.243 or Another 6mm For Prarrie Dogs

[savagedasher]

Hard for me to answer without bias. i hate the 223...ya...sorry

Definitely not far behind . But very impressed wit th 6-45 . AI would make it better . I hate trimming cases . Larry

 

[areaone]

6 BR without a doubt. I have four they are superb for Praire Dogs, economical powder burn hardly any recoil. I was using 58 and 70 gr, explosive results.slower twist unless you want to use those heavier bullets.
10 or 12 twist works for me.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Personally I have a couple of 243's I used for years on on Pdawgs. But I now prefer the 204..

 

[powderbrake]

I started shooting PD's with a .223, then went to a 22-250 for the longer reach. This past year I had built a custom 6mm BR, no turn neck. It is deadly on the PD's. I shoot a 88 gr Berger Varmint bullet at about 3000 fps. Easy to load, no special rifle needed. Savage makes the 12LRPV rifle in both 22-250 and 6mmBR. Several of the PD hunters in our group use the Savage. Great gun.

 

[fredo]

Have schwacked p-dogs past 750yds with my old 6x45 , 1:10twist 70Bkings. With an accurate range & good dope, just gotta get the wind call right. Accuracy is there, its a very mild mannered & barrel friendly cartridge...

When shot next to my .20TAC, the .20TAC smoked the 6x45 in trajectory. But the necked down hotrod ran hot, sooner, while the 6x45 just kept pluggin' along like a Yoeman farmer.

In a bolt gun, the 6x45AI is a great option for volume p-dog rifle. Availability of components, easy to load for, budget friendly & long barrel life are four things I'd think were important to a p-dogger?
Those little potbellies don't mind dying while you're fireforming, and once ya do, you'll never have to trim all those cases! Might not sound like much, until it's time time trim 2000 pieces of brass!

Once 'Improved', the 6x45AI is near matching the 6PPC in case capacity (performance). IE, lots to like on such a modest powder charge...

Your choice whether to go slow, or fast twist. If you shots are <300yds, ya might enjoy a bit more "SPLAT" from a 55-70gr bullet/slow twist. But if ya wanna lob 'em out there, a 1:8 throwin' 80-95gr bullets will make you a fan & handle the breeze better...

In closing, the 6x45 is simple & phenomenal! Great in an AR, and even better in a bolt gun. The Improved version just adds another dash of awesome sauce on top...

Have fun!

 

[5spd]

6x45 or 6x6.8 will take care of pdogs to 700 yards with very little recoil.
I run a 55g bullet in them both, smack thousands of field rodents with those 6mm rigs.

 

[centershot]

Have any 6x45 A.I. owners chronographed Their favorite loads? I took one of my .223 A.I. cases and ran it through an expander and put a 6 mm bullet on top of it. Looks pretty neat!

 

[savagedasher]

Have any 6x45 A.I. owners chronographed Their favorite loads? I took one of my .223 A.I. cases and ran it through an expander and put a 6 mm bullet on top of it. Looks pretty neat!

Great caliber I will be makeing a AI Larry

 

[Phil]

Have any 6x45 A.I. owners chronographed Their favorite loads? I took one of my .223 A.I. cases and ran it through an expander and put a 6 mm bullet on top of it. Looks pretty neat!

Fredo has the skinny on his, hit him up....

 

[fredo]

Been shooting 87 Vmaxs @ 2875, jumped .010" from a 22" 1:8 Krieger
Real good varmint/coyote medicine!

Just finished up a deer load, 80TTSX @ 2905 fps, jumped .030"
Hope to fill a deer tag or two with this here in a couple weeks...

Reamer print (.050" FB for mid/heavy bullets):

My Model Seven, 6x45AI rounds feed great from Accurate .223 AICS magazine:

 

[johnfred1965]

If you want something off the rack, the .243 will do fine. It does burn a lot of powder, but the range is fantastic, if you can see it, you can shoot it. I have a Ruger Varmint that I originally shot F-class with 105 Amaxes. Took some along to SD one year and was getting hits at 750 to 800. At that range, you can get back on target for the impact. For everything else, I use the 70 gr b-tip or blitzking, the lightweight 55 and 58 just wern't accurate for me. I am now at about 1700 rounds and am still minute of PD as they say.

 

[centershot]

A friend of mine has a 6mm/47 Ackley reamer. Thinking about this.

 

[1raggedhole]

I've been shooting 6BR on pdogs for a couple years. 8t criterion on a savage target action. Really like the cartridge for long range dogs w 105 amax. Low recoil and heat. Crazy accurate.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I'm hooked on the 243 in the dog fields. If you go out for a week your going to need a lot of brass loaded, 243 brass can still be had reasonable. Of course I'll have a 22 long rifle rimfire and the good old 223 with Blue Dot loads and regular loads. I have a Ross brake on the 243 and you can see the hits. As for barrel life on the 243, I don't care they sell new ones.

 

[Witchhunter]

I would think your 223 would be good for 300 easy. Mine does. I shoot a 220 Swift AI for mid range (400-600) I just built a 6br 8tw for longer ranges but haven't got to shoot it yet. I am confident that it will do the job though. All ranges are BEFORE the wind comes up......

 

[stosh]

Have used 17 hmr,.223, 22-250, 22 hornet, with great success wanted a 6mm so had 6x47L built and it shot great! I think a 6BR would be a little easier on barrels for a PD gun. My nephew bought a savage in 6br and shoot great!