Thread: 6x45 Rem barrel

Originally Posted by Steelisreal

Once the 223 version of the flush floorplate magazines for the Howa Mini make their way down here to NZ we'll have a brilliant action to build these on - happy days!

Absolutely correct, that rifle & flush mag combo screams make me a 6x45

Or even just the bottom metal, there's plenty of cheap slow twist Howas out there

I totally agree, that little Howa mini action is a great base for many small highly efficient wildcats.

The 7.62x 39 and 6.5 Grendel actions also lend themselves well to tinkering. There are very few mini actions out there as affordable and versatile as these Howas.
before the Howa, getting more grunt from the .223 cartridge by necking up etc was generally a better/cheaper option than hunting down a sako or CZ action suitable to feed often the overlooked 6mm PPC for example. The 6x45 actually runs the same ballistic numbers as the 6mm PPC with 1gr or 2gr less powder with all other variables equal.

My interest has now been sparked in 6x45's cousin, the 6mmTCU which is essentially 6x45 Ackley improved, with its blown out straighter side walls and blown forward 40 deg shoulder it allows a couple of extra grain of powder meaning a gain of 150-200fps in most cases over the 6x45.

Another interesting build would be the 6.5 TCU or 6.5x45 which on paper would match the ballistics of the 6.5 Grendel. This cartridge like the 6mm TCU was developed by the late JD Jones for use in 14- 15" long barrelled Thompson Contender pistols for competition silhouette shooting but was adopted by hunters alike for its very usable velocity, range and knock down power. To get the best from these two variants, you really need either a single shot action or the mag room to load them out long. A Rem 700 or Howa mini with a floor plate could be just the key.
Ive formed and loaded up some dummy rounds of each to show the cartridges in discussion.

I love my wee .223 and find it versitile enough....... I do carry a few of the expensive monos for deer/pigs.... but in saying that have been very impressed with the hornady bulk pack 55grn stuff
the 50grn zmax/vmax work awesome on small stuff and wallabies
this mini EBRG sure does look the bizo.....now to put fly in ointment/go full circle
how light of 6mm mono can you buy and how fast can you stoke it along????? always thought something like 75grns from EBRG honking along would be an awesome deer load ,given how well 50grns work from .223

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

How light of 6mm mono can you buy and how fast can you stoke it along????? always thought something like 75grns from EBRG honking along would be an awesome deer load ,given how well 50grns work from .223

The Barnes 6mm TTSX is 80gr. I havent tested them personally as the copper bullets are quite long and wont stabilize in my slower 1-14" twist. However I can load both the 80gr sp and 85gr HPBT to just over 3000fps with a hot load and they both stabilize in my barrel as they are shorter bullets. Personally I favour the Sierra 75gr flat base hollow points though. They shoot great at 3000fps with a more modest load.

and Im plurry sure any deer would be in BIG trouble if you had them in your sights.

So you are better off with a slower twist in this cartridge for more velocity? How are they with a fast twist barrel and 105gr low drag pills?

Originally Posted by Beavis

So you are better off with a slower twist in this cartridge for more velocity? How are they with a fast twist barrel and 105gr low drag pills?

Personally I have grown to like the slower twist. Ive built several others now with 1-10" twists and they show a drop in velocity with the same loads even with longer barrels than my 1-14" twist. Mine absolutely loves the 75gr HPs so I am happy running those exclusively.
@Mathias has built a 1-8" 6x45 and has some pics and info on it on page 8 of this thread, maybe he can comment on shooting 90gr+?
I would guess mag length would be the biggest drawback when loading the 100gr- 105gr bullets. if you cant load them long you are taking up a good chunk of powder space. In most of the repeater .223 actions Ive checked, you are limited to a max 58-59mm OAL

Not played with anything over 85gr.....yet. I don't have anything in the box either to try, though I might get a sampler pack of 105 or 108gr Hornady ELD to try. These will be single feed to try for s&g only. @takbok did try some 105 Amax I believe in his 1:8 6x45. He may be able to offer some info.

@Mathias, if you want to try some 95 gr Targex, happy to send you some?

You could load them long into a R.E.M. 700 or an Howa with the mag spacer taken out maybe? You would have to get the barrel throated longer though to make the most of it.

I've shot the 105gr A-max in my 1:8 6x45, 2.360" OAL to fit my Sako 75 magazine. I was getting just over 2500fps. Did the job on one deer until I switched to 62gr copper bullets.

I've also tried 95gr SMK's. I ran out of case capacity with Vihtavuori N130 so need to try a faster powder.

I've got some 90gr Gamechangers sitting here to try also.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

how light of 6mm mono can you buy and how fast can you stoke it along????? always thought something like 75grns from EBRG honking along would be an awesome deer load ,given how well 50grns work from .223

I use the 62gr GSC copper monolithics @3350fps for deer in my 6x45 - very effective! (25.5gr Reloder 7, CCI450 primers)

Originally Posted by Seventenths

@Mathias, if you want to try some 95 gr Targex, happy to send you some?

All good mate, thanks for the offer but for fun I'll try something over 100gr. I did find some 105gr Speer fence posts hidden away, be interesting who they go

@Mathias bloody hell that looks like a load for rampaging rodents up close 😁😂