How does the 6TCU compare to similar wildcats or near-wildcats on 5.56 or similar brass? The reason I ask is that I'm debating a 257 or 7mm Raptor from Arne on the 5.56 case, not the 204R based Raptors out of New Mexico. The 257 Ocelot from MDWS is the other one I have thought seriously about.
6x45 Who's using it?
- Thread starter Hawkeye Pierce
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gemihur
Well-Known Member
I appreciate your enthusiasm with Mad Dog weapon system and looking for a fast and heavy quarterbore for your AR.
But Reeder is not in New Mexico, he's in Flagstaff, Arizona.
A simpler round to suit your needs is the 257TCU. Sometimes pressure over volume pushes bullets better. I cannot vouch for it's function in your feed ramps but I can assure you the cartridge will perform.
The Valkyrie would offer you options too.
But Reeder is not in New Mexico, he's in Flagstaff, Arizona.
A simpler round to suit your needs is the 257TCU. Sometimes pressure over volume pushes bullets better. I cannot vouch for it's function in your feed ramps but I can assure you the cartridge will perform.
The Valkyrie would offer you options too.
Ah, Reeder in Flagstaff. A senior moment there as I think of that gunsmith as a Revolver specialist. The custom big bore revolvers though seem to have been a fad that has died. I still like my 480 Ruger and might Linbaugh it someday.
If I were to go the Valkyrie route, the 30HRT would be an easy one to support. It is basically a 30 Herrett on a 6.8SPC case.
That 257TCU sounds interesting. Where would I go to learn more about it? Arne's 257 Raptor is a work in progress so, a good ways out at its earliest. The 25-45 Sharps to me isn't a well thought out cartridge somewhat like a lot of the 30 cal 5.56 option. MDWS options are a bit hit or miss right now so, I'm really leaning towards something else with the 7 Raptor being available today and edging out the 277 Wolverine because I like the 0.284 options better and the data I have from the 7 Raptor is pretty good.
The 257TCU data seems to be pretty scarce so, more of a true wildcat in every sense of the word but, it also appears to be pretty easy to make.
Frank in the Laurels
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Another that will be buried in time, great little cartridge but who knows why they just don't make the big time..
gemihur
Well-Known Member
I'm no expert, just an extensive user.
Frank is right, durn little activity with a neat little cartridge. Wes Ugalde designed the TCU cartridges to utilize the 223 Rem case and expand their capacity by employing P. O. Ackley's shoulder design. Should be able to top 6x45 velocities just a tad.
Bob Milek worked with DuPont to develop loads and came away with some great results. Among them, using a 6.5 TCU barrel only 14" long and a 85 gr. bullet with IMR 4198 averaged 2525 FPS with functioning pressures only at 49,300 CUP. As fas as TCU chambers go 7mm is mainstream and 257 is the unicorn. My favorite is the 6 TCU. I've got a 16.125 " barrel for the contender that is a real shooter but I have a 6x223 14" that is a lot of fun off the bench too.
I would think that your AR barrel, being at least 16", could really surprise you with a TCU cartridge.
I have no idea what it would take to make that change.
I know, the path less traveled ...
I built my AR to accomodate the 6.5 Grendel only because it was gettting popular at the time and I have a contender barrel in it.
They both shoot excellent, but I prefer the contender because I abhor movement after trigger pull short of game falling down.
I'm done with my rant,I'll let others chime in.
Just for giggles, compare the 7 Raptor ballistics to the 7TCU ...
Here's a little of my woodwork on a contender with a 10" 30 Herrett barrel that's been threaded and pinned with a 7" vented extension
Frank is right, durn little activity with a neat little cartridge. Wes Ugalde designed the TCU cartridges to utilize the 223 Rem case and expand their capacity by employing P. O. Ackley's shoulder design. Should be able to top 6x45 velocities just a tad.
Bob Milek worked with DuPont to develop loads and came away with some great results. Among them, using a 6.5 TCU barrel only 14" long and a 85 gr. bullet with IMR 4198 averaged 2525 FPS with functioning pressures only at 49,300 CUP. As fas as TCU chambers go 7mm is mainstream and 257 is the unicorn. My favorite is the 6 TCU. I've got a 16.125 " barrel for the contender that is a real shooter but I have a 6x223 14" that is a lot of fun off the bench too.
I would think that your AR barrel, being at least 16", could really surprise you with a TCU cartridge.
I have no idea what it would take to make that change.
I know, the path less traveled ...
I built my AR to accomodate the 6.5 Grendel only because it was gettting popular at the time and I have a contender barrel in it.
They both shoot excellent, but I prefer the contender because I abhor movement after trigger pull short of game falling down.
I'm done with my rant,I'll let others chime in.
Just for giggles, compare the 7 Raptor ballistics to the 7TCU ...
Here's a little of my woodwork on a contender with a 10" 30 Herrett barrel that's been threaded and pinned with a 7" vented extension
A properly "balanced" AR-15 will only eject brass and the rest of the rifle remains "still". Seriously, I can easily watch the bullet fly and see the hit in my ACOG when shooting my KAC SR-15 LPR. That rifle will challenge the Anshutz 1813 I ran for absolute accuracy too! Not bad for a "combat" or "assault" rifle!
Yep, lots of commonalities with minor differences with many of the cartridges being discussed.
gemihur
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Sid, I appreciate your perspective.
I suppose my AR is just assembled and not properly 'balanced'
It does have a custom stainless steel forearm attached which I would think detents some otherwise disconcerting forces.
I suppose my AR is just assembled and not properly 'balanced'
It does have a custom stainless steel forearm attached which I would think detents some otherwise disconcerting forces.
i have no idea. the only real solution is for me to build a 6x45 AR and then chime in with my findings 
i'm searching for a good centerfire cartridge for my son use in the next couple years when he is old enough to hunt. i was thinking of 5.56 as i have plenty of those but i worry about it not cleanly taking the deer if it's not a great shot. i think the grendel is too much recoil for him. the 6x45 has me intrigued and i need a good excuse to build another AR.
i'm searching for a good centerfire cartridge for my son use in the next couple years when he is old enough to hunt. i was thinking of 5.56 as i have plenty of those but i worry about it not cleanly taking the deer if it's not a great shot. i think the grendel is too much recoil for him. the 6x45 has me intrigued and i need a good excuse to build another AR.
Gas port size and the BCG/Buffer weights and Spring rates matter.
In my SR-15, the gas tube is straight with and it is connected with threads to the rest of the rifle so, less gas volume is needed to drive it so buffer weight and spring rates are less as well. This keeps BCG velocity down which is often overlooked in home-built AR-15's and a lot of production rifles as well. All this makes it the softest shooting rifle I have ever shot. Seriously, it is like shooting a stock Ruger 10/22 because while the bullet weighs more and flies faster, it is also a heavier rifle so the recoil impulse is really muted.
My friend's DCM rifle is twice as heavy and has a similar recoil impulse. When my friend shot my rifle, his first two comments were about its exceptionally soft recoil impulse and its phenomenal accuracy.
i have no idea. the only real solution is for me to build a 6x45 AR and then chime in with my findings
i'm searching for a good centerfire cartridge for my son use in the next couple years when he is old enough to hunt. i was thinking of 5.56 as i have plenty of those but i worry about it not cleanly taking the deer if it's not a great shot. i think the grendel is too much recoil for him. the 6x45 has me intrigued and i need a good excuse to build another AR.
Sort of the same for me. A 257 variant will generally kill a deer better if you have a less than ideal but reasonable shot. For the recoil impulse, with proper bullet selection, it will be a pretty soft shooter that can be hopped up a bit when he gets older.
For your personal use, I would suggest looking at the bullets you prefer to shoot and what they offer in those two calibers first.
i'm currently playing with an adjustable gas block on my grendel. i've noticed a difference in the recoil after messing around with it thus far. i think if i play around with some heavier buffers, i can tame it even more. right now, he's more afraid of the noise than anything else. even when i run the suppressor.
What is the tone like with your suppressor? Is it high pitched? Mine is pretty mellow. High pitches bother me more but, I don't let that affect my shooting unless it is a MK-18 or similar 10.5" barreled upper that shreds my earplugs and muffs along with the compression wave across my face which is still a bit much with my suppressor.
He isn't mildly autistic is he? Autism frequently makes children sensitive to noises most of us ignore and don't notice.
snox801
Well-Known Member
As for recoil. Remember that bullet weight plays a factor. I have both the 6x45 and Grendel. If both are loading a 85gr bullet the recoil would be very close. Don't get me wrong I loved my 6x45 with a 70gr hammer but, I think you could load a 85gr hammer hunter and have much less recoil and a much more capable deer hunting round I. Your Grendel.
