6x45 Bolt Rifle

[cowboy_coffee]

Just wanting to see if anyone here has built a 6x45 bolt action rifle. Was thinking of doing a build to use 95gr. Berger VLDS. Didn't want to reinvent the wheel so to speak. There is quite a bit of information on AR rifles, but the COAL is limited to magazine length as opposed to the bolt gun. Any information would be appreciated.

 

[AJ_Goddard]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Yes I have one or maybe I should say I had one as a buddy borrowed it a few years ago and hasn't brought it back. He loves it and as I remember it was a great shooting little rifle. Perfect for a kids first rifle. Doesn't have much recoil but it is big enough to hunt deer or antelope. I know half a dozen kids that took their first animal with one. My gunsmith Mark Chanlynn has built many of them over the years and I have never heard anything but praise for the little round. You will be real pleased with it.
AJ

 

[bohem]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Had one that I built on a Savage 12 action. It shot the 65-95gr bullets very well and was great to shoot. 100gr hunting bullets for short shots on deer sized game (inside of 200yd) make for a great hunting rifle for kids. Very easy on barrels for a short range target/plinking rifle. All in all I enjoyed it a lot.

I have since sold the rifle with the 204 Ruger and 223 barrel, the new owner didn't "want to deal with a wildcat"... So I have the barrel sitting around doing nothing. I'm sure I'll dream up something to spin it onto next.

If you get one, you'll enjoy it I'm sure. Out to 600yd it makes for a decent shooting, low recoil, very accurate rifle. It would probably make a good coyote rifle too.

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

what kind of velocities are you gettin out of a bolt rifle?

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

in the 95 grain range that is...

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Thanks Bohem, funny thing is I'm building mine on a Savage Model 10 action. the research that I've done so far, it looks like it should be great for my kids to hunt with...and for Dad to punch paper and shoot steel with depending on how I configure it. Cheap to reload and brass a plenty. I hope to be able to get into the 2800 fps range with the 95gr VLD's.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

From the info that I've found, I should be able to get into the 28 to 2900fps realm with Varget or H335 on the 95gr pill

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

I've ordered in a McGowen Barrel chambered specifically for the 95 grn VLD round. The COAL should be about 2.45 which is considerably longer than what you can load on the gas gun side.

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

should make an awsome little cartridge, what action you puttin it on?

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

nevermind... I re-read the post... let us know how it goes with load developement..

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Will do....just waiting...and waiting...the usual for barrels

 

[bohem]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Hodgdon's website lists data for it all the way up to 100gr bullets.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Read this. http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/08/6mm-223-across-the-course-rifle-project/#comments

I've been looking at one as well...

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Thanks for the info, good article. My build has started.

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

now you guys got me thinkin.....

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Thinking is much more dangerous than shooting...Guns, Craps or Whiskey.....doesn't say anything about thinkins

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

My take on it is it will match to slightly best a 308 ballistic track in everything but energy. All while easier on the wallet and could be the ultimate hunting rifle for deer and smaller game from 300 on in. Plus it will give the guys I hunt with (who all use 7mm mag’s) something to talk/complain about. I have a 223 bolt lined up for the project once it stops shooting so well…

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks in weird ways with wildcats. Pushing the 95 VLD around 2900 it should be quite a bit better than the 168 / 308 defenitely should be better at bucking wind.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

I have a M700 built into a 6x45 with an 8-twist, 21" light palma barrel. I use AICS-5.56 mags which allows an OAL of ~2.5". Been shooting 107SMK@2600fps. The trajectory tracks very closely with a .308Win (175SMK) clear out to 800yds. With no recoil..... my 10yr old daughter shoots it.

One of my better ideas.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Thanks for the info...I'm liking the sounds of the build more and more....

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

barrel life has got to be way up there eh???

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buffybuster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a M700 built into a 6x45 with an 8-twist, 21" light palma barrel. I use AICS-5.56 mags which allows an OAL of ~2.5". Been shooting 107SMK@2600fps. The trajectory tracks very closely with a .308Win (175SMK) clear out to 800yds. With no recoil..... my 10yr old daughter shoots it.

One of my better ideas. </div></div>

Thanks for that info. My guides dont account for the extra length so I was hoping the 105 would be in the 2600 range with the AI mags rather than the mid 2400's my guides were quoting with a much shorter OAL. If you dont mind me asking, what powder are you using?

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

and though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death... don't worry about evil... fear "the Panda"!

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

I don't fear the Panda...unless he has a bottle of Jack with him...or he's snoring on a road trip in the hotel room...

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Niles, with the longer COAL I was finding info using H335 and Varget pushing the heavier bullets a little faster. Let me see if I can find the link for the info I came up with.

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

there's always that "used car" smell i left you with from RM3G... ha ha...

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

BTW...is it Panda...or Jared's friend?

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

depends on what part of the country we're in...

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Is that guy from NorCal??? Back to the 6x45. Yes barrel life is supposed to be phenomenal....

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

And what kind of match your shooting....3 gun = Jared's friend...Precision Rifle...Panda

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

alright CC back to the 6x45... got any load combos you are eyeballin???

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

A couple...24.1 H335 and 25.7 Varget loads running the 95 vld at 2.45 COAL

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Should push that pill pretty well. Can do a lot more with the bolt gun with a longer COAL than with the AR platform.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buffybuster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a M700 built into a 6x45 with an 8-twist, 21" light palma barrel. I use AICS-5.56 mags which allows an OAL of ~2.5". Been shooting 107SMK@2600fps. The trajectory tracks very closely with a .308Win (175SMK) clear out to 800yds. With no recoil..... my 10yr old daughter shoots it.

One of my better ideas. </div></div>

Thanks for that info. My guides dont account for the extra length so I was hoping the 105 would be in the 2600 range with the AI mags rather than the mid 2400's my guides were quoting with a much shorter OAL. If you dont mind me asking, what powder are you using? </div></div>

I've had good result with TAC. Probably Varget would work just as well, maybe better.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Thanks...I've got varget, rl15 and h335 on hand....so I'm gonna go with those first. If need be I'll buy another powder if I don't get good results.

 

[tacdrver]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/for...5558&page=2
this is a link to 945 loads for the 6x45
my rifle just got finished on thursday, i have loaded up some 87gr hornaday vmax some 95 nosler bt and some 95 vlds
mine rifle is a blue printed remington action with a #3 shilen match 1-10 twist

 

[762frmafr]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Not to change the subject but I have been contemplating a 6.5TCU...any of you guys have any experience with that little round? Thinking 100 grain Scenars.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

This is the specific link I think you were talking about... http://buckammo.com/Images/6x45_loaddata_1_3.pdf That has some great info. Please let me know how your's shoots. Mine is going to be a 24inch McGowen, Magnum contour going on to a savage action.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

I also just got finished building a 6x45 upper while waiting on my bolt rifle barrel. The upper is a 20 inch barrel, the only down side is limiting the COAL to 2.26 for the magazine length. Bought the barrel new from Midway for 219.00 it is a stoner 1/8 twist stainless. So it should push the 87gr vmax at a decent rate. Cant go much heavier since the COAL limit. I'll let you know how she shoots next week. Ive loaded some 87 and 75 grn. vmax's over H335.

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Well? how'd shootin the upper go?

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

H335 did okay...not great...shows some promise. Gonna try Varget with the same pills. I like the set up...no recoil and good velocities.

 

[mark42quin]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

how many grains did you try? any pressure signs?

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

24.6 of the H335, no signs at all...need to increase the H335 and also try the Varget loads...maybe some RL15 loads

 

[skep_tic1]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Why not just stay with the .224 caliber? What is the benefit of stepping the 45 case up to the 6mm bullet. To my mind it would decrease velocity because there is no increase in powder. Also the heavy .224 bullets have great BC.

 

[Wade]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skep_tic1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why not just stay with the .224 caliber? What is the benefit of stepping the 45 case up to the 6mm bullet. To my mind it would decrease velocity because there is no increase in powder. Also the heavy .224 bullets have great BC. </div></div>

I wonder the same thing. A 223 bolt gun shooting 80s is hard to beat.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Different people trying different things....look at the BC of the 95 grn. VLD...

 

[762frmafr]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skep_tic1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why not just stay with the .224 caliber? What is the benefit of stepping the 45 case up to the 6mm bullet. To my mind it would decrease velocity because there is no increase in powder. Also the heavy .224 bullets have great BC. </div></div>

Sectional Density...

 

[bohem]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skep_tic1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why not just stay with the .224 caliber? What is the benefit of stepping the 45 case up to the 6mm bullet. To my mind it would decrease velocity because there is no increase in powder. Also the heavy .224 bullets have great BC. </div></div>

For the same weight bullet (albeit lower BC) a larger bore will push a bullet faster. Reduced friction in the bore due to shorter bearing surface with a higher area for the gas pressure to act upon.

A perfect example is the 8mm and 7mm Mauser cases. The 8 will push a 175gr bullet to almost 3000fps where the the 7mm is humping to get it to 2850.

For shorter distance in a hunting or knockdown capacity the BC is not as important as momentum on target.

My 6x45 would throw 75 Vmax at 3000fps without any type of pressure issues. 75 Amax in the same brass (right before necking it up to try the 6mm) was sneezing primers at 2875fps.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Just got done with some load work on the AR upper. 26 grains of Varget pushing a 75 grn Vmax. ended up with a .61 MOA group. Not too bad out of a gas gun. No pressure signs what so ever.

 

[cowboy_coffee]

Re: 6x45 Bolt Rifle

Next up will be some 87 grn vmax. See what these will do on the AR platform. A few more days until the McGowen shows up.