6.5x47 Lapua

[Jdun91764]

I am shooting:

Rem 700 blueprinted
AI Stock
Bartlein 5R MTU
6.5x47
IMR-4451 with 140 VLD

Groups hover around .2 at 100m

Took it out to 1k but wind got the better of me - shot to 1500 with 300wm before wind got going. Hit 1 mile with 300 Norma AI switch barrel AX (not my gun)

Attached shows recovered debris at 1m, .284 with Lab Radar and me pointing to my one hitcat 1m. The other 5 are from the rifles owner. My gunsmith who prefers to remain nameless.

PS - speed for 6.5 with 140 VLD and Reloader 16 (another great powder) was 2570 - too alow for any consistency beyond 600 .

 

[jonthomps]

Final load:

Lapua brass
.002 neck tension
CCI 450
140 Berger hybrid
37.5gr Varget
2791fps
SD: 4.6
2.130" BTO - .012 off the lands
3/4" 3-shot groups at 356y

Rifle specs:

Surgeon 591
Bartlien 8 twist, 26"
285 rds fired to date

 

[Shoots 700's]

That is my load, but it’s a little longer and runs 2836 FPS as an average

 

[ElvisUSMC]

DT SRS A1 6.5x47, 26” Factory Barrel w/(466rnds), 1-8.5” twist
.288 Neck Bushing
CCI 450 primer

Labradar chrono

6.5x47 140gr RDF Load map w/ RL-16 and VARGET
2.7815” COAL
0.020" Jump

RL-16 / Velocity
39.3 / 2759
39.6 / 2798
39.9 / 2796
40.2 / 2834
40.5 (!compressed!) / 2833 Hard Chamber, pressure signs
40.8 (!compressed!) / 2845 Hard Chamber, pressure signs
41.1 (!compressed!) / 2880 Hard Chamber, pressure signs
41.4 (!compressed!) / 2880 Hard Chamber, pressure signs

Note: I think the hard chamber was from the bullet getting pushed out from the compressed load.
RL-16 works great with my 130gr ELD-M at 2965fps.

VARGET / Velocity
36.3 / 2742
36.5 / 2753
36.7 / 2771
36.9 / 2780
37.1 / 2780
37.3 / 2816
37.5 / 2796
37.7 / Read Error
37.9 / 2861
38.1 / 2865
38.3 / 2891
38.5 / 2876

Varget might be the ticket with 140 RDF's.

 

[5RWill]

Norma 130gr BTHP from top right to left and top to bottom on the top two, 36.8-37.8gr of varget 10 thou off the lands. Middle two shots are foulers. Went back to them after the berger shortage. I have to say the gun just hammers with these, it did well with the bergers too but the normas are hard to argue with for 28 cents a round. Settled on the bottom left at 37.6gr of varget giving me 2840 and an SD of 5. Was an SD of 0 for the first three.

 

[bjay]

Norma 130gr BTHP from top right to left and top to bottom on the top two, 36.8-37.8gr of varget 10 thou off the lands. Middle two shots are foulers. Went back to them after the berger shortage. I have to say the gun just hammers with these, it did well with the bergers too but the normas are hard to argue with for 28 cents a round. Settled on the bottom left at 37.6gr of varget giving me 2840 and an SD of 5. Was an SD of 0 for the first three.

View attachment 7053339

100 yards?

 

[47guy]

i shot about 200 of the 130 normas and could never get them to shoot very well.

 

[5RWill]

100 yards?

Yessir

 

[padom]

I shot a bunch of 130 Norma GT as well. Still have 300-400. They shoot ok and are good for practice but not on the same level as the Bergers.

 

[clinto]

It seems like a lot of people settle on 37.6 grains of Varget with 130’s.

 

[jonthomps]

Looking for powder recommendations for the 147 ELD-M. Thinking about Varget (maybe a little fast), H4350, H4831SC. Anyone have a good load with this bullet/powder combo?

 

[30338]

Using 39-40 grains of H4350 with 147 ELD. Depends on your throat length. With 40 in my .170 fb getting 2710 out of 22" barrel. Very accurate.

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

Looking for powder recommendations for the 147 ELD-M. Thinking about Varget (maybe a little fast), H4350, H4831SC. Anyone have a good load with this bullet/powder combo?

I’m using 39.2 grains of Reloder 16 with the 147 ELD-M’s. Getting right at 2700 with a 24” tube. Also had good luck with 39.0 to 39.4 grains of H4350 before the local supply dried up and had to find an alternate power.

I’m using a drop tube to prevent compressing the powder. Rounds are around 2.775”. Decent ES/SD but not great, decent accuracy but not great. On average getting about 1/2” MOA to 300 yards and had no trouble ringing steel at 1085 yards on an IPSC Target the only time I ever shot beyond 500 or so.

 

[30338]

Data point for 147 eld. Two 6.5x47 lapuas, .170 throats. 39.8 grains of H4350(about max I can get to), CCI 450. Getting 2588 fps. Seems slow till you plug in 8000 ft elevation and they still are doing over 2000 fps at 600 yards. Lost a bit more speed than I thought I would going that short. Thinking it will work great for what I need though. One 18" and one 19".

 

[30338]

Couple of data points.

Worked up to 45 grains of RL26 today with 140 vld. Hit 2715 fps in a 19" barrel. Best accuracy was around 44 grains and need to get speed on that one. Using once fired Lapua brass and filled to base of neck. 2.81 oal.

41.2 grains of IMR4451 with 140 vld was extremely accurate with oal of 2.795. Speed was right at 2600 fps in 19" barrel. I think this is close to max for IMR4451 in my rig.

 

[Vargmat]

So its been a while since I shot for groups and I know my rifle is a solid shooter. But since I was challanged on a Swedish forum, I took my 6.5x47L to the range the other day and shot 3 x 5 shots from the 100 meter line, and this was the result:
(There was no warm up, no sighters, noting more than laying down on the ground and shoot. prone with bipod and rear bag)

Group 1, 16mm including coldbore. (0.62")
Group 2, 13mm (0.51")
Group 3, 15mm (0.59")

My rifle has had +2400 rounds down the barrel. I am more than happy with the result.

 

[DisplacedTexan]

41.2gr H4350
142SMK @2820
4.4 SD

Have been using this since I switched to the 142SMK. I've given this load to buddies and it hammers in every rifle thus far. A little hot, especially down south, but I shot it at Silent Night in Oklahoma with zero issues after developing load in Utah.

 

[tomcatfan]

Did some load development with my 6.5x47 Criterion Savage Pre-fit yesterday. Both the 140 RDF and 140 ELDM really liked 37.2 grains of Varget. Both bullets shot under 0.4 moa and had single digit SD's.

 

[want2learn]

it's fascinating to read all the different experiences with this caliber. Currently my most accurate load for a 26inch, 1:8 barrel, has been a 123gn Scenar projectile powered by 35.5gn Varget and a BR-4 primer at .01inch off the rifling.

Shortly i will run out of the 123gn projectiles and i have a box of 139gn Scenars.....curious how that will pan out. Kind of wished i hadn't already purchased the 139s

 

[want2learn]

Hi, hope someone might have this information.

I recently ran out of Varget but have new unopened containers of H322 or 4064 that i was hoping to use.....wondering if anyone can recommend some suitable loads or weight ranges for the 139 Scenar projectiles. My barrel is 26 inch and has a 1:8 twist. I'm shooting paper out to 300 yards.

I checked the Hodgdon site but it doesn't list anything for the 139gn projectile.

thank you.

 

[47guy]

Just use 140 numbers start mid load and go from there

is that the only powders you have?

 

[Temper]

4064 is very close to Varget so just start the same as you did with Varget.

 

[want2learn]

thanks

i have Prima V, 4064, n135 and h322

i thought i'd use the Vihtavuori but their website only shows it for 108gn projectiles and lesser weight projectiles. It's good to know that 4064 is very similar to Varget so I can try that.

Learned a valuable lesson, I shouldn't have picked up all these different types of powder but they had a sale...free Hazmat and shipping if you purchased $150 worth.

I guess i should have stuck to one or at most 2 different powders. Right now i'm only loading the 6.5x47L. In the future i'll likely try the .222 again but i'm really focused on figuring out the 6.5x47L.

I picked up the pistol powder figuring one day they might make purchasing pistol ammo near impossible here in sunny Ca.

 

[Geno C.]

You can never have too many or too much powder

 

[tomcatfan]

You can never have too many or too much powder

Until there is a fire...

 

[Geno C.]

Until there is a fire...

They don’t save many houses once they catch fire. Powder isn’t likely to make the difference between a total loss and not

 

[want2learn]

thank you

 

[XLR308]

Ok fairly new to loading and shooting the 6.5x47 but have a few questions.
The brass I have been shooting to break in the new barrel and doing load development I bought used from another member that was stated to have 4 loading on it and have shot another 2 times without annealing which I know is not ideal just haven't invested in an annealing set up just been stock piling brass in several calibers and buying new when needed.
I shot a series of 5 shot groups yesterday with the Berger 130 Hybrids based on my initial testing with it that showed a good node between 36.5 and 37.0 grains of Varget in .1 grain increments.
All loads were seated .010" off the lands with a CBTO of 2.1005" but I was having issues while sizing I'm sure were related to the brass needing annealed that were varying in headspace as much as .002" but my average group size was in the .4" range.
The best two groups were at 36.5 and 36.6 but 36.8 showed the least amount of vertical but all were between .416 to .486" and just curious if I should go ahead and run with those numbers on the new brass I have or push for the higher node and see were I end up.
The highest I have run to is 37.0 grains of Varget and attached the Magneeto Speed for that five round group to check my speeds that averaged 2845fps with an ES of 5 and no hint of pressure or resistance on bolt lift.

 

[30338]

I have been using a candle to anneal my brass. Seems to work. Just shot 36.5 grains of varget with 140 vld on the lands. Shot great. I’d go higher with the 130 I think.

Although 37 seems to be quite good for you.

 

[want2learn]

not criticizing but just asking...when i look at the reloading data from Hodgdon/Varget website it denotes a range of between 32.5 -36.1 gn weight of Varget for a 130gn projectile.....is it common to exceed these values?

 

[padom]

not criticizing but just asking...when i look at the reloading data from Hodgdon/Varget website it denotes a range of between 32.5 -36.1 gn weight of Varget for a 130gn projectile.....is it common to exceed these values?

Yep, book is a starting point and typically conservative as hell.

My 6.5x47L load over shit 6 or 8 barrels is a 140 Hybrid over 37gr Varget. 130 charge is going to be higher... 37.7gr is my 130 Hybrid load

 

[want2learn]

fascinating...i really thought those numbers were very specifically determined as absolute min and max

 

[tomcatfan]

fascinating...i really thought those numbers were very specifically determined as absolute min and max

For my rifles, all most all of my loads exceed the Hogdon max loads posted on their website. The only rifle I ran pressure signs with was my Savage 308 and the pressure signs were at a whole grain of Varget higher than what Hogdon listed.

 

[lizard1]

did anyone try the new staboll 6.5 powder in the 6.5x47? can't find any load data. appreciate any help
Dave

 

[DIBBS]

Anyone loading 123's? I've got some 123 Amaxes that have been wicked on coyotes in the past, and some 123 Nosler CC. Yes BC is lower , but ...should be reasonable for practice to 800 yards give or take...

 

[Geno C.]

Anyone loading 123's? I've got some 123 Amaxes that have been wicked on coyotes in the past, and some 123 Nosler CC. Yes BC is lower , but ...should be reasonable for practice to 800 yards give or take...

I run 120s for my son. He hammers with them

 

[lizard1]

I run 120s for my son. He hammers with them

i have had great results with 123 custom comps, sierra match kings, a-max and lapuas with varget out to a little over 700 yds 4" or better. Just got some Staball 6.5 loading up some test rounds let you know how it works out.
Dave

 

[Geno C.]

Varget for this gun. Shoots about 1-1/4” at 400. Plenty good for what we use it for

 

[want2learn]

wondering if anyone has factory loaded lapua 139 scenar....hoping to find the factory settings for reference, especially the COTB and COAL. thank you.

 

[padom]

wondering if anyone has factory loaded lapua 139 scenar....hoping to find the factory settings for reference, especially the COTB and COAL. thank you.

Nope. But I shot a lot of 139's with H4350 for a while and they were some of the most accurate groups ever shot out of my x47. I still hold the #1 spot on the 100yd Challenge with those 139's

 

[want2learn]

thanks...i've got a lot still to learn. its so impressive to try and emulate what so many on this forum have accomplished.
I found one reference that listed total case length at 1.84inch with a max length of 1.85 inch

 

[Claluja]

wondering if anyone has factory loaded lapua 139 scenar....hoping to find the factory settings for reference, especially the COTB and COAL. thank you.

Not the 139, but coal for 136 factory is 2.6820 for one I just measured.

 

[want2learn]

thank you...

 

[pete_f]

The factory loaded 139 Scenar ammo that I have on hand measures an average of 2.715 COAL.

 

[padom]

Here's my 139 L / Varget OCW

 

[want2learn]

wow....impressive.

thank you for the data, it helps a lot

 

[padom]

Shot a load confirmation today with the 135gr A-Tips. Finally got around to testing them. Super wide node in my barrel with Varget. POI was exactly the same from 37gr - 38.2gr in 0.2gr increments. Every charge weight had single digit SD's and was sub 0.5" @ 100yds. I had zero pressure signs, no sticky bolt, primers looked great across all the charge weights.

Went with 38gr and shot this 5 shot group to see if I needed to do a seating depth test. Id say no, Ill call it good....lolol

27" Keystone Accuracy Kreiger HV 6.5x47L
Bighorn TL3
APA Fat Bastard
Jewell @ 12oz
MDT ACC
Athlon Cronus BTR

135gr A-Tip
1xLapua
38gr Varget
CCI 450
2.803" COAL (0.01" off lands)
Had zero issues seating them with my Forster Ultra Micrometer seating die which was honed by Forster for 140 Hybrids.


POA is the pink dot. I forgot my small allen set so I couldnt adjust zero on my scope down.. Thats why POI is so high. Will adjust final zero next trip out and shoot these babies at distance. Looking forward to seeing how they fly at distance compared to my go to 140 Berger load.








Next up....I have some new 130gr bullets to test....Stay tuned

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Next up....I have some new 130gr bullets to test....Stay tuned

Padom, I've seen some pretty wildly conflicting data on barrel life for the 6.5x47. What is the average you have been seeing?

Only ask because I've had a velocity drop recently at 1300 by 35fps. Been seeing 1700-3000 but if I'm guessing right youve had more than one barrel run in a similar way as I do.

 

[padom]

Padom, I've seen some pretty wildly conflicting data on barrel life for the 6.5x47. What is the average you have been seeing?

Only ask because I've had a velocity drop recently at 1300 by 35fps. Been seeing 1700-3000 but if I'm guessing right youve had more than one barrel run in a similar way as I do.

I've had a lot of x47L barrels, mostly all cut rifled barrels from Bartlein, Rock and Kreiger....2500-3000 is what I've experienced. I had 2 button barrels but didnt shoot them out. Just tested them for accuracy comparison and they shot good but I sold them under 500rd on them. I've heard those are going in the 2000-2500 range..

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

I've had a lot of x47L barrels, mostly all cut rifled barrels from Bartlein, Rock and Kreiger....2500-3000 is what I've experienced. I had 2 button barrels but didnt shoot them out. Just tested them for accuracy comparison and they shot good but I sold them under 500rd on them. I've heard those are going in the 2000-2500 range..

Thank you, I'm working with a cut Mullerworks barrel. Sounds like I should have plenty of life left to get me through at least 1/4 of the season.