6x45 excitement

[takbok]

I've finally accumulated all the hardware to build a little 6x45 (6mm-223). I'm really excited so thought I'd let you in on my ideas. I don't have a workshop at the moment but hopefully that will be resolved at some stage this year.

I liked the idea of a 6x47 based on the 222 Rem Mag but chose the 6x45 because of the better availability of .223 brass.

The rifle is a sako 75 A1 .222Rem. It will feel a bit wasteful to remove the barrel that shoots really well! The barrel blank is a 1:8 Pac Nor Cro-moly sporter profile. I would like to try shooting 70gr Matchkings (3100fps?) and 85gr Gamekings (2900fps? - I wonder if a large deer legal 3000 can be reached?) I'll also see how I get on with 95gr MK's or TMK's for fun. I can seat bullets to 2.360" COAL in the sako magazine.

Barrel blank measures 25" - I'm hoping for the finished barrel length to be 24" or maybe a bit less. I think I'll get the barrel cerakoted but am loathe to cerakote the action as the bluing has such a lovely deep lustre.

Also got the dies, floating pilot finishing reamer and go/ no go gauges.

Hope this is of interest to some of you. Any ideas or comments are welcome.

 

[Greener Jim]

Nice build. You doing it yourself? It'll be an interesting little rifle and will be great for munty, CWD, and your roe. I don't think larger deer legal is doable though, those velocities you quoted seem quite optimistic as it is.

Genuinelly lovely walking about roe rifle like and built on a terrific action. Can't wait to see it done.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

takbok

The Berger manual has some 6 x 45mm data, however the velocities it's quoting are a bit slower than the ones you are quoting. I'm not sure that you are going to achieve anything more than the bare minimum for roe. Are your dies made to match your reamer or vice versa?

Have fun.

JCS

 

[takbok]

Nice build. You doing it yourself? It'll be an interesting little rifle and will be great for munty, CWD, and your roe. I don't think larger deer legal is doable though, those velocities you quoted seem quite optimistic as it is.

Genuinelly lovely walking about roe rifle like and built on a terrific action. Can't wait to see it done.

I hope to build it myself.

Should easily get 1500 ft.lb at least. There's a difference between reloading manuals and reality though - so well see what we get in reality.

 

[takbok]

takbok

The Berger manual has some 6 x 45mm data, however the velocities it's quoting are a bit slower than the ones you are quoting. I'm not sure that you are going to achieve anything more than the bare minimum for roe. Are your dies made to match your reamer or vice versa?

Have fun.

JCS

The dies are just standard ones. I thought of getting a sizing reamer for making a die but it adds to the cost. I suppose I can still make a neck sizing die which takes neck bushings with the existing reamer.

The 70gr velocity is from Ramshot data. The 85gr is from US forums. We'll see what happens in reality.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

The dies are just standard ones. I thought of getting a sizing reamer for making a die but it adds to the cost. ...

I would be tempted to get a custom full length bushing die made from the fired brass. I've done that a couple of times and been very pleased.

Thanks JCS

 

[Greener Jim]

I hope to build it myself.

Should easily get 1500 ft.lb at least. There's a difference between reloading manuals and reality though - so well see what we get in reality.

I look forward to seeing it come together. I've got a project at the moment but I'm keeping the barrel so not as involved. The one after this will be similar to yours.

I hope that the forums are right then and you hit 1700 ft-lbs with the 85gr. I think hoping for 1750 ft-lbs with 100gr is unlikely mind so if it's large deer legal it'll be England and Wales only.

 

[takbok]

I look forward to seeing it come together. I've got a project at the moment but I'm keeping the barrel so not as involved. The one after this will be similar to yours.

I hope that the forums are right then and you hit 1700 ft-lbs with the 85gr. I think hoping for 1750 ft-lbs with 100gr is unlikely mind so if it's large deer legal it'll be England and Wales only.

I think people are getting around 2500fps with 100gr so definitely only for roe in Scotland. The heavier bullets will also reduce case capacity by seating quite far into the case.

 

[takbok]

I would be tempted to get a custom full length bushing die made from the fired brass. I've done that a couple of times and been very pleased.

Thanks JCS

I think that a fancy die like that would be wasted on me. I don't like to spend a lot of time on load development to the nth degree.

 

[Greener Jim]

I think 2500 fps with 100gr is definitely achievable.

 

[Border]

6x45 was popular for a while over here. Thomas Haugland used one for a few seasons before finding something better. I can supply load data for Scandinavian powders. Best with bullets up to 85 grains. Only roe legal over here. I think TH stopped using it because of lack of blood trails.

 

[takbok]

6x45 was popular for a while over here. Thomas Haugland used one for a few seasons before finding something better. I can supply load data for Scandinavian powders. Best with bullets up to 85 grains. Only roe legal over here. I think TH stopped using it because of lack of blood trails.

Thank you, I will get in touch if I have trouble with working up loads. I think I'll try Ramshot X-Terminator first - have you had any experience with that one?

If I get the rifle approved for roe deer (currently just for target) I will most likely try 62gr GS Custom copper bullets driven fast (3400fps). I don't see any reason why they won't work very well. I think the Nosler 70gr BT would be a good option too.

From what I've read I agree that for hunting bullets above 85gr can't be driven fast enough.

I think my fascination with the cartridge is that it will be relatively cheap to shoot (won't cost much more than shooting a .223) and a little bit different. I like the fact that cases are easy to make from .223 brass just by full length sizing, no fireforming steps etc.

 

[Whitebeard]

Hi Rory,
its good to see that you are getting your components together mate, i bet you wish you could get under way!
I made both S type and Wilson style Bushing neck size dies with the reamers i used to chamber my .22BR and .257 AI, i use a standard FL die when its needed.
For full length resizing i dont think a custom die is necessary, dies from any of the good makers will give you perfectly acceptable results after all the very next shot after FL sizing will have your brass formed back to the original chamber shape

Ian.

 

[takbok]

Thanks, Ian

Yes, it's great to have most of the things I need.

I ended up with a Manson reamer and six floating pilot bushings - they couldn't have been more helpful. Emailed a query on a Thursday and had the reamer the next Tuesday. More than a month on I'm still waiting for a reply from PTG.

It's definitely worth trying to make a neck sizing die when I get to that stage.

I'll get in touch with you when I'm ready to start the work.

Rory

 

[Whitebeard]

Strange that, i got an email reply from PTG in two days, reamers and tooling for my 17 Fireball rebarrel ordered last week
Barrel blank is a SS PacNor Remington Varmint contour 1:9 twist from Neil.

Ian.

 

[takbok]

Strange that, i got an email reply from PTG in two days, reamers and tooling for my 17 Fireball rebarrel ordered last week
Barrel blank is a SS PacNor Remington Varmint contour 1:9 twist from Neil.

Ian.

That sounds good. Hope you have fun building that one. Do you have to get the 221 brass from the US?

 

[Greener Jim]

Takbok, where do you get the GS Customs from? Think I'd like some for the 458

 

[Whitebeard]

That sounds good. Hope you have fun building that one. Do you have to get the 221 brass from the US?

I got 200 Lapua 221 cases from 1967SPUD as well as a set of form dies, had am email from PTG yesterday telling me that my order is being processed so expecting shipping notification soon

Ian.

 

[takbok]

Takbok, where do you get the GS Customs from? Think I'd like some for the 458

Got mine on a trip to South Africa last year. Almost impossible to get otherwise. I'd happily get you some but these silly laws here put a stop to that.

 

[Greener Jim]

Ahhhh never mind. I'd like some North Forks as well but that's also a non-starter.