6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

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#1
I'm looking at this round from many angles. I know the 6.5 CM has stolen some of this round's thunder, but I am wondering will there be a future for the 6.5x47 Lapua?

I know a major concern to some is the fact that this round uses a small primer. I recall reading in Zak Smith's article mentioning bushing the firing pin hole and controlling firing pin protrusion. I'm still not completely sure if this is necessary for all rifles or just the AI AW he was using, but was some cause for concern.
 
#2
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

Me personally, I think the 6.5x47Lap would have more future the the CM. I just dont see the big difference in the CM verses the .260. And besides Id rather buy Lapua brass.

I may be bias since I have a 6.5x47lap and its the most accurate rifle I have.

But I will say this, It is nice to a lot of different choices.
 
#3
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

I have had no problems with firing pin protrusion and small primers. I use small primers in PPC, 6br and 30br rounds. One 6br is on a blueprinted 40x and another along with the ppc and 30br are all Nesika actions.

Rumor has it that Lapua will be offering .308 Win brass with a small primer pocket and a flash hole around .062. The suggestion is that the small primer and flash hole may offer better SD and ES. If this is the case and you don't have to decrease your loads and sacrifice velocity; my guess is that long range shooters of the .308 will jump on this new brass.

Back to the 6.5x47 question; not that it matters but I just ordered a barrel to replace a burned out .243 Ackley for a deer rifle.
 
#4
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

It is going to be my next build and the main reason is brass. I have two 260's and they are great but the brass is not out there. I use Remington brass and it is fine but Lapua makes the best brass. Every little bit helps.
 
#5
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

Bushing the firing pin hole is not necessary for most bolts, particularly good ones like you should use in a custom rifle of this sort. I have an AI/AE 6.5x47. I shoot velocities over 3k with RL17 and over 2900 with Varget without blowing primers. I use CCI #41 primers.
The AI may blow primers with this round at high pressure loadings due the the large firing pin hole made for large rifle primers in battle field conditions, i.e. reliability.
The 6.5x47 isn't causing primer problems. The AI is, but not due to any defect. That gun wasn't designed to fire this round, particularly.
 
#6
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blackhawk95</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Me personally, I think the 6.5x47Lap would have more future the the CM. I just dont see the big difference in the CM verses the .260. </div></div>

Really?

I don't see much difference in all three, as far as case deminsions are concerned, biggest similarity to me being the x47 and CM due to the 30 degree shoulder.

I think all three will fling a .264 bullet however you want to fling it, it's all a matter of pick a name out the hat and run. Unless you have a preference in brass offerings, it's a win/win/win....
 
#7
#8
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

I think one of the winning points for the 6.5 x 47 L is the brass, it is hard to beat Lapua brass and the small primer and flash hole I also believe helps its accuracy.

I just picked up the second barrel chambered in 6.5 x 47 L I like it the round but given all the rounds out there you can make a lot of good choices.
 
#9
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

...well, I, for one, am <span style="font-style: italic">glad</span> that the Sniper's Hide 2009 build rifle was not offered in the 6.5x47L, because that only gave me two choices to agonize over before just picking one...

...I finaly went with the 6.5CM, mostly because it fits in a short action better than the .260 Rem...

...from what I have gathered, the 6.5x47L is an even better fit, but fortunatly, I didn't have to worry about that...
wink.gif
 
#10
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

I have a 6.5x47L F class rifle due in this week. Panda action / Krieger barrel. I am curious to see how the accuracy is vs. my 6mmBR. As stated...Lapua brass is the best.
 
#11
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I think all three will fling a .264 bullet however you want to fling it, it's all a matter of pick a name out the hat and run. Unless you have a preference in brass offerings, it's a win/win/win....

</div></div>

+1

Shooter65... It will hammer!
 
#12
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

I am a big fan of the cartridge. Its still very flat shooting out to 1000 yards and accuracy in a custom built platform is excellent. best group I ever shot with my GAP Valkyrie was a .23" at 100 yards. Im sure with custom loads you can tweak that for a tighter group. That was with Lapua factory ammo though!

Go for it.
 
#13
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

I wouldn't worry about the round going anywhere. When I had mine built, it took me a while to decide between it and the .260 Rem. I haven't doubted my decision to date.

I have had no primer issues either.
 
#14
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

My 600 yard BR gun is in the 6.5x47, and when the barrel on my .308 is toast it will likely become the 6.5x47 as well. If I sell it before then I may just have another sooner than that.
 
#15
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

JRose nailed it. It comes down to what do you as a shooter want to invest in your sport. The CM has Hornday doing the work for you if you do not reload. The 6.5x47 has Lapua offering great brass, and the Rem 260 offers a reloader that likes to tinker the chance to make up new brass. Lets also not forget the the 6.5 Sweed, it will run with the rest of them if you like old school.
 
#16
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

x47 is my Fav cartridge

260/CM/x47 close/same some say

260 like 308 suffers from inability to load bullet to correct position without running outta MAG room.
It can be done thou my 308 feed from mag @ 2.990 OAL

Then there is brass issues most 260 shooters neck up/down Win or lapua rather than use REM

CM those that shoot it seem happy enuff, thou most say Hornady brass is below that of WIN

X47
Lapua brass excellent but $$
Case is super tough Mark Pharr has run 139 sceanrs 3000fps + with zero issue, but brass was done after a couple of firings.

Your not gonna have a 260/CM shooter come close to that

X47 is designed to run much higher PSI than 260/CM hence it has more FPS potential

@ 2.800 OAL X47 will have BUllet @ correct postion with boat tail junction @ case neck junction
Most rifles feed 2.800 with no mods needed

My match rig is a X47 and i just switched my Tact rig to X47
Yep i like it much

good luck
 
#17
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jedi</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Case is super tough Mark Pharr has run 139 sceanrs 3000fps + with zero issue, but brass was done after a couple of firings.
</div></div>

Really?

I'm throwing a 139 scenar at over 2900fps with my CM. I consider that somewhat "close", and I'm not cashing out my brass after a couple of firings either...



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oldgrayone</div><div class="ubbcode-body">JRose nailed it. It comes down to what do you as a shooter want to invest in your sport. The CM has Hornday doing the work for you if you do not reload. </div></div>

OGO, I wouldn't quite go that far. I've been able to get good performance out of my CM through reloading, but the factory ammo was less than desirable for me. While it was/is very accurate, it was just too slow at 2660 fps.... I'm happy with my CM, but I did build it with the intentions of utilizing the affordable factory ammo, which I cannot, so that's my only disappointment in the cartridge thus far.
 
#19
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

Pointblank,

I just went what you are going through. I already load for 260 Rem using Nosler brass and love the round. The cost of 6.5x47 Lapua's, to me, it nearly the same; actually better. I would be looking at the cost of new Redding bushing dies as that's the only die they sell. Thank goodness I like the quality for Redding. I settled on the x47L. My .47L brass, of 300 new cases, only have a .65 grain weight difference with neck thickness and OAL "right on".

In fact, my UPS tracking tells me my new rifle probably just crossed into Utah and should hit my door tomorrow. I cobbled the pieces together (26" MTU 1:8.5 Krieger, Surgeon 591 SA, 1.5 AICS, Shilen trigger @ 2lbs, NF 5.5-22x50 w/ NP-R1) and had Chris Matthews of Long Shot Rifles put it all together and Cerakote it to match the earth brown of the AICS stock.

It's going to be a great Chrismtas too as my wife's coming home from the hospital today after being in for 10 days.

Alan
 
#22
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

About a year and a half ago I switched from my tried and true 308 to the 6.5X47Lapua. Somewhat reluctantly I might add.

In hind sight, it was one of the better decisions that I have made. This is a GREAT cartridge. No recoil, great velocity and substantially flatter and less drift than the 308 out to 1k. Though I do miss the 308 still some days...

Like other posters have said, the oal of this cartridge works perfectly with a short action. Seat Berger 130 or 140 VLD 5 thou into the lands and go shoot.

I'm shooting Rl-15 and have no trouble getting 2950Fps with the 130's. Can't wait to get my hands on a bunch of Rl-17 and see how fast we can go!!

Get a 6.5 X 47 Lapua, you will love it!
 
#23
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

Just had a 6.5x47 built, all I can say is wow. Every load I have put through it so far has shot excellent. It will be really hard to "settle" on a load since I have several that are shooting sub 1/2MOA. I thought long and hard about all of the 6.5 options out there (.260rem, 6.5CM, 6.5L and a few others) I'm really glad I went with the 6.5Lapua.

One other thing I have noticed with this cartridge also, FWIW, the barrel stays cooler longer than my .308 when firing 5 shot groups. This has to be good for barrel life.
 
#25
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

My 6.5x47 is a f-class rifle, what is so cool about it to me is at 600yd I can spot my own hits and if its calm I can watch the bullet trace..
 
#27
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shooter65</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My Panda 6.5x47L showed up today but of course my 10 day waiting period is not up yet... </div></div>

Can't wait to see the pictures.......

Jim
 
#28
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

Will be forthcoming. FFL called me and said it was gorgeous.


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tuna921</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shooter65</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My Panda 6.5x47L showed up today but of course my 10 day waiting period is not up yet... </div></div>

Can't wait to see the pictures.......

Jim </div></div>
 
#29
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

I have experience with two 6.5x47s built on Rem 700 actions. One is mine and was put together by GAP. It is actually back at the GAP shop getting a new Manners stock and Badger DBM. The other is my wife's it was built by PAI a just over a year ago. I think there is definately a place for this cartridge. However, I think the choice has to be made to trade a little velocity for ease of accuracy.

The 6.5L is an very accurate cartridge. My wife's rifle averaged .404 for 9 3shot groups at 100 yds about a month ago. Given Kansas wind and my wobble from a bipod and rear bag this is getting to the limit of my ability. I had an easier time developing accurate loads for them than any other caliber I have owned. This includes my other two GAP rifles. Also, the accuracy is fairly consistant. It doesn't seem to matter what bullet or powder I try I can get a reasonable load.

However, I have not been able to get the velocities claimed by others. The 123 Scenar loads I run in both rifles go about 2925. This is from 24" barrels. If I try to push them much harder I start getting ejector marks. I have recently developed a varget load and will probably lose about 10-15 fps, but hopefully the load will be less temp sensitive than the RL-15 I was using.

I am not using the oals on either of the rifles quoted by Jedi. the PAI's oal for the 123 is 2.655 and for the GAP is 2.710.

My wife's rifle came at a very good price, so I had a rifle I was going to get rechamber just chambered to match her's since we have shot several matches as a team. I'm not sure that I would have gone with the 6.5x47L if things hadn't happened that way. Do I think there is an overwhelming advantage from the other cartridges, no. Using a normal Kansas day's weather conditions, 100 fps with the 140s only buys an improvement of 3.5" at 1k in a 10mph wind. I know I can't normally hold hard enough for the extra performance from a the bigger 6.5s to make the difference.
 
#31
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

Shooter65,

Sorry to hear you have to wait the 10-days mandated in Kalifornia. I grew up in So Cal and since I left there over 33 years ago to join the Army I have't missed it a bit. Per the UPS web site, my new 6.5L will be delivered tomorrow. Merry Christmas to me!

The info I'm getting from Hide members and Preston @ Surgeon is an extremly accurate load is about 37.5 gr Varget and the 130 Berger. I've two jugs of Varget!

Alan
 
#33
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

Im shooting the 123ge Scenars at about 2930fps. that seems to be the sweet spot in my rifle.. I wouldnt worry about the extra 50fps. find the load that delivers the most accuracy.
 
#35
Re: 6.5x47 Lapua.....still a viable investment?

I jut took delivery of mine and I love it 130 Bergers Look out Ferals !!

I chose the round as friend explained the benifits of it to me eg; great fit in magazines, easy on barrels. Good Brass, will get to 1k cheaper than .375's, .338's and big .300's etc.

65x47Lapua.jpg
 
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