6x45 Bolt Rifle

cowboy_coffee

cowboy_coffee

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 23, 2010
175
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56
Moriarty, NM
#1
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.
 
#2
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
 
#3
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.
 
#6
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.
 
#8
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.
 
#17
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…
 
#18
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.
 
#19
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.
 
#22
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?
 
#34
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.
 
#39
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.
 
#44
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.
 
#45
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.
 
#47
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...
 
#48
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.
 
#49
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.
 
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