6x223 87 V-Max experience

[chop house]

Shot about 20 bunnies last weekend out to 358yds and you weren't left guessing if you'd connected.

... classic

 

[JSH]

I have a 1-8” twist 6TCU rifle. The 87’s flew pretty good as far as grouping. Have not shot any large edible critters with them. They will flip a prairie dog, but they just needle them for the most part. Even the 75’s loose “effect” much past 300. The 65’s and 58’s are my go to now.

As mentioned since some of the handgun hunting bullets have all been discontinued, guys have put some varmint bullets into use with good success. That being said, there can and has been slight changes in varmint bullets that may not get mentioned, more explosive on impact. Then you have a mess.
I don’t press things into uses they were not intended for.

A good bullet for the 6-223/6x45/6TCU class rifle is the Speer Hot Core and it’s successor.

 

[stacy]

I SHOOT A 6TCU 1/8 TWIST IT LOVES THE 75GR V-MAX BUT I HAVE NOT TRIED THE 87GR BUT TO 300YDS WITH 85GR BTHP SIERRAS DEER SURE CANT TAKE IT THIS LITTLE ROUNDS STANDS IT ON GROUND FORSURE FOR WHAT IT IS

 

[SmokinJoe]

90 Nosler BT's have been my go-to for deer in my 8 twist 6X45.

 

[Roe]

My first semi-custom rifle was a 6x45 (6mm-223) with a 20" 1:10". Very precise, shot the Sierra #1530 85gr HPBT, Nosler 70gr NBT and Hornady 87 Vmax. Shot maybe 30-40 small deer with it, ranges 50 to 300, but eventually gave up on it because too many deer ran too far with lung shots.

Sierra and Hornady did approximately the same, 830 msec /appr 2750 fps (IIRC) with my load of Vit N130. Didn't experiment much, this was my first reloading experience.

I built before the heavier/modern 223 bullets came out. Not sure I would have bothered today. But super easy wildcat to load with. Using a neck expander mandrel tool from Sinclair intl I never had an issue with brass. Sorry,. have no pictures

 

[gemihur]

One of my favorites

 

[spaniel]

I use the 85gr Partition for deer in my 6X45. I've never stepped up to the 87gr VMAX in that chambering but the 75gr VMAX is still explosive. Given I HAVE shot the 87gr at extended ranges out of a 243AI where they've slowed down and still gotten pretty visible performance on prairie dogs, I would not use them on deer. This calculus is how I ended up using the Partition. At the ranges I'll shoot a deer with a 6X45 I don't care about a bit of BC.

 

[rebel]

Looking for y'all that have actually used this. I know it groups great. But how does it perform on animals? Explosive? Or more like a big hunting bullet at 6x223 speeds?

Don't need to hear from the Google-experts..........looking for those with actual experience.

One of my first loads was with the 87 gr Vmax. Accurate, sub .5 MOA in the bolt gun. First outing with it I had 3 smallish groundhogs out in the field. I shot all 3 from 80 to 110 yards. It was carnage. I was shooting right at 2820 fps with that bullet out of a 24 inch barrel. Great bullet. Pic shows just under 100 yards. I expect at further distances it would act as a controlled expansion bullet. I wouldn't expect an exit at much over 200 on deer. Well , I'll post the pic when the females in the house stop chewing bandwidth.

 

[lb-ft]

Maybe my take is a bit strict. To me, when harvesting game it’s not about what might work. There are just too many great tools out there designed for the job.

I use hunting bullets with plenty of energy at velocities proven to work and ranges that are appropriate. It’s too easy to wound an animal. I want enough energy where that small step the deer might take when the trigger breaks is still a humane harvest, where that misjudgment in wind doesn’t cause me to wound the quarry.

 

[gemihur]

Nosler partitions have NEVER failed me!

 

[snert]

It crushes woodchucks with basically no recoil. A 80 grain TTSX will smoke thru a deer and make nice venison.

 

[SecondsCount]

@lb-ft