6x223 do's and dont's

[Ksmirk]

Ok fella's thinking about a 6x223 for the girlfriend, she is really wanting to start shooting and I'd like to help her along. She is going on a p-dog shoot with us later this spring and I have her a M200 in 223 to shoot along with my rifles but she would also like to deer hunt and I was thinking that the 6x223 would be a nice choice since our deer around here are not very big since there are so freakin' many of them! they range around 50-80# dressed. I was guessing that bullets in the 70-80 grain would be a good choice. I was going to just rebarrel the M200 when the time came.

Help me save some time and offer suggestions as to barrel twist, would a 20" tube be enough, a good powder to start with ya know that stuff that I probably didn't think about. I'd appreciate the advice! Later,

Kirk

 

[TnTom]

I'll be watching the feedback as it sounds like something I would also have an interest in. Wish I had something to offer up. I'll do some looking up and see what I can find. Good questions.

We had 5-6 deer running around town today and hammered a few vehicles and they have just laid waste to my shrubs this week. 8 -10 in the yard all day all week. No more Mr. Nice guy. I know what you mean about those dang deer. ???

 

[Ksmirk]

A neighbor has a tree farm which takes close to $15-$20K a year in damages from deer, you want a garden in our neighborhood? yeah right! better get a good fence! you want some nice flowerbeds? better make sure the deer don't like the flowers your planting. The tree farm got dedregation permits last year and I was the lucky one to take care of the deer problem, I shot 12 and in total there were 23 deer shot and this morning on the way into work I counted 18 with in a mile of the house! we didn't hurt the population at all! I just started working on sub-sonic loads for my 308, I'm down to 1100fps so I'm getting close but what am I going to do with something like that you ask :

I found a mess of information on the 6x223 I'll see if I can't find it and post. Later,

Kirk

 

[1000yardstare]

Had a 6x47 in the 1980`s - .222 Magnum necked up to 6mm. Great little groundhog cartridge. Never used it on deer. McGowen 12 twist barrel because I was shooting light bullets. Had it in a Savage 340 action which isn`t the strongest in the world so kept 70 gr bullets at 2900 fps with Win 748. In a Rem 700 or Savage series 12 action would have got between 3000 and 3100 with 70s. Tried 85s but they keyholed in the 12 twist.

The 6x45 or 6/223 or whatever you want to call it would probably get 100 fps less than the 6x47. In a 10 twist barrel you would probably get 2800 fps or so with 80 grainers.

The latest Sierra manual has a good section on the 6x45. They recommend a 9 twist to stabilize the 85s.

 

[moorepower]

I think shooting times had an article about the new Les Baer AR's in 6x223, and they were getting good velocities out of 20" barrels. They recomended a 1-8 twist for 100 grain bullets, if that is in your plan. I think it would be a great 150 yds and in small deer round.

 

[JohnHenry]

I have an original Kimber in 6X45 that has a 1 in 9" twist. I second the 1 in 9" twist recommendation. A 1 in 9" twist will also stabilize a Berger 95 grain match hunting VLD. May want to check with Berger ref. recommended freebore for their 95 gr. VLD in a 6X45.

 

[Ksmirk]

The PLAN is to shoot nothing heavier than 80gr. that's why I thought the 1-9 twist would be a good choice not to mention give those light bullets some RPM's so they come apart when the target is hit. I'll be going with a McGowen blank just have to talk to them to see if they can make the contour I'm looking for at 20", I'll have my good friend thread the thing since I'm a little leary about turning threads :-\ Just got to replace some front end parts on my truck so I guess I'll be waiting until next month to order the blank. Fella's thanks a mess for the information! I think a 80gr. at 2800 - 2850fps should work nicely on these little deer. I'll have to admit I'm getting a bit excited about this caliber. Later,

Kirk

 

[trentalan34]

I am having an upper made in 6x45 by Dtech for prairie dogging and plinking. I am hoping to shoot the 60 gr Sierra HP Varminters or the 70 gr Noslers.

 

[Ian]

I chose a 1:9 twist for the 21" Krieger bbl I just fitted to a Sako Vixen. I recently descovered how much it likes 95gr. Sierra MK's over H322. I'll see if that holds true for the 95gr. VLDs and if so, the experimenting will end and I'll be very happy.

I still shake my head when l look at that case size compared to the 2625fps it's generating w/ these 95's.

 

[moorepower]

If I recall Baer was getting 2800 or so with either an 80 or 85 grain bullet, which is real impressive. I bought a McGowen for my .20 practical and was very happy with it.

 

[rain164845]

A 1-10" twist would work fine for the Sierra 85gr Gameking. I bet it would work great for deer at your velocitys.

Joe

 

[762willdo]

http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3743580.0.html

 

[wapiti25]

I think I would take a good look at the 6X47 (6mm X 222 rem mag) for hunting. Remington used to chamber this in the 40X for bench rest.

 

[Ksmirk]

I have and am looking at the 6x47 but I have so much 223 brass I guess it would make it easier that I wouldn't get the 6x45 and the 223 cases mixed up. What I found on the differences is only about 70-100fps in the velocity department but the 222 Mag would have a longer neck to seat the bullets in. The build is some months away so caliber choice is still up in the air but leaning heavily toward the 6x45. Later,

Kirk

 

[chrisj]

I shot 88 Bergers in my 6x45 with excellent results. 7o grain Sierras were super accurate on paper. For hunting deer...The new Barnes TTSX bullet. You can load mag length and they work well at almost any velocity. Great little round for small deer at 150 yards or less.