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Posted: 6/22/2026 5:50:44 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Atropian_Defector][Edited]
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My receivers are due in tomorrow. Most of the rest of my build parts are in. Had a gift card burning so I went with a quick and easy faxon barrel for now, but that’ll be the first thing to go later. Upper- brownells NIB carrier w/brownells 6.5/6 bolt BCM Gunfighter mod3 Geissele MK14 15” handguard Superlative adjustable gas block Primary Arms GLx 3-18x44 FFP Rifle Scope - Illuminated ACSS Apollo Reticle - .308 / 6.5 Grendel Otter Creek PoloK Lower- UBR2, K2XL A5 H2 buffer Geissele SDE trigger Only granbed 2 mags so far, I’m hoping they drop some 10-15rd ones as well soon too. Otherwise waiting for my usual mil discount vendors to carry them or direct from Magpul. Attached File Attached File The mags Attached File Attached File Well Geissele rail doesnt fit without grinding/removing the anti-rotation tabs, so I ordered a Sabre Mlok this evening. Attached File And here she is. Minor fitting required on the sabre rail, but looks great!! Attached File |
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Icon Defense/SOLGW Drive Lock rails fit beautifully. Attached File Attached File |
Originally Posted By bradpierson26:
So I know you're a SF whore . . . . .
So I know you're a SF whore . . . . .
I sell people a means to defend themselves.
Joined:
Mar 2009
Posts:
10434
EE: 100% (253)
UT, USA
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Originally Posted By Dissident: Thanks! When will the bolt be available? Trying to decide if I’m going to build or wait to buy a complete G$ or wait on a PSA or SF ICAR. Mags are what sold me on icar. Just too many hit or miss issues with stanag dimension mags or spend stupid money on G$ |
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Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: Mags are what sold me on icar. Just too many hit or miss issues with stanag dimension mags or spend stupid money on G$ Have you experienced these issues personally? Just curious what you’re referring too, as I’ve got 10+ 6arc/6.5grendel mags (ASC/Alexander/etc…) and I’ve yet to have a single issue with feeding/loading. Just curious |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: Have you experienced these issues personally? Just curious what you’re referring too, as I’ve got 10+ 6arc/6.5grendel mags (ASC/Alexander/etc…) and I’ve yet to have a single issue with feeding/loading. Just curious I have seen FTFeeds and swollen mags screw a few guys in timed-run matches over the last couple years (to include cola-warrior). I also was an early 6.8 SPC adopter and remember my issues with them as well, so I have been wary. This build may push me to building another 6.8 SBR on these receivers even. |
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Alright help me understand it all now.... I have a story: I was an early adopter of 6 arc before it was known. What does this rifle do that mine won't do? Im up to 3000 rounds. Using 105 grain Amax bullets, I have zero issues with it and zero magazine issues. I mainly run 24 round E landers. |
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Originally Posted By country_boy87: Alright help me understand it all now.... I have a story: I was an early adopter of 6 arc before it was known. What does this rifle do that mine won't do? Im up to 3000 rounds. Using 105 grain Amax bullets, I have zero issues with it and zero magazine issues. I mainly run 24 round E landers. It’s just an evolved platform made for the ARC from the ground up. If yours works just keep running it. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
| The ICAR receiver permits the use of polymer Pmags and a little more room for accommodating different length cartridges compared to AR-15 lower receiver. One disadvantage is the only magazine available for ICAR 6 MM ARC are 25 round Pmags. The 25 round Pmags are not ideal for shooting off the bench. Time will tell if other magazines of different capacities hit the market. The Surefire and PSA ICAR receivers are more expensive than typical AR-15 receivers. |
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Originally Posted By VASCAR2: The ICAR receiver permits the use of polymer Pmags and a little more room for accommodating different length cartridges compared to AR-15 lower receiver. One disadvantage is the only magazine available for ICAR 6 MM ARC are 25 round Pmags. The 25 round Pmags are not ideal for shooting off the bench. Time will tell if other magazines of different capacities hit the market. The Surefire and PSA ICAR receivers are more expensive than typical AR-15 receivers. ^ This. I feel like the ppl building a dedicated 6arc are ppl looking for a precision build. The fact that they don’t have a 10-15rd mag to support prone or bench shooting just leaves me scratching my head. If they had usable mags for that purpose, I’d gladly get a receiver set, even though I’ve got plenty of standard 6/22arc mags that function without issue. |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: ^ This. I feel like the ppl building a dedicated 6arc are ppl looking for a precision build. The fact that they don’t have a 10-15rd mag to support prone or bench shooting just leaves me scratching my head. If they had usable mags for that purpose, I’d gladly get a receiver set, even though I’ve got plenty of standard 6/22arc mags that function without issue. My intended use is run and gun type events like cola, where a little more ass, flatter trajectory, and less wind drift than 5.56 is desirable but still with the need of higher capacity. Very niche use case for me, but worth it. I ran a few with large frame and decided it wasn't worth the weight and lower mag capacity, but this bridges the two for me. |
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Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: My intended use is run and gun type events like cola, where a little more ass, flatter trajectory, and less wind drift than 5.56 is desirable but still with the need of higher capacity. Very niche use case for me, but worth it. I ran a few with large frame and decided it wasn't worth the weight and lower mag capacity, but this bridges the two for me. Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: ^ This. I feel like the ppl building a dedicated 6arc are ppl looking for a precision build. The fact that they don’t have a 10-15rd mag to support prone or bench shooting just leaves me scratching my head. If they had usable mags for that purpose, I’d gladly get a receiver set, even though I’ve got plenty of standard 6/22arc mags that function without issue. My intended use is run and gun type events like cola, where a little more ass, flatter trajectory, and less wind drift than 5.56 is desirable but still with the need of higher capacity. Very niche use case for me, but worth it. I ran a few with large frame and decided it wasn't worth the weight and lower mag capacity, but this bridges the two for me. I used a 6.8spc in my first cola. No issues hitting the 300yrd with a 12.5" barrel. |
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Proud member of Team Ranstad.
Arfcom St Jude Mafia 3 years
Arfcom callsign: trenchfoot
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Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: My intended use is run and gun type events like cola, where a little more ass, flatter trajectory, and less wind drift than 5.56 is desirable but still with the need of higher capacity. Very niche use case for me, but worth it. I ran a few with large frame and decided it wasn't worth the weight and lower mag capacity, but this bridges the two for me. I am all about useful niches. I built this 6.5 Grendel 16" carbine as a general purpose AR using a LWRCI Six8 receiver set. The ICAR mags feed like butter and my Barnes 120gr Match Burner OTMs leave the barrel at 2575fps. 
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Scepticism is an exercise, not a life; it is a discipline fit to purify the mind of prejudice and render it all the more apt, when the time comes, to believe and to act wisely. -- George Santayana
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Last week I laid down and finally got behind the rifle on the one afternoon that was halfway clear. The goal- test ammo and zero for Cola Warrior SE that was the next day  I shot 3 different loads, Frontier 105gr FMJ, Hornady TAP 106gr, and Federal 108gr GMM. The TAP started off wild, like 6” groups but after a few mags, I was able to get 2” groups or better. Granted these were the first rounds through the rifle besides the 10 I shot in the dirt to confirm function and set the gas block. Next I shot the Frontier 105gr and that stuff was stacking itself nicely. I had several tight groups and felt confident with it. I ended up shooting over 100rds of it over the next half hour. Lastly I started shooting the GMM and it was shooting well but after around 5rds I had a literal squall hit me, huge 30mph+ gusts and driving rain. I packed quickly and by the time I got to my target paper in the Gator, it was shredded. It shot great at cola this past weekend, and I cleaned the rifle stage with it, but I need to settle back down and get some groups documented and begin my plan for loading for it this winter. |
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Originally Posted By Atropian_Defector: Last week I laid down and finally got behind the rifle on the one afternoon that was halfway clear. The goal- test ammo and zero for Cola Warrior SE that was the next day I shot 3 different loads, Frontier 105gr FMJ, Hornady TAP 106gr, and Federal 108gr GMM. The TAP started off wild, like 6” groups but after a few mags, I was able to get 2” groups or better. Granted these were the first rounds through the rifle besides the 10 I shot in the dirt to confirm function and set the gas block. Next I shot the Frontier 105gr and that stuff was stacking itself nicely. I had several tight groups and felt confident with it. I ended up shooting over 100rds of it over the next half hour. Lastly I started shooting the GMM and it was shooting well but after around 5rds I had a literal squall hit me, huge 30mph+ gusts and driving rain. I packed quickly and by the time I got to my target paper in the Gator, it was shredded. It shot great at cola this past weekend, and I cleaned the rifle stage with it, but I need to settle back down and get some groups documented and begin my plan for loading for it this winter. Thanks for the range report, OP. Your use case, cola, is the same use case I have in mind for my 6 ARC. I shot three different loads in mine, but only the 108 grain Hornady match grouped as well as I hoped. I really wanted the 80 grain to group well, but no such luck. I’m probably going to reload for it, so I can work up something that works for the lighter bullet. What barrel length is yours, and did you run into groups opening up as the barrel got hot? The only two colas I shot were with a BCM lightweight 11.5” 5.56, and it was a very temperamental barrel as it heated up. It didn’t help that the only load it liked was a PMC 77 grain match load that is notorious for poor muzzle velocity. Also, how do you like the scope you used? Cola Central Texas doesn’t have the distance you shot, but the longest targets are pretty small and difficult to see against background foliage. The small objective lense on my 1-10x doesn’t resolve those far targets well, so I want a larger objective lense for better resolution and perhaps even a little more magnification. I have to admit I was surprised how much more recoil the 6 ARC has than 5.56. It’s by no means punishing, but it is a bit more effort to get back on target than 5.56. Edited to add that I’m going to bite the bullet and buy the Geissele 30 rounders for cola. Ouch.
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Knight of Blunder - Fogo '21
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Originally Posted By Scott_S: Thanks for the range report, OP. Your use case, cola, is the same use case I have in mind for my 6 ARC. I shot three different loads in mine, but only the 108 grain Hornady match grouped as well as I hoped. I really wanted the 80 grain to group well, but no such luck. I’m probably going to reload for it, so I can work up something that works for the lighter bullet. What barrel length is yours, and did you run into groups opening up as the barrel got hot? The only two colas I shot were with a BCM lightweight 11.5” 5.56, and it was a very temperamental barrel as it heated up. It didn’t help that the only load it liked was a PMC 77 grain match load that is notorious for poor muzzle velocity. Also, how do you like the scope you used? Cola Central Texas doesn’t have the distance you shot, but the longest targets are pretty small and difficult to see against background foliage. The small objective lense on my 1-10x doesn’t resolve those far targets well, so I want a larger objective lense for better resolution and perhaps even a little more magnification. I have to admit I was surprised how much more recoil the 6 ARC has than 5.56. It’s by no means punishing, but it is a bit more effort to get back on target than 5.56. Edited to add that I’m going to bite the bullet and buy the Geissele 30 rounders for cola. Ouch. The scope is a primary arms 3-18 GLX, and I have a Vortex defender on a offset mount as well. I am running a faxon gunner 16" barrel, so not a heavy barrel, nor pencil light. Leaning up against a tree at this cola with steel targets set back in the woods meant I did not get to track how its performance changed as it warmed up With the a5 length buffer system and adjusted gas block, this rifle has no more recoil than my 5.56 for me. |
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Originally Posted By Luvman: I wanting to build a 14.5" 6ARC as an ultimate do it all AR. Still can't decide whether to pick up an ICAR receiver set or just swap out the barrel and bolt on a current build. I'm watching the mag situation closely. I’m pretty happy with my 14.5”, but I admittedly have very little trigger time with it. I just added a full size .30 cal can, a YHM Resonator 2, and it’s still relatively maneuverable. I learned that another manufacturer is about to produce 30-round mags for 6 arc/Grendel, so that’s another option in addition to the expensive Geissele mags that lets you use a standard lower. |
Knight of Blunder - Fogo '21
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Originally Posted By Scott_S: @Atropian_Defector, there are still a few slots for shooters at Cola VI Central Texas. I do realize that’s a haul for you, so no shade from me if you decline. Between hosting Bluegrass in 2 weeks and needing to do a lot of prep for winter, I’m tapped out. I appreciate it though! |
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Originally Posted By Luvman: I wanting to build a 14.5" 6ARC as an ultimate do it all AR. Still can't decide whether to pick up an ICAR receiver set or just swap out the barrel and bolt on a current build. I'm watching the mag situation closely. I'm using them for Grendel, but I've had zero issues with mags, including Geissle 30 round ICMs, which are perfect for COLA. I like smaller mags for hunting, so if they came out with smaller Magpuls I'd try a dedicated receiver set. |
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