Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6X45 Knocks Down a Deer

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.