got to try something different, so the above is being chambered. most of my ghog shots are under 350 yds and my gunmaker advised he had a pt&g 6x45 tight neck reamer on the way. barrel is a kreiger 13.5 tw and action is a stiller predator V single shot bedded in a shurley #11 laminated. i downloaded hundreds of loads off predator master and i have a lot of 55-70 gr bullets and assorted fast powders. granted this cartridge is currently mainly an ar used one but it was once a benchrest favorite. what can i expect? any don'ts or be sure to dos? anybody shooting it? thanks.
6x45 bolt gun for varminting?
- Thread starter lpreddick
- Start date
Ill chime in...BUILD it....but....
I built mine on a Savage SA in 2011 with a 24" ss McGowan barrel, 1/10" twist.
This all lays in the factory plastic stock as I wanted a field gun that was accurate as all get out and not weighting a ton as I hike a few miles with mine coyote calling and am mostly a prone shooter, so I don't cry about nicks and small matters of "looks"
My rig runs everything I hand load from 55g-95g ALL in the sub moa #s and I cannot complain about that.
I have no issues running it to 700 yards and have over 300+ coyotes down to it, 9 antelope as well as at least 2k or so p-dogs.
Its very easy to load & shoot for.
Im not a fan of the twist or tight neck you are looking at and if I was doing it I would pass on those IMO.
If its for comps/paper targets then that may make a slight difference to you though.
My 1st 6x45 was on an AR15 frame and it was so accurate I build the bolt and its more so. Sold the AR15 6x45.
Drop me a PM if you have any other questions I can help answer.
My loads for varmints & coyote after lots & lots of field testing.
55g NBT , 3262 fps in front of 27.5g exterminator
65g Vmax, 3142 fps in front of 27g exterminator
Antelope load is the 95g NHBT in front of 24.4g H335, 2732 fps.
It don't matter what brass I use, mixed or seperated they all shoot the same.
Ive tested just about every brand & weight of bullet, 55/58/62/68/70/80/85/90/95 weights.
You DO NOT need an expensive/custom bullet for it to do the job!
350 yards will be a chip shot also.
** I forgot to add that my scope is a 30+ yr old 6-24x44 BSA Target Platinum, target knobs scope and if I can shoot so darn good with that I think you will do better with a nice current quality made scope.
My cost:
Original Savage FP10 in .223 in 1984, $389
Scope eons ago...$69
Basix savage #2 trigger...$89
McGowan barrel from NSS in 2011....$300
Im a fan of keeping my rigs simple.
I built mine on a Savage SA in 2011 with a 24" ss McGowan barrel, 1/10" twist.
This all lays in the factory plastic stock as I wanted a field gun that was accurate as all get out and not weighting a ton as I hike a few miles with mine coyote calling and am mostly a prone shooter, so I don't cry about nicks and small matters of "looks"
My rig runs everything I hand load from 55g-95g ALL in the sub moa #s and I cannot complain about that.
I have no issues running it to 700 yards and have over 300+ coyotes down to it, 9 antelope as well as at least 2k or so p-dogs.
Its very easy to load & shoot for.
Im not a fan of the twist or tight neck you are looking at and if I was doing it I would pass on those IMO.
If its for comps/paper targets then that may make a slight difference to you though.
My 1st 6x45 was on an AR15 frame and it was so accurate I build the bolt and its more so. Sold the AR15 6x45.
Drop me a PM if you have any other questions I can help answer.
My loads for varmints & coyote after lots & lots of field testing.
55g NBT , 3262 fps in front of 27.5g exterminator
65g Vmax, 3142 fps in front of 27g exterminator
Antelope load is the 95g NHBT in front of 24.4g H335, 2732 fps.
It don't matter what brass I use, mixed or seperated they all shoot the same.
Ive tested just about every brand & weight of bullet, 55/58/62/68/70/80/85/90/95 weights.
You DO NOT need an expensive/custom bullet for it to do the job!
350 yards will be a chip shot also.
** I forgot to add that my scope is a 30+ yr old 6-24x44 BSA Target Platinum, target knobs scope and if I can shoot so darn good with that I think you will do better with a nice current quality made scope.
My cost:
Original Savage FP10 in .223 in 1984, $389
Scope eons ago...$69
Basix savage #2 trigger...$89
McGowan barrel from NSS in 2011....$300
Im a fan of keeping my rigs simple.
Define 'tight neck'? .269"-.270" will work fine unturned with most mil brass. Thick necks or .268" and smaller you're going to be turning brass.
WIDE variety of powder choices. Use whats available that works well in a 223.
13.5tw will probably limit you to 70g and under, possibly some 75's. Going a little quicker on twist is probably a better choice.
The SAAMI std .050" freebore 2.5 deg leade will work fine with a wide variety of bullets.
Barrel life should be exceptional.
Similar to 5spd here 58g 3250-3300 28+g H335, can go a little higher but its somewhat pointless, keep the speeds down a bit barrel costs per rd go way down. Sort of the entire point of a 6x45- per round total costs times ease of loading times availability of components divided by the sq rt of accuracy factor is high with it.
WIDE variety of powder choices. Use whats available that works well in a 223.
13.5tw will probably limit you to 70g and under, possibly some 75's. Going a little quicker on twist is probably a better choice.
The SAAMI std .050" freebore 2.5 deg leade will work fine with a wide variety of bullets.
Barrel life should be exceptional.
Similar to 5spd here 58g 3250-3300 28+g H335, can go a little higher but its somewhat pointless, keep the speeds down a bit barrel costs per rd go way down. Sort of the entire point of a 6x45- per round total costs times ease of loading times availability of components divided by the sq rt of accuracy factor is high with it.
thanks for the info and encouragement. got the barreled action last week and put it in a d&b tracker stock i had bedded for a 22 BR kreiger rem varmint contour barrel with a stiller predator action. the fit was absolutely prefect...stiller predator recievers are clones. chamber neck is .2695 and loaded neck is .268. new brass chambers with just the right feel re headspace. the freebore was suposedly "0" but borescope reveals .20 or so which is no problem with the 62 knight's as their bearing surface is very short and when seated .020 into the lands the bullet's base is about 1/3 into the neck. 66 berger high bc bullets are the same. 60-66 gr bullets with more bearing surface seat quite a bit deeper and will be tested later. loaded some 62 knights with n133, 25.2 gr, .020 into lands and bore sighted at 50 yds. shot a large sheet white paper and a hole appeared 2.5 in below poa. went to the 100 yd target and aimed at it's center and a hole appeaed 3.5 in below poa. ok, shot two more with same poa and WHOA MAMA!!! the number 2,3,and 4 bullets from this gun printed a .173 in hole!!! i have never had a gun do this!!! shot some more 62s with lt 32, h322,and benchmark, varying loads. all were tiney holes. the mv with n133 was 3233 fps, a bit lower with other powders but groups were still small. went to the range yesterday and the 62 knight n133 25.2 gr shot a .072 in three shot group...this is too easy! the 66 bergers with h322 25 gr printed a .202 in 3 shot. my 6 BRS were more work than this gun!
Ipreddick
Now you understand why I built one in 2011.
No matter what bullet/primer/brass/powder I feed it, it just shoots beyond expectations.
You don't need anything fancy to make it work, load and shoot and bam they go into the same hole, spot.
There is a reason simplicity always works wonders.
Now you understand why I built one in 2011.
No matter what bullet/primer/brass/powder I feed it, it just shoots beyond expectations.
You don't need anything fancy to make it work, load and shoot and bam they go into the same hole, spot.
There is a reason simplicity always works wonders.
5spd: you are so right. the .072 group was new brass with neck expanded to 6mm and primed with some old s&b small rifle primers that i was using to fireform the brass with the cow method. won't have to do that anymore...one less step. i was ffing with cow then neck sizing. new brass shooting so well makes me rethink full length sizing instead of only neck sizing as i'v been a believer in only neck sizing and bumping shoulder if needed. this chamber is so tight the brass hasn't needed bumping yet. the next step is seeing how it treats ghogs.
i'm not dreaming! tried some 66 gr cheeks with n 133, 25 gr, .020 into lands and three went into a .073 in hole! a very slight 12 o'clock wind, so i tried n 133 25.4 gr and the hole shrunk to an unbelievable .043 in! mv is consistent at 3195 fps. three 64 gr berger columns punched a .061 in hole. less than 200 rounds and this thing is shooting!!! my 6 brs took a bit longer and the 6x47 lapua even longer and is still not consistent. i'v got 7# of n133 and hundreds of 60-66 gr bullets and enough primers to enjoy the year and beyond.
I have to thank you and 5spd! Now I gotta have one! Perhaps I could have the Wife PM you guys so you can explain it to her. ;D
th82457
Silver $$ Contributor
I bought an original Clackamas, Oregon Kimber in 6x45 with 1:9 twist a year ago. After I rebedded the action - it now shoots very well and is a nice handling light rifle for varmints and larger game up to deer. Mine seems to like Benchmark and IMR 8208 with 70 - 85 gr. bullets. Very easy to load for and fun to shoot. Enjoy !
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