For years, the AR-15 was thought of as a mid-range rifle, capable of accurate hits out to around 500 yards, but not much further than that. Part of this was due to the energy of the .223 Rem/5.56 NATO round, which ran out of energy past that distance, and part of that was due to the AR-15s of the time, which were optimized for closer distances.
Things have changed, and the introduction of new cartridges like Hornady’s 6mm ARC round and AR-15s that are built for the long range game mean you can get hits out to 1,000 yards and even beyond that. This week on Rifle Roundup, we’re looking at a rifle setup that’s ideal for the long range game.
Next Level Armament Phoenix 6ARC Premium Rifle: MSRP $3,039
The 6ARC Premium rifle from Next Level Armament has, as you’d expect from the name, a lot of premium features like fully ambidextrous controls terrific fit and finish and 16.1-inch, freefloat carbon-fiber barrel from Helix 6. There’s an aluminum handguard topped with Picatinny rails and covered in M-Lok slots, the bolt carrier group has a DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) finish, and the stock and grip are from B5 systems.
What’s most important to us, though, is that this rifle is chambered in Hornady’s 6mm ARC round, which was developed in 2020 by Hornady for a yet-as-unnamed branch of the U.S. military that was looking to push the limits of the AR platform. The cartridge is based on the 6.5 Grendel round, necked down to take advantage of the ballistic efficiencies found in .243/6mm diameter bullets. The 6mm ARC round can deliver 450 ft.-lbs. of energy or more at 1,000 yards when using a 108-grain bullet, which is pretty amazing considering that a long-range, 73-grain .223 Rem round has just 170 or so ft.-lbs. of energy at that distance.
The 6mm ARC round, combined with the care and precision that Next Level have put into this rifle, means that 1,000 yards is in your reach with a gun that looks, acts and feels like the AR-15 you’ve always used.
Leupold 4.5-18×52 PR-2 MOA Optic: MSRP $1,399.99
The Leupold Mark 4HD series was introduced last year as a smaller, more-compact alternative to the award-winning Mark 5HD optics. The scopes in the Mark 4HD line have a 4X zoom range versus the 5X zoom of the Mark 5HD line, and we’ve chosen the 4.5-18X version with a PR-2 reticle that’s marked with MOA hash marks. The PR-2 reticle is a “Christmas tree” style aiming system, with indications for windage in minute-of-angle measurements spread out to either side of the elevation stadia inside the scope. This allows you to easily adjust for wind without having to turn any dials.
Speaking of which, the dials on the Mark 4HD series are compatible with Leupold’s custom bullet drop compensating dials. This means that you can tailor them to your exact load and spin them straight away to the correct setting for each distance. The scope also has a removable throw lever, allowing you to quickly adjust your magnification as you move from target to target.
Inside the scope, you have Leupold’s outstanding optical glass with a fogproof, waterproof wrapping, and on the side, there is a focus knob that allows the Mark 4HD 4.5-18x to focus down to as close as 25 yards, making this scope an excellent choice for hitting targets at any distance from close to extreme ranges
Armageddon Gear Mid-Size Game Changer Shooting Bag: MSRP $106.95–$141.95
A stable shooting position is absolutely vital for long range accuracy, and hooting bags are a popular way to achieve that stability. Shooting bags come in all shapes and sizes and are designed to “give” a little when you place a firearm on them, nestling the gun in for more support.
The Armageddon Gear Game Changer is a very popular version of a small-to mid-size bag that is meant for range or competition use. The fat “X” shape of the bag creates natural channels to hold your rifle steady on the bag, and then hold the bag steady on things like a fencepost or shooting barricade. The bag we used weighs about 10 pounds for stability, but there is an option for a lighter fill material if you plan on carrying the bag in the field. The shell of the Game Changer in our video is made from brown waxed canvas. Other materials and colors are available, but waxed canvas gives a different look than the “tactical ripstop nylon” found in so many other shooting accessories, yet it still provides enough grip to hold your rifle rock-steady as you shoot.
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