Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 6X45

Several questions.........where could you find a good, but not overpriced barrel? Second, anyone that has one, do you have any experiences you'd like to share. Thanks.

6x45. Is this a 223 necked up to 243 caliber/6mm caliber?

Yes

I asked about this one time. Seems to not be as popular as the 300 Blackout with it's necked up 223 case. Seems like it would work well for small to medium game.

Been there done that, just build a 6 arc.

I had one. Liked it enough. I had an AR Stoner barrel from Midway, 1:8 twist, 20”.

The good: phenomenally accurate and relatively easy to load for. H335 and 85 Sierras of whatever flavor, 90 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and 85 gr Barnes TSXs. Sub 1” groups (5 shots) was normal at 100 yards. Not all day every day, but more often than not.

Easy to get brass, simply run a fired 223 into the 6x45 die. That’s it.

The not great: I was terrified I, or someone else, would touch one off in a 5.56/223. I couldn’t always tell which rounds were which by just looking, and since headstamps were all 5.56/223, I just knew it was asking for trouble, eventually. I bought sand PMags and dyed them to differentiate, but I couldn’t get over that.

It didn’t kill like I expected it to. Number of deer, varmints, and maybe a pig (don’t quite remember) and it just didn’t have the effect I expected. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t deadly or it wasn’t a run of bad luck. I didn’t shoot enough to formulate a real strong opinion. I just didn’t get what I was expecting. Again, not quantitative, just qualitative.

I know that’s far from the experience of many here, but it didn’t “wow” me.

I wish I hadn’t of sold it, and I think I could have done some things different to make the gun a bit more user friendly for what I wanted. Perhaps that’s a part of the disappointment…the gun wasn’t my favorite for what use I had intended.

I’ve never tried but I don’t think you could get the bolt to close on a 6x45 cartridge in a 223 chamber.

Probably not. I would think the 0.050” of extra diameter would keep the neck from entering, but I just didn’t have an easy feeling. I also had a guy put a 300 blk down his 5.56 at the table next to me at the range. It gave me a bit of irrational fear for a few years.

I now have reassembled my 300 blk and am wishing I hadn’t sold my 6x45…

James, a lot of us have tried it. I ran a lot of rounds through one, and tested the hell out of it. My conclusion is a good 223 rem loaded with 77,80, or 88's is just as good. Most 6x45's top out with about a 100gr pill. But you may find they really like 85's. Then, like I say, you are just as well off with a heavy bullet in a 223..

I agree. The ever-increasing number of 70gr+ .224 options has muscled in on the 6x45’s territory over the last 10-15 years. I’d want a bit more powder capacity these days with a 6mm option, otherwise it’s .223/5.56 for me.

I asked about the 6X45 because I have a ton of 223 brass, some lowers, and no real desire to build another AR in 223. I was just curious as to what some of you thought about it. In rethinking it, I doubt I would have anything to gain, except another mouth to feed in building a 6X45.

300 HAM'R is a fun use of brass.

Since they have shot 300/221 in a 223 rifle and survived it would have been an ok but not preferable thing.

There's a lot of stuff people have survived that I don't want to experience!!!

Yeah, just saying it wouldn't be the end of the world if it happened. And I'm still not sure it could at all anyway. There should be no physical way for that round to chamber I dont' think. IIRC we tried it back in the 80s and it would not chamber in our 223 rifles.

In this state a 5.56 isn't legal for big game, but a 6x45 is legal.

There is always that (ignorant) issue to deal with in some states. Thats not a ding at you at all. Just my take. Use a bigger gun. No matter if you can use it or not. lol.

I'd rather the shot be perfect with a small gun than imperfect with a bigger. But you and I don't write the rules.

Same in this state on Private land.

Some states allow 22 centerfire for deer, but 24 caliber for elk, as the minimum. I really don't think many guys are going to be reaching for a 6x45 for elk though.