6mm projectile recommendation please ?

[harro]

I’m in the process of getting a 6mm223 / 6x45 built up on a Tikka T3 action, 1 in 8” twist and it will be throated to allow for a longer cartridge OAL because I will be using a Waters magazine that allows for longer length than a standard .223 cartridge.
I want to run projectiles in the 75-90 gr range .
The main usage will be for informal targets and the occasional Pig/Small deer .
What projectiles do you recommend to try that will work as a hunting bullet at the slower than usual 6mm speeds ( the 243/6mm CM etc obviously run a lot faster ) .
I don’t want a projectile that fragments immediately or just pencils straight through.
Any advice would be appreciated.
At the moment the leading contenders are .

Sierra 85 hpbt ( I’m worried it might be a bit hard at the slower velocities)
Hornady 87 Vmax
Hornady 90 eldx

Edit - Hunting distances won’t exceed 200 yrds

 

[SmokinJoe]

I am having great luck on whitetail deer with the Sierra 85HPBT and more recently the Nosler 90 Ballistic Tip in my 6X45 with velocities in the 2650-2700 area.

 

[Clancy]

Zero reasons not to shoot the 87 grain Berger. It’s plenty soft enough to be effective in 6x45.

 

[Bill Norris]

If you could get your hands on the 90 gr. Nosler Accu-bond it would work well.

 

[Frankm]

We down loaded a 243 to 2560 fps with H4895 and a Sierra 80 gr Blitz ( per Sierra recommendation) for a friends grandchildren to begin hunting with. They shot 4-5 antelope and mule deer up to 250 yards and I was told by friend it was very effective.

Moral of this point is you can get by with a somewhat softer bullet when knocking 400-500 fps off muzzle velocity. That 223-6mm will be a lot of fun!
Good Luck

 

[CJ6]

I am having great luck on whitetail deer with the Sierra 85HPBT and more recently the Nosler 90 Ballistic Tip in my 6X45 with velocities in the 2650-2700 area.

OP ... If you can find them the Sierra 1530 HPs are an AWESOME bullet for that cartridge.

 

[Gary in MD]

We down loaded a 243 to 2560 fps with H4895 and a Sierra 80 gr Blitz ( per Sierra recommendation) for a friends grandchildren to begin hunting with. They shot 4-5 antelope and mule deer up to 250 yards and I was told by friend it was very effective.

Moral of this point is you can get by with a somewhat softer bullet when knocking 400-500 fps off muzzle velocity. That 223-6mm will be a lot of fun!
Good Luck

That Sierra 80 grain Blitz is an accurate bullet!

 

[60723]

I’m in the process of getting a 6mm223 / 6x45 built up on a Tikka T3 action, 1 in 8” twist and it will be throated to allow for a longer cartridge OAL because I will be using a Waters magazine that allows for longer length than a standard .223 cartridge.
I want to run projectiles in the 75-90 gr range .
The main usage will be for informal targets and the occasional Pig/Small deer .
What projectiles do you recommend to try that will work as a hunting bullet at the slower than usual 6mm speeds ( the 243/6mm CM etc obviously run a lot faster ) .
I don’t want a projectile that fragments immediately or just pencils straight through.
Any advice would be appreciated.
At the moment the leading contenders are .

Sierra 85 hpbt ( I’m worried it might be a bit hard at the slower velocities)
Hornady 87 Vmax
Hornady 90 eldx

Edit - Hunting distances won’t exceed 200 yrds

K

 

[60723]

Have had excellent results with the Barnes Tipped Triple Shock. My Grandkids and the children of 2 friends have killed over 30 deer with .243 using those bullets. Usually get a pass through and blood trail.

 

[harro]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Seems like the Sierra 85 hpbt is worth a try and have just order some .

I have another question for those “ in the know “ about the 6x45/6mm223 .
I have to decide on what barrel length I want .
The maximum that my barrel blank will allow is 26 inches, but I don’t want it that long . I’m thinking somewhere between 20”-22” but could be persuaded to go a little longer if there is a real performance benefit.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Frankm]

At 22” don’t think you d give up much performance at all. Maybe 40 fps for 2” decrease. And remember, shorter barrels ( stiffer) often easier to tune for accuracy !!

 

[swd]

I’ve shot several black tail with the 95gr Partition in my 6x45. It puts a half dollar size hole through the heart and lungs and exits for lots of leakage out both sides. Works great!

 

[slm9s]

90BT

 

[ATFIV]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Seems like the Sierra 85 hpbt is worth a try and have just order some .

I have another question for those “ in the know “ about the 6x45/6mm223 .
I have to decide on what barrel length I want .
The maximum that my barrel blank will allow is 26 inches, but I don’t want it that long . I’m thinking somewhere between 20”-22” but could be persuaded to go a little longer if there is a real performance benefit.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Good luck finding Sierra 1530's..

 

[JB10]

I chopped mine at 22 inch and have no regrets. Its a varment rifle that i take in the field so i wanted it shorter for mobility

 

[SmokinJoe]

IIRC mine is 22" also. And I have shot paper with the Barnes 80gr TTSX with good velocity/accuracy but so far haven't shot a deer with it. Glad to hear that someone has had good results with it.

 

[CJ6]

Good luck finding Sierra 1530's..

The smaller shops seem to have a few (1530s) on hand yet. The 1520s are in stock though, I picked some up today in Rochester.

 

[dusterdave173]

The 87 Vmax did not work well at all for me
I would skip it and try others

 

[Oso]

The 87 Vmax did not work well at all for me
I would skip it and try others

I have a 6x45AI that I really haven’t done much with, yet. Just out of curiosity- why/how does this heavy 6mm VMax bullets performers poorly in 6x45 cartridge? Is it going to slowly to properly expand/fragment?

The fragmentation performance of VMax requires velocity to get the explosive impact on contact. My experience with VMax in .30 cal cartridges is that the 110gr VMax performs more like a soft point when shot at slower velocity (<2,700fps). At .308 velocities it’s a varmint nightmare, but when loaded at reduced velocities, such as 300HAMR or 300BO, it behaves like a soft point bullet (no fragmentation).

 

[Longranger81]

@Kenseth17cd has a wealth of knowledge on the 6x45