98Z5V

Worst case wind scenario I've ever shot in... 14.9mph continuous, full value from left to right, through the Kestrel. Shooting due west, wind from due south. 850 yards, IPSC plate for a target, Mk12 Mod 1 gun, shooting handloads, 75gr Hornady HPBTs rolling 2789.75 fps averaged over 30 shots out of the 18" barrel. Dope on the round is solid. Went for the 850 in that 15mph wind, held straight up, @Matt.Cross was my spotter. 50 yards right was the first impact and call. Eventually adjusted for the wind, ended up holding 5.75 mils for wind, and it was ringing steel every single time, in a 15mph full value wind, at 850 yards. Curved that shiit in there like Angelina Jolie... She used Hollywood and cameras, but I used math and science and wind-reading... I already knew I was fucked, because the Kestrel told me so. But, I also felt that fastass wind, and there was NO mirage, and that meant it was north of 12mph wind. Did a 45* offset wind check, and it was about the same. Did a 60* offset wind check, and came up with 14mph. Kestrel was more accurate, at 14.9. I could have got there doing the offset check, though. I'm not scared of .224 projos and wind, brother. The 88s will do even better than the 75s, at bucking that, if I'm in a situation like that again. That shooting session burned the details of the hold, and the wind speed, and the distance, into my brainpan. I can first-round that shiit again, if I'm in those same conditions, with that cartridge. Now, I wanna get this upper done, get the load right - then go find me a 15mph full value wind and shoot 850...

Winter here, obviously, is when we shoot most, do the most testing, firing, etc. South of Phx. We'll be working up 2,000 yards in the next couple months, as one of the major tasks to accomplish, then we'll proof-test it on others in March. Sometime around the end of Jan or beginning of Feb, there should be some 22 ARC testing going on. At all other times, there's always something going on... ...and with that... If you have a weekend that you can get away, and it's not on a "3rd Saturday of the month," let me know, come on down, and we'll set up a weekend shoot just for you. That 3rd Saturday of the month is always the long distance gas-gun match down here, so we're busy that weekend, just trying real hard to not suck... Now, with the Winter comment - we shoot throughout the summer, but it's always a night shoot - camp that night - shoot early the next morning, and get the hell out of there before it's 110*... We try to do the Summer thing once a month, but last year was hard, with that 110*+ for a month straight. The lows set a record, the "highest low temp ever," at 97*. I think we completely skipped that month. You always have an invite, I'd like to introduce you to the Secret Desert Test Facility - SDTF - and if you have a weekend when you wanna get away - just state it, and we'll set it up.

I literally just did that... so you know it's me...

Got a new shirt. I think we need to morph this into a .308AR.com shirt.

I broke in my brand new, bone-dry .338 Fed gun just with a light coat of his lube. NOT dripping wet, like it's known that you need to do for the Large Frames. Just a light coat of that stuff had that thing lock the bolt back on the very first round out of it, single-loaded in the mag. It really is that good. I put vids up of that stuff in my .338 Fed build thread, the Pig Puncher...

He loves it, even when he's bitching about something... For oil, I use the stuff from @JBMatt, ever since it was concocted. It's the best stuff on the planet. You two don't live far apart - he might be able to get some to you. When do you plan on shooting it? This coming weekend?

Well, Bummer Update. Called BA this morning, stated that I'd seen them listed as a "partner" of the 22 ARC on Hornady's webpage on this little gem. Asked if they have any 18" SPR-profile barrels yet - I'd take one with machining chips and cutting oil all over it, not cleaned at all. The super-nice lady on the other end of the line told me that they are not releasing any of them until the end of January or early February... Sad Panda...

If you wanna drive, you can hit up my Gun Pusher down here. I leave my large frame Geissele Reaction Rod at his shop. He uses it more than I do. You can always just show up at his shop and say, "Tom said you would use his reaction rod to install this barrel for me, as payment for him loaning you his tools..." The first thing he'll say back is, "Aaaaah, that motherfucker... Gimme the parts..."

GIT 'EM, BUDDY!!!

Not too much,with 88s.

Fuk was THAT, that just collapsed?!!?...

All you gotta do is just reply and post a pic of that guy, right here - this is already your hunt thread on the subject...

@JBMatt, just letting you know brother - we DO have a "Hunting Section" here on the board, and if you're reading this, you're reading the intro post to your Cous Deer hunt/kill. Post away, brother, this is all about your deer, that I've already eaten a piece of... "JBMatt just smoked a Coues Deer with his 6 ARC and the 85gr Sierra Gameking a week ago,"

Don't even have the 18" barrel in hand, and don'e know if I can find it - but I got the shiit coming for the 12.5, already, when that thing finally drops. I'm behind the power curve - but ahead of it at the same time. I'm not sure if I'm shot, fucked, powder-burned, or snake-bit, right now... but when the details drop... I'm ready already, and i'll have 2 guns up running right away.

Brother, I'll tell you this right now. I can already tell where this is going, with this cartridge. I've done the Grendel (BADASS!), then I did the Valk - supposed to be a Grendel-Killer... Wasnt. Still have the SPR gun to prove it. Then the 6 ARC - THAT motherfucker is an improvement!!! Hands down! It really is better than Grendel, if you're after distance, a little accuracy, and bragging rights. One-for-one, the 6 ARC is gonna beat a Grendel for that. However, I'd HUNT a Grendel over the 6 ARC. Projectile weight, and energy on target. Now, JBMatt just smoked a Coues Deer with his 6 ARC and the 85gr Sierra Gameking a week ago, and I was eating that thing 8-days off-the-hoof, never frozen. 6 ARC works. Grendel was a game-changer. Then 6 ARC was a game-changer over that one. I think this 22 ARC is another game changer over both of those, within intended purposes. I have 5 Grendels and 3 of the 6 ARCs to feed. I'm poor, and should start a GoFundMe just for that. I'm going after an 18" SPR Mk12 22 ARC right now, and it'll become a reality - but just to solidify my interest in this one - I've already ordered a scope, mount, and rail for the 12.5" barrel that NOBODY is making yet... But they will. And I'll be ready when it drops.

*Hint*... It's gonna be another Mk12. EDIT - one of these days, I need to make a Mk12 thread, just to list the configs and calibers that I have. Mk12 is the King of Small Frames, hands down, when built right. Mod 0, Mod 1, Mod H, and now that it's done, my Mk12 Mod 2. 5.56, 6.5 G, 6 ARC, .224 Valk. That doesn't count growing a couple of the Mk12s down to 12.5" barreled baddies - the Grendel and the ARC - and how badass they are. Mk12 22ARC is next. I'm sure it's gonna turn into a 12.5" carbine, as well. Positive. Let's just get through the 18" part first, and see how it does...

Got a set of Hornady Custom Grade dies coming, for 22 ARC. With a Lee Factory Crimp Die. Let's see where this goes...

The carbine extension is good, and the buffer is good. I have zero experience with that spring. If you have recoil system problems, it's gonna be from the spring. If that crops up, replace the spring with a Sprinco Orange spring. At that point, any cyclic issues that pop up are NOT going to be from a recoil-system problem. Punch that gas port to 0.095", or as close as you can get it, and run the gun again. That's the #1 thing, listed. Let's see what happens...

Note for future questions - ALL 5.56 barrels that run the Heavies, and ALL .308 Win barrels - for gas guns... Provided the exact same barrel configuration... say they're both 18" barrels with rifle gas, 0.750" gas block journal sizes... they need the exact same gas port diameter, in order to function correctly. Exact same gas port diameter. I'm sure this will come up again, in this thread, and outside of this thread. Since it came up here, I'm just documenting it here, for future use. Different calibers = different games... Not the same, anymore...

18" rifle gas barrels with 0.750" gasblock journals - both heavy 5.56 (75gr or 77gr) AND .308 Win barrels... They need a gas port diameter of 0.095". Just go 0.096" on the drill bit,and don't worry about it, due to the adjustable gas block you have. It's work, never fail, and run any ammo you toss through it. You have a solid Recoil System,from what it sounds like. I'd like to hear more about the internal depth of the receiver extension, and the details on that spring, but the buffer weight is right - what's the length of that 5.6oz buffer?. This part right here:

Plans in motion. We're trying this one out.

I caught this vid in my YT feed, and I'm watching it now - love this stuff!!!

Nice, Jay!!!

I'm giggling with excitement...

Watched the first one last night, when I found that out. Figured I'd shut it off, because I was ready to binge the 3 that are available...