I have decided to rebarrel my Sako Vixen into a 6x45. I�m done testing the original .222 Rem barrel and have concluded that the 6x45 is far more suitable for small sized deer like roe deer.

I guess we have some very experienced 6x45 shooters on this board? Do you have any recommendations? Your pet loads? I use my Sako mainly for roe deer (require bullets that penetrate well) I also hunt fox and beaver (varmints).

Thanks, Pete

Hello Peter.
Long time, no see!!
That was a unknown round for me. Have to look it up. Looking forward to hear about this project!

From conversations with knowledgeable posters on this board the 70gr hornady sp (not spsx!) seems to be a good bullet for roe at 6x45/6br velocities. It is short which is important as you'll want to keep bullet length to a minimum as magazine space and powder space will be limited. It is the lightest conventional sp on the market.

I doubt it will work any better than 60gr Norma .222 factory though!

If ranges are short you could try the 100gr Hornady RN which I used in my short and downloaded 243. At 2,500fps it worked well on muntjac and roe (very little meat damage) and OK on fallow. It is short too but will probably need a 10 twist or so to stabilise.

.358pcak....sounds like a nice project. please keep us informed about it. i'm saving money now for a cz model 527 that i plan to have converted to a 6mmx45. can't wait!!!.....bud

I've a 6X47 AI (222 Rem Mag case w/ a 45� shoulder) in a 722 w/ a McMillan bbl. Ray (Atkinson) was kind enough to forward some load data for HIS 6X45� here it is:

" I shoot the 75 gr. Barnes X (no longer available) at 2900 FPS with a stiff load of H335....It's not particularly accurate in this rifle at 1" or a bit under, but this gun shoots 1/2" or less with most loads....but 1" is plenty for deer hunting...Barnes makes a 85 gr. X bullet that should work for you...The 80 gr. Speer works pretty good but will separate on occasions...at about 2700 to 2800.... "

Ray

I think you're gonna LOVE the cartridge.

I had a Win 70 rebarrled to 6TCU ( improved 6x45) by Bullberry with a 20" 1 in 12". I get 2950fps with 80gr SP bullets. That is over 1000ftp at 200yds depending on which bullet I am using. If you are going to use it for bullets above 80gr you should uses a 1 in 10" or faster twist. I uses a set of Redding S neck sizeing dies. Yes the make them in 6TCU they just don't advertis them.I get 3300fps with 60gr and 3150 with 70gr bullets.

Fat Albert, how much velocity do you gain in the TCU compared to the 6x45? I�ve heard that is rather marginal? I was also considering the 6x47 but the difference between the 47 and the 45 is mostly the neck. Case capacity is almost identical, and as long as the magazine in my Sako sets the overall length, I rather choose a wildcat based on a far more common case.

I guess the barrel will be 1 in 10� twist.

Pete

If you search under 6x47 you will find quickload data for this round that I got from someone about 15 months ago. I think Quickload is optimistic! The COLs won't fit in your Sako. The rem 700 SA has a loooong magazine.

Stephan who used to post on here got nigh on 3,200fps with a 6x47 reamer run short to use 223 brass. Again a search should find this post which was titled 6x45 something.

There have been a lot of 6x45 posts on the pistol forum I think.

.358PCAK:I get about 200-225fps over data on the 6x45. I don't load hot. I made my cases from Federal Gold 223 and they weigh about 6% more than Win.223 cases. Checked the cap.of my cases againt a Win 223 opened to 6mm and the 6TCU cases held about 5% more powder. If the 6TCU was made from Win the difference would be about 6 to 7%. The only differance in loading the two is the firer forming step after you open them up to 6mm. Ps: It was 76F here in the PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA today.

I have built several 6x45s and they work great on the Blacktail deer here in Or. The 70 gr Hornady seem to work the best and all have been one shot kills. All were under 220 yds. Accuracy is usually very good and allows the best bullet placement which is needed to assure clean kills. The nice thing is it`s not "too" noisy. You can build a nice quick handling little carbine that is light and a pleasure to carry.Brass is plentiful, dies are relatively cheap. Good luck on your project

I shoot 6x45mm in a rebored Savage 24V, usually shoot 85 grain Partition Bullets with H335. The Barnes 75-grains do not shoot the same point of aim, probably a barrel-harmonic issue. I use nickel cases to color-code them different from .223 for the Mini-14. Makes a nice 200-yard gun for antelope and sage grouse.

Thanks everyone! Does the TCU feed as well as the 6x45? Fat Albert, the difference between those cartridges was bigger than I thought � and we had minus 20 degrees Celsius and half a meter snow in Telemark today.

Thanks for sharing your experiences kailua custom. Ill keep you updated on my project. So far I�ve had my gunsmith to order a .243 Shilen 1 in 10� blank barrel for my Sako.

TomP, what rate of twist do you have in your Savage? How fast do those 85 grs Partition travel? The accuracy?

Thanks for responding

Pete

In Africa the favored load for the 6x45 ( very popular in Africa BTW) is a 100 gr. bullet at 2400 FPS...they work great, I tried them on Blesbok...but I think I'll stick with the 75 gr. discontinued Barnes X...I may give that 75 gr. Hornady a try as someone recommended it and I have a couple of thousand of them, and I get to do some end of season cull hunts from time to time....

Two powders fit the 6x45 better than the rest..H335 for velocity and hunting big game and H322 for 55 and 60 gr. bullets for pure unadulterated accuracy....Try 26 to 27 grs. of H322 and a 60 gr. Sierra H.P. or a 55 or 70 gr. Balistic tip...

My fwt. 5 Lb. 6x45 Sako L-461 custom stocked by me has shot several 10 shot groups at .605 x .412, give or take a feww thousands and the groups are very round and one hole, not bad for a 18" fwt. Douglas barrel...It also has a 3-pos M-70 safty made by the late Tony Barnes, that safty is my pride and joy, he made it out of a piece of bull barrel. It has a 0 chamber and all factory 223 cases must be outside neck trimmed..it has only one thousands of expansion in the neck after trimming and firing.

A short update on my project. My gunsmith received the Shilen barrel yesterday, so in a couple of weeks I guess I will be able to fire the first shots. I bought dies from Hornady � which I�ve seen have been discussed here � and I�m pretty satisfied with it. 223 brasses from Remington and 80 grs bullet of same brand. My first goal is to get to know the new cartridge

Talking of bullets: What about the new 90 grs 6mm Swift Scirocco. As the other Sciroccos I guess they are pretty long for their weight? Do you think it is possible to stabilize the bullet with 10� twist?