6x45 Load Data

Here is a list of some loads I have used for 6x45mm. General observations:

• Projectiles much heavier than 95gr are problematic when it comes to seating with the COAL of 2.250".
• I’ve found that IMR 8208 XBR grouped the best and QuickLoad tells me it burns better for this particular cartridge. However BL-C(2) does seem to be easier for me to find.
• I did have to get a seperate seating die for the longer/heavier projecticles as the original one would leave a ring on the projectile itself.

The dies are from Redding.

The brass is reformed once-fired .223 brass, either range pickups or donations from friends. I would just run the .223 brass through the 6x45 sizing die to expand the necks.

The 75gr Hornday V-MAX seemed to seat the best, followed by the 80gr Barnes TTSX. It seems to me that the 80gr Barnes TTSX grouped the best, along with the 75gr Hornady V-MAX. If you’re hunting, it’s probably better to stick with the Barnes, but if you’re plinking or varminting then the Hornady V-MAX is the better bet. The 87gr Berger Hunter seated very poorly - I would not recommend those unless you have a chamber that is cut to accept to longer bullets.

I load these to 2.260" COAL (to fit in a STANAG magazine). All weights are in grains, and velocities in feet-per-second. The velocities were recorded using a 20" barrel.

Use this load data at your own risk, and stick to the recommended safe handloading practices.

For the curious, here are the case dimensions for 6x45. Note that this is not a SAAMI approved cartridge - it is a wildcat.