thesheepdog
New member
So I posted a thread a while back about getting a 6X45 or 6.5MPC cartridge to replace my 6.5 Grendel (long story).
I opted for the 6.5 MPC as I like the 6.5 calibers more.
SSK industries is the manufacturer for the MPC right now. There are some owners on the web, here and there, but overall this cartridge just isn't seeing popularity.
The 6.5 MPC is .223/5.56 brass cut down to 42mm (1.630 before resizing) and necked up to 6.5mm to allow for harder hitting, heavier bullets. This offers an edge to the 5.56 caliber for hunting purposes, as well as long range advantage (if you can get a good velocity load) without needing to change any other AR-15 part, except the barrel. This caliber also will fit in any standard AR mag.
http://sskindustries.com/6-5-mpc
Well I wanted to try this catridge out-after I sold my Grendel upper-I gave SSK a call. A nice lady by the name of Terry answered the phone, and though she was new, she was able to assist me quite well with ordering a 6.5 MPC AR barrel. SSK does not list "options" of what barrel lengths, profiles, gas systems, threading, etc on their website, so I had to gather all this information on the phone to get "what I want". Eventually I was transferred to JD Jones himself about what barrel options I could get.
So after speaking with him I opted for the Colt HBAR profile, 20" long with a mid length gas system (yes I asked about this and JD said the MPC works best with a middy). I also ordered the 6.5 MPC dies, which are custom made by Hornady (win, win).
Anyway, I was told about a 5 week wait for the barrel to made and shipped to me. Due to the holidays creeping up, the wait ended up being about 6 weeks.
I recieved my barrel, brass (SSK sells precut winchester brass for $40 per 100) and dies for the MPC.
The barrel is beautiful, with a bead blasted finish and stamped for "6.5 MPC". It also incorporates 5R rifling to facilitate higher velocities, lower pressures and easier cleaning. SSK provides a gas block and gas tube with the purchase of their AR barrels. Base cost for a SS barrel is $440.
Long story short, I am satisfied!
Now to the good stuff:
After recieving the dies and such, I went ahead and started loading the brass on my Hornady SS press.
My load is as follows:
22.0gr AA1680, 100gr AMAX, CCI 400 primers. The resizing of the .223 brass was a breeze and I have only experienced one split neck so far (my fault).
After loading a couple of "starter" rounds, I assembled the barrel to my MUR-1A upper and could not be happier with the fit and finish.
So after safety checking my new upper, I set out to start checking velocity and accuracy of the handloads.
After I loaded up the magazine and racked the bolt, something wasn't right; the rounds were not fully chambering.
After some inspection I confirmed the shoulder was not bumped back far enough so unfortunately I did not get to test the 6.5 MPC cartridge yet.
After I got home, I pulled out my loading supplies and loaded some other rounds with a deeper shoulder set, and they chambered just fine.
Now, all I need is to hit the range this week and test out the results.
Stay tuned for more info (a range report) and eventually a full YouTube review.
P.S. while you're waiting so eagerly I have some eye candy for you. Enjoy.
I opted for the 6.5 MPC as I like the 6.5 calibers more.
SSK industries is the manufacturer for the MPC right now. There are some owners on the web, here and there, but overall this cartridge just isn't seeing popularity.
The 6.5 MPC is .223/5.56 brass cut down to 42mm (1.630 before resizing) and necked up to 6.5mm to allow for harder hitting, heavier bullets. This offers an edge to the 5.56 caliber for hunting purposes, as well as long range advantage (if you can get a good velocity load) without needing to change any other AR-15 part, except the barrel. This caliber also will fit in any standard AR mag.
http://sskindustries.com/6-5-mpc
Well I wanted to try this catridge out-after I sold my Grendel upper-I gave SSK a call. A nice lady by the name of Terry answered the phone, and though she was new, she was able to assist me quite well with ordering a 6.5 MPC AR barrel. SSK does not list "options" of what barrel lengths, profiles, gas systems, threading, etc on their website, so I had to gather all this information on the phone to get "what I want". Eventually I was transferred to JD Jones himself about what barrel options I could get.
So after speaking with him I opted for the Colt HBAR profile, 20" long with a mid length gas system (yes I asked about this and JD said the MPC works best with a middy). I also ordered the 6.5 MPC dies, which are custom made by Hornady (win, win).
Anyway, I was told about a 5 week wait for the barrel to made and shipped to me. Due to the holidays creeping up, the wait ended up being about 6 weeks.
I recieved my barrel, brass (SSK sells precut winchester brass for $40 per 100) and dies for the MPC.
The barrel is beautiful, with a bead blasted finish and stamped for "6.5 MPC". It also incorporates 5R rifling to facilitate higher velocities, lower pressures and easier cleaning. SSK provides a gas block and gas tube with the purchase of their AR barrels. Base cost for a SS barrel is $440.
Long story short, I am satisfied!
Now to the good stuff:
After recieving the dies and such, I went ahead and started loading the brass on my Hornady SS press.
My load is as follows:
22.0gr AA1680, 100gr AMAX, CCI 400 primers. The resizing of the .223 brass was a breeze and I have only experienced one split neck so far (my fault).
After loading a couple of "starter" rounds, I assembled the barrel to my MUR-1A upper and could not be happier with the fit and finish.
So after safety checking my new upper, I set out to start checking velocity and accuracy of the handloads.
After I loaded up the magazine and racked the bolt, something wasn't right; the rounds were not fully chambering.
After some inspection I confirmed the shoulder was not bumped back far enough so unfortunately I did not get to test the 6.5 MPC cartridge yet.
After I got home, I pulled out my loading supplies and loaded some other rounds with a deeper shoulder set, and they chambered just fine.
Now, all I need is to hit the range this week and test out the results.
Stay tuned for more info (a range report) and eventually a full YouTube review.
P.S. while you're waiting so eagerly I have some eye candy for you. Enjoy.
