Range Report Load development for 6.5x47

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Anything new on this topic, im about to start load development with a 6.5x47 lapua and need all the info I can get

 

[Jedi]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

OK lil more data
Rifle now running a 20" broughton 5C
123 sceanar @2.750 42.7 rl17 2900fps
this is my pig gun, so moving to 123 amax when scenars gone
50% cheaper and work great on game

Match rifle 31" 5C defiance action
140 berger @2.800 41.5 rl17 2950fps

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Jedi, I think Ive read in some posts that you were using the 130 JLKs, what was your experience with them. The high BC and lighter bullet may be worth trying out, how were they accuracy wise? Im on a list to get some but it was gonna take several months at least. I have some 139 scenars on the way, any luck with them?

 

[Simon Templar]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

You can´t get it wrong with the Scenars and the 139gr are great.
Here´s 10 139gr Scenar at 600m fired rapidly off the bipods and a bean bag:

Best group I got at 100m with the 139gr Scenar pushing them at 2788fps:

 

[Jedi]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

alrighty then
130 class was solely based on my thinking that 140 was to much for case
So i got a lil crazy after some info came my way
pig gun, 20" barrel
123 scenar @ 2900fps, reverse calc based on dope used 500/750/1k

Dedicated match rig
defiance action LBRP
31" broughton 5C
140vld @2950+

I,ve shot 123,130JLK, 130berger, 140berger
i have never found a custom rifle that would not shoot a match grade bullet after load work
Choose a good bullet and develop a load that meets your accuracy needs
Erik Cortina just shot a new record @ 300 with 139, so thou shoot real good

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Ok, Ive got all my copontents in and am ready to start load work, just have a question. What powder charge should I start with for working up a load, I cant seem to find any published maximum data for this round. I will be using the 139 scenars with RL 17. Barrel is 26" kreiger with 8.5 twist.

 

[spot69221]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

No Varget tests? A magnum primer and 37.3gr ish w/123 Scenar should be a winner.

 

[Simon Templar]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Have you tried Vihtavuori powders? You know them finnish boys get along real good^^

I´m using 39.5grain of VV´s n550 for my 123gr Scenar.

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

I may start trying the 123's what kind of velocity are you getting with the n550?

 

[MDM]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: spot69221</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No Varget tests? A magnum primer and 37.3gr ish w/123 Scenar should be a winner. </div></div>
I'm using 37.8 Varget with the 123 scenars at 2920 fps. 27" McGowen. Really the Varget shot good with anything from 37-38 grains.

 

[RobertB]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

I'm getting my personal bests out of Varget (37.5 Grn.) 123 SMK. Federal match primer,loaded .12" into the grooves 22" bartlien, shehane stock, panda action. DOn't know the velocity but in la its taking 11 3/4 MOA to get to 600 yds. Its my Light BR gun as I shoot .260 in my tacticle gun and the wind drift is very close (important to me as I want my BR and tacticle rifle ballistics to be as close as possible) Best 600 yd group to date is 1.1" 5 shot group and 4.5" at agrand. I wish I could have tried it in good conditions at a 1000. The only other time I shot it a 1000 was at a BR match in Ohio with VERY HIGH winds. I kept every round in the scoring zone where alot of people wern't. The best group that day was 7" I believe out of all the competitiors. It was shot by Tom Sarver who has the range and the World Record for it. I was impressed with the little round as it was holding it's on with bigger magnums, 6.5x284's and even a 408cheytac BR rifle. Scoring wise, I know the ballistics are very different between the 408 and 6.5x47. I am going to keep on with this caliber for a while as it seems promising. I am also going to get another BBl chambered in this for my Heavy gun Bat action left port right eject, Shehane Maxi Tracker stock for 1.5" BBL

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

I would really like to get these 123's to 3000 fps or over, has anyone been able to do that accuratly? if so what powder?

 

[MDM]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Sure, it can be done. Probably R17 or R15. It all depends ofn when you run into pressure. Most report that accuracy falls off at those speeds though. From all I've read, and in my findings, the 123 Scenars like it somewhere in the mid to low 2900's.

 

[Greene]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

I had a Savage 10fp in 6.5x47 with a McGowen 28" tube. I used RL-15 and CCI-450's. It was a good combo. I don't remember the exact charge but I was getting aroun 3020-3050fps with the load and it liked touching the lands. The load was real close to what Darrel was running in his article. Somewhere between 38-39.5 gr of RL-15. I used varget as a varmint load with 95gr v-max's and they were great. Made a great varmint round and was really accurate. So varget may work with the 123's.

Here are the links where I got my starting data from.
6mmbr. Darrels 6.5x47 lapua

6.5x47 lapua tactical

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Greene, thats the speeds I was hoping to run with these, only drawback is that I have heard the RL 15 and 17 powders are temp sensitive, have you noticed this? Temp ranges from winter to summer are pretty wide here and I dont want to have to mess with changing my load

MDM- Did you try to push the varget faster? do you think there is another accuracy node higher?

 

[MDM]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

I pushed it faster, but ran into pressure. Anything over 38g was too much in my rifle. I may end up trying some R15, but went with Varget first because it's supposed to be less temp sensitive.

 

[Greene]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Sorry, I didn't play with the reloader in the really cold times in the Lapua and didn't try varget with the 120's and higher weight bullets. But I did use varget with the 95gr v-max's and they proved to be quite accurate. I had a charge of 38-39gr of varget under the 95 v-max's. It would push them easily around 3100-3200 fps. I even ran them faster all the way up to about 3400fps but groups started opening up.

I ran some 123 lapua's and Matchkings. My rifle liked the matchkings or I found a better load for them one as I had better groups with those. How fast are you wanting to push your bullets and what weights? I don't feel there is much need to push them over 3050ish. After that you would just be burning up components. I am a big velocity junky and have a hard time wanting to go fast and accurate. Sometimes its better to have a consistant load and give up some of the velocity for the gain of accuracy and just add a little extra elevation to your scope on those long shots.

Here is a link you can look through for some loads. There are a couple of guys running varget, h4350 with heavier bullets so you may be able to get an idea on a more temp stable load. Any of the Hogdon extreme lines are pretty temp stable such as 4350,h1000,varget,etc. I'm like you and preffer to have one load that pretty much works all year long.

260,6.5creedmoor,6.5x47 lapua loads

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Im wanting to run them as fast as I can with a temp stable powder, as long as the accuracy is still good.

I was hoping to run the 123's around 3050 fps.

I think Im gonna start a test as soon as the weather gets a little better. Im gonna test the 123 smk's with varget and vv n550. As soon as I get my 130 jlk's in Ill test them also.

 

[Greene]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

I would be interested to see how load development goes on this. I want to build another 6.5 some day. Just don't know if I want to go back to the 6.5x47 lapua, 6.5 creedmoor, or 260 remmy.

Keep me informed please.

 

[Alan Griffith]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: clinto</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok, Ive got all my copontents in and am ready to start load work, just have a question. What powder charge should I start with for working up a load, I cant seem to find any published maximum data for this round. I will be using the 139 scenars with RL 17. Barrel is 26" kreiger with 8.5 twist. </div></div>

In case you haven't run the 139/140's yet with Rel 17 start with about 40.9 and run upto 43 gr. Realize that you might see pressure around 42 gr.

Here is what I saw from my 26" Broughton 8 twist @ 40 deg F with 140 Berger VLD with CCI 450's.

37 = 2489
37.5 = 2537
38 = 2563
38.5 = 2630
39 = 2668
39.5 = 2694
40 = 2765
40.5 = 2778
41 = 2813
41.5 = 2845
42 = 2887
42.5 = 2917
43 = 2990
43.5 = 3021 Finally got a hint of hard bolt lift in my Pierce action

Zero pressure signs other than the hard bolt lift.

Alan

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

GSSP- Thanks for the info. I think I was running 41.6 gr of RL17 at around 2917 fps with the 139 scenars


I got to shoot some the past couple days. It was a spur of the moment thing and I was kinda pressed for time so I only did 3 shot groups. None the less, hopefully we can get some use out of it.

I only tested N550 because I havent had a chance to buy some Varget to test.

I tested from 39.2 to 41.6 grains in .2 grain increments. Also, 39.2 to 40 was shot yesterday and 40.2 to 41.6 was shot today. I guess that may explain some of the chrono readings?

Anyways, Here are the targets, Help me make some sense of them.

I was expecting to see higer velocities than this. There was no signs of pressure, so I may keep going up. What do yall think.

 

[Alan Griffith]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Clinto,

This may help. Tell us what you see. I'll tell you what. I don't just look at group size.

Alan

charge = FPS = FPS increase = ES = SD
39.2 = 2784 = 9 = 4.5
39.4 = 2802 = 18 = 13 = 6.8
39.6 = 2817 = 15 = 12 = 6
39.8 = 2848 = 31 = 16 = 9
40 = 2842 = -6 11 = 5.5
40.2 = 2838 = -4 22 = 11.5
40.4 = 2867 = 29 = 35 = 18
40.6 = 2895 = 28 = 28 = 14.2
40.8 = 2912 = 17 = 12 = 6.1
41 = 2936 = 24 = 26 = 14.7
41.2 = 2965 = 29 = 34 = 17
41.4 = 2967 = 2 = 10 = 5.1
41.6 = 2999 = 32 = 20 = 10.8

 

[clinto]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Well, it looks like the ES increases as the charge weight increases for the most part, except for the 41.4, those numbers arent too bad. Thats pretty common to see right? That is about the same velocity that Allen got good groups at, it just took me more powder to get there.

But I also noticed that the ES numbers are higher on the second day of shooting (from 40.2 to 41.6). It was a bit cloudier the second day, could that affect chrono readings?

I think I may test a little more around the 41.4 with 5 shot groups and see what that shows. I may also go up a bit higher in charge weight since I havent seen any pressure signs yet.

What do yall think?

 

[Alan Griffith]

Re: Load development for 6.5x47

Clinto,

Now you're thinking! When ever you see steady and large increases, those are the areas you should probably try and skip over. When you see areas where the increases are small and maybe even negative, those are the areas you want to first focus on. It might even prove to "not" be the area that will work but the large increases shouldn't work at all.

Powder charge first followed by seating depth followed by primer tests. You shot it a bit different than some so that means you focus on the powder charge that gives good low increases in fps. The seating depths and primer tests should narrow the field down even more. It may not always work but at least it can throw out all the chaff to get to the wheat of the matter.

Alan