90 gr CX

[Bassfish1952]

Reached out to hornady recently looking for re-enforcment  on the idea that the 90 gr CX may make a fine deer load in the 6mm ARC. received the following response.

"Thank you for reaching out. You can use our reloading information in our 11th edition reloading manual for the 90gr GMX bullet for loading the CX bullet. Minimum impact velocity for maximum expansion is 2000 fps. Should see great results loading around 2950 fps range."


The 2950 fps suggested is quite achievable in the bolt action rifle application for the 6mm ARC. Looks like with a bolt action we may have as many as 7 propellants that may allow us to reach the 2950 FPS velocity range. Three of those propellants are quite high on my radar.

Unfortunately if 2950 is your velocity goal the gas gun may this may be non obtainable with an average length AR barrel.

My take away is 2950 may be Hornady's goal for a factory ammo. This may be generally not be achievable at safe gas gun pressures. Thus the likelihood of us seeing a factory load with this bullet in the 6mm ARC may not be very likely anytime soon.

This is where I struggle to understand reloading. 
Factory hunting ammo shows 2800 fps at muzzle with the 103 eldx with 4 powders but nothing in the gas gun will push that.
But with the 90 Cx in bolt guns there are 7 powders that do it and again NONE in the gas gun section so how would putting out factory ammo in 90 cx differ from what they do now with the 103 eldx.
I would buy a factory 90 cx at 2950 fps tomorrow . 
With the factory 103eldx , the deer I shot went down BUT if it had run off there was 0 blood trail. With my 6.5 CM the 120 cz goes thru and leaves a good blood trail. Not the same but makes me wonder if the 90 cx would do the same . 
On the hunts I go on , you (mostly) have to wait for the landowner to come before looking for a shot deer and several have not been recovered. Above all I don't want to kill or hurt a deer and leave it. I hunt to put deer in the freezer and try to avoid any chance of a lost deer.