hey guys, i have a 308 win on a savage model 10 that shoots real well, but all i am shooting with it is paper at this point. i am building a 6.5x55 on mauser that will probably take over for it when it comes to hunting season in another state. (illinois is a no rifle hunting state) anyways, i already reload for an AR-15 in .223, and i figure it would be easier and cheper (more shooting for the same price) to switch to a smaller caliber. i have always been interested in the 6mmx223 (6x45) cartridge so i was considering this as well. i was wanting to know though, does the 6x45 make as accurate as a cartridge as say a heavy .223 or 308 win out to 3-400 yards. i mostly shoot 1-200 yards, so i dont think that will be any problem. i would like to go with a 6mmbr or something along those lines, but i like the idea of .223 brass. though, im not sure if i would really save anything with a 6x45 over a 6mmbr. maybe i should do a 6.5 br since ill be shooting a 6.5x55.. i dont know what to do. a little help would be appreciated. thanks guys, brian
223 or 6x45 to replace .308 win...
- Thread starter brian923
- Start date
My Savage 6x45 I built off my old FP10 action is accurate as heck.
The main reason I went that way was due to the fact brass is plain everyplace (.223), just a neck up & you are done. I also have 2 other rigs in .223s and 12k pcs of brass.
I have no issue shooting to 700 yards at steel out here, even though I may have to hold 6-7' into the wind when its blowing (always usually) out here I can put them into 6" most of the time. Only 148"+/- of drop @ 700 hahaha.
400 yards is nothing for it either. I do not get anal with reloading for it as I built if for coyotes & antelope.
100yds I can stick them at .333-.600" when I take my time with my 58/65/70/80/95g loads.
My main load is a 65g vmax for coyotes and a 95g nosler HBT for antelope.
The sierra 85g gkhp is just darned very accurate in the 100-300 range you want.
I did put 7 rounds into .870" at 200 yards with the 85sgkhp load last year taking my time and in a cradle which I never use since Im all bipod & prone when hunting.
These are all hunting loads above.
Its the one you see in all my coyote posts in the varmint section here.
There are pages & pages of loads over on the predator masters site in the reloading forum also.
The main reason I went that way was due to the fact brass is plain everyplace (.223), just a neck up & you are done. I also have 2 other rigs in .223s and 12k pcs of brass.
I have no issue shooting to 700 yards at steel out here, even though I may have to hold 6-7' into the wind when its blowing (always usually) out here I can put them into 6" most of the time. Only 148"+/- of drop @ 700 hahaha.
400 yards is nothing for it either. I do not get anal with reloading for it as I built if for coyotes & antelope.
100yds I can stick them at .333-.600" when I take my time with my 58/65/70/80/95g loads.
My main load is a 65g vmax for coyotes and a 95g nosler HBT for antelope.
The sierra 85g gkhp is just darned very accurate in the 100-300 range you want.
I did put 7 rounds into .870" at 200 yards with the 85sgkhp load last year taking my time and in a cradle which I never use since Im all bipod & prone when hunting.
These are all hunting loads above.
Its the one you see in all my coyote posts in the varmint section here.
There are pages & pages of loads over on the predator masters site in the reloading forum also.
well, if i ever get around to being able to afford it, i may just go with a 6mmbr. i like the 6x45, but for just a minimal amount more in money terms, you gain a ton. good brass will be a one time purchase, and will last a long time. ill save over reloading for the 308, and il believe that the 6mmbr will keep up with the 308. plus, i can try and find some used components and gear to try and get the price down even further. (trades woudl also be awsome as my son is going in for surgery on monday, moneys kinda tight) so, i think ill probably take what i got for my 308 and get it up for sale here in the not so distant future.
if anyone is interested, i have a 26" 308 small shank savage barrel, 1/10 twist, i have a set of lee pace setter dies and a brand new just opened and used to reload 50 rounds set of hornady custom dies. like i said, if you are interested in knowing what i got, pm me and i can get you a list of stuff. ill get a post going in the next couple days in the classifieds (wts/wtt) . thanks guys, and any opinions or suggestions are always appreciated.
if anyone is interested, i have a 26" 308 small shank savage barrel, 1/10 twist, i have a set of lee pace setter dies and a brand new just opened and used to reload 50 rounds set of hornady custom dies. like i said, if you are interested in knowing what i got, pm me and i can get you a list of stuff. ill get a post going in the next couple days in the classifieds (wts/wtt) . thanks guys, and any opinions or suggestions are always appreciated.
Accuracy wise it is tough to beat the 6X45, back before the 6mmPPC was introduced the 6X45 was the cartridge to shoot in short range benchrest.
In forming any of the 223 based wildcats I do prefer to start from fresh brass, along with annealing the brass after neck expansion. The nice thing is that every quality company makes 223 brass. I have been using Nosler Brass with no complaints, it is not Lapua by any means, but it also cost half as much as Lapua and takes half as much time to prep as Winchester.
In forming any of the 223 based wildcats I do prefer to start from fresh brass, along with annealing the brass after neck expansion. The nice thing is that every quality company makes 223 brass. I have been using Nosler Brass with no complaints, it is not Lapua by any means, but it also cost half as much as Lapua and takes half as much time to prep as Winchester.
well, now you got me second guessing myself... 
i always have way more projects in my head then i have money or time for. the beautiful thing with 6x45 is that its relatively inexpensive. i keep going back and forth between the 6x45 and the 6mmbr. i like the 6br because it is a fantastic round, but if im only shooting 300 yards and in, it might just be better to stick with the 6x45.... i haven't really shot anything past 100 yards for now, (been shooting for a long time, just don't have a place with more than 100 yards for now) though i hope to be changing this in the spring. we are trying to devise a way to hang targets over the swamp that my grandparents own, and shoot from an elevated platform... but that's another story. so im thinking now, that my best bet is to go 6x45. i think it might be just perfect for me to save money, get more shooting in, and more practice at longer range.
does anybody have a side by side comparison of the 6x45 vs 6mmbr to 300-400 yards?
i always have way more projects in my head then i have money or time for. the beautiful thing with 6x45 is that its relatively inexpensive. i keep going back and forth between the 6x45 and the 6mmbr. i like the 6br because it is a fantastic round, but if im only shooting 300 yards and in, it might just be better to stick with the 6x45.... i haven't really shot anything past 100 yards for now, (been shooting for a long time, just don't have a place with more than 100 yards for now) though i hope to be changing this in the spring. we are trying to devise a way to hang targets over the swamp that my grandparents own, and shoot from an elevated platform... but that's another story. so im thinking now, that my best bet is to go 6x45. i think it might be just perfect for me to save money, get more shooting in, and more practice at longer range. does anybody have a side by side comparison of the 6x45 vs 6mmbr to 300-400 yards?
I too have always had the 6X45 in the back of my mind, don't know if I'll ever do it though. I presently shoot both .223 and 6mmBR and I can tell you the 6BR is way fun to shoot - and accurate. Since money is a consideration why not re-barrel your Savage into 6BR since the boltface is a match as well? The 6BR isn't all that more expensive to shoot, and you could always switch back to the .308.
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