6.5x47L at One Mile using JLK 130's

[DesertLefty]

Had my first chance to shoot beyond 1000 yards a couple of weeks ago. Took a trip to northern NV with a bunch of gun-crazy guys.

Using the varmint-weight Tikka T3 in 6.5x47L that I snagged here from TEAMSENDIT (Thanks!)(photo below), I scored easy hits on steel out to 1000 yards followed by an antelope-sized target at 1350 and then, the next day, an elk-sized target at 1150, 1500, and 1785. Once I got sighted in, I hit the "elk" 4 times out of 8 at a mile.

Had to measure the distance piecewise on the way back in, since my piddly little Nikon rangefinder can't reach nearly that far.

The load was 130 gr JLK's pushed by 41.5 gr of RL-17 lit by Wolf Small Rifle Magnum primers. The bullets were coated with Tubb's hexagonal boron nitride kit (sweet!) and were jumped 0.025". COAL was just 2.795", which makes a very easy fit in the AI magazines (photo below). Chrono'd velocity was 2950 fps. Actual drop at 1785 yards was 20.6 mils. Early morning winds were light (1-3 mph) and only needed 0.5 mils of windage.

It was a pleasant surprise to discover that this little cartridge could do so well at this distance. Just thought I'd share the details...

Lefty

 

[shooter.dm]

That my friend is kick a$$

 

[VKC]

That is some good shooting. Congrats.

 

[Sixfivesavage]

Built my first semi custom in this cartridge and am now building my first full custom chambered the same. Love it. Nice shooting!

 

[DesertLefty]

Yeah, this is my second 6.5x47L. Kinda wish I'd never sold the first one.

The Tikka is lighter and easier to carry, but it's just a bit jumpy under recoil. Another pound or two would help settle it down.

P.S. Here's a picture of my old one: Rem 722, Kreiger barrel fitted by Terry Cross, and a rather untactical A5L laminated stock. Sigh, I miss it...

 

[DesertLefty]

Before the Rem 722 was a 6.5x47L, it was a "6.5 Vais" - an improved 6.5 Swede with a 30-degree shoulder and a nice, long neck (middle cartridge in the lineup below).

I miss that one too. It would do 3000 fps with moly'd SMK 142's. Many moons ago, I won some 1000-yard matches with that rig.

From left to right: 260 Rem, 6.5x55 (original), 6.5 Vais, 6.5-284, and 30-06.

 

[VKC]

6.5s are great calibers. Here is a link to a thread that I started that you may be interested in http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...my-limitations-6-5-creedmoor.html#post2488897

 

[shooter.dm]

Verry nice

 

[InTraining]

That's awesome! Gives me inspiration to try out RL17 in my 6.5X47, love the cartridge.

 

[-Fabien-]

That was not a lot of wind, perfect to figure what the gun/ammunition is able to do.

You had a lot of fun, 6.5 pills are very good.

 

[TylerN]

Pretty good shooting for no optic

 

[shooter.dm]

Got to love it (ghost sights) lol

 

[MLC]

Nice work sir! I'm taking my 6.5 out as far as she'll run next weekend and this really got me excited.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Nice, marking for reference as I am about to work up a 6.5x47L.

 

[Little Yoshi]

Nice! Did you try RL-15?

 

[McCrazy]

Excellent shooting, and why I love that little cartridge.

What is your barrel length? I have one in 22" and am not running it hard with Varget. I think JBM says it goes transonic around 1375 yards with 123gr Scenars.

 

[DesertLefty]

Pretty good shooting for no optic

No problems. I just sight over the top of the rail. I've got good eyes!

P.S. I do get slightly better results when the IOR 3-18x42 FFP is mounted on the rail.

 

[DesertLefty]

Nice! Did you try RL-15?

I tried RL-15 in one of my previous guns (also 6.5x47L). So far, I'm liking RL-17, but don't have long-term experience with it.

 

[DesertLefty]

What is your barrel length?

24 inches. Made and fitted by Benchmark. Shoots good and cleans up easy.

 

[DISPATCHED74]

Very intresting.Im runnin 139s just under 2900fps out of my 6.5x47L with a 26" rock creek barrel using RL15.Furthest Ive taken it out is 1300M with excellent results.The 6.5x47L is probably my favorite round overall.Next time Im out with the 338 and 375 gonna take the 6.5 along and see what she can do at extreme distance.Thanks for sharing.