Llama Bob
member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2016
- Messages
- 2,258
6x45 is pretty much everything people wish .223, 6.8SPC, 6.5SPC and all the other high velocity small bore AR15 wildcats could be.
6.5x45 out of a 16" AR:
- Drives a 100gr partition or similar deer/sheep/antelope/hogs hunting bullet at about 2450 ft/s, which keeps it in the partition's operating velocity window out to 370 yards (with my atmospherics - your results will depend on temp and elevation).
- Drives a 95gr SMK at 2520, making it a trajectory duplicate for M118LR out of a 16" gas gun. This is enough to stay supersonic to 1000y (again, my atmospherics).
- Drives 55gr varmint bullets in the 3200-3400 range depending on bullet.
So basically you get vastly improved terminal performance both on game and on humans compared to .223. That partition load is suitable for all CXP2 type game out to 350y. You get the same trajectories as .308 (in the same length guns), and retain the varmint capabilities of .223. It would also be very possible to produce military armor defeating loads as needed given the high velocities attained with light bullets. The brass is formed simply by taking a .223 LC case and running it through a sizing die. The only component that changes on the AR platform when moving from .223 is the barrel. From a technical perspective the 6x45 is all upside, no downside.
Face it, the AR15 is simply chambered in the wrong round. It's sad we're too far down the road to fix it.
6.5x45 out of a 16" AR:
- Drives a 100gr partition or similar deer/sheep/antelope/hogs hunting bullet at about 2450 ft/s, which keeps it in the partition's operating velocity window out to 370 yards (with my atmospherics - your results will depend on temp and elevation).
- Drives a 95gr SMK at 2520, making it a trajectory duplicate for M118LR out of a 16" gas gun. This is enough to stay supersonic to 1000y (again, my atmospherics).
- Drives 55gr varmint bullets in the 3200-3400 range depending on bullet.
So basically you get vastly improved terminal performance both on game and on humans compared to .223. That partition load is suitable for all CXP2 type game out to 350y. You get the same trajectories as .308 (in the same length guns), and retain the varmint capabilities of .223. It would also be very possible to produce military armor defeating loads as needed given the high velocities attained with light bullets. The brass is formed simply by taking a .223 LC case and running it through a sizing die. The only component that changes on the AR platform when moving from .223 is the barrel. From a technical perspective the 6x45 is all upside, no downside.
Face it, the AR15 is simply chambered in the wrong round. It's sad we're too far down the road to fix it.