I'm lookin at your 22 nosler and 224 Valkyrie) This one seems to have the legs to get it done. It has the speed we were promised with the 22 nosler. It can launch better BC bullets than the 224 Valkyrie. I just hope this one doesn't fall flat like the other two. I REALLY WANT THIS ONE TO DO VERY WELL!!! I have two receiver sets in my safe waiting for a build worth doing.
Curious how this will perform in smaller packages compared to the ARC. ARCS main issue is the market support. Mainly due to it coming out right before the pandemic. Then yes the bolt stuff.
I think the 6arc would really be popular if the ammo variety was better and priced reasonable. Some cheap plinking stuff and some varmint rounds would probably help. It’s all expensive now but 223-5.56 is a lot cheaper and it is everywhere. Most people won’t spend 30$ a box for a volume shooting cartridge. IMHO. Hopefully this round gets plenty of support and lots of cheap options even steel cased stuff like 7.62 x39 or some hornady stuff. Anything that is 30$ or above someone will just go with something else. 350 legend started cheap but now is higher than the 30-06 or 308 at my local wal mart. Good luck 👍 I like options and hopefully it goes well.
I'm looking forward to 16" barrels. The magazine options for .350 Legend aren't great per se, but if this kicks off properly, I'm sure 25 or 30 round options will come to market.
I had no idea 350 legend was rebated. Seeing the numbers and this excitement makes more sense to me now. I just compared water capacity on the different cases: .223 Rem - 28.8 6x45 - 26.9 6mm ARC - 34.0 .350 Legend - 36.5 6mm Max -35.0 I think this is something worth checking out.
Glad he was honest about the SDs using ball powder. I'm sick of marketing bullcrap. I've never had a large interest in the ARC because of the bolt problem and it's operation envelope so something like this is more appealing to me. I'm also a big supporter of SOLGW However... how is this a significant improvement over the tried-and-abandoned 6x45mm?
There's a reason I don't own an AR15 in 6mm ARC, but I own a bolt gun in 6mm ARC. Bolt guns can handle 62,000 PSI with the 6mm ARC. If this was an option when I was looking for a rifle I might have gone with it in an AR15 over 6mm ARC in a bolt gun.
I am game. This is a whole new world for me. A barrel, an upper and that's it. A dedicated upper and I am good. Nothing wrong with the 22 Nosler as long as Nosler stays in business, I can get ammo. Same with 6mm ARC, ammo isn't too bad, you just have to buy it from who makes it.
New cartridges are always welcome. Please teach us about the difference to the 6x45 (from the 60s) and the 6mm-223 where reloading dies are available since many years. Don't want to diminish the invention of this guy but just try to learn what really about his invention is.
those 2 cartridges were both based on 5.56 and simply necking up case. they both held approximately 28 grns of water cap. the 6mm MAX is based off the .350 legend parent and holds 35 grains water cap and has been shortened to hold up a 103 gr bullet with enough powder to push it and still be mag fed at 2.300 with 6mm MAX mags or .350 legend mags. hope that helps in a simple comparison. 103ELDX 2750fps
The 350 legend case has slightly higher case capacity over 223 basic (223 basic is a 223 case that's is staght wall and is intended to be neck down). 350 legend has a rebated rim. the case body is large then the rim of the cartridge. So you could neck 223 up to 6mm (6x45) but it will never have the same capacity as a cartridge based around the 350 legend case.
I don't know . Once you neck the legend down its not going to be anywhere near 35gr of capacity...then if you go over 80-90 gr bullets you further diminish case capacity.
Can you talk about why this new caliber/round why is it better than a 223/556 with a heavy/longer bullet with a faster twist barrel. ?? love to hear your opinion.
I think I can answer this. The 6x45 is a severe compromise. That 87 grain bullet out of a 6x45, according to my numbers, has a max muzzle velocity of around 2800 FPS. The 6mm Max pushes an 87 grain projectile to around 3000 FPS. In my humble opinion, these numbers alone are a good enough reason to give this cartage some attention. It does not have the high BC bullets of the 6mm ARC but it is a much safer cartage. I hope it takes off.
great question. The 77gr bullet is the end for mag fed 5.56 AR rounds. we pick up there and add 400 fps velocity over the MK262 round with same bullet weight. this is a force multiplier with the same round count and load out as 5.56. this round makes the 5.56 obsolete. we do this without mods to the BCG and retain full integrity of components. this cartridge can replace then GI carry as well as perform a DMR role based on configuration. loads range from 55gr to 103gr, this covers just about any shooting/hunting/mil application.
This is the absolute best answer I have heard yet and of course it comes from the man who invented the cartridge! If you go on any of the forums, everyone has tried their best to duplicate the Mk262 Black Hills load. They have gotten close but the 6mm max far surpasses the capabilities of the MK262 by leaps and bounds. Furthermore, being able to have the same capacity of the magazines and platform makes it a win win for everyone. I can tell you, it was easier to hit the 1k targets repeatedly with the 6mm Max far better than I have done with the Mk262 round. Congrats Bryan, I really do think this might be a game changer. 👍🏼
I swear on all that is good, I will help to make sure this cartridge takes off! I will contact as many ammo manufacturers as possible to try and get more ammo for 6mm MAX made, and I will personally be testing the round on my channel, once I get the barrel to convert my AR!
One year after this video, it doesn't look like much is happening with this concept caliber. Any additional insights as to what's happening? Seemed like a potential game changer of a caliber.
There is quite a bit of movement and testing with this caliber that I am not at liberty to discuss. It is being fielded all over and progress is being made. More in the future. 👍🏼
@XRING I hope all goes well! I've been saying since I've seen this that the Military should seriously consider this for adoption to replace 5.56 Nato! This cartridge has so much potential, and I really hope it takes off soon!
Pretty amazing, but the appeal to me of 6arc was a shorter barrel and still hitting distance. I wonder if 6max suffers from shorter barrel lengths? Like what is the velocity reduction dropping to half that length?
I messed up buying an AR Stoner 224 Valkyrie barrel that turn out to be a dud for all the hype! These 224 cartridges are an unpredictable for a reloader and causes blown cartridges for reasons I have no idea why when I check each powered charger going into the cartridge for loading. I also learned the 224 can't take any more of a powder charge than a 223 and that isn't what I bought the barrel for. My 224 barrel is crap for accuracy, and many have learned of the 224
@@andrewslagle1974 I've been sticking with my 6.5 Grendel. I had thought about piecing together an 18" 6mm ARC upper and/or rifle with a rifle length gas tube off of a 20" 6.5 Grendel barrel. Some friends have had issues with Odin Works and Faxon 6 ARC barrels using 6.5 Grendel Type II bolts. It's been a wait and see for me.
Perhaps the reason they haven't been made as well known is because they are largely theoretical. Besides online presumptions and a few anecdotal forum posts, is there any meaningful evidence that suggests that quality 6 ARC/6.5 Grendel bolts (Type 2) are prematurely failing regularly? And what does it mean for a bolt to fail prematurely? For example, and hypothetically speaking, if a 5.56 bolt lasts, on average, 9000 rounds without failure, is it unacceptable if a 6 ARC bolt fails at an average of 8,500 rounds? Is a loss of 500 rounds of life too much for what you gain in performance from the larger calibers? After all, we often give up barrel life in exchange for the benefits of some more aggressive cartridges and no one seems to complain too much. A huge factor in anecdotal accounts is excessively high-pressure reloads (i.e., exceeding 52,000 PSI) vs. standard and factory loads. Still another is how often you shoot. But in the end, there is no one-cartridge-does-it-all-perfectly solution. Advantages always come with disadvantages, and all of these must be weighed before making a commitment. I wouldn't necessarily use a 6 ARC or 6.5 Grendel for home defense, but for target shooting and hunting, I have no problem with them. And a disclaimer: the empirical data I ask about may, in fact, be available, but I haven't seen it. Hornady ("Handbook of Cartridge Reloading," 11th Edition) does caution against high-pressure loads in 6 ARC gas guns because of bolt longevity concerns, so there's that. As an owner of 6 ARC and 6.5 Grendel firearms, I'd love to have a look at the real data.
they didnt push the shoulder back for longer bullets thus can only load short 6mm bullets , 243's 90gr eld-m has almost same bc as the 223's 73gr eldm. what is the point ?
Why did it take this long for this cartage to come out? This looks like the ideal AR15 cartage. This is what I had imagined an ideal 6mm AR15 cartage to be. Only needing a barrel swap to operate and over 1600 ft-lb of energy at the muzzle. If the performance, and reliability could come out of a polymer case (the reason is weight savings) then I think this will be The perfect AR15 cartage.
@@BrianCook-vw3fv My ideal AR15 cartage was a 6mm projectile with at least 1600 ft-lb of muzzle energy (Specifically 87gr @ 2900 FPS). This bested my ideal AR15 cartage by 100 FPS.
6mm Max sounds interesting. I like the preformance the 87gr Bergers are throwing out of the 24" barrel. I'd like to know how the 87gr Bergers would preform with a 18" barrel. I'm also curious about barrel life. How often would I need to swap out the barrel. If the 6mm Max loses velocity under 2700fps out of an 18" barrel then I'd be more interested in a AR10 wether it is a .308 or 6.5cm. This round would also have to take off like 6.5cm for me to even be interested or its just another wildcat.
I'd love to see head- to- head against 25-45 sharps and 6mm mongoose. The extra case capacity of the parent case could allow lower pressure powders or avoid compressed loads. That may give it an edge against the other cartridges. But it's only supposition until it's done.
So, we have something fit for an M16A4-DMR type/size weapon, here. Barrel change only. I'd like to see how this would hold up with a carbine-length barrel (12 to 16 inch), or even a sub-carbine (under 12) - can it at least deliver 800m high accuracy with an M4-type setup? Or a Mk. 18? I know, I know, this is designed for designated marksman's _rifles,_ not carbines, but I still have this question.
we have tested 12.5", 14.5" 16", 20", 24". we hold sub MOA in all lengths. we basically ad 300-400FPS to any 5.56 configuration for given bullet weight thru 77gr mk262. then we take the platform to the next level up to 103gr.
I'm real close to buying a 6 mm ark I thought the desirability of the 6 mm ark is longer projectiles .. like the 6-5 creedmoor.. I wish we could have seen the cartridge compared to the other cartridges..
I’m looking at that too if you can’t get the 105 class bullets into it I’m not sure it’s gaining a ton looking at the bc numbers over some of the high bc 5.56 bullets the energy and such for hunting makes a lot of sense however
The fact it uses a regular 5.56 bcg gives it a chance to stick.
About as much of a chance to stick as the 6 x 45 and the 6-223 that already exists.
Didn't help the nosler
@@troydspain1099my thoughts too. I got rid of it due to that.
@@realdeathpony went to haggar brass and 6.8 bolt
@@randomidiot8142 I think what'll give this a chance is specifically the combination of the high case capacity, potential for a standard 30 round magazine capacity, and the 5.56 bolt. Any one of those things wouldn't be enough to be compelling, but all of them combined could be the magical combo.
It kills me to see people complaining about companies being innovative and releasing new cartridges. In today’s industry company have to be innovative. The more cartridges and options the better. Leaves options we as shooters didn’t have 10 years ago
There is always going to be the naysayers. That's ok. The Cartridge will speak for itself.
Reintroducing variations of failed cartridges is not innovation. They could have just picked up 6 x 45 or 6-223 and instead they are bringing out yet another wildcat that has the same flaws as its predecessors. The reason the six arc is sticking around is because the case is shorter. You can't shoot vlds out of a 556 case in an AR magazine.
I agree, but it goes both ways, I've heard the same thing about 6.5 Grendel, 224 VLK, 6 ARC. The same people that hyped all these cartridges crapped on them 2 years later when the new one came out. I think waiting 5 years and let the market tell us what's effective.
The more options, the higher the average cost per round goes. If nothing is mass manufactured then everything is an expensive wildcat. I like the idea of the 6 max but only if the competition dies completely.
Not just complaining but they seem mad about it lol
Having handled and researched this cartridge. The military use implications of this cartridge are insane! The round is virtually the same size and wieght as a 556. Carry the same amount of ammo as a 556 load out, with 1000yard plus capability. In a mk12 style setup. Then flip it and run 105grains out of a mk18 style setup still pushing 2700fps. These guys are on to somthing. And I can't wait to see more
Oh my stars. This has my attention. We are going to be watching this round for a while. If it pans out, we are going to seriously get a 16"-18" upper. Many thanks.
What a great time to be a gun nut! Thanks for bringing us along!
More choices are always good. I like the variety of ammo you're planning to release. That has been an issue with the ARC, 3 loadings, all basically the same "long range" crap. I haven't seen any bolt issues with Grendels or ARCs personally, but I can attest to them being very temperamental about the gas system and feed ramps. Good luck with the new cartridge. I'd love to see a head to head between this, the ARC, and some other 6mms all in 18" or 20" ARs. Let's get real about the rounds and get away from the 24" "test barrels"
Love this type of stuff. Great video and best of luck to these guys with getting it out to market. I hope they are successful! Thanks for all the fun insider info!
Can't wait to get my hands on this! Thanks Brian!
Nice work boys!! I have a 224V and a 6.5G ....been holding off on the 6ARC....glad I have. This may be my next build.
Great review as usual X-Ring 👍. This new 6mm Max looks like a winner.
This is what the Military should adopt to replace 5.56. This has literally every advantage over 5.56, and is an even better choice than 6mm ARC and 6.5 Grendel, when you consider that it uses the same Bolt-Face and BCG, so it only requires a simple barrel swap to work!
Oh heck yeah!!! I'm glad i held off on going 6 arc! I'm all for this, especially with sons on board for making the rifles! I want one as soon as theyre available!
Same! Was sooo close to just goin with it! Glad i waited.
SOLGW is the thing preventing me from doing it. Dude beat up his own mom
@user-lv23 You can just buy a barrel from BC Precision directly
@@user-lv23yeah the fact that SOLGW is backing it makes me not particularly interested. The owner Mike is a drunkard and a mom beater
It’s amazing how rife rounds are constantly changing , barrel life would be my only concern Thanks Ray
They're answering questions nobody asked.
@@thefrogking481people have absolutely been trying to squeeze more velocity out of 5.56 rounds for a while now
@@thefrogking481umm, almost every other person including the US government have been trying to find a better round for the M4/AR platform for a couple decades now.
The 5.56 is a good round but it falls short in a lot of ways.
Velocity kills barrels & not alot of 24" arms. The Velocity Their giving is from 24" barrels
@@thefrogking481this is certainly a question often asked and this was what I had in mind for a practical 5.56 replacement.
Reviewing these comments, It appears we have A LOT of Certifiable ballasticians here... Hornady better fire their staff who stole the 6ARC and start interviewing these folk in the comments.
Performance looks great!!, availability in components, reloading dies, gunsmiths who know how to build an AR barrel and ammo demand will weigh factor.
Ive personally used Starline straight wall 350 legend brass to form a 6x45, alot of work was needed to convert that brass
Horandy takes other peoples hard work, changes the design the slightest then profits off of it?!?!?!?!
Great shooting Ray! Thanks for the video!
Great video .Sounds like a great round .I Will have to get a rifle set up so i can do some testing .Thank you for the info !
I went with the 6mmAR which necks down the 6.5 Grendel case. No malfunctions in the AR platform, only draw back is it never caught on since it was an exclusive design. More accurate then most of my bolt rifles.
I must agree
224AR here, same thing. Far superior to 6mm arc, 224 valk, etc.
@@jaysmith9496 I’m building a 22 Grendel/ar now
@@jaysmith9496ummm no it isnt
Did that IS the 6mm ARC. With just a few changes
Thank you!
Your Video’s are The Most Informative!
Without Being Bias!
Keep On Doing What You’re Doing!
Thanks Again.
U. S. M. C. 81-2011
some pretty good numbers qouted @ 4:30 and they say it's from a 20" AR
58gr v-max - 3528fps
85gr speer BTSP - 3015
90gr eld-x - 2826
for those asking how this varies from other 6mm wildcats based off of 5.56 brass, looks like since they used 350 Legend as the parent case, the lower taper and steeper shoulder angle used allow case capacity to go from 27gr to 35gr.
Mfers beat me to the punch 😂. Was hoping to wildcat this idea later this year. Congrats and hopefully I get to dive in soon.
This is awsome, literally had this exact idea as soon as I saw some 90gr 350 legend loads, pretty cool
Thanks Ray for the great video.
Glad to see SOLGW is in on this one. My buddy and I are huge fans of the 6ARC and our gears are always turning and thinking of new better calibers. We had always wondered if a 6mm bullet could be used in a 5.56 case. Will be putting a new upper together for the 6 max.
6mm MAX uses .350 legend parent case. more powder capacity 29gr vs 35gr. also OAL is 2.300 mag fed
@@BrianCook-vw3fvso will it work with 556 mag?
@@BrianCook-vw3fv Can 6mm Max share barrels with 6mm ARC, or do you need a whole new one?
I was rolling a joint a heard "5.56 bolt"! You got my attention!😂😂
Ray makes it look easy. 😂
Mike knows what is up- its not enough to to just be a fast bullet, its gotta be reliable as well.
Range looks familiar. (I'm a member there) Thanks for the preview on this cartridge. Might build a stealth MK12 in this.
This cartridge is definitively a winner to some capacity, what is important is that we contextualize use case. Irrespective of nswdg having adopted the 6mm arc. Some of you may be wondering what the value proposition of this wildcat cartridge is, what will allow this to take off, and whether or not this wildcat will fizzle out like other wildcat rounds in the past (224 Valkyrie, 6.8 spc). Fundamentally speaking this round has been able to solve the most pertinent problem plaguing both the 6mm ARC and the 6.5 grendel, which is the extractor failures in gas guns. The purpose of this cartridge IS NOT to deliver superior ballistics over 6ARC but rather, it is to deliver nearly identical ballistic performance while having much greater RELIABILITY in the AR platform. 6MM ARC is a great round... in a bolt gun, the same can be said for 6.5 Grendel. However, both of those rounds have noteworthy reliability issues in gas guns, so much so that I would advise against running either of those two rounds in a gas gun. It's also important to note that whenever you are running a 6mm arc in a gas gun that you need to be very careful with the types of loads you are shooting. This new 6mm max however, has finally come to market for those looking to achieve maximum performance in small frame AR's safely and reliably. Is ammo availability going to be an issue for the 6mm max? For the next two to three years yes, but the question remains are you willing to sacrifice ammo availability for superior reliability, standard ar parts compatibility, and functionality. For many of the consumers in this specific market segment; the answer is yes, as anyone interested in pushing a small frame gas gun toward exhibiting performance reminiscent of a .308 more than likely has some experience with reloading, has already squared away a very solid general purpose rifle, and more than likely has 1000 rounds of their preferred general purpose ammo on hand. Does this new 6mm max cartridge make the 6mm arc and 6.5 grendel obsolete? No, not by a long shot it's simply matter of delineating appropriate use case for each of these rounds. I believe if this 6mm max cartridge is marketed properly, the 6mm arc and 6.5 grendel will be more heavily favoured in bolt guns AS THEY SHOULD BE. With the 6.5 grendel being a slightly superior option for hunting due to its' heavier larger projectiles, and the 6mm arc being the superior choice for competition shooting with a flatter trajectory and wider range of available 6mm projectiles for hand-loaders. The 6mm Max presents itself as a much better candidate for tactical applications with that improved reliability and standard ar parts compatibility. I will most definitely be building out an upper in 6mm max upper for my safe. All that being said however, initial adoption will come down to effective marketing, if that is executed properly we have a winner here boys.
Isn't the 6/grendel extractor problem just overgassing guns?
@@tedarcher9120No, its a common issue with AR's that use 7.62x39 bolt heads, as they themselves have reliability issues.
I can't believe you get so much performance out of basically switching the parent case from .222 Remington to the .350 legend. 5.56 was based off .222 if I remember correctly.
This looks freaking awesome! Definitely need to start up a new build for this! Haha!
Very neat. Using the 350 legend case is genius. I see this working best with longer dmr rifles "20+ And I think 6mm ARC will still remain popular especially with barrels 18" and shorter.
This case looks too long for 103-108gr in the AR-15 frame. Same problem 6mm Hagar had.
we currently have saami load data published for 55-100gr loads. We are currently shooting the 103gr ELD-X and will release saami load data in the coming weeks. we are a balance between the hagar and the arc and yes we shoot 103 ELDX at 2.300 which is our standard certified mag length for this cartridge. @@LRRPFco52
The only weakness of the 6mm MAX I can think of is that it does not have the ability to use heavy weight, high BC bullets (I think 87gr is the limit. which is around 0.400 BC). In my opinion that is not a bad thing because I think 90 ish grains in an intermediate cartage platform is a good weight for 6mm projectiles.
@@johnsmithfakename8422 it looks like the max is the 100gr Sierra bullets
So what if you realize that this is very similar to 5.8x42 Chinese?
Sounds like a winner.
I had wondered about the functionality of a larger diameter case head and you guys answered my questions for the AR-15 platform. Did I miss you mentioning magazine compatibility or is that already assumed because of the 350 Legend parent case?
A lot of naysayers here aren’t talking about why many new cartridges fail and some become a 270 Winchester. The first necessary condition is a well defined use case/purpose. The second necessary condition is to actually have something “new and improved.” Many recent cartridges are “better” simply because they’re designed for new bullet designs, longer bullets with higher BC, and faster available twist rates. Third is some serious marketing and manufacturing support by significant market players. That means both firearms and ammo production and availability, plus reloading dies, brass and published reloading data. Then there’s old fashioned timing and luck. Often times trends in competitive shooting sports drive that last part, and changes can be unpredictable.
Very interesting🤔
Great video.
I like the idea of this cartridge 👍👍👍👍
I think even still, the lead is a bit buried here. This cartridge is looking to the future of the AR platform. Maybe not the future of weapon systems in general, but the AR itself the way we know it it as Stoner rifle. 6mm MAX has the potential to enhance the lethality of this system exponentially and the real magic comes in how it performs on shorter barrels. Its a solution for the dreaded "its only good to a 100yd's" problem the MK18 presents. If you can have a system that's shorter and lighter but maintains lethality, naturally you'd want that. The bullet choice available with this cartridge is going to make it a heavy hitter in all barrel lengths. But all while not compromising reliability and with less other compromises in general.
Very cool and interesting! Sounds like a reloaders dream
Been wanting to build something new. Looked at 6.5G, 6ARC, then I saw the 6MAX. Seems to me the MAX is better than both 6ARC and 6.5G. Keeping the 556 bolt is a major plus. I hope it catches on and gets more factory support.
Usually when we hear about a new AR cartridge it turns out to be a hot mess. (I'm lookin at your 22 nosler and 224 Valkyrie) This one seems to have the legs to get it done.
It has the speed we were promised with the 22 nosler. It can launch better BC bullets than the 224 Valkyrie. I just hope this one doesn't fall flat like the other two. I REALLY WANT THIS ONE TO DO VERY WELL!!! I have two receiver sets in my safe waiting for a build worth doing.
Curious how this will perform in smaller packages compared to the ARC. ARCS main issue is the market support. Mainly due to it coming out right before the pandemic. Then yes the bolt stuff.
I think the 6arc would really be popular if the ammo variety was better and priced reasonable. Some cheap plinking stuff and some varmint rounds would probably help. It’s all expensive now but 223-5.56 is a lot cheaper and it is everywhere. Most people won’t spend 30$ a box for a volume shooting cartridge. IMHO. Hopefully this round gets plenty of support and lots of cheap options even steel cased stuff like 7.62 x39 or some hornady stuff. Anything that is 30$ or above someone will just go with something else. 350 legend started cheap but now is higher than the 30-06 or 308 at my local wal mart. Good luck 👍 I like options and hopefully it goes well.
I'm looking forward to 16" barrels. The magazine options for .350 Legend aren't great per se, but if this kicks off properly, I'm sure 25 or 30 round options will come to market.
Interested in the 350 legend? I've got a retro m16a2 carbine thing I've been working on. Irons, lightweight and looks like an old fixed stock 6520
I'd like to see a direct comparison with the 6.5 Grendel. B/C drop and drift with the same basic wind conditions and velocity at 1000 or 1200 yd
I had no idea 350 legend was rebated. Seeing the numbers and this excitement makes more sense to me now. I just compared water capacity on the different cases:
.223 Rem - 28.8
6x45 - 26.9
6mm ARC - 34.0
.350 Legend - 36.5
6mm Max -35.0
I think this is something worth checking out.
Glad he was honest about the SDs using ball powder. I'm sick of marketing bullcrap. I've never had a large interest in the ARC because of the bolt problem and it's operation envelope so something like this is more appealing to me. I'm also a big supporter of SOLGW However... how is this a significant improvement over the tried-and-abandoned 6x45mm?
Looks like a winner - .243 Win. Short done right. Now affordable and available ammo and market support are necessary.
Oh boy!, just what we needed! Yet another 6mm cartridge.........😂
Just invested in 6 arc, looking forward to 6 max
Nice Rifle! Tell me about it? What Can, and Scope? What brand Barrel is that and length?
There's a reason I don't own an AR15 in 6mm ARC, but I own a bolt gun in 6mm ARC. Bolt guns can handle 62,000 PSI with the 6mm ARC. If this was an option when I was looking for a rifle I might have gone with it in an AR15 over 6mm ARC in a bolt gun.
I am game. This is a whole new world for me. A barrel, an upper and that's it. A dedicated upper and I am good. Nothing wrong with the 22 Nosler as long as Nosler stays in business, I can get ammo. Same with 6mm ARC, ammo isn't too bad, you just have to buy it from who makes it.
New cartridges are always welcome. Please teach us about the difference to the 6x45 (from the 60s) and the 6mm-223 where reloading dies are available since many years. Don't want to diminish the invention of this guy but just try to learn what really about his invention is.
Was thinking the same thing. Seems like the long way to get back to 6x45. The whole point of 6 ARC is the 108's.
those 2 cartridges were both based on 5.56 and simply necking up case. they both held approximately 28 grns of water cap.
the 6mm MAX is based off the .350 legend parent and holds 35 grains water cap and has been shortened to hold up a 103 gr bullet with enough powder to push it and still be mag fed at 2.300 with 6mm MAX mags or .350 legend mags.
hope that helps in a simple comparison. 103ELDX 2750fps
RCBS and Redding dies have 6mmx45 SB dies as a standard item and are sold on MidwayUSA where I bought my RCBS SB 6mmx45 dies
The 350 legend case has slightly higher case capacity over 223 basic (223 basic is a 223 case that's is staght wall and is intended to be neck down).
350 legend has a rebated rim. the case body is large then the rim of the cartridge.
So you could neck 223 up to 6mm (6x45) but it will never have the same capacity as a cartridge based around the 350 legend case.
I don't know . Once you neck the legend down its not going to be anywhere near 35gr of capacity...then if you go over 80-90 gr bullets you further diminish case capacity.
Interesting.
Down in my neck of the woods! Great range isn’t it?
I’m in Texas also. What range is that?
@@mike-bravo528 The RanchTX Private Shooting Club
Why didn't they bring out any 100-107 gr projectiles? Can that cartridge even handle higher BC bullets?
we chose the 90 for hog testing. we load up to 103gr
They'd be down in the case using up what little case capacity it has
Can you talk about why this new caliber/round why is it better than a 223/556 with a heavy/longer bullet with a faster twist barrel. ?? love to hear your opinion.
I think I can answer this.
The 6x45 is a severe compromise. That 87 grain bullet out of a 6x45, according to my numbers, has a max muzzle velocity of around 2800 FPS.
The 6mm Max pushes an 87 grain projectile to around 3000 FPS.
In my humble opinion, these numbers alone are a good enough reason to give this cartage some attention. It does not have the high BC bullets of the 6mm ARC but it is a much safer cartage.
I hope it takes off.
great question. The 77gr bullet is the end for mag fed 5.56 AR rounds. we pick up there and add 400 fps velocity over the MK262 round with same bullet weight. this is a force multiplier with the same round count and load out as 5.56. this round makes the 5.56 obsolete. we do this without mods to the BCG and retain full integrity of components. this cartridge can replace then GI carry as well as perform a DMR role based on configuration. loads range from 55gr to 103gr, this covers just about any shooting/hunting/mil application.
This is the absolute best answer I have heard yet and of course it comes from the man who invented the cartridge! If you go on any of the forums, everyone has tried their best to duplicate the Mk262 Black Hills load. They have gotten close but the 6mm max far surpasses the capabilities of the MK262 by leaps and bounds. Furthermore, being able to have the same capacity of the magazines and platform makes it a win win for everyone.
I can tell you, it was easier to hit the 1k targets repeatedly with the 6mm Max far better than I have done with the Mk262 round. Congrats Bryan, I really do think this might be a game changer. 👍🏼
@@BrianCook-vw3fv Does 6mm Max feed reliability from standard 5.56 magazines at full capacity? Thanks
6mm MAX requires .350 legend/6mm MAX mag. round OAL is 2.300@@quick475
I swear on all that is good, I will help to make sure this cartridge takes off! I will contact as many ammo manufacturers as possible to try and get more ammo for 6mm MAX made, and I will personally be testing the round on my channel, once I get the barrel to convert my AR!
👏👏👏 this is is exciting 👏👏👏👏👏
Interesting but really skeptical long term
I would like to see a 6mm MAX vs 25x45 Sharps, handloaded using the heavy 25 ELDs, 24" barrels with suitable twists.
nice, can't wait to convert my old 3gun rifle into a 6mm Max
I love carrying around my 24" barreled rifle
Seems like if you went with the 103 eld-x at 1.26in itd be pretty pressure sensitive with all that bullet in the case ...and down on usable volume .
What about a 224 Max with case length appropriate for high BC or heavy for caliber projectiles?
One year after this video, it doesn't look like much is happening with this concept caliber. Any additional insights as to what's happening? Seemed like a potential game changer of a caliber.
There is quite a bit of movement and testing with this caliber that I am not at liberty to discuss.
It is being fielded all over and progress is being made. More in the future. 👍🏼
@XRING I hope all goes well! I've been saying since I've seen this that the Military should seriously consider this for adoption to replace 5.56 Nato! This cartridge has so much potential, and I really hope it takes off soon!
6mm-223
6mm-223 has 28gr water cap. 6mm MAX has 35gr water cap.
@@BrianCook-vw3fv wrong
Pretty amazing, but the appeal to me of 6arc was a shorter barrel and still hitting distance. I wonder if 6max suffers from shorter barrel lengths? Like what is the velocity reduction dropping to half that length?
What's the difference between this and the 6mm-223? Cartridge specs? Case capacity? 20" 6mm-223 getting 3070fps with 75gr Speer HP using Varget.
Any plans to neck this down further to make a 22 max with same 350 legend cartridge
Very cool cartridge. What is the max weight & OAL for bullets? Are 110 grain pills out of the question?
The only question is going to be barrel life. Will it have more than a 5000 round life?
Probobly the best bolt for AR 15 is 6.8 bolt - stil bigger that 5.56, so you can use easy fat cardrige, but stil strong to hold pressure etc.
Do they plan on running a heavier option 103-110
yes, 103 ELDX
103 eld-x is 1.26in long ...not alot of boiler room left .
Glad I skipped the 6mm ARC. Disappointed the issues with the 6mm ARC haven't been made as well known as the .224 Valkyrie issues.
There are not that many that's why. Been shooting 6ARC for years not many problems at all !
I messed up buying an AR Stoner 224 Valkyrie barrel that turn out to be a dud for all the hype!
These 224 cartridges are an unpredictable for a reloader and causes blown cartridges for reasons I have no idea why when I check each powered charger going into the cartridge for loading.
I also learned the 224 can't take any more of a powder charge than a 223 and that isn't what I bought the barrel for.
My 224 barrel is crap for accuracy, and many have learned of the 224
@@andrewslagle1974 I've been sticking with my 6.5 Grendel. I had thought about piecing together an 18" 6mm ARC upper and/or rifle with a rifle length gas tube off of a 20" 6.5 Grendel barrel. Some friends have had issues with Odin Works and Faxon 6 ARC barrels using 6.5 Grendel Type II bolts. It's been a wait and see for me.
Perhaps the reason they haven't been made as well known is because they are largely theoretical. Besides online presumptions and a few anecdotal forum posts, is there any meaningful evidence that suggests that quality 6 ARC/6.5 Grendel bolts (Type 2) are prematurely failing regularly? And what does it mean for a bolt to fail prematurely? For example, and hypothetically speaking, if a 5.56 bolt lasts, on average, 9000 rounds without failure, is it unacceptable if a 6 ARC bolt fails at an average of 8,500 rounds? Is a loss of 500 rounds of life too much for what you gain in performance from the larger calibers? After all, we often give up barrel life in exchange for the benefits of some more aggressive cartridges and no one seems to complain too much. A huge factor in anecdotal accounts is excessively high-pressure reloads (i.e., exceeding 52,000 PSI) vs. standard and factory loads. Still another is how often you shoot. But in the end, there is no one-cartridge-does-it-all-perfectly solution. Advantages always come with disadvantages, and all of these must be weighed before making a commitment. I wouldn't necessarily use a 6 ARC or 6.5 Grendel for home defense, but for target shooting and hunting, I have no problem with them.
And a disclaimer: the empirical data I ask about may, in fact, be available, but I haven't seen it. Hornady ("Handbook of Cartridge Reloading," 11th Edition) does caution against high-pressure loads in 6 ARC gas guns because of bolt longevity concerns, so there's that. As an owner of 6 ARC and 6.5 Grendel firearms, I'd love to have a look at the real data.
@@blueeyeddevil1 Good points made 👍🏽
What magazines were you using (brand and were they standard AR-15 5.56 or 350 legend mags)?
duramag SS .350legend/6mm MAX
I want to see what that 58 grain does out of a 11.5 "
So it’s a commercialized 6x45? Hopefully it catches on
This is cool near 243 win performance from a standard AR... But it will be a barrel burner
Did the 6mm Hagar come up in conversation?
wonder why they didn't stuff a 108 gr in it and shoot it for the demo?
Sounds like a 6mm TCU. Siloute world has developed most of the modern day cartridges years ago.
they didnt push the shoulder back for longer bullets thus can only load short 6mm bullets , 243's 90gr eld-m has almost same bc as the 223's 73gr eldm. what is the point ?
Not true. More or come about the 103’s and 105’s 👍🏼
Why did it take this long for this cartage to come out? This looks like the ideal AR15 cartage.
This is what I had imagined an ideal 6mm AR15 cartage to be. Only needing a barrel swap to operate and over 1600 ft-lb of energy at the muzzle.
If the performance, and reliability could come out of a polymer case (the reason is weight savings) then I think this will be The perfect AR15 cartage.
1750 ft-lbs
@@BrianCook-vw3fv
My ideal AR15 cartage was a 6mm projectile with at least 1600 ft-lb of muzzle energy (Specifically 87gr @ 2900 FPS). This bested my ideal AR15 cartage by 100 FPS.
6mm Max sounds interesting. I like the preformance the 87gr Bergers are throwing out of the 24" barrel. I'd like to know how the 87gr Bergers would preform with a 18" barrel. I'm also curious about barrel life. How often would I need to swap out the barrel. If the 6mm Max loses velocity under 2700fps out of an 18" barrel then I'd be more interested in a AR10 wether it is a .308 or 6.5cm. This round would also have to take off like 6.5cm for me to even be interested or its just another wildcat.
You know the 77 grain can be uploaded to gain the same effect right? Also AR's can be had in 260 now.
barrel life is comparable to 5.56. this is not an overbore cartridge. I,m at 3000 rds and still holding sub MOA.
I think its going to come down to ammo availablity
Curious to see what the performance will be in bullets weighing >100gr.
I'd love to see head- to- head against 25-45 sharps and 6mm mongoose. The extra case capacity of the parent case could allow lower pressure powders or avoid compressed loads. That may give it an edge against the other cartridges. But it's only supposition until it's done.
6mm WOA vs 6mm MAX?
One year later, just looked at Starline Brass, NO 6mm Max brass. Going to look for dies now.
Will it never end?
How different is this from a 6mm mongoose? Seems about the same
So, we have something fit for an M16A4-DMR type/size weapon, here. Barrel change only. I'd like to see how this would hold up with a carbine-length barrel (12 to 16 inch), or even a sub-carbine (under 12) - can it at least deliver 800m high accuracy with an M4-type setup? Or a Mk. 18?
I know, I know, this is designed for designated marksman's _rifles,_ not carbines, but I still have this question.
we have tested 12.5", 14.5" 16", 20", 24". we hold sub MOA in all lengths. we basically ad 300-400FPS to any 5.56 configuration for given bullet weight thru 77gr mk262. then we take the platform to the next level up to 103gr.
@@BrianCook-vw3fv Ooooo....! Daddy likes!
Sounds good.
That look gnarly
I'm real close to buying a 6 mm ark I thought the desirability of the 6 mm ark is longer projectiles .. like the 6-5 creedmoor.. I wish we could have seen the cartridge compared to the other cartridges..
Soon. I have my own now and will be putting out a follow up video in the next little while.
Definitely interesting
What does the extra 0.44mm and extra money get me?
Want to know more like barrel twist and the shortest 16 in barrel speeds
Why would you not shoot a heavy 223? Velocity might be a tad slower because of bullet diameter but you’re gaining a higher bc
I’m looking at that too if you can’t get the 105 class bullets into it I’m not sure it’s gaining a ton looking at the bc numbers over some of the high bc 5.56 bullets the energy and such for hunting makes a lot of sense however
i love seeing new cartridges, solving issues and pushing these bullets to the max. I would really like to see this cartridge with some hammer bullets.