6x45

[Moose83]

I got the 95 TMK up to 2664fps when pressure testing with my 16” barrel and using H335. Above a max load, but still No pressure signs observed. I don’t have enough left to properly accuracy test and I don’t have any more big game tags for this year.

That's pretty decent velocity from that short of a barrel. Assuming 25 fps per inch of barrel length it should be possible to crack 2700 fps with an 18-20" barrel?

 

[Taudisio]

That's pretty decent velocity from that short of a barrel. Assuming 25 fps per inch of barrel length it should be possible to crack 2700 fps with an 18-20" barrel?

I think I could push it to 2700 from my 16” if I could seat the bullet out farther. My loads were at the max “crunch” I felt comfortable seating. Still no pressure signs. 2.360 COAL, but my mag well needs shaving to make it there without resorting to a single feed rifle.

 

[Moose83]

I think I could push it to 2700 from my 16” if I could seat the bullet out farther. My loads were at the max “crunch” I felt comfortable seating. Still no pressure signs. 2.360 COAL, but my mag well needs shaving to make it there without resorting to a single feed rifle.

Good to know. I recently picked up another .223 tikka, so now I'm only a vice, action wrench and barrel away from a 6x45. I also quickly ran the numbers on a ballistics app and 2700fps with the 95 tmk will keep me above 1800fps out to 550yds where I am. That's much further than I'm comfortable shooting at animals at this point.

 

[Taudisio]

Good to know. I recently picked up another .223 tikka, so now I'm only a vice, action wrench and barrel away from a 6x45. I also quickly ran the numbers on a ballistics app and 2700fps with the 95 tmk will keep me above 1800fps out to 550yds where I am. That's much further than I'm comfortable shooting at animals at this point.

2625 gets me to 500, so that’s where I hope to hit an accuracy node. I think an 18-20” would be ideal for the cartridge pushing the 95’s and not having to push the load/search for a speed powder.

 

[Moose83]

2625 gets me to 500, so that’s where I hope to hit an accuracy node. I think an 18-20” would be ideal for the cartridge pushing the 95’s and not having to push the load/search for a speed powder.

18" is kinda where I'd like to end up in a trim lightweightish bolt gun. I've been following the ULUL thread you guys got going and I'd love to build a 4ish lb straight pull AR... but the way things are going right now in Canada I'm not sure it's a good idea. I'm not even sure I could get a solo 300 up here anyways...

 

[Taudisio]

18" is kinda where I'd like to end up in a trim lightweightish bolt gun. I've been following the ULUL thread you guys got going and I'd love to build a 4ish lb straight pull AR... but the way things are going right now in Canada I'm not sure it's a good idea. I'm not even sure I could get a solo 300 up here anyways...

I know nothing about your laws. Building a traditional bolt action rifle to get to the same weight as the UL ar’s would be an expensive and sacrificial project for sure. My scoped rifle was 3lb 11oz. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a traditional bolt action under 4lbs, even without a scope.

 

[Moose83]

I know nothing about your laws. Building a traditional bolt action rifle to get to the same weight as the UL ar’s would be an expensive and sacrificial project for sure. My scoped rifle was 3lb 11oz. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a traditional bolt action under 4lbs, even without a scope.

Ya... I have no intentions of trying to build a bolt action that light, that's more of a money pit than I'm willing to take on...lol. I'm just a little jealous of the UL AR's you guys get to tinker with.

 

[Harronek]

Good to know. I recently picked up another .223 tikka, so now I'm only a vice, action wrench and barrel away from a 6x45. I also quickly ran the numbers on a ballistics app and 2700fps with the 95 tmk will keep me above 1800fps out to 550yds where I am. That's much further than I'm comfortable shooting at animals at this point.

I have a Tikka 6x45 , the best improvement that I can recommend is to purchase a Waters .223 Magazine that allows an OAL of 2.6 inches.
Then make sure your barrels throat / freebore is cut to allow you to seat the bullets out long .
Here is a photo of mine loaded with a Berger 88gr varmint flat base . As you can imagine the bullet doesn’t protrude down below the neck so you can get maximum powder into the case .
Mine is throwing those Berger 88’s at 2877 fps with zero pressure signs .
The worst thing you can do with a 6x45 if you want to use heavier projectiles is to “ choke “ it with a short OAL magazine.

 

[longrangelead]

Bump

can we turn this into an all things 6x45 thread?
load data, builds, reamer specs, terminal performance and of course some as they lay pics.

I just got a Howa 223 to make into a 6x45 UL timber rifle w/87 V-max's.

I'm also considering a Tikka so I can use 2.6" waters mags to shoot 108/112/115gr bullets.

I'm also considering 6x45AI or 6-204.

has anyone messed with a 6-204?

 

[Moose83]

Bump

can we turn this into an all things 6x45 thread?
load data, builds, reamer specs, terminal performance and of course some as they lay pics.

I just got a Howa 223 to make into a 6x45 UL timber rifle w/87 V-max's.

I'm also considering a Tikka so I can use 2.6" waters mags to shoot 108/112/115gr bullets.

I'm also considering 6x45AI or 6-204.

has anyone messed with a 6-204?

Sounds great to me! This cartridge is still right up there on my radar. At this point I'm working on getting a barrel vise and action wrenches for my tikka's.... then I'll start looking for an appropriate barrel. Gunsmithing things are harder to source economically up here in Canada.

 

[longrangelead]

ten years ago I built a pair of 6x45's for my wife and I using Brownell's 20" AR barrels.
We shot a boat load of deer and antelope and one cow elk in the two following seasons.

I chose the 85gr TSX BT based on what I knew at the time. They shot sub moa and killed everything they hit. Most shots being 100-250yds.

My longest kill was a doe antelope @ 410 yards, entered top of left side by tenderloin, exited front chest passing through the heart. it looked like a garden hose stream of blood for about 4 seconds and she collapsed.

My wife shot this buck @410 and again @ 420 broadside. both exited and he went 20 yds.

The elk was from a tree stand, it ran directly under the stand so I put one in her back as she came out the back of the tree. 25 feet +/-, exited front chest again passing through the heart. She went 40 yards and tipped over.

The TSX load is:
85GR TSX BT @ 2.24"
24.0gr I3031
CCI SRP
Velocity 2500 (I think, my notes are missing some data)
Shot 2" @ 250yds

85gr Speer SPBT @ 2.235"
24.0 gr I3031
CCI SRP
No velocity data, IIRC was the same as TSX because it was our practice ammo.

70gr NBT @ 2.26"
29.0gr BLC-2
CCI 450
Velocity 2700
shot 1" @ 250yds

55gr NBT @ 2.26"
26.0 XBR
SR BR primer (CCI?)
Velocity 3000
shot 1" @ 250yds

ALL ABOVE W/FC LC brass +/- 96gr case unprimed.

Both rifles liked mild loads, once I found that load, they both shot exactly the same which was nice.

Since then, the wife has graduated to a 6.5 PRC.
I took her barrel and AI'd it recently. I've fire formed about 100 cases but I need to modify a 223AI bushing die to continue.

I'm curious how the AI will compare to the standard in the AR platform but I'm more motivated to build a couple bolt guns to get the full potential of the 6x45.

 

[longrangelead]

Sounds great to me! This cartridge is still right up there on my radar. At this point I'm working on getting a barrel vise and action wrenches for my tikka's.... then I'll start looking for an appropriate barrel. Gunsmithing things are harder to source economically up here in Canada.

Maybe Alberta and the rest of Canada can kick Quebec out and resume a normal life and things will get easier for you up North.

 

[longrangelead]

87gr info

 

[Moose83]

View attachment 884934
87gr info

Do you have any data for 95-105 gr bullets?

 

[longrangelead]

Do you have any data for 95-105 gr bullets?

I have some 90-100gr paper data, but no personal experience/data yet.

 

[longrangelead]

90
95
100

 

[Moose83]

Perfect... thank you! I keep thinking a nice light compact rifle running 95 tmk's at 2650ish would make a sweet 0-400 yd giant killer!

 

[longrangelead]

Perfect... thank you! I keep thinking a nice light compact rifle running 95 tmk's at 2650ish would make a sweet 0-400 yd giant killer!

Exactly!

 

[Thegman]

ten years ago I built a pair of 6x45's for my wife and I using Brownell's 20" AR barrels.
We shot a boat load of deer and antelope and one cow elk in the two following seasons.

I chose the 85gr TSX BT based on what I knew at the time. They shot sub moa and killed everything they hit. Most shots being 100-250yds.

My longest kill was a doe antelope @ 410 yards, entered top of left side by tenderloin, exited front chest passing through the heart. it looked like a garden hose stream of blood for about 4 seconds and she collapsed.

My wife shot this buck @410 and again @ 420 broadside. both exited and he went 20 yds.

The elk was from a tree stand, it ran directly under the stand so I put one in her back as she came out the back of the tree. 25 feet +/-, exited front chest again passing through the heart. She went 40 yards and tipped over.

The TSX load is:
85GR TSX BT @ 2.24"
24.0gr I3031
CCI SRP
Velocity 2500 (I think, my notes are missing some data)
Shot 2" @ 250yds

85gr Speer SPBT @ 2.235"
24.0 gr I3031
CCI SRP
No velocity data, IIRC was the same as TSX because it was our practice ammo.

70gr NBT @ 2.26"
29.0gr BLC-2
CCI 450
Velocity 2700
shot 1" @ 250yds

55gr NBT @ 2.26"
26.0 XBR
SR BR primer (CCI?)
Velocity 3000
shot 1" @ 250yds

ALL ABOVE W/FC LC brass +/- 96gr case unprimed.

Both rifles liked mild loads, once I found that load, they both shot exactly the same which was nice.

Since then, the wife has graduated to a 6.5 PRC.
I took her barrel and AI'd it recently. I've fire formed about 100 cases but I need to modify a 223AI bushing die to continue.

I'm curious how the AI will compare to the standard in the AR platform but I'm more motivated to build a couple bolt guns to get the full potential of the 6x45.

I'd be very interested in the 6x45AI / 6 TCU info as well.

 

[longrangelead]

I'd be very interested in the 6x45AI / 6 TCU info as well.

I'll add all info I gather as I go.