New varmint gun, 6x45, 6TCU, 6-223AI?

[GrocMax]

Am going to put another mag feed, bolt, low-cost Savage based PD gun together to shoot light varmint rounds, probably stick to the 58Vmax/Zmax since they are so cheap right now, use WC844 milsurp (have tons of it), and be 223 case based. Already have 20 Prac. Probably easiest just to go straight 6x45, but if I can do a 40 deg shoulder version easily I'd rather. And its not for speed, but ease of identifying brass.

Can't find a type S 6TCU die, I am probably going to need a bushing die, so 6TCU is at the bottom of the list. What is keeping me from having the chamber cut with a 223AI reamer with a 6mm pilot, and using a readily available, slightly modified if necessary, 223AI die?

 

[SDWhirlwind]

What is keeping me from having the chamber cut with a 223AI reamer with a 6mm pilot, and using a readily available, slightly modified if necessary, 223AI die?

What part of that 223AI reamer is going to cut the 6mm neck and freebore? Seeing as how you are asking why it won't work.

 

[Chuckw]

i have written quite a bit on the 6TCU. it is as good as it gets on a short action small bolt face case. buy a redding full length die set and send the sizer off to have bushings installed. i think it is $45. your other option would be the old 6x47 on the 222 mag case. great round too but i prefer the TCU for the brass. you can push the 58 vmax to almost 3700fps! absolute hell on prarie dogs. wc844 is good powder and will shoot quite accurately but it wont even come close to what h322 will do as far a velocity is concerned.

chuck

 

[GrocMax]

Go back in and cut the throat in a 2nd operation? Since the shoulder is the same between a 223AI and a 6x45AI other than neck OD. Since the whole idea is economy, don't want to buy a custom finish reamer, but it sounds like I might have to. I dunno, maybe just stick with the straight 6x45 for simplicity's sake.

I figured several folks have already gone thru the same procedures several times.

 

[GrocMax]

chuckwilliams- So the Redding standard die can be counterbored and turned into a Type S? Well that's doable. I'll search your posts.

I'm already set up for mass quantities of 20 Practical as well so sticking to the 223 cases, which I have tons of, and WC844, which I also have tons of, seems the prudent choice for an economical 6mm, plus feeding from standard 223 mags. The 6mm 55-65's at or above 3500 have some serious splat factor. Getting a barrel to last more than one season in a 6mm is a big plus too.

 

[Chuckw]

i use the standard redding die but there is a gentleman that does the conversion for $45. i cant think of his name off the top of my head but i got his number from this site.

chuck

 

[Fat Albert]

If you go with a 6TCU and want the cases to work out the magazine watch out what reamer is used as most out there are for Contender barrels where heavy bullets and long cartridge OAL is not a problem. Bullberry rebarreled a SA Win 70 223Rem for me to 6TCU with a 20" 1/12" twist. There is a mile and a half jump for shorter bullets (55-60-70) when loaded to work out of mag. It likes H335 and N133 powder and case cap. is the same as a 6x47 (222Rem Magx6mm) and a little less than a 6PPC.

 

[JohnHenry]

JLC Precision can modify your die. http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/full-length-bushing-dies-and-die-conversions/

 

[GrocMax]

Well I decided to stick with a straight 6x45, for several reasons, mostly relating to economy, which is what this is all about, my 223 gauging works etc.

 

[AckleymanII]

Chuck William's input on the standard 6 TCU with the 58's at 3700 is a hands down winner in my book!

 

[civil82]

Chuck William's input on the standard 6 TCU with the 58's at 3700 is a hands down winner in my book!

That is a screaming velocity for a TCU. Is most of the published data substantially lower than that so someone doesn't stuff one in a Contender?

 

[p17enfeild]

Can't find a type S 6TCU die, I am probably going to need a bushing die, so 6TCU is at the bottom of the list. What is keeping me from having the chamber cut with a 223AI reamer with a 6mm pilot, and using a readily available, slightly modified if necessary, 223AI die?

there is nothing to sop you doing that , but you also need a 6mm nexk and throat reammer and cut the neck & throat after chamber

 

[long40shot]

Not to long ago I read an article about the 6-204 cartridge. Seems like a another fine option, can't remember which magazine i read that in. When i find it again i will get back here.

 

[TominSWNY]

I will also have to give a thumbs up to the TCU 3700 fps with 55 gr b-tip with aa 2200 powdrer and hell on woodchucks.

 

[GrocMax]

Already committed to the 6x45 for economy reasons, the three big ticket items when you shoot mass quantities of varmint rounds on a per round cost basis are bullets, barrel life, and brass, not necessarily in that order. With once fired or even new 223 brass, per round brass costs go way down, sticking with something 223 is a must. The 6mm 58g Zmax is too cheap to pass up right now (until they are gone) at about 12 cents per, and hopefully barrel life is good. 40 cents per round barrel life on a high velocity varmint rifle is for the rich folks, not me, I'd rather be in the 5-10 cent a round range.