6mm-223

[bohemR13]

I've read a few times about a 6x45,the 6mm-223) and I'm wondering if anyone here has shot it past 300 yards?

It seems from ballistics tables to be a pretty good light 6mm that will get good barrel life and would make a decent 'plinker' with the availability of components being what they are in the US.

Along with my 6.5-06 project I have a Savage Model 12 in 204 Ruger that will need a new barrel by the end of the year and I'm just thinking on calibers.

Anyone have some decent experience with them?

 

[fivering]

It's a pretty decent little cartridge, but be sure to go the .223 Ackley Improved version, you need all the powder space you can get.

 

[Spook]

I built a 6TCU on an 8 twist . It shoots 87 grain Vmax and 95 grain berger nicely....was also looking for inexpensive shooting.

 

[bohemR13]

I'll keep in mind the AI version, that's a good idea.

What's the 6TCU compared to a 6-223? Sorry if that's obvious, I know very little about the family of light 6's out there.

EDIT: Seems that the 6-223 and the 6TCU are virtually identical. Looking at the 105 SMK's and the velocities that Hodgdon claims can be had from H335 and BLC-2, which I have LOTS of, this is going to shoot on par with a 308 for range, drop, drift, etc? That'd be quite the bonus.

 

[rayjay]

You may have seen this already:

http://www.handgunhunt.com/tech/t13/

One thing you need to check is the price of reloading dies. Some of the low production dies are quite expensive and this would negate any savings on brass, etc. You may find used ones and be in business.

If you have a lathe you could rebate rims and use a 220 Russian based cartridge. I have a 6PPC used bbl that I use on a 700 action that has a 223 bolt face [ NOTE: I am using a PTG bolt with Sako extractor. This bolt has been machined to decrease the bolt face recess to app .125' { similar to the Savage }. You can't safely use rebated rims with the std Rem 223 bolt nose !!!!!!! ]. $65 bbl, left over brass from BR rifles, dies on hand, CHEAP .

 

[bohemR13]

ray-

I haven't seen that, thanks for the link.

The cost of dies is a sure consideration. The 6x45AI and 6TCU look like they're the same thing. I was hoping to get away with just getting a 6mm necking die and using my FL 223 die to size up a regular 223 for the 6x45. This way I only have to buy a single $20 neck die. In fact, I could probably run it into a 243 die if I was careful about setting the lengths.

I plan on getting the $65 barrel option via Adams and Bennet, I'll get a heavy varmint contour or more likely a full bull barrel since this is a rifle that I would be shooting 'chucks with or using as 'range bait' to get my girlfriend shooting more. She likes the 204 that it's currently in, but with a 1000-1200 round barrel life, giving her 100 rounds and saying 'have a good time' is going to eat it to pieces quickly.

I'll probably end up using it for cheap, no recoil practice to 600 yards too, but not really a match shooting gun.

I like the extra case capacity, but not having to buy the dies for it is more attractive to me.

 

[bohemR13]

I'm hoping to see some decent barrel life from this. Most of the rounds will be 95-105gr boat tails. The occasional screamer for toasting a woodchuck or something but mainly 2800fps pills for longer range shooting.

I just placed the order for the reamer and barrel wrench, dropped the barrel on backorder and am anxiously awaiting the parts.

BTW, anyone have some used 6mm dies they want to get rid of? Specifically a neck sizing die?

 

[bohemR13]

My barrel wrench and reamer showed up, if only Midway would get barrels in now!

On a lighter note, anyone shoot the 105 Hornady's with good luck? Based on the reloading books I'm hoping to see 2700 from them, it'd be about the same as a 308 with a 175 SMK in it for BC and MV.

 

[bohemR13]

Barrel is on it's way, FINALLY!

I ended up spending more than I wanted to on this project by upgrading from a cheapie Adams and Bennet to an 'expensive' 1:8 twist Shilen for twice the money. After waiting for 2+ weeks and just seeing the delivery day wash away, I broke down and spent bullet money on the barrel...

Should be here on Friday, maybe I can have it functioning by next weekend

 

[AussieDoug]

I have just purchased a 2nd hand Savage model 12 in .223 and I am going to use it as a project rifle for a 6mmX45,6mm-.223) can anyone tell me what sort of results they have had with it ? I am intending using it for 100 and 200 yard benchrest shooting. I did notice someone says to go with the improved version. My problem with that is I live in Australia and dies for the improved will be hard to get and very expensive too. I have limited barrels I can chose from over here too as not much comes into Aus I can access some Shilen & Lilja barrels but there are a couple of very good Aussie ones too. So any info you can give me on this little round would be much appreciated.

 

[bohemR13]

Hodgdon Powder company's website has loading data for it. I have mostly H335 and BLC-2 for things, so that works out well as both are Hodgdon powders.

I got a little box of the 75 Vmax to try out with it, I got a Horndady universal neck sizing die in 6mm. Be sure to lube the necks well, I crinkled a couple cases last night trying to find the line of 'no oil dents' and 'not enough lube'. I decided I'd rather a little oil dent occasionally instead of ruining cases.


The max load with H335 and 75 Vmax doesn't fill the case up all the way, nor does it with BLC-2. I haven't tried any other powders in my 223 or 204 Ruger because these two shoot AMAZING with those calibers.

Powder capacity is so slightly improved for the AI that I don't think it's really that big of a deal, go shoot the 6x47 if you want to stick more powder in it.

Use a long barrel and you can add a few hundred FPS to the data that Hodgdon posts, it's based on a 24' tube and it's conservative pressures from what I've seen since the loads have to be safe in a gas gun or any other action. The Savage action is plenty strong enough to push the load to the brass max here.

When I shoot it, I'll come back with some more pictures. This one shows,L to R)
204 Ruger, 32 Vmax
223 Rem, 55 FMJ
6-223, 75 Vmax,loaded to BT base 2.355' long at neck base to avoid donuts)