Wilson Combat 6mm ARC Rifles: First Look

The 6mm ARC was designed by Hornady as a high-performance, long-range cartridge available for standard AR platform rifles. The round was introduced into the market with a promising start, being adopted by the US Military before its commercial announcement. Commercial 6mm ARC loads feature bullets selected to deliver ideal performance for hunting, match shooting, and personal protection applications. Rifle and Optics Editor Tom Beckstrand recently discussed the Military’s adoption of the 6mm ARC and had some very good things to say about it.

The round was born out of the need to surpass the 500- to 600-meter effective range of NATO 5.56. While 7.62 NATO and .308 chambered rifles could surpass the range and power of the 5.56, the weight of these rounds (and the heavier guns that used them) caused a burden on the troops utilizing them. Thus, the 6mm ARC was developed for a longer range, lighter weight round that was compatible with a standard AR platform. Being based on the 6.5 Grendel, the 6mm ARC benefits from being compatible with existing 6.5 Grendel magazines and bolts. Additionally, the 6mm ARC has reduced barrel wear compared to other 6.5 and 6mm rounds, in part because it is burning less powder. Despite its smaller size, the 6mm 108-grain bullet packs a punch, and the lower mass fired from a Grendel case results in a higher velocity and more optimized Very Low Drag (VLD.)

The initial worry with the 6mm ARC was what guns would come out that would utilize the round. However, worries were quickly dismissed as Hornady had clearly been collaborating with a good number of gun makers since the round was SAAMI approved on January 20, 2020. Wilson Combat is one name on the list of gunmakers that have been on board with this round since day one.

Wilson Combat is offering WC-15 riles with a match-grade, 18” fluted/threaded Tactical Hunter barrel. The Tactical Hunter has been designed for hunting or general tactical and defensive use and utilizes a lightweight Wilson Combat M-LOC rail for attachments. The other featured Wilson rifle has an 18” fluted/threaded Recon barrel. All barrels will be rifled with a 1-7.5” twist. Wilson Combat’s 6mm ARC platforms will use commonly available 6.5 Grendel magazines/bolts.

Wilson Combat has plenty of experience in producing stable AR-15 platforms, with the Protector Carbine, Recon Tactical and SBR Tactical all being popular 5.56 variants. In addition, Wilson also produces AR-15-style rifles in a variety of other rounds, some of which include 300 Blackout, .458 SOCOM and 6.5 Grendel. Given this, the incorporation of 6mm ARC into the selection feels like a natural continuation of their expanding range of products.

6mm ARC Tactical Hunter Specifications:

• Caliber: 6mm ARC – WC-15 Platform
• Barrel Length: 18” Fluted Threaded
• Overall Length: 33.5”
• Weight Empty: 6 lbs 14 oz

6mm ARC Tactical Hunter Features:

• Lightweight Billet Upper (Flat Top) and Billet Lower Receiver
• Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter Match Grade Barrel
• Mid Length Gas System with Lo-Profile Gas Block
• 5/8”x24 Threaded Muzzle with Thread Protector
• Wilson Combat 12.6” M-LOK Rail with Three Wilson Combat Rail Covers
• Wilson Combat/BCM Starburst Gunfighter Grip, Black
• Rogers/Wilson Super-Stoc
• Wilson Combat TTU (Tactical Trigger Unit) M2, 4#
• Premium Bolt Carrier Assembly
• Armor-Tuff Finish applied over Mil-Spec Hard Anodized Upper/Lower Receivers (Green/Black
• Standard – Other Colors and Camo Optional
• Can be Built to Meet California Compliant Specifications
• MSRP: $2,550

For more information, visit wilsoncombat.com.