I was dreaming....6mm TCU

[WyoJeff]

Drinkin and daydreamin about a GREAT moderate range zero recoil varmint small-big game rifle....
sub 6lb 6mm-TCU bolt gun?
...on an old 788/223?
....current Howa mini?

Any actual experience with this or something similar?

 

[HandgunHTR]

I built a 7TCU using a Remington 700 action that came off of a 700 Varmint chambered in .223.

Got a Remage barrel from Ragged Hole (Wilson barrel blank). 18", spiral fluted, threaded 5/8-24, and installed with a PVA barrel nut. I modified the BDL mag box that came with the original rifle by removing the stamped metal spacer and replacing it with a chunk of 1/4" aluminum bar stock that was trimmed to fit.

Put a Trigger Tech Special trigger on it and stuck it in an older model Stocky's fiberglass stock. It is super fun to shoot and with a 120 grain Nosler BT, it will kill anything I need to kill with it.

The picture shows a Sig scope, which has since been replaced with a Sightron S1 3-9. I have also had the barreled action cerakoted titanium color.

 

[PistolPete]

I dream about such things as well, but then I just have to come back to earth and hope Kimber makes a Hunter in 6 ARC sometime soon (or a downsized Tikka, or a Mini in stainless).

You could always get a Contender barrel, or even a ULUL AR15; those guys are big on 6x45 if you haven't checked that thread.

 

[WyoJeff]

Trying to stay with the 223 case for cost and availability as well as wanting smaller case for smaller powder burn smaller noise

 

[KyleR1985]

I’m building a 6x45 handi now.

If my wife tires of her Howa mini .223 I will rebarrel to 6x45.

We’re working on finding a barrel supplier to make a pencil profile 6x45 unported AR barrel for the ULUL project.

 

[TaperPin]

That’s a blast from the past - haven’t heard much about the 6 or 7 tcu since the TC Contender days. (The Contender didn’t have the lockup strength for full pressure 308-head size cartridges, but the smaller 223 head size cartridges worked great.)

I can still remember how amazed I was to try a friends Contender and 2-1/2x scope that shot as well as my 270.

It would fun to have a 14” Contender with those snazzy pachmayr grips.

 

[Scottgolf]

Shot one for years in NRA metallic silhouette competition. It was a steel animal killer. Killed two antelope with it both over 200 yards 14 inch contender.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I built an AR in 6mm Mongoose which is basically the same as the as a TCU (223 AI necked to 6mm) but made a little shorter to work better within the COAL restrictions of an AR mag. It was a pretty impressive cartridge. If I recall correctly ( I sold it a couple of years ago) I was around 2750 out of a 16” suppressed barrel with 90gr bullets. I remember using H335.

 

[KyleR1985]

I built an AR in 6mm Mongoose which is basically the same as the as a TCU (223 AI necked to 6mm) but made a little shorter to work better within the COAL restrictions of an AR mag. It was a pretty impressive cartridge. If I recall correctly ( I sold it a couple of years ago) I was around 2750 out of a 16” suppressed barrel with 90gr bullets. I remember using H335.

Info on what you used for dies?

I was thinking of doing a 6x45 AI (reamer can be rented). Dies is where I stopped. Can I just set up a 223ai die set with a 6mm bushing instead of the 223?

A custom die set doesn’t make sense with 6ARC and others out there now. But if it’s just a little tinkering, the extra 10% of case fill becomes pretty interesting.

 

[khuber84]

6tcu is essentially a 6arc capacity wise no?

 

[WyoJeff]

Interesting KHuber... Until you said that and I looked it up I thought the arc was considerably larger but you're right it's not...

 

[khuber84]

6tcu 6ppc, 6arc all within a few grains one another I believe, 32.5-34gr.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Info on what you used for dies?

I was thinking of doing a 6x45 AI (reamer can be rented). Dies is where I stopped. Can I just set up a 223ai die set with a 6mm bushing instead of the 223?

A custom die set doesn’t make sense with 6ARC and others out there now. But if it’s just a little tinkering, the extra 10% of case fill becomes pretty interesting.

I used Hornady cartridge specific dies that came from Mad Dog Weaponry where I bought the barrel. I bet those died would work, the only difference between the TCU and the Mongoose was neck length I think.

 

[83cj-7]

I have a 6 TCU and a 6x45, both bolt action. I have built over a dozen rifles chambered in 6x45. I promise you, you won’t gain more than 50fps going TCU over straight 6x45. Have your gunsmith cut the chamber with a longer freebore and you’ll gain a lot more than “improved” can gain you. Also, the TCU doesn’t feed nearly as nice as the 6x45.

My friend’s son shot his first deer with my 6x45 yesterday.

 

[KyleR1985]

6x45 handi in process…

 

[KyleR1985]

I have a 6 TCU and a 6x45, both bolt action. I have built over a dozen rifles chambered in 6x45. I promise you, you won’t gain more than 50fps going TCU over straight 6x45. Have your gunsmith cut the chamber with a longer freebore and you’ll gain a lot more than “improved” can gain you. Also, the TCU doesn’t feed nearly as nice as the 6x45.

My friend’s son shot his first deer with my 6x45 yesterday.

If you can pick one bullet for deer hunting with the 6x45, what’s your go to?


And have you or do you know anyone who’s rented the tool to lengthen the throat themselves?

 

[83cj-7]

Hornady 87 V-max, hands down. It’s an undisputed killer! I’ve literally seen hundreds of deer taken with that bullet.

I have my gunsmith do all the chamber work when doing the initial build. He uses a floating pilot reamer and uses a tool to set freebore based on a dummy round that I provided.

 

[KyleR1985]

Hornady 87 V-max, hands down. It’s an undisputed killer! I’ve literally seen hundreds of deer taken with that bullet.

I have my gunsmith do all the chamber work when doing the initial build. He uses a floating pilot reamer and uses a tool to set freebore based on a dummy round that I provided.

What COAL were/are you loading the Vmax at?

 

[Formidilosus]

View attachment 814614

6x45 handi in process…

Who did the work?

 

[Moose83]

View attachment 814614

6x45 handi in process…

Definitely gonna need more details on this one...