Recently took delivery of a 6X45 caliber rifle built on a Rem 700 action, Benchmark 1-10 twist barrel, Shilen trigger and walnut, ADL stock. I put a Nightforce 2-10X32 scope on it and took it to a farm I've hunted for years in eastern North Dakota. All of the many deer I've shot on this farm have been with a 30-06 (except for one with a .270) The deer run big and fat from eating the area corn all fall but ranges are relatively short averaging 75-200 yards. With a buck tag, I only saw does the first two days but early this past Sunday, this feller walked into a corner of the field where 6 does were feeding. He dropped with one shot at about 125 yards. The bullet was a 85 grain Nosler Partition on top of 25 gr. of H335.

All work on the rifle was done by Dave Sink out of Clemmons, NC. He has built several rifles for me and I've never been disappointed with the quality of workmanship and attention to detail. He is a true friend and professional gunsmith that I would recommend to anyone considering a custom build.

This rifle is a keeper; I might have to retire my 30-06.

You make me feel over gunned with my 250 Savage.

No worries, Mathman. You're ahead of me. I will be 55 years old tomorrow and am just now discovering that you don't need a .30 caliber bullet to take down a fat whitetail. That pic is after I gutted him and got help from the neighbors and their pickup getting him to the skinning shed.

You will be using ultralight fishing tackle soon too. As I aged I figured out we tend to use guns and tackle that are entirely too big.
You will love the 6x45

Dave Sink pointed me to that bullet. The buck was quartering away from me so I hit him a little further back than I would have liked but it went through his lungs, clipped his spine and ended up underneath his left armpit. It "mushroomed" just like the pics in the ads.

Nice rifle and nice buck.

and nice story...

congrats there Krummarine...

I have begun to wonder why I ever thought I needed some of the rifles in my safe. I am anxious to get done with rehabbing knees and hunt next year. Probably take my .25 TCU this time.

that looks like my kind of rifle right there. very nice.

Next you'll be using a 223 AI w Barnes, and yes I too have gravitated to Ultralights
Congrats, nice deer. My TCU was the mildest round next to 221/222/223s -
Enjoy - a x45 is too easy

that rifle in .250 savage would really do it for me.

Thanks, all for your comments. This trip made me take a new look at the weapons in my safe.

Well great. Like I needed another excuse to build a 6x45 ....

Nice buck.....I just had one built this summer on a Remington 788 action. Put a 22" lightweight contour barrel from Pac-nor (1:8 twist) and found a load that it liked with 85 grain Sierra BTGK. Just shot this turkey with it yesterday in PA can't wait to try it out on deer in a few weeks!



PennDog

A few years back I passed up a custom Remington 788 in 6X45MM at a very good price. Still think about it every now and then.

If that one was on the internet Jericho it may have been the inspiration or this one

PennDog

Nice and I love the 6x45 much.

Great looking buck taken with a cartridge that I'd really like to spend some time with.

And looking for a 28 ga. And opening your chokes --- Congrats.

Nice Turkey, many years ago, American Rifleman did a story on the 6x45 in a 788.

Ive been shooting 6x45s for a while myself & have built 6 of them on Ar15 and bolt platforms. Im down to 2 of them on Savage actions. I run a 65g bullet for coyote and the an 85g bullet for antelope to 500 yards out here.
Its just so darn easy to load for and every bullet prints way under an inch no matter the load.
I cant complain about 17 antelope and over 600 coyotes to them.

Interested in the powder/speed and bbl length you run.

24" SS, McGowan heavy sporter barrel, 1/10" twist, 5/8x24 threads for suppressor.
My go to coyote load is a 65g vmax, 27g Exterminator, 2.280" col, 3253 fps. Usually prints .427"-.520 on average @ 100 yds
My 2 antelope loads are:
Sierra 85g GKHP, 24.4g H335, 2.280"col, 2728 fps.
Nosler 95g HBT, 24.1g h335, 2.280" col, 2586 fps.
The above on average print .550"-.630" @ 100 yds
***I run a Thunderbeast 30p-1 suppressor w/the above loads & it has no effect on my speed or accuracy via tons of testing Ive done with & without it on my rig.

25.0 H335 and 85 NPT was popping primers but went 2,781 in my 1:9 22" MR contour. Switched to BR primers and it helped, but FP needs to be bushed.



Other loads I've monkeyed with:

55 NBT 27.8 H335 @ 2.272 = 3,129 FPS
80 TTSX 24.0 H335 @ 2.390 = 2,730 FPS
95 VLD 24.5 H335 @ 2.513 = 2,638 FPS
90 Scenar 25.2 H335 @ 2.488 = 2,800 FPS

Scenars fly like 175 SMK's but without the recoil. Fun rifle though. I built mine because of game regs. The way I figure it, 100 yards with a 6x45 is the same amount of ass as a 243 at 300.

Did a Faux Ti in it and the BC stock I have is a piece of schit. Has a SWFA Hubble on top for fun, but it may get 6x42'ed in the end. Had lotsa mechanicals at the onset but its pretty much ironed out. Did I mention I hate the stock? Were I to do it again, it'd be 1:8.

Good stuff. Have played a lot with the little 6 as well. I found similar max's as you above. I will be playing with sone 95 grain vld's and TAC in a bit. I found with the heavies, TAC and H335 were real close.

thanks for the load input, gentlemen. Lots of good info to try out.

I am planning a antelope hunt next fall in Co. Was comptemplating taking my 6X45 but wasn't sure if it had the energy at the longer ranges expected. Have yours been DRT shots?

Back from range.

My 21", 6x45, 95 grain vld's, 24.5 gr. TAC went 2,525 and under MOA. Max in my rifle. 400-500 yard load that recoils like a bb gun.

Sweet.....

What COAL do you have that load at? Barrel twist? That was a bullet I gave up on, but it was before I got some of the mechanicals sorted out. I'd been looking at the 87 VLD's as well.

Mine is a 1:8. I am at 2.58" OAL. I throated my rifle accordingly.

I've got 95 VLD's kissing at 2.508 and averaging 2,638 with 24.5 H335. Never got any groups I liked, but no keyholes so maybe there's hope. I screwed up and went 1:9 though.

Its back-burner until the rut is over.

I would hold it to 400 yards max on antelope/deer to insure you have enough energy for a swift kill. Looking at my energy charts it does drop off fast past 450 yards w/a 80-95 g bullet.
Out of all I shot only 3 made it past 50 yards after they jumped when hit and dropped as they wandered/walked away.
The farthest Ive had to shoot has been 344 yards and it was a direct punch through the shoulders w/noslers 95g HBT bullet.
Buck stood there for a few second then fell over dead.
Ive dumped all bullets this year except for that 95g nosler w/a .379 BC as it pretty much dumps all its energy into the animal.
My next testing will be with Hornadys 87g vmax at a .400 BC. Im wanting to know how that does VS the 95g on antelope. Range wise its faster & as accurate to 600 yards as my 95g load. Im betting it will be as good or better.