6.5x47 Lapua

[Oldloser]

Here is what I iterated to with some more testing.

Berger 144 at 2750 with 36.6 grains varget with 30 thousandths jump. Overlapping hits at 800 yards. SD of five on ten round groups. Groups were 3/4 inch at 100 yards. 27 inch barrel and 3x fired lapua brass.

Barnes 145 at 2706 with 39.0 h4350 and same jump. Sd of 6 for ten rounds. A bit more dispersion with a 1 Moa hole at 100 yards than Bergers but ridiculously good for such a cheap bullet.

I did not miss all day with either load. Wind was a 4mph full. I could take either to a match with complete confidence.

 

[Dogtown]

Just to add on the short barrels, while I shoot 144 LRHTs w/ N550 out of 26-30" barrels, I'm running 120 Scenar-L w/ RL17 out of a 20" and a 16.5" barrel. I'm getting 2750fps with the 16.5"

 

[just browsing]

Just to add on the short barrels, while I shoot 144 LRHTs w/ N550 out of 26-30" barrels, I'm running 120 Scenar-L w/ RL17 out of a 20" and a 16.5" barrel. I'm getting 2750fps with the 16.5"

How are the 144s with 550 in the longer barrels?

 

[Dogtown]

I used to shoot the 136 Scenars predominantly with the longer barrels and tried out the heavier 140s, but the 144s really make it a great long range non-magnum combo. Varget was too fast; H4350 was too slow, and N550 just worked best with velocity and consistency for me.

I'm able to push them to 2825fps out of the 26" and have taken them to just shy of a mile. Thankfully I bought about 1000 of them prior to 2020, so I still have plenty.

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

I’m wondering if Reloder 17 would work well with the 144’s, too.

 

[Dogtown]

RL17 is fine, but I hit pressure a bit before I did with N550. If you have some handy, give it a go.

 

[Dogtown]

I’m wondering if Reloder 17 would work well with the 144’s, too.

Some QL predictions for reference

 

[dirtking]

What speeds were you able to get with Varget and the 144 Bergers?

 

[Dogtown]

I hit pressure early. According to my log book around 36.7gr of Varget I was hitting 2720fps with pressure signs. That’s with the 26” barrel.

 

[dirtking]

Ok thank you. I am running a 28” barrel and running it for prs.

 

[Oldloser]

What speeds were you able to get with Varget and the 144 Bergers?

2750 at 36.6 was perfect for me. I could go higher as there’s room in the case and primers looked ok during initial testing but sd jumped over ten for me and groups started widening.

 

[dirtking]

2750 at 36.6 was perfect for me. I could go higher as there’s room in the case and primers looked ok during initial testing but sd jumped over ten for me and groups started widening.

Awesome thank you for you data as well!

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

Some QL predictions for reference

View attachment 8096094

Thanks for that. I don’t have QL, it’s cool to see the charges and pressure predictions. I suspect I’m getting close to the end of my barrel life with around 2700 rounds so I’m burning through some old 140 ELD’s using 38.5 grains of RL17 with what’s left of it. Its still surprisingly accurate at around 2750 with a 24” barrel.

Unfortunately I never could get the 144’s to shoot very well. Maybe my next barrel will like them.

 

[Dogtown]

Yeah, barrels are weird sometimes. Every now and then I get one that hates a favorite bullet of mine or is just slow for some reason.

 

[diggler1833]

Went from virgin to once fired brass. Obviously I have a small flaw in my annealing or resizing process because my ES and SD have doubled now (now 24 & 8 vs. ~ 12 & 5). Guess I'll have to start fiddling with crap.

Average velocity though is less than 5 FPS from what it was.

35.3gr Varget is the happiest spot in the low node at 2,785.

First group was shot off a bipod under 3-7 MPH full value winds yesterday. Confirmation group was shot in almost zero wind off of a front rest today. I couldn't pass up a chance to shoot in almost zero wind.

Please excuse my poor man's targets.

*** 123gr Scenar, Lapua brass, CCI Br4, and Varget at 2.160 CBTO.

Rifle is an FN SPR A2 with 26" Krieger spun on it by Matt Stewart.***

 

[morning would]

Went from virgin to once fired brass. Obviously I have a small flaw in my annealing or resizing process because my ES and SD have doubled now (now 24 & 8 vs. ~ 12 & 5). Guess I'll have to start fiddling with crap.

Average velocity though is less than 5 FPS from what it was.

35.3gr Varget is the happiest spot in the low node at 2,785.

First group was shot off a bipod under 3-7 MPH full value winds yesterday. Confirmation group was shot in almost zero wind off of a front rest today. I couldn't pass up a chance to shoot in almost zero wind.

Please excuse my poor man's targets.

View attachment 8115932
View attachment 8115933

What bullet?

 

[diggler1833]

What bullet?

I guess that would help wouldn't it. Damnit, I'll go edit my post. Sorry.

 

[diggler1833]

130 ELD-M and Reloader 16 test today. Did not use my chronograph until the last few shots, but when I tested seating depth I was in the single digit SDs (at top of photo). Velocity was 2706 @ 39.1gr...so pretty slow in the window that gave me the best accuracy.

Winds were up today. No excuse, but I bet it would be tighter on a calm day (that's what she said).

26" Brux, 1:8, M24

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

130 ELD-M and Reloader 16 test today. Did not use my chronograph until the last few shots, but when I tested seating depth I was in the single digit SDs (at top of photo). Velocity was 2706 @ 39.1gr...so pretty slow in the window that gave me the best accuracy.

Winds were up today. No excuse, but I bet it would be tighter on a calm day (that's what she said).

26" Brux, 1:8, M24

View attachment 8125707

I used to use 39.2 grains of Reloder 16 with the 147’s. This gave me about 2700 and very consistent accuracy. I’m betting you could go a bit higher with the 130’s without any pressure issues.

 

[diggler1833]

I used to use 39.2 grains of Reloder 16 with the 147’s. This gave me about 2700 and very consistent accuracy. I’m betting you could go a bit higher with the 130’s without any pressure issues.

You are absolutely correct. I wasn't getting any pressure at 39.3 with the 130s (2726 FPS when I shot it over the chronograph), and this particular FN bolt really craters primers. I'm definitely getting it bushed with the next rebarrel regardless if I stay with 6.5x47 or not.

This Brux is almost exactly 30 FPS slower than my Krieger on my other 6.5x47 too. Both are 26" in length, 1:8.

^ I was just comparing notes, and my best load for that Krieger barreled rifle is also 38.9gr of Reloder 16, but under a 130gr Berger AR OTM. Velocity is 2710.

 

[SharpShooterSER]

I am at the higher node with 140 eldm, with 39.5gn of N550, at 2780 fps out of 28" barrel (but its Sabati MMR, different rifling) 2.811 oal and easily in .3. Virgin or several times fired and flame annealed Lapua brass, with 0.02 neck tension, 6-8 fps SD.

 

[Dogtown]

I am at the higher node with 140 eldm, with 39.5gn of N500

N540 or N550?

 

[SharpShooterSER]

N540 or N550?

typo, N550

 

[diggler1833]

^ I split the difference of these two loads, and went 38.8gr. Loaded five to shoot at a little bit of distance to see how it would hold. Shot 1.45" at 300 this afternoon. Not far enough to prove a whole lot, but the results are kind of where I was expecting/hoping to be.

Now I'll fine tune seating depth to see where I can load out to. With my chamber, 2.090 is .020 off.

I'm content with this as a mid-range load. I developed it mostly for shooting coyotes and packs of feral "coyotes" out to 400 or so. I'm overrun out here.

 

[diggler1833]

^^^ Same rifle, same target, same distance at 300, next day. Five shots again too (head), but this is with the 120gr Scenar-L load that I posted a month or two about above.

I know it's going to make me sound like even more of a dork; but the one lower impact broke while my crosshairs were low.

Apparently the 120gr Scenar-L load and 130gr ELD-M load are within a tenth mil of each other at 100 and as well as 300 yards too. I know that it won't track like that out at distance, but at closer ranges it's cool to not have to adjust zero or DOPE.

I'm also enjoying that these groups both include the CBS.

120gr Scenar-L: 36.0gr N150, CCI BR-4, 2.115 CBTO.

130gr ELD-M: 38.8gr Reloader 16, CCI 450, 2.090 CBTO.

 

[RegionRat]

ETA: Most highpower rifles have enough similarity in their trajectory to be used with similar ammo out to 300, and can track pretty well as follows out to 1000 yards... here is a "rule of thumb" in case you were never shown.

When I was a kid learning the ropes of shooting... we were told a few things that were to be used with a grain of salt because they were meant to be used regardless of the caliber or gun. They were not meant to be perfect, final, and not something to argue about or die on a hill over when they were not exact.
I will say this much more and then shut up... I have helped teach or sight in hundreds of rookies who step onto the range with no zeros with all sorts of calibers and guns. When you have seen enough guns of all sorts, you don't get that look of amazement or magic they give you when you grab their gun and get them onto the black sight unseen.

No, this isn't to the third decimal point, but the aiming black is typically around 6 MOA and it will get almost every highpower gun used for two legged game into the black. You trim up from there.

Target to 100 yards = 2 MIN
100 to 200 yards = 2 MIN
200 to 300 yards = 3 MIN
300 to 400 yards = 3 MIN
400 to 500 yards = 4 MIN
500 to 600 yards = 4 MIN
600 to 700 yards = 5 MIN
700 to 800 yards = 5 MIN
800 to 900 yards = 6 MIN
900 to 1000 yards = 6 MIN

You only need to memorize it like this: 2-2-3-3-4-4-5-5-6-6 to keep it simple. Carry on.

 

[diggler1833]

123gr Scenar, 35.3gr Varget, CCI BR-4, Lapua brass. 2782 FPS from a 26" Krieger. I've gone a full grain and ~80 FPS faster, but this is where the accuracy is.

10 shots at 300 yards. Winds were real light, but switchy (2-3 MPH). I never changed my POA.

Like a frigging amateur, I splashed out my aiming spot by round #4, and I did manage to drop one low-right. Without that one, the other 9 were in about 1.7". It ended up at 2.1" though including the momentary concentration loss.

Just before this, I'd shot 5 into another .4 at 100 yards on paper. I was burning up my last loads after having the rifle apart, and wanted to make sure my zero was still good.

Mrs. Diggler1833 came out and shot the last 3 rounds on my coyote target at 300. Her group measured about 1-1/4". She was happy and didn't want to hear about the Hornady guys saying that her group sample was too small.

I'll try it again on another afternoon when the winds are calm (will probably take another month for that). I'll be sure to add or subtract a few tenths to keep from washing out the aim point again.

 

[morning would]

While I was out messing around with 308 seating depths yesterday, I figured I’d run thru some different stuff with the x47. Almost shit when I shot the first group. A .8 is definitely an outlier with a 6.5x47 in my experience. It of course got better along the top with those 123 Scenars as I moved in. RL15 and 123’s seem to play well together. I have also been playing with 130 TMK’s and Varget. I really like this bullet, and .005 off, so does this rifle. Just like with the 308 stuff I posted this morning, no velocity numbers till next weekend. Rifle is a POS Savage right bolt, left port and eject single shot. It’s my $500 make me feel good about myself rifle. Any questions on loads are on the paper or just ask.

 

[Oldloser]

6.5x47L
Berger 144 LRHT
Lapua Brass
CCI 450
38.4gr N550
2.820” COAL
2790fps out of 26” barrel

36.6 gr Varget.
Lapua 4x
GMM SRP
2.805 COAL
2740 fps with 26" 8 twist at 90 degrees.
SAC die with decaying mandrel/ wash / trim / mandrel right before loading
4 SD over 20 rounds

Same conditions.
39.0 H4350
2710 FPS
6 SD over 20 rounds

 

[diggler1833]

Happy Independence Day!

Broke out one of my 6.5x47s today to celebrate a bit early since we just had a rainstorm come through.

Tried truing up my data a few days ago, but could only shoot to 492 because the grass (seed stems) were too high to shoot further. Working with Hornady and JBMs calculations, I'm closer to about 2815-2820 FPS if I don't play with the ballistic coefficient. It might bite me in the ass later when I go further, but it works for now at all ranges out to 500.

Since three shot groups don't count, today I shot a 10-shot string off my back porch at 385 just as the rain cleared...it's as far as I can shoot from here in a safe direction.

I added .1 to my elevation this time to keep from splashing out my POA. Wind was a bit switchcy, but was only 2-3 MPH.

Minus the wind call I blew on shot #3, I managed 9 into 1.92" / (.48 MOA)...However with my drifted shot it came to 2.55" / (.63 MOA). My vertical is more than I'd like, but if I can keep it to less than a half minute, I'll be fine to the distances I'm limited to out here on the ranch.

The cold bore is in that group somewhere too, just like it is in the first pic at 492.

123gr Scenar
1xF Lapua brass
35.3gr Varget
CCI BR-4
2.165 CBTO

FN SPR with a 26" Krieger.

 

[powdahound76]

Nice rifle.

Nice shootin.

 

[SharpShooterSER]

500 meters (547 yards) Nationals mid June, 20 shots. Prep and match are 25 mins (7 test shots on different target and 20 for match).
Previous day was raining a lot, and on match day it was cloudy. Just before my squad was to start the match, sky cleared and sun started to shine. You cant imagine the mirage we had, I even forgot to adjust the parallax, and a spotter barely called the shots.
I did all the prep and shot all 27 shots under 16 minutes.
Sabatti TLD 28" MMR, RGM custom trigger, Vortex Golden Eagle
39.5 gn N550, CCI450, Lapua AGS flame annealed brass, 140gn ELDM 2.811" OAL, Joypod-X
X is 1.5", 10 ring is 3.5"

 

[Areece11]

Fast 5 and 10 shot group yesterday to check velocity and zero.

5x5 precision 6.5x47 with 28" Bartlein
38.2gr h4350
Berger 156gr
CBTO-2.167
2650fps

 

[Bsnyder]

I will be getting my first 6.5x47 lapua in the very near future. For those of you that have run them in prs/nrl hunter are you guys favoring the 130 class bullets or 140s?

 

[towerofpower93]

I will be getting my first 6.5x47 lapua in the very near future. For those of you that have run them in prs/nrl hunter are you guys favoring the 130 class bullets or 140s?

I went with the 130gr Berger AR Hybrid based on a couple buddies claiming it was an easy button in the load department, which it was.

I'll defer to others who have experience with both as to whether or not the x47 can push the 140s fast enough to get the benefits of the increased BC, but I found good results with the 130s and have stuck with them.

 

[padom]

I went with the 130gr Berger AR Hybrid based on a couple buddies claiming it was an easy button in the load department, which it was.

I'll defer to others who have experience with both as to whether or not the x47 can push the 140s fast enough to get the benefits of the increased BC, but I found good results with the 130s and have stuck with them.

I've been shooting 140 Hybrids, 130 Hybrids, 130 SMK, 135 A-Tips, 123 Scenars and 139 Scenars for many many years in x47L.


My favorite of them all is the Sierra 130 SMK but they all shoot great.

 

[padom]

130 SMK
37.5gr Varget
5x Lapua
CCI 450
2.113 OG
2916

Here is my other lights out load.

135 A-Tip
38gr Varget
5x Lapua
CCI 450
2883

Both of these loads have been tested and confirmed to 1000yd with boring accuracy and consistency at 1000.

 

[padom]

I went with the 130gr Berger AR Hybrid based on a couple buddies claiming it was an easy button in the load department, which it was.

I'll defer to others who have experience with both as to whether or not the x47 can push the 140s fast enough to get the benefits of the increased BC, but I found good results with the 130s and have stuck with them.

The 130 SMK (factory pointed) has a higher BC 0.584 vs 130 Hybrid 0.560....and is cheaper MSRP 500ct 130 SMK $274.99 vs 130 Hybrid $321.99

The 130smk was equally as accurate as my 135 ATips and was equally consistent at 1000yds.

 

[Shoots 700's]

I have 500 of the 130 SMK's but have not seen them for sale in along time, but shooting 136 scenars with great results

 

[padom]

I have 500 of the 130 SMK's but have not seen them for sale in along time, but shooting 136 scenars with great results

Definitely in high demand and harder to find.

 

[just browsing]

The “older” 142 SMKs work well also. Very jump tolerant with solid BC.

Fast 5 and 10 shot group yesterday to check velocity and zero.

5x5 precision 6.5x47 with 28" Bartlein
38.2gr h4350
Berger 156gr
CBTO-2.167
2650fps

Will have some additional data here in the next couple weeks with same barrel length, powder, and 153.5 LRHTs.

Did you do a 7” twist to stabilize the heavies? Also any idea what your FB is?

 

[Areece11]

The “older” 142 SMKs work well also. Very jump tolerant with solid BC.



Will have some additional data here in the next couple weeks with same barrel length, powder, and 153.5 LRHTs.

Did you do a 7” twist to stabilize the heavies? Also any idea what your FB is?

I'm using 7.5t. Not sure on exact freebore but it was cut for 144s but I decided to go with 156s

 

[Bsnyder]

Perfect. I’m learning towards the 135 atip but we will see what we can find. It will be just a steel and once a month club prs gun.

 

[towerofpower93]

The 130 SMK (factory pointed) has a higher BC 0.584 vs 130 Hybrid 0.560....and is cheaper MSRP 500ct 130 SMK $274.99 vs 130 Hybrid $321.99

The 130smk was equally as accurate as my 135 ATips and was equally consistent at 1000yds.

I'm still making my way through 5,000 of the Berger AR Hybrids I bought in 2017. Damn kid makes LR/PRS matches a thing of the past

 

[towerofpower93]

Thanks for consolidating all that info for the heavies. Looking forward to your real world findings to see if you can push them fast enough to get the benefits from them.

 

[Areece11]

I've recently had a 6.5x47 put together to try my luck at some of the heavy bullets. Been hampered with a recent shoulder surgery on my left side so thankfully being a righty I've still been able to shoot on my good side a little.

Barrel is a Hawk Hill 7.5t finished at 27.5"
So far these are the results I've seen.

144 hybrid- I was trying to save varget for my dashers and bra's so I was working with H4350 and N555. Had some great results with 4350 around 39.1 gr. but only was at 2700 fps. Once I bumped up to anything in the 2760-2780 range which was 39.9-40.2gr I just couldn't get the tight groups I was hoping for. N555 I was skeptical I could get enough in the case but worked up to 41.6 gr. and was right at 2770 fps and boy were the groups good. This will be my go to if I struggle to acquire the 153.5's or 156's.

153.5's- Jury is still out for me as I am waiting for a bigger backorder but I did just secure a box of 100. Worked up with h4350 and had some decent numbers around 39.1 gr. netting an avg of 2700 fps on the nose. My groups at 1k were nothing to write home about. I had been using cci 450's with everything but decided to try a few br4's and tested a few more with excellent numbers and results. I loaded up another 25 of them to test friday.

156 EOL- Got enough of these that I was hopeful this might be the bullet going forward for my comp gun. 39.1 gr. of H4350 with cci 450's has me at 2678 fps avg. All great things to say so far about this one, I've got 140 loaded up and I'm gonna attempt to shoot a 1 day regional match this weekend with a little practice with it on friday. I'll try and report back Saturday night or Sunday.

Do you know what you were jumping the 156s?

 

[just browsing]

Thanks for consolidating all that info for the heavies. Looking forward to your real world findings to see if you can push them fast enough to get the benefits from them.

The heavies really don’t need to be pushed that fast to get the benefits from them. I’m running 153.5s at 2600fps and get the same or better wind than 140 Hybrids, 135Atips, etc. all else being the same.

I will try to put a write up together here in the coming weeks with comparisons at distance, but I’m initially seeing some impressive results shooting them at what most would consider slow speeds.

 

[Dogtown]

The heavies really don’t need to be pushed that fast to get the benefits from them. I’m running 153.5s at 2600fps and get the same or better wind than 140 Hybrids, 135Atips, etc. all else being the same.

+1

Momentum helps in the wind too, taking more force to move the bullet an equal amount off its trajectory than a bullet shot with less momentum.

momentum = mass * velocity

 

[Areece11]

Shhhh... tell everyone to keep shooting 6mms

 

[Dogtown]

Hey now, BC plays a big part too because it counters the drag force, but my point is that mass is an equal partner to velocity in the momentum game. You can even think of it as a velocity coefficient. I think anyone who’s been shooting/reloading precision for a good amount of time knows that optimizing a cartridge’s performance is a delicate balance between mass/velocity/BC.