6x45 in a bolt or AR?

J

jimmyp

New member
Ive got this itch to build a 6x45 with the thought that I could use it in the woods for deer, shoot coyotes with it, and have a little more bullet to buck the wind shooting prairie dogs.

I have been thinking real hard about an 18" AR in 6x45, but looking through the gun safe the other day I got to eyeballing my Remington 700pss in 223. I have considered 10 times cutting the barrel down to 18" to make it a little more user friendly, But the other day it occurred to me that it might make a decent 6x45.....

Any thoughts?

Jim
 
Yes it would make a fine platform for the 6X45. I like it enough that I just got in a new 6X45 Savage barrel from Ritch the other day. I'll be making the swap over this weekend.

This is my first bolt 6X45. I have five AR's in the chambering from 17" to a NM profiled 24"

Greg
 
I have been running a 6x45 in an AR for a while and is one of my favorites. Shoots 75gr Vmax very well and 70gr SMK ain't too bad either. A drawback to the 6x45 in an AR is you are limited to the approx. 2.260" COAL from the magazine. That is usually around a 85-90gr bullet; which don't get me wrong, is more than plenty most of the time.


I recently put together a 6x45 on a Rem 700 action to shoot 105gr Amax. From a 20" bbl I am getting about 2700fps from the Amax. I thought that was pretty impressive for less than 25gr of powder. For me, this cartridge make a lot of sense for non-ridiculous ranges. I run the Amax from a DBM at a COAL of 2.485". This could easily be done from a BDL set up as well though.



For reference here are the 75gr Vmax, 70gr SMK and the 105gr Amax.


If I had it to do again, I think I would go straight to the bolt gun. I essentially started where your as well and for the same purposes. I think a 6x45 with an 8 twist 20" #3 tube in a McM Hunter with some sort of DBM would be a nice rifle for what your uses.
 
I have been kicking around idea as well for some time. I have narrowed myself down to the bolt gun idea due to the mag length issue.

I was curious on the speeds out of a bolt gun in the 20" to 22" lengths. Seeing 2700 with the 105's is very impressive to me.

GL, what kind of performance are you seeing out of Ritches prefit?
 
Just some thoughts.

I built a 6x45 about twenty years àgo, still have it. It is in a Rem 600 PacNor SS 1-10 tube ànd is very accurate. For me it is a coyote/target/PD gun never run anything larger thàn 70 gr and mostly 55's. I can't imagine lobbing heavies out of the little cartridge when there are so many cartridges that are better suited for the job.

I didn't have much luck with a 243 as a deer rifle, but that was 50 years ago and the ammo companies were still having teething problems getting a 6mm bullet to work at 243 velocities. But with my experiences I have a hard time with a 6mm of any kind as deer rifle, I really need to try one again with bullets of today.
It is kind of like getting bit by a German Shepard, the rest of your life you'll always be a little leary of them.

If your going to build a bolt gun around a petite little cartridge like the 6x45 I'd put it in something like a CZ 527, small Sako, mini Mauser or at leàst a Model 7.

If you need to build on the small bolt face 700 at least build use all the space you have and go with a 6x47 Improved, 6mm-204 or 6x50 Mag. I have a 6mm-204 on a full sized action another nice round. As far as the cheap brass argument, 50 rounds of brass can last forever in a bolt gun if you treat it right.

Good luck.
 
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Originally Posted By: Smokin250I have been kicking around idea as well for some time. I have narrowed myself down to the bolt gun idea due to the mag length issue.

I was curious on the speeds out of a bolt gun in the 20" to 22" lengths. Seeing 2700 with the 105's is very impressive to me.

GL, what kind of performance are you seeing out of Ritches prefit?

I haven't put it on yet but the AR BHW 6X45 tube shoots like a laser. I see no reason why this one won't. The 20-250 and 243 LBC Savages do.

BTW on AR versions if a guy runs thd STAINLESS ASC magazines he can load to a nominal 2.316. Notice the STAINLESS vs the standard steel magazines they sell. I haven't loaded a 2.260 6X45 round in a long long time.

Greg
 
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Want better accuracy then build it on a bolt action w/at least a 20" bbl & heavy sporter bbl, that way it covers p-dogs (all day shooting and slower heat build up) to deer. Deer to 400 yards (energy drops fast after that), p-dogs & coyote to 700 yards.
I have built 6 of them on the AR15 and bolt action frames & all with BHW barrels.
I have 2 6x45s in bolt actions these days for my own use.
I am building a AR15 6x45, 20" for a pal since he just loves the way the 6x45 shoot.
AR15 18-20" with light or standard weight barrel, IMO.
AR15 magazine length will hold you back from long bullets.
I run a 90 & 95g nosler HBT bullet for antelope in my bolt rig at 2.290"
Those are at 2672 to 2728 fps, 22" bbl.
I am not so sure a 105g bullet will make 2700 in a 20" bbl.


 
My little 18" 6x45 will be fun to smoke a doe or two with i do believe. Just need to figure out which bullet. 85 sierra or a 80 gr Barnes seems like fun
 
Originally Posted By: yotehunter243My little 18" 6x45 will be fun to smoke a doe or two with i do believe. Just need to figure out which bullet. 85 sierra or a 80 gr Barnes seems like fun

I'm going to steal it when your working....

Jim
 
I would go with the Sierra or even the Nosler 80 gr Ballistic Tips. The Barnes will likely not open reliably at lower velocities of the 6x45.
 
I have been building and shooting the improved 6x45 for a long time. It's one of my favorites but i am afraid if you go into this venture expecting 2700 with a 105 as has been touted, you will be sorely disappointed! I can do it in the improved case with over 27gr of h335 but it barely gets there in a 20" tube. 2550fps is much more realistic in the 6x45. Look at the new 95 TMK. Same bc as the 105 and it can be pushed about 200fps faster!
 
I have to agree with this. Odd things happen... My grendel shoots about 150 fps faster that anyone elses seems too. But I would say this is an exception and not the rule. I'd say don't hold your breath on that till you see it happen.
 
Originally Posted By: jimmypOriginally Posted By: yotehunter243My little 18" 6x45 will be fun to smoke a doe or two with i do believe. Just need to figure out which bullet. 85 sierra or a 80 gr Barnes seems like fun

I'm going to steal it when your working....

Jim

I'm sure you will have the combo to my safe anyways
 
I had a Dtech 6x45 & really liked it. It shot well but it always bothered me I couldn't play with the COAL (limited to 2.26) to tune the load to the rifle. So... I ended up building a bolt gun in 6x45 with .040 freebore & with a modified rem mag box, it is WAY better.

I am a BIG 6mm fan & understand the comments above. However, it is my opinion, the 6x45 make a LOT of sense for a guy that's going to shoot a lot. Barrel life is tremendous, brass is practically free, dies are inexpensive, small charge of powder (less recoil, less report, less expense), great selection of 6mm projectiles & the best part the 6x45 is very accurate & easy round to load for. Every kind of powder I've tried has yielded great results on paper. Get the bullet near the lands & this thing just shoots!

Yes there are many rounds that will preform better at longer ranges & have more azz to push the heavy bullets. Still the 6x45 is capable & if you want to run it that way, it can work. But yes, there are better options if you WANT/need top performance. In my opinion the 6x45 really shines in the 65-75gr bullet range. A 70/75 grain tipped bullet has a pretty decent BC & can reach in excess of 3000 (or well above with longer barrels) with charge. That's pretty good medicine & very resonable ballistic path for typical ranges (lets say out to around 500, 600 yards in decent conditions).

I have also killed several deer with the 6x45 and found it to be plenty potent for that task. Make & take good shots; they will be 50 yards or less with their tounge hanging out
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It's also rather cool suppressed!

 


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