6x45 Dies
- Thread starter welldone
- Start date
Will be interested to hear how you get on with the 6x45 (6mm-.223). I've been thinking about a barrel in this calibre too. Forster also make dies in this calibre.
Since the case is the same right up to the shoulder and just the neck being bigger Id think just the bushing would do, but cant swear as I do not use bushing dies.
My 1st 6x45 was with an AR15, 20" bbl, 1/10" twist and very accurate to 300 yds easy.
I sold that and got a 24" bbl, 1/10" twist for my Savage build....way better!
My AR15 final COL was 2.255". I started at 2.260" but when in the magazine they sometimes bound up when 20 rounds were stuffed in as 2.260" is max magazine lenght. I did not use 30 rnd mags, just to long when laying prone so I just used 10 & 20 rounders.
The best & most accurate loads were with AA2015 and H335 using 65g vmax/70g NBT/80g JSP speer/ 85g sierra GK HP bullets.
I have lots of notes from all my 6x45 loading using my Chrony/ powders/ bullets.
I found that any SRP will do and no difference in targets when I tested 6 different brand primers at 100 yds and over my chrony.
Now in my Savage 24" rig Noslers 95g BT hunting bullet will lay out an Antelope at 400 yds with ease as well as Sierras 85g SGK HP bullet. I have a tad over 1k rounds throught it since I built it in April.
The 65vmax and 70g NBT drops coyotes in thier tracks at 300 & 400 yds also.
My 1st 6x45 was with an AR15, 20" bbl, 1/10" twist and very accurate to 300 yds easy.
I sold that and got a 24" bbl, 1/10" twist for my Savage build....way better!
My AR15 final COL was 2.255". I started at 2.260" but when in the magazine they sometimes bound up when 20 rounds were stuffed in as 2.260" is max magazine lenght. I did not use 30 rnd mags, just to long when laying prone so I just used 10 & 20 rounders.
The best & most accurate loads were with AA2015 and H335 using 65g vmax/70g NBT/80g JSP speer/ 85g sierra GK HP bullets.
I have lots of notes from all my 6x45 loading using my Chrony/ powders/ bullets.
I found that any SRP will do and no difference in targets when I tested 6 different brand primers at 100 yds and over my chrony.
Now in my Savage 24" rig Noslers 95g BT hunting bullet will lay out an Antelope at 400 yds with ease as well as Sierras 85g SGK HP bullet. I have a tad over 1k rounds throught it since I built it in April.
The 65vmax and 70g NBT drops coyotes in thier tracks at 300 & 400 yds also.
Not sure about the bushings. I have a Redding set, and I am very pleased with it.
The 6x45 is a great round...very easy to tune and effective on critters. What are your intended applications? Mine is a varmint/paper punching gun. For targets, it is hard to beat the 60gr Sierra with H335, AA2015, or H322; I use H335 because I have a lot of it and it meters well, but any of those will be great. For a varmint round, I really wanted the 70gr Nosler to shoot well, but I probably tried 10-15 loads and was getting around .5-.75" groups at 100. I switched to the 55 Nosler, and the groups were more consistently in the .5 range. The 55's are effective on the varmints that I have shot...just not as explosive as the 55 in the 243. I have probably tested 50 or so different loads in my AR for 6x45, so if you have a question, just post it.
The 6x45 is a great round...very easy to tune and effective on critters. What are your intended applications? Mine is a varmint/paper punching gun. For targets, it is hard to beat the 60gr Sierra with H335, AA2015, or H322; I use H335 because I have a lot of it and it meters well, but any of those will be great. For a varmint round, I really wanted the 70gr Nosler to shoot well, but I probably tried 10-15 loads and was getting around .5-.75" groups at 100. I switched to the 55 Nosler, and the groups were more consistently in the .5 range. The 55's are effective on the varmints that I have shot...just not as explosive as the 55 in the 243. I have probably tested 50 or so different loads in my AR for 6x45, so if you have a question, just post it.
The gun is an AR and I am going to use it to shoot about $1,000 worth of bullets just sitting on my shelf. I have stopped competing in benchrest and have all these bullets to shoot but no gun to shoot them in. Buy a 6x45 barrel, install, and blast away. Sounds like a FUN project and as most new things, will be a learning experience. I am going to attempt to use the .223 dies but that may be wrong. If so, I will get a set just for the 6X45. Thanks
Anybody use the 90 gr BTHP match? I'm looking for a mag length round for an AR.
welldone, l like the way you think. Build a new rifle, a wildcat at that, to use uo a bunch of bullets you have stocked up.
Redding makes a full length "6mm/223" die set. Seeing as your feeding an AR, I'd definitely suggest FL resizing...
Sizing for a semi auto is easiest accomplished with a shoulder measurement to guide you & get your die set to where you ensure enough 'bump' yet avoid overworking the brass. The 'standard' recommend is ~.005" bump from fired case...
As for loading, a caveman could develop a good load for the 6x45. It's by far the least finicky cartridge I've ever loaded for. Pick a bullet & use the powder that gets the speed you want. Best pairings are a factor of optimal burn rate to net FPS, the accuracy part won't be an issue...
Just getting my ol 1:12 6x45 back up & running. Shot 60gr Sierra HPs, 55Btips & 70BKings all most beautifully!
Have fun !!!
P.S.
Just saw this original thread is old!
Todd, IMHO, stay at/under 80gr bullets for an AR. Depending on your needs, there will be a bullet that will do what you want in the 55-80gr range...
Sizing for a semi auto is easiest accomplished with a shoulder measurement to guide you & get your die set to where you ensure enough 'bump' yet avoid overworking the brass. The 'standard' recommend is ~.005" bump from fired case...
As for loading, a caveman could develop a good load for the 6x45. It's by far the least finicky cartridge I've ever loaded for. Pick a bullet & use the powder that gets the speed you want. Best pairings are a factor of optimal burn rate to net FPS, the accuracy part won't be an issue...
Just getting my ol 1:12 6x45 back up & running. Shot 60gr Sierra HPs, 55Btips & 70BKings all most beautifully!
Have fun !!!
P.S.
Just saw this original thread is old!
Todd, IMHO, stay at/under 80gr bullets for an AR. Depending on your needs, there will be a bullet that will do what you want in the 55-80gr range...
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Dusty Stevens
Shiner
use the redding 6mm/223. once you expand to 6mm the necks wont go in a 223 die
No, the Redding 223 S bushing dies the opening is not large enough to fit the expanded necks, they can be modified for 6mm though (slight boring operation). The std Redding "6mm/223" worked good for me as well. Cheapest option is the Hornady 6x45 set. Out of all the ones I tried liked the Redding full length sizer the best for initial case forming. Recommend a full length sizer die for AR. If you are using cheap once fired unprocessed range brass you may need to run it thru a 223 small body die before forming. New brass no need for that step.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
the way i make em- and ive gone thru a ton (got kids shooting deer with old br bullets all over) run them into an rcbs AR fl die which is a sb die, then expand the case in a 6mm expander body from 21st century then fl size them in the 6mm/223 redding die and shoot. they turn out very easy and kids love shooting them. i use my odd 6ppc leftover powder and odd lots of bullets with not enough to start a match and those half boxes of primers. using LC brass i can knock out aton for not much for all the kiddos and they can shoot all day. come on back to visit uncle dusty and ill have you some more ready. probably the best caliber for a benchrest shooter to own for a varmint plinking rig. get a 14tw barrel and itll shoot for years anything you put in it. great caliber
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