Mid weight 6.5 bullets Lapua 120,123 136 or Berger?

[st1650]

So I want to work up a load for my factory DTA 6.5 26” 1:8 barrel. Only have maybe 2 lbs left of H4350 and I know I probably won’t be able to get more this year with the way things are going. Also can’t get any 140+ Hornady or Berger in Canada, everyone is out.
That being said, I have a big supply of Varget and can get Lapua bullets for decent price.

If most of my shooting is to be under 600 with the odd time going to 1K, should I not stock up on mid weight 120s ? In that case should I go with the scenar-L 120 or the 123, the 123 has a much better BC but maybe the 120s are more consistent or easier to tune ?

The other option would be the Berger 130 VLD but seems like they’re harder to tune and probably would run better with H4350 than Varget ?

 

[Newbie2020]

The Berger 130s are brilliant out of my 26” Rock Creek barrel. They’ll be better out to distance in a cross wind also.

 

[Newbie2020]

I’m curious why they would be hard to tune? I loaded 44.1 gr StaBall and did a seating depth test and went w 80 thousandths off the lands and I’m getting consistent 0.5” groups

 

[jakelly]

Scenars are some of the easiest to tune bullets out there. Given the parameters you’ve set, I’d look to the 123s with Varget.
One other point I will make, powder is getting a lot easier to get. If I were in your shoes I’d load up on 136s and be on the hunt for more powder. It’s out there.

 

[st1650]

Scenars are some of the easiest to tune bullets out there. Given the parameters you’ve set, I’d look to the 123s with Varget.
One other point I will make, powder is getting a lot easier to get. If I were in your shoes I’d load up on 136s and be on the hunt for more powder. It’s out there.

We’re always a bit behind in Canada but if the domestic market starts to see more 4350 then for sure we’ll start to see it too.

 

[jakelly]

H4350 isn’t the only powder that works well. There are a ton of powders that work well in that role.

 

[bobke]

I’ve been working with 120 Scenar L’s and both Varget and AR Comp in both Hornady and Prime 1x brass and having very good results in a 1:7 twist 20” Krieger barreled AR. Holding velocity around 2850ish with Prime and about 75fps less with Hornady to preserve brass, but accuracy potential is better than .5 if I’m doing my job.

 

[Steel head]

For years I ran 140’s then 147’s when I was shooting my 260 only and it had to cover everything from 0 to a mile.

Now that it’s my 1200 and in gun I’m really loving the 130’s especially the Berger 130 hybrids.
For most 6.5 shooters I think the 130 is sweet spot.
4451, H4350 and R16 all have been great powders for me.
The 130 ELD and Sierra are solid options and I want to try the scenar’s some day.

 

[Dogtown]

My 26” factory DTA 6.5x47L lasted close to 4000 rounds and I developed loads using 120 & 136 Scenar-L, Berger 130 & 144 with a variety of powders.

Like others have said, the 130s are kind of the sweet spot and most versatile, shooting well in both my short 20” and 26” barrels at a variety of distances. And I would say the 120 Scenar-L is a very close second.

N550 and RL17 have been my best performing powders in this class, with N550 best for 130-144s and RL17 for the 120-130s. Varget is also really good for the 120-130s.

Something I noticed early on was primers. 6.5x47L is pretty tolerant of a variety of primers, but oh my god does it love CCI #450 magnum primers.

So my suggestion is to use that Varget to push 120 Scenar-L or Berger 130s, whichever you can get your hands on, and try magnum primers.

 

[TimK]

The 130 Scenars have been excellent for me. I don't shoot my .260 much anymore, but it really performs when I do break it out of the back of the safe.

 

[st1650]

My 26” factory DTA 6.5x47L lasted close to 4000 rounds and I developed loads using 120 & 136 Scenar-L, Berger 130 & 144 with a variety of powders.

Like others have said, the 130s are kind of the sweet spot and most versatile, shooting well in both my short 20” and 26” barrels at a variety of distances. And I would say the 120 Scenar-L is a very close second.

N550 and RL17 have been my best performing powders in this class, with N550 best for 130-144s and RL17 for the 120-130s. Varget is also really good for the 120-130s.

Something I noticed early on was primers. 6.5x47L is pretty tolerant of a variety of primers, but oh my god does it love CCI #450 magnum primers.

So my suggestion is to use that Varget to push 120 Scenar-L or Berger 130s, whichever you can get your hands on, and try magnum primers.

What about CCI BR4s ? They're thicker than 400s but not sure if they're considered mag like the 450s ?
I do have some Rem 7 1/2

 

[Dogtown]

Nah, not the same results. But your mileage may vary...