I was thinking a while back that I needed a 6x45 or 6x47. Now I have the idea that maybe I should just load my 243 down to those slower speeds to see if I’m happy with the results. Mostly thinking of using it for deer and coyotes in the back yard and just shooting paper. Shots no more than 100 yds. Thinking it would be more fur and meat friendly. Have some rounds loaded with IMR 4198 and H 4895. Weather is warming up this week so will test those loads but does anybody have other loads they have tried with success. Wish I could find some trail boss around to try but no luck the last time I was in the city.
243 loaded to 6X45 ballistics.
- Thread starter B-78
- Start date
I did the exact same thing for a youth hunt after I read an article in African Hunting Magazine (IIRC). In that article they used mild loads in 6x45 with plain old Speer 100gr bullets. The idea was to reduce velocity and fragmentation and thereby reduce bloodshot meat. The loads were very effective on lighter plains game at normal distances. I can't remember how far they were shooting, but they certainly shot game further than 100 yards.
Anyways, I have posted these pictures in the past, but here they are again. I never chronographed the load, but I am estimating 2600-2650fps muzzle velocity. I did test a variety of 90-100gr bullets with H4895 and H4350, but for the hunt it was IMR4064 and an 85gr Partition. Meat damage was minimal and the load worked well. Going from memory it was about 50 yards or so. and he was a heavy, big bodied (+200 pounds) mature buck.
Entry
Inside of near shoulder
Inside far shoulder
Entry into chest cavity
Offside
Recovered bullet
Anyways, I have posted these pictures in the past, but here they are again. I never chronographed the load, but I am estimating 2600-2650fps muzzle velocity. I did test a variety of 90-100gr bullets with H4895 and H4350, but for the hunt it was IMR4064 and an 85gr Partition. Meat damage was minimal and the load worked well. Going from memory it was about 50 yards or so. and he was a heavy, big bodied (+200 pounds) mature buck.
Entry
Inside of near shoulder
Inside far shoulder
Entry into chest cavity
Offside
Recovered bullet
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My father made a 6x49 on the .30 Remington case, so I had to look up 6x45. Wiki agrees with your premise:
"The cartridge is extremely efficient with its small powder charge. This translates to excellent barrel life. The cartridge has very low recoil and muzzle blast which make it a pleasant cartridge to shoot."
"The cartridge is extremely efficient with its small powder charge. This translates to excellent barrel life. The cartridge has very low recoil and muzzle blast which make it a pleasant cartridge to shoot."
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
I've watered down a few loads in the 243, as my wife is more sensitive to noise than me, and doesn't really like to shoot past 100 meters. I'll check my notes after, but I've used BlueDot and either IMR-4227 or 2400 for reduced loads in the 2,450 fps area. Worked fine on deer less than 100 m away.
Thanks for the replies . I'm not worried about recoil unless I let my grandkids shoot. Don't think they will for a while as my new to me 243 is a little heavy for them. More the noise reduction I'm after and yet be effective for deer. My neighbours don't mind me shooting, in fact they come over and use my shooting bench all the time as well. Just want it to be a bit quieter. My dog and sheep in the pasture don't really like the noise either. Also have a new stand location for this fall. I know the guy who lives close to it will not be real happy with me being there even though there is nothing he can do about it. Would be really nice if we could just use a suppressor.
Impressive results....
Bullet construction and placement are key to any successful hunt.
Thanks for having the foresight to record your results so others may learn .
Now to see how the op does with his new load development.
Tight Groups,
Rob
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
Depending on the load he chooses, it could be substantially quieter. I suppose it's all relative, but something that rings your ears for a 30 second blip is still better than another load that gives you movie "flash bang ring" for an hour.
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
Looked in my book, here's a few loads I've tested/tried, but as always, do so at your own risk.
243Win
18 grains BlueDot
65 grn V-max
col 2.65"
reported to be around 2800 fps (google Seafire), accuracy noted by me as 1" or less for 3 shots @100 m-NOT FOR DEER
243 Win
20 grains BlueDot
Sierra 100 grn BTS#1560
col 2.665"
reported velocity around 2440 fps(Seafire) accuracy noted by me as less than an inch to 1.35" for 3 shots@100 m-FOR DEER
Deer was shot with this^^^,noted modest meat damage compared to normal loads, was at 50-60 meters
There's more loads, but they're either more short range coyote loads like the first one, or cast data
243Win
18 grains BlueDot
65 grn V-max
col 2.65"
reported to be around 2800 fps (google Seafire), accuracy noted by me as 1" or less for 3 shots @100 m-NOT FOR DEER
243 Win
20 grains BlueDot
Sierra 100 grn BTS#1560
col 2.665"
reported velocity around 2440 fps(Seafire) accuracy noted by me as less than an inch to 1.35" for 3 shots@100 m-FOR DEER
Deer was shot with this^^^,noted modest meat damage compared to normal loads, was at 50-60 meters
There's more loads, but they're either more short range coyote loads like the first one, or cast data
It is relative for sure, but I don’t believe you can get below the 140 db threshold for pain and permanent hearing damage unless you go subsonic. The load I mentioned was a starting load from an old Nosler manual and it was still very loud.
For subsonic hunting at close range I would look at .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .458 SOCOM, 45-70 etc as you can get some good weight and bore diameter. IMO that is how to get a quiet and effective load. The caveat is I haven’t tried it simply because I haven’t needed to. However, I do have a couple of 44 mags in the safe so…..
Thanks guys, Hodgdon does list a couple subsonic loads with titegroup. But I don't think the velocity would be enough to reliably expand a bullet (1350 fps). I have a couple lbs of Bluedot I will try out as well. I have been shooting a bit out my basement walkout door. Can tell you the 88gr Bergers I'm trying are around the same noise level as a 223 which is probably going to have to do. Going to shovel some snow away when it warms up atter this week and set up my portable bench right outside the basement door. Set out a temp back stop and shoot a few groups. Will let you know how I make out.
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
I mean, I guess we can argue in circles all day, but isn't the pressure release in psi as the bullet leaves the barrel the biggest factor in the noise? Sure, faster than subsonic creates a "Crack!" but I don't think (for example) a 45-70 with a 500 grain bullet going 1100 fps is safe for children and puppies to sleep under the barrel, while 1175 fps is enough to wake the dead.
Someone with Quickload could tell us more about the exit pressures. I do realize that bigger bore cartridges bleed off pressure quicker due to a bigger bore though. To counter that, a guy could download a 243 even more, and perhaps still meet the energy needs. But truly, we're both just flapping our gums until someone tests the db readings in real life, so, my guess is as valid as yours. Yours is based on 140 db, while mine is based on being not near as nasty as a regular load.
Was +4 out today so I shot a few loads. IMR 4198 was definitely quieter then H4895. Just as I was thinking, the heavier the bullet the lower the point of Impact. A few loads did shoot a reasonable for hunting group of 1.5-2"/100yd group that I know I can tweak a bit and tighten them up.
Have a few other weights of bullets coming. Will also look for a couple more different lbs of powder. Will have something fined tuned by this fall.
Have a few other weights of bullets coming. Will also look for a couple more different lbs of powder. Will have something fined tuned by this fall.
