We are seeing a trend of new rifles being introduced for the suppressor-savvy shooter. Some of the rifles are lighter, some aren’t. Most, however, do have threaded muzzles. Many have shorter barrels, keeping your rifle at a reasonable length, even with the suppressor attached. We selected two long guns of this type for review. The first is a Savage Arms Model 110 Tactical 57770, $663. A solid 8-pound rifle, the Model 110 Tactical features a medium-profile 18-inch barrel, an embedded aluminum chassis, and is adjustable via inserts for comb height and length of pull. Our second choice is the new Christensen Arms Ridgeline Scout 1739966, $2100. Weighing in at a feathery 5.9 pounds, the Christensen features a carbon-fiber-composite stock mated to a 16-inch carbon-fiber-wrapped stainless-steel barrel. Both were chambered in the relatively new 6 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) rifle round.

The 6 ARC Round

We readily acknowledge that, all other things being equal and up to a reasonable maximum, the longer the barrel on the rifle, the more complete the powder burn will be, resulting in higher velocities. Much of the testing and most of the results you read in manuals is derived from firing a cartridge from a universal receiver attached to a 24-inch barrel. Your barrel being shorter can quickly explain why your velocities don’t equal that listed on the box of your favorite bullet. We have also noted in our testing that medium to small cartridges, loaded with correspondingly less powder, may not need as long a barrel to achieve optimum velocity. They may even benefit from a shorter, stiffer tube. Both are great reasons we decided to test these abbreviated barrels with the new 6 ARC from Hornady.

The 6 ARC was originally de­signed by Hornady in response to a request from the Department of Defense and certain special groups in the agency. The goal was to optimize the energy and accuracy that could be projected from a standard AR-15/M4 platform and magazines for that rifle with, again, standard dimensions. In 2020, Hornady introduced the 6 ARC to no small fanfare and an ad campaign that unfortunately coincided with the onset of Covid-19. To say the least, details about the new cartridge did not stay front page very long.

The Hornady engineers and ballisticians produced a new cartridge with substantially better muzzle energy than the 5.56 in current usage. For example, Black Hills Ammunition lists its outstanding 77-grain MK 262 Mod 1 5.56 ammo as generating just short of 1300 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. With our rifles and factory Hornady ammunition, the Hornady 108-grain ELD-Match 6 ARC ammo topped 1600 foot-pounds, a 23% increase over the 5.56 round. According to our Applied Ballistics Mobile app, the Black Hills MK 262 5.56mm ammo stays supersonic (where bullet flight is still stable and predictable) to about 1050 yards and maintains 1000 foot-pounds of energy (the minimum suggested for deer) to about 150 yards. The 108-grain ELD-M recorded just under 2600 fps out of the Savage 110, resulting in over 1600 foot-pounds energy, with bullets that stayed supersonic to about 1250 yards (at sea level) and 1000 foot-pounds energy to about 400 yards. Both numbers predict the rifles chambered in 6 ARC would be effective at longer distances.

Hornady designed its loads for AR-15 gas-operated rifles, which limit desired pressure to about 53,000 psi. They also noted that the same loads can be utilized in a bolt gun, max pressure for which was rated at 62,000 psi. In most of a thousand rounds of load development, staying strictly with published loads, we were able to get another 100+ fps from 16- and 18-inch bolt guns, thereby also increasing energy and effective range. That brings performance up to near-243 Winchester levels with less recoil and less muzzle blast. In other words, we think the new 6 ARC cartridge and short, handy barrels make a great combination.

The round is certainly new, but the line up of gun makers chambering for it is significant. Hornady lists these other companies as chambering rifles for the 6 ARC: Adams Arms, APF Armory, Barrett, Brenton, Brownells, CMMG, Geissele, Howa, Lantac, Mile High Shooting Accessories, Mossberg, NEMO, Noveske, Odin Works, Radical Firearms, SanTan Tactical, Seekins Precision, Stag Arms, Uintah, and others. We expect the list will continue to grow.

How We Tested

All testing was done at American Shooting Centers in Houston. We fired multiple five-shot groups at 100 yards using a Caldwell TackDriver Pro rest and a large rear bag from Tab Gear. We obtained three Hornady rounds for the test, 103-grain ELD-X expanding Precision Hunter ammo from Battle Hawk Armory, Hornady Black 105-grain boat-tail hollow points from Able Ammo, and Hornady 108-grain ELD-M Match rounds from MidwayUSA.com. We used well-proven Vortex PST II Viper 3-15×44 scopes ($1000, Amazon.com) on both rifles for accuracy testing. The Vortex Viper has the same EBR-7C reticle we use on the Gen 3 Vortex Razor scope mounted on our match rifle, and we love having the consistent view. The image is clear, crisp, and precise. The 600-yard targets fired at were easy to see and hit. As is our normal practice with Pic rails, we used Warne Maxima rings.

Considering the utility of the lightweight Christensen Scout, we also fired it with a 1-10×28 Crimson Trace Hardline Pro as well as a Trijicon MRO, $460, mated to a Trijicon 3X magnifier, $379, both from OpticsPlanet.com. Here’s how the 6 ARC performed in our test rifles.

Gun Tests Grade: A-

$663

We secured this rifle shortly after its introduction in late 2021. Our sample sports an 18-inch medium-profile barrel made of carbon steel. It is fluted to save weight and provide more surface area for cooling. Twist rate is 1 turn in 7.5 inches, and the muzzle is threaded 5⁄8×24. As expected, it is attached via the customary Savage lock nut which, in turn, sandwiches a recoil lug between the receiver and the barrel.

The receiver is the standard Model 110 short-action length. Designed for a 308 Winchester-length cartridge (about 2.80 inches long), it leaves more than a little extra room inside with the 6 ARC round, which tops out at a maximum length of 2.26 inches. Savage and Christensen both solved the potential feeding problems by utilizing a magazine from Modular Driven Technologies, or MDT. Produced in Canada, the AICS-pattern mags use a special follower with a tab at the rear that pushes the cartridge almost 0.5 inch forward, making sure that the stubby round releases from the feed lips and hits the feed ramp all at the right time. We have used other MDT magazines in our MPA rifles for several years and were very pleased to see their inclusion with these rifles. The specs on the Savage website say this is an eight-round rifle, but we were able to fit and feed 10 rounds from those magazines with no problems.

Other features on the top end include a 20-moa Picatinny rail that allows your scope a bit more elevation for the longer shots possible with the 6 ARC. The steel bolt has twin lugs that float a bit, helping them align precisely with the bore for greater accuracy. The rifle uses a plunger-style ejector along with a sliding extractor. The bolt is removed by depressing the trigger (please make sure the rifle is unloaded first!) simultaneously with a lever on the right side of the receiver. For what it’s worth, it is very easy to engage the tang safety on this rifle while cleaning, and the bolt will not go back in with the safety on. Took us a few anxious seconds to figure that one out. The bottom metal isn’t metal but is instead a polymer piece that formed a nice magwell protruding slightly below the bottom of the stock. A large lever “tactical mag release” is metal and provides an easy way to release the magazine. The bolt knob is listed as oversized, and it is that. Maybe a bit too much for our tastes because it kept bumping our trigger finger. The trigger guard has plenty of room and encloses what we found to be a wonderful sample of the Savage Accu-Trigger. Average compression required on our trigger was 1.3 pounds, with a standard deviation of only 1.7 ounces over 10 pulls on our Lyman digital gauge. If that trigger is a bit light for you, they are easy to adjust heavier.

We liked the stock. Polymer outside it may be, but we liked what they did with the inside and with the possible adjustments. First, the stock utilizes a polymer shell embedded with a fairly long aluminum chassis. The action and recoil lug snugged up tightly with full support for the action screws. An extension of the chassis runs almost the full length of the fore end, lending substantial rigidity and making sure the fore end stayed free floating even when substantial pressure was applied. Reasonable checkering was molded in at the fore end and the pistol grip. Everything stayed securely in our hands. The fore end is also almost flat and is fairly wide, helping us shoot well off the bags. The two sling-swivel studs on the front and the single stud at the rear let us do anything we needed with slings and bipods.

The rear of the stock is adjustable for both length of pull and comb height. The soft-rubber recoil pad attaches with two screws. With those removed, the shooter can add, remove, or change inserts to alter length and comb height. Four cheekpieces are included, as are several spacers with various widths for the length of pull. We’re pretty sure you can find a way to make it fit you.

Feeding and function were perfect. The bolt travel was a bit sticky when it first arrived, but, like many triggers, as we used it, things smoothed out. We like the way it runs now. Hornady says their 6 ARC round will do 2700 fps. Of course, that is testing from a 24-inch barrel. Depending on the load, Hornady factory ammo did 2540 fps to almost 2600 fps out of the Savage. With a five-shot group average of just over 0.8 inch, it showed a preference for the 105-grain Hornady Black Ammo. We expected to see at least a bit of difference in muzzle velocities given the 2-inch delta in barrel lengths. That was not the case. Both shot almost exactly the same speeds. Perhaps this cartridge won’t be quite as demanding in what barrel lengths it performs in.

Our Team Said: Slightly more accurate than the Christensen Scout, we also liked the versatility of the Savage stock and the excellent trigger. For most uses, this is Our Pick chambered in the 6 ARC round. As more rifles become available in this chambering, we’ll continue to test them, but it will be a feat to surpass this Savage.

6 ARC Range Data

Value Guide: Short-Action Bolt Rifles