Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Experience with 6x45 on game

How did the 6x45 work out on game this fall for those few shooting such an animal?

Very interested in this cartridge...

Kills way above its weight class. I use the 85gr SGK BTHP pushed by some H335. Most people probably wouldn’t believe how many animals have been on the wrong end of my 6x45. Deer, pigs, coyotes, prairie dogs, etc. I have ZERO reservations about using it on a big-bodied, trophy buck within reasonable ranges.

No deer with it this year but have shot a few in previous years with 100gr Norna Oryx bullets. Works dependably. One of my very favorite rifles.

A 6x45 is my all year, around the ranch rifle.
Model 700 action, Douglas Premium 19" suppressed.
It's killed I don't know how many hogs (over 100) of all sizes, also 15-20 whitetails over the last few years.
80 gr Nosler BT's over TAC do well.

Bill

I wanted to love mine, but couldn't. Had a 20" stoner barrel on it. It was very accurate with 85 Sierra HPBT and 90 Nosler BTs.

On game it should have worked better than it did on two or three deer shot with it. I think I ran H335...

I sold everything off, but kinda wished I hadn't.

Have you guys checked out Steve Redgwell's book The Bolt Action 6 x 45 Rifle? I'll really enjoyed it. Its well written with lots of information and reasonable priced. You can find it on Amazon. The only bad thing is reading this book is probably going to cost me some money. It has me really wanting to build one. Scott.

Finally went ahead and had one made this past summer, and put it on a Savage Axxis 2 action. Liked it so much, I ordered another barrel from Douglas. Predator contour with a one in 7 twist, on both. 20 inch barrels. I wish I'd have made one of these over 40 years ago, and if so I'd have a lot less 223 varmint rifles.

This past season dropped a 175 to 180 pound Blacktail at 50 or so yards. Front chest shot, took out the top right ventricle.
Drop dead at the shot. Nosler 95 grain Ballistic Tip, fueled either with 24 grains of either H 322 or Benchmark, had both loaded up but don't remember which one I grabbed. Still did the job, with no fuss..

Before season was ringing steel with it at 300 and 400 yds with NO problems, with 75 grain to 105, and 108 grain bullets.
Between the 6 x 45 and the 6.5 Grendel on a Ruger Predator Action, at an older age I think I have whatever I need to drop my annual deer.

Low recoil, pretty darn accurate, and set up to shoot 55 to 115 grain bullets out to 300 & 400 yds accurately. It will run 100 grain bullets with an MV of 2600 fps and 105 grainers at 2550 fps.

75 grain HPs in it will blow sage rats into red mist better than 22 caliber bullets out of a 223 with a 40 to 55 gr bullet...

Nothing "NOT to like" about the 6 x 45. The military should have used it instead of the 223 in Vietnam.

As CKat posted, it definitely kills above its weight class....

I’d also recommend Steve’s book. Worth supporting a fellow 6x45 shooter.

Thanks Fshaw! I just ordered his book.

The Bolt Action 6x45 Rifle

Just ordered his book too. Interested to see it. My 6x45 has a 7.5 twist Hawk Hill barrel. These loads worked in mine but work up in yours. Mine has a bit longer throat probably.


25 grains Varget, CCI450, 95 vld at 2.53, 95 hybrid classic at 2.41 both very accurate to max distance for expansion
26.8 grains TAC, CCI450, 75 vmax at 2.34
25 grains H335, Fed primer, 90 grain ELD at 2.241

All of these would be fine accuracy wise to max distance for expansion at your local elevation. I didn't look up velocities from my 19" barrel but they were quick enough for what I needed.

Shooting this rifle suppressed makes me leave a few others on the shelf these days. Really a fun rifle and would be great for training new shooters with.

Would someone be able to tell me approximately what velocity would I get with 90 grain ballistic tips and using Varget or Benchmark or H4895 in the 6 x 45 in a 22 inch barrel at 2.41 inches? Thanks .

I killed a couple Meat Bucks with my 8" RPM Montucky,like I do every year,with 105's. Hint.

The 6x45 Book is a Goat Fhuqk,because there was nothing approaching a good rifle,nor good bullets,due the Retard Twist Rates. Easy pass. Hint.

88's in a 223 are SINISTER. Hint................

I would think right around 2700 perhaps a bit more.

Thanks 30338.

I've been shooting one for around 30 yrs. Great coyote rifle with 55gr NBTs and NBT LFs. 58gr Vmax work well just don't get close to the edges if your saving fur. Put a bigger scope on it and it works for varmints also.

40+ years ago, I bought a Kimber in 6x47 ( a ballistic twin of the 6x45, based on the 222Mag case). Got it for a starter deer cartridge for my sons, and now grandkids. Based on it's performance on deer using 85gr Partitions, I sometime wonder why I don't just sell everything else!

My next "build" is a Contender pistol barrel in 6x45. I think it will be a very efficient in that set up and fun to hunt with.

Bill

If we did that, we'd lose our loony cards.

I have 2 -14" 6mm TCU barrels. Both are TC barrels one from the custom shop and one is their regular offering.