6mm projectile recommendation please ?

[Kenseth17cd]

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

Just send me a pm if you need any help. I've done a lot with a 6x45 and a lot of load data

 

[jpjulian]

The V-Max is a varmint bullet. I wouldn't use it for hunting game. Have you considered the Nosler Partition? They come in 85-95 grain weights and would work fine on deer.

 

[Kenseth17cd]

The V-Max is a varmint bullet. I wouldn't use it for hunting game. Have you considered the Nosler Partition? They come in 85-95 grain weights and would work fine on deer.

The 87 vmax in the 6x45 due to the slower velocities than say a 243, actually performed amazing on deer for us. The 85gr gameking was the best in my opinion, but 87vmax was very impressive also

 

[jpjulian]

I don't doubt your experience but I wouldn't use a varmint bullet on a game animal. That's me. You do you.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

The 87 vmax in the 6x45 due to the slower velocities than say a 243, actually performed amazing on deer for us. The 85gr gameking was the best in my opinion, but 87vmax was very impressive also

The 87gr Vmax and 85gr Sierras work amazing in the 6x45

 

[Loudenboomer]

12 year old Grandson is going to hunt deer with my 6X45 this year. After much bullet deliberation I decided to go with the 85gr Nosler Partition and 25.5 gr AA2230. If successful I'll try post pictures.

 

[Kenseth17cd]

I somewhat rejuvenated the 6x45 a couple years ago, tested several barrels for companies. I have a 6x45 group on FB. Decent information on that group if you want to join it

 

[harro]

I somewhat rejuvenated the 6x45 a couple years ago, tested several barrels for companies. I have a 6x45 group on FB. Decent information on that group if you want to join it

I’m not on FB , so I’m afraid that isn’t an option for me .
When you tested those barrels were they used on Bolt or AR15 platforms?
I will initially try loading .
Hornady 87 bthp & Sierra 85
Starline Brass
CCI 450 primers
H4895 powder

At my Gunsmith’s suggestion I’m going to load up some “ Dummy” rounds to a OAL length that doesn’t have the base of the projectile protruding to far into the case . He will then throat the barrel accordingly.
The Waters magazine allows for a maximum length of 2.6 inches so cartridge OAL will not be an issue.
At the moment I’m leaning towards a 22” barrel .
I will take you up on the offer of sending a PM about load data etc when I have everything ready to go .

 

[Kenseth17cd]

I tested in 3 ar15 and 4 bolt guns. The barrels I tested for the companies were bolt guns

 

[harro]

I tested in 3 ar15 and 4 bolt guns. The barrels I tested for the companies were bolt guns

I realise that all barrels are different , but with that amount of experience of different rifles , what approx velocities were you getting using the 85 gr projectiles and what barrel lengths did you experiment with ?
I’m still a bit undecided about barrel length and would be interested in hearing your opinion on that subject.

Cheers

 

[Kenseth17cd]

Disclaimer, do your own workup on load data as I'm not afraid to push limits but I also know the risks posed by my actions. So I'm showing you some of my data and velocity,but by no means am I saying to follow this. I will try to find my AR data this week and post it. But I'm gonna say 20-22" would be my choice on barrel length if I were to be using it for targets and game

 

[harro]

I very much appreciate that , thank you .

 

[Edd]

I think your best choice for a hunting bullet is an 85 gr Nosler Partition. Nosler even has them in stock.

 

[nockhunter]

The Speer 85g jspbt, #1213 is another good one if you can find it.

Buy Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet, .243, 85 Grain | Speer

Shopping for the Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet, .243, 85 Grain - Learn more about the latest Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet and other hunting, shooting or reloading gear at Speer.

www.speer.com

Mike

 

[Zero333]

The Sierra 85 gr bthp #1530 would be perfect for hunting out to 200 yards !

It's a extremely accurate bullet and has wide hollow point that will expand well at lower speeds. I assume in a 22" barrel bolt gun with win748 you can easily get over 2,900 fps which is more than enough for 200 yards on deer and on coyotes it be good out to 300+ yards.

That's 100 % the bullet I would choose for deer if I had a 6mm223. I use it in a 243win for shooting at the range because it's that accurate. More accurate than the heavier 105/107 gr bullets. But of course the 105/107 gr bullets will out-shoot it at longer ranges. But out to 200 meters it hammers.

 

[martyj]

Nosler partition work well

 

[harro]

I'm slowly acquiring the needed components , the Dies have been held up in postage which is annoying because I want to assemble some dummy rounds for my Gunsmith .
So far I have 3 projectiles that I'll start with .
I have 500 of each type .

Sierra 85 hpbt
Hornady 87 hpbt
Sierra 90 TGK

The Sierra 90 TGK were given to me and are factory seconds , but they look OK to me .
They are a much longer projectile and even though OAL isn't to much of an issue , it will be interesting to see how they go . I will be getting my Gunsmith to throat the barrel for the Sierra 85 hpbt .

Left to Right Sierra 85 - Hornady 87- Sierra 90

 

[Scott haywood]

I took an old 6PPC LV barrel with 13.5 T and changed tenon to fit a Rem 700 and chambered for 6X45, it's just 21" now. Gave it to a buddy along with several hundred of my 6mm 68gr BT's. He loves it on his ranch taking hogs and cull whitetails. Most accurate rifle he every owned he says!

 

[harro]

I have over the last 6 months acquired bits and pieces for this old Tikka .
I found a GRS Stock recently secondhand at a price that I couldn't go past , so even though this was not my original idea , I have a Tikka Super Varmint Stock which I was going to use and still may if I don't " Jive " with the GRS . This Rifle is going to be used mainly for Targets , but will ride along in the Truck/Buggy at times and I'm not sure about the GRS stock for this application . It definitely isn't a walk around/hunting stock in my view .
From the research I've done it should launch a 85gn projectile in the region of 2750fps - 2900fps depending on how brave I am and powder choice .
I had purchased new Alloy bottom metal for it when it was a .223 , so that is being used instead of the crappy Factory plastic one .
A 6 round Waters .223 magazine that allows you to load out to 2.6 inches without any other modifications to the Rifle is being used so that the longer / bigger 6mm projectiles won't protrude down into the case robbing space for powder .
The Dummy rounds I sent to the Gunsmith ( the barrel was throated 20 thou jump for the dummy rounds I supplied using Sierra 85gn hpbt projectiles seated out reasonably long ) feed perfectly in the testing I have done ( all dummy rounds , I don't like cycling live rounds at home )

Initial testing has shown that a powder charge weight of 25.8gn of 2206H ( your H4895 , I live in Australia ) is a good starting point .
The target that I'm showing are all shot at 100m not yards and group size ( 3 shot groups I know , shot in my Paddock with a Harris Bipod and Rear Bag ) is recorded in mm not inches ( we use the metric system here ).
Basically it is shooting half minute of accuracy with all test loads and that is before seating depth neck tension etc is played with .
I've loaded up more Rounds at the 25.8gn and will just shoot those until I've got 150 Rounds down the Barrel , then I'll start proper load development .
I haven't bothered to chronograph them either , but will do that once the round count has exceeded 100 .
I'm super happy with this Budget rig so far and it will be staying in my Safe for a long time .

 

[harro]

Reached the 100 round count so Chronographed the 25.8 gn load .
It is shooting an average group size ( 75 rounds ) of 1/2 moa at 200m ( 218 yards ) without doing any further load development from the very first test on the brand new barrel .