Tikka 6x45 barrel recommendations?

[Q_Sertorius]

I’m planning to switch my T3 1:9” twist .223 over to 6x45 for Virginia whitetails (.224 caliber is illegal for deer). I would like recommendations for a 16” stainless steel barrel that is economical and accurate. Many of the options I have looked at seem to be far more expensive than I expected.

 

[SloppyJ]

Surely you've ran across PBB. They have a 6x45 reamer it seems and they're likely the most economical option. Why not go with a dasher, XC, GT, or even Creedmoor? Seems a little easier than the 6x45 and you get some more performance without too much recoil.

 

[43.6N]

I’m planning to switch my T3 1:9” twist .223 over to 6x45 for Virginia whitetails (.224 caliber is illegal for deer). I would like recommendations for a 16” stainless steel barrel that is economical and accurate. Many of the options I have looked at seem to be far more expensive than I expected.

Talk to Dustin Drew at https://drewsprecision.com/contact/

He’s turned out 2 good tikka prefits for me for about $500 each. He does custom contours, and has a YouTube channel showing his milling operation.

I don’t see that he has 6x45 specifically listed, but it would be worth your time to talk to him and see if he would chamber it.

 

[43.6N]

Surely you've ran across PBB. They have a 6x45 reamer it seems and they're likely the most economical option. Why not go with a dasher, XC, GT, or even Creedmoor? Seems a little easier than the 6x45 and you get some more performance without too much recoil.

And I would second the dasher option (or 6ARC so you can have factory ammo source).

 

[ResearchinStuff]

@hereinaz should be able to hook you up. 6 arc is a good suggestion too

 

[SloppyJ]

6arc makes a ton of sense other than that bolt face which could be a PITA which is why I recommended standard bolt face chamberings. If you have the desire to get your bolt modified then go 6arc all day.

 

[CaptArab]

I have a bad habit of getting obsessed with the reloading/shooting hobby horse, getting setup on some oddball cartridge, then getting swamped with work and other projects and inevitably regretting not doing something off the shelf.

All that to say the factory 6 creed with 80 grain ELD-VT sounds easy unless you're trying dial this in for a 9 year old. Plus the mags work better.

 

[SloppyJ]

I have a bad habit of getting obsessed with the reloading/shooting hobby horse, getting setup on some oddball cartridge, then getting swamped with work and other projects and inevitably regretting not doing something off the shelf.

All that to say the factory 6 creed with 80 grain ELD-VT sounds easy unless you're trying dial this in for a 9 year old. Plus the mags work better.

I'm all for the match bullets for deer because they work but the VT would be pushing it. Looking at how they're built and considering that his shots will likely be under 100yds (higher velocity), not sure I'd go that far on the spectrum. The Berger 108 EH has been flawless for me in those same circumstances. The 95BT and the new 107tmk would also be great choices.

All of that to say, I don't have first hand experience with the ELD-VTs on deer but loaded a couple hundred 62s this weekend in 22cm. My intent is for predator hunting.

 

[KyleR1985]

I got this barrel in 223ai for my howa mini. Had a smith headspace it for an additional fee from the deep chambered option selected. The last load I tried with 88tmk shot .6moa for 5 shots at 200 yards.

All they need are headspace gauges and a lathe to complete.


My Shaw 223wylde AR portless also shot sub 1.5moa for 10 shots with a microprism scope and a sub 4lb total rifle weight.



If you wait till 4th of July they’re probably going to have a sale. I got my barrel for around 250 bucks last year if I recall correctly.



Either way you’d be all in for less than 500 bucks I’d think. Not sure the going rate for stainless prefits these days for a tikka.

 

[Ckat]

My 6x45 is an ER Shaw barrel — unsure if they offer prefits or not. The 1:9 twist does great with the 85gr SGK BTHP, though I wish I would have selected a faster twist for more options. That little Sierra kills WAY above its weight class, so I’m not sure why I lust for more. It has an unbelievable amount of notches through years!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Thanks for the recommendations. I have several tabs open with different options, but I want to make sure I don’t overlook something.

I already have a .243, so I don’t want anything close to it. This project is all about being in compliance with Virginia’s silly caliber restriction while launching 95- or 107-graIN TMKs at around 2600 FPS. I am planning on a 1:7” twist.

 

[nm.otter]

If you're going semi-wildcat, there's also 6mm MAX.

 

[Bluumoon]

Thanks for the recommendations. I have several tabs open with different options, but I want to make sure I don’t overlook something.

I already have a .243, so I don’t want anything close to it. This project is all about being in compliance with Virginia’s silly caliber restriction while launching 95- or 107-graIN TMKs at around 2600 FPS. I am planning on a 1:7” twist.

I’m guessing you’ll need special mags from pods 8 for the 6x45, same w arc. So the “up charge” for 6 arc is the bolt face (~$150). 6BRA is also new mags.

I’d think arc/BRA would be a little extra fluff and allow shorter barrel to meet your velocity goals.

6arc and 107s-112s w 18” barrel easily meets quick drop, actually I need to drop a little speed from my last loading.

6x45=cheap brass.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Surely you've ran across PBB. They have a 6x45 reamer it seems and they're likely the most economical option. Why not go with a dasher, XC, GT, or even Creedmoor? Seems a little easier than the 6x45 and you get some more performance without too much recoil.

Probably because he already has a .223 (therefore 0.384") and would also have to get a ARC or Standard bolt on top of the barrel. Plus new mags. The 6X45 feeds just fine from a standard .223 mag. You may want something longer, but that will depend on your bullet choice.
Add to that the fact that he is going to be hunting whitetails in VA. How much more performance is needed? .223 brass is super affordable and readily available, unlike the Dasher, XC, or GT. Creedmoor brass is more available, but is almost 2X the cost for good stuff over the .223 brass.

The 6X45 is almost perfect as an Eastern Whitetail cartridge, IMHO, because it performs great and allows you to get around the stupid caliber restrictions that a lot of Eastern states still have.

To answer the OPs question, I would go with Preferred if you want a shouldered option. While Shaw barrels are economical that goes away once you have to pay someone to fit the barrel to the action. X-Caliber requires a barrel nut, which means modifications to the stock. McGowan is a good option, but delivery will be when you get it rather than what you expect.

 

[CaptArab]

I'm all for the match bullets for deer because they work but the VT would be pushing it.

Sure, any light bullet is my point.

 

[longrangelead]

Thanks for the recommendations. I have several tabs open with different options, but I want to make sure I don’t overlook something.

I already have a .243, so I don’t want anything close to it. This project is all about being in compliance with Virginia’s silly caliber restriction while launching 95- or 107-graIN TMKs at around 2600 FPS. I am planning on a 1:7” twist.

My Shaw shot well for Form testing 107/116's, 1"-1½"

I haven't messed with it yet.

pods8 made some 2.8" Tikka mags for me specifically for 6x45

if you get the deep chamber option, I can finish it for you.

 

[RockAndSage]

Thanks for the recommendations. I have several tabs open with different options, but I want to make sure I don’t overlook something.

I already have a .243, so I don’t want anything close to it. This project is all about being in compliance with Virginia’s silly caliber restriction while launching 95- or 107-graIN TMKs at around 2600 FPS. I am planning on a 1:7” twist.

Curious about your considerations in dialing in on 6x45. Any particular reason for that, instead of other small 6mms?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Curious about your considerations in dialing in on 6x45. Any particular reason for that, instead of other small 6mms?

One of these came up on the classifieds about six months ago, but I missed out on it. I want something I can legally use that fills the same niche as the .223. If I could legally use 77- and 88-grain TMKs on deer, I would not consider this project.

I have thousands of once-fired .223 brass and I want a very small cartridge burning a relatively light powder charge and sending a good bullet. I like that it isn’t heavily over bore.

I’m in the early stages of planning this project. I’ll confess that I had not foreseen the need for 2.8” magazines for 6x45. In my head, I thought the 2.6” magazines I already have would work. So, that’s good to know. I don’t mind buying some magazines from pods8, he’s a great guy.

If someone has a suggestion that is easier to set up, then I will listen to it. But from what I have seen so far, all the suggestions require an equal or greater amount of work and/or get into .243 zone.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

My Shaw shot well for Form testing 107/116's, 1"-1½"

I haven't messed with it yet.

pods8 made some 2.8" Tikka mags for me specifically for 6x45

if you get the deep chamber option, I can finish it for you.

2.75" iirc wasn't it? Any more feedback on those? Not sure if you've gotten to use them much.

 

[KyleR1985]

One of these came up on the classifieds about six months ago, but I missed out on it. I want something I can legally use that fills the same niche as the .223. If I could legally use 77- and 88-grain TMKs on deer, I would not consider this project.

I have thousands of once-fired .223 brass and I want a very small cartridge burning a relatively light powder charge and sending a good bullet. I like that it isn’t heavily over bore.

I’m in the early stages of planning this project. I’ll confess that I had not foreseen the need for 2.8” magazines for 6x45. In my head, I thought the 2.6” magazines I already have would work. So, that’s good to know. I don’t mind buying some magazines from pods8, he’s a great guy.

If someone has a suggestion that is easier to set up, then I will listen to it. But from what I have seen so far, all the suggestions require an equal or greater amount of work and/or get into .243 zone.

@longrangelead did my mini barrel I described a few posts back.

2.6” magazine length will give you all you need for 87vmax and 95TMK and 95nbt and 85gamekings - all known killers, all easy to load for.

2.8” mag length will help you if you’re trying to chase incremental BC gains with the 107’s - my assumption is this is a waste of resources and time given the project description.