6x45... whats the deal?

DeauxJoe

Daisy Picker
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
Sep 15, 2011
695
101
41
Thibodaux, La
Did some quick Google-fu on 6x45 and all the information on it out there seems to be from years ago then it dies off. Can anyone give me the pros/cons of it? I have an extra .384 bolt face action and trying to figure out what to do with it lol.
 
Just a “tweener” wildcat cartridge. For the people who have it, they seem to like it. Efficient, east to make, feeds and functions like the parent cartridge, and barrel life that's measured in generations. With the 6 ARC today, the 6x45 will just hang on by a thread I think. A friend of mine swears by it for use on coyotes over the 223.
 
I have one and it's a decent caliber. Push 223 brass in a 6x45 die and you're done.
GR for gr, it'll shoot faster than 223. Bc for bc, it'll shoot slower. So there's trade offs.

There's also 20 practical if you wanna go smaller.
Or 25-45 if you wanna go larger.
 
I enjoy 6x45. Have a few carry handle ARs in it and a old Steyr scout for when I’m predator hunting in the PNW. Not the greatest caliber but its fun enough to try out. Shoots far faster than normal .223, but the option to have heavier slugs drew me to it.
Practical sense tho, 6ARC
Reloader sense, 6x45 or 25x45
 
I built a bolt gun in 6x45, I did it to use up my odd lots of 6mm bullets and 223 brass . It has turned out to be a great coyote rig and I have taken deer up to 220 pounds so far . I like bullets in the 85 grain range but have taken deer with 100 grain bullets that performed like they were supposed to .
 
Down time. I hear you.

We got the range open on Wednesday.
If it hadn't been for @Schütze , I still wouldn't have even shot yet.
He showed up, so I had to. I shot a mag full of his 6-BR , handed my new 18x Mavens to him and headed home.

Been busy getting the gate opener installed. 4 things left:
Install the free exit system. (Waiting on the trencher)
Hook up the solar to the batteries. (30 minutes or less) (Sunday project since I'll already be out there)
Weld the arms. (Need a welding shop, or need to buy a small welder)
Set the limits and force. (To be done last)

It got hot and was spitting rain, so we called it a day.

Want to try and have it completed before Wed of next week, so I can start going shooting again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roostercogburn98
The 6x45 and its cousins the TCU series, 6, 6.5 and 7, are all really good rounds. Exceptionally easy to make (though through the years, I seen multiple people do their very best to make it difficult). Back in those years, we didn’t even use expensive brass. Winchester brass lasted as long and shot as good as Lapua. Load the rounds on a progressive press on Saturday, shoot a 40x40 on Sunday

One pass though the resizing die, fireform using match capable loads, and never have any issues. Brass lasts forever, Barrel life, for these rounds, barrel life is not defined in Websters.

I’ve owned a 7TCU for decades. Purchased it from a friend. I can’t imagine how many rounds have been though that barrel. Obviously thousands, with the number on the far left being at least 5 or larger. Shoot’s shockingly good groups, like something around an inch at 200 meters. (Still).

Almost want to make a Precision Rifle in 7TCU, add roughly 300-400 FPS with a 26 inch barrel over the 15 inch barrel, which still gives a rainbow trajectory, but heck, that’s what they put those dials on the top of scopes for. (And bases/rings that are 20MOA and greater).

IMG_3324.jpeg
 
  • Love
Reactions: Modoc
Can you get a long bullet in your mag and seated out far enough to give decent powder space? I am all for anything that can be made with 223 brass. That stuff is practically free. 🤣
All of ours were single shot, however, several years ago Reloader magazine published an article on the 7TCU in a bolt action rifle.