Hunting & Fishing Short, suppressed 6.5x47

[cecztayl]

So I have a 6.5x47 that was my PRS rifle. I’m going a different route for matches and looking for something to do with the 47.

My thought, cut the 6.5x47 down to 18” for a suppressed hunting rifle.

What do you guys think?
What projectile would you recommend for close-mid range whitetail? Let’s say 30-400 yards....majority of which will most likely be less than 100 yards.

Should I just X the idea of the short 47 and go with a new build on this action?

 

[CStroud]

Nothing at all wrong with your idea. If you like some speed you could run some 123 eldm’s. The 139 lapua scenar has a great reputation on game as well.

 

[FireMedic92]

I did something very similar last week. I had West Texas Ordinance , cut a 6.5 Creemoor to 16". Suppressed I , still get 2660 fps from Hornady 140's. With the suppressor it is still 6" shorter than my PRS 6 creed. I would do it again in a second. Already killed 2 pigs with it.

 

[260284]

I am going to do the same with a medium palma 6.5 Creed barrel. Can't decide between 16" and 18", so I might go 17".

 

[cecztayl]

I did something very similar last week. I had West Texas Ordinance , cut a 6.5 Creemoor to 16". Suppressed I , still get 2660 fps from Hornady 140's. With the suppressor it is still 6" shorter than my PRS 6 creed. I would do it again in a second. Already killed 2 pigs with it.

Are you getting 2660 with the factory 140 eld-m load? If you are loading these, do you mind sharing the load that is giving you these speeds?

 

[BoomerC]

I built a shorty 6.5x47L just for hunting.

Mine is a 16.5” proof suppressed. I am pushing the 140s at 2689 with 80rds down the tube. Should speed up just a touch. I love it.

 

[cecztayl]

I built a shorty 6.5x47L just for hunting.

Mine is a 16.5” proof suppressed. I am pushing the 140s at 2689 with 80rds down the tube. Should speed up just a touch. I love it.

Load details, please sir?

 

[BoomerC]

37gr Varget, 140 eld m, and fed 205 primers.

I would highly suggest working up to this load. On a hot chamber, I will get ejector swipes. It’s on high end.

 

[Conrad]

I have a new 18” Creed that I’m working up a load for. Looks like R16 is going to get me 2800 with a 130 hybrid. 123s or 129s would be good to try too.

 

[FireMedic92]

Are you getting 2660 with the factory 140 eld-m load? If you are loading these, do you mind sharing the load that is giving you these speeds?

Factory. It is a Spencer barrel from MPA. Was always pretty fast.

 

[Bertoli888]

Hello:
Some pictures would be a nice eye candy.

 

[FireMedic92]

Hello:
Some pictures would be a nice eye candy.

HS Precision stock, Bushnell Forge scope. Trigger Tech Diamond.

 

[Forrest84]

Keep the 6.5 lapua

 

[Lawnboi]

I’d run it, in fact I want to build a short suppressed 6.5 for a brush gun. Too many rounds popped off without ear pro this year.

 

[cecztayl]

Looks like I may cut the 6.5x47 down to 21”. Had a friend run some data on quick load and this was the length that would allow a full burn with decent speed and several good powders.

 

[alaskalanche]

I have a new 18” Creed that I’m working up a load for. Looks like R16 is going to get me 2800 with a 130 hybrid. 123s or 129s would be good to try too.

I second RL-16 with 130s in short barrel 6.5. 16" barrel 6.5 is getting 2790 fps with 130 ELDms which worked great on a deer and a couple caribou this fall. Going to give 135 A Tips (on sale currently at midway) a whirl and hoping for 2525 or so and see how it does.

 

[BoomerC]

I second RL-16 with 130s in short barrel 6.5. 16" barrel 6.5 is getting 2790 fps with 130 ELDms which worked great on a deer and a couple caribou this fall. Going to give 135 A Tips (on sale currently at midway) a whirl and hoping for 2525 or so and see how it does.

You shouldn’t have a problem getting 2525. Granted the bearing surface length may slow you down a touch but you should still be around 2600-2650.

I’ll get pics of mine tomorrow. Working up a new load in some Hornady project brass.

 

[alaskalanche]

Yeah I meant 2725 fps with the 135 if I'm at 2790 fps with the 130 ELDs.....we shall see.

Dang typos.

 

[Conrad]

Take quickload with a grain of salt. What speed are you looking for and with what bullet?

Looks like I may cut the 6.5x47 down to 21”. Had a friend run some data on quick load and this was the length that would allow a full burn with decent speed and several good powders.

 

[cecztayl]

Take quickload with a grain of salt. What speed are you looking for and with what bullet?

If I could manage in the 2700s with a 130 class bullet I would be happy.
The other big concern is excessive build up in the suppressor due to unburnt powder.....thoughts?

 

[Conrad]

I’m getting 2800-2815 pretty easy in my 18” barrel with R16. R16 does get pretty compressed though. H4350 got those speeds too. I have a 20” barrel on another rifle where I took H4350 even higher just to test pressure and then backed down.

I have read reports over R16 building up quicker. My particular barrel is mostly for hunting (lower volume shooting) so I’m not overly concerned there, but I will probably get a load with H4350 just in case. R26 will get the speed too, not sure of its carbon build up tendencies though.

 

[Supersubes]

If I could manage in the 2700s with a 130 class bullet I would be happy.
The other big concern is excessive build up in the suppressor due to unburnt powder.....thoughts?

Like Conrad said, ditch the quickload. You can manage 2700 with a 130. Maybe you get 2650, maybe 2750, but really neither means anything. There’s no practical difference between those. 400 yards is a chip shot.

I have a 16.5” proof in 6.5x47. Shoots great, very accurate, and it just isn’t undergunned on deer sized game in normal hunting ranges. I use 123’s and rl16

 

[cecztayl]

Man I sure appreciate the replies guys! I’m feeling more confident in my initial plan of 18”. That would give me 26” overall with the suppressor.

Do any of you have any experience with N550 in these shorter barrel 6.5s? That was another powder listed from quick load that will give a full burn and still maintained good velocity.

 

[stello1001]

RL26
Varget
H4350
RL16

Barnes LRX 127
Berger Hunter classic 135
Winchester deer season 125
ELDM 123
ELDM 130

18" barrel & suppressor is going to be very fun with anything from my list.

Good luck and let us know results once it's done!!!

 

[santee116]

I previously had an 18" 6.5x47 with a 1-8" Brux. Got some surprisingly fast velocities. I had it set up to shoot the 130 VLD but it shot everything well.
I'll post my loads below:

41.4 gr RL-17, 120 Ballistic tip, at 2860 great hunting load

41.2 gr H4350, 130 VLD at 2700
36.4 gr Varget, 130 VLD at 2675
40.0 gr RL-17, 130 VLD at 2715 (actually worked up to 41.8 at 2890 fps but accuracy wasn't there)

I ran a ladder with a 140 Amax and RL-17 right before I sold it, was surprised by the velocity.
39.0 gr RL-17 = 2622
41.0 gr RL-17 = 2780

These were all with Lapua brass and CCI-450's.

 

[BoomerC]

I previously had an 18" 6.5x47 with a 1-8" Brux. Got some surprisingly fast velocities. I had it set up to shoot the 130 VLD but it shot everything well.
I'll post my loads below:

41.4 gr RL-17, 120 Ballistic tip, at 2860 great hunting load

41.2 gr H4350, 130 VLD at 2700
36.4 gr Varget, 130 VLD at 2675
40.0 gr RL-17, 130 VLD at 2715 (actually worked up to 41.8 at 2890 fps but accuracy wasn't there)

I ran a ladder with a 140 Amax and RL-17 right before I sold it, was surprised by the velocity.
39.0 gr RL-17 = 2622
41.0 gr RL-17 = 2780

These were all with Lapua brass and CCI-450's.

Where at in Santee?

 

[BoomerC]

Just re measured mine. It’s 17.5” sorry about that.

 

[Bertoli888]

Nice looking rigs out there!

 

[WVHick]

I did a 6x47 Lapua on a Tikka Action with a 16.5" Proof Carbon barrel. I am getting 2900 FPS using 88gr Hammer Hunter bullets using a pretty mild load. Dropped a decent little 8-pt in its tracks from 140 yds with it so it seems to work. It’s perfect for WV where 98% of your shots are under 175 yds. I’d feel comfortable with it out to about 400yds on Whitetail

 

[dsnipe]

Running 16.5” 6.5 creed. Have not started load work but getting 2610 with factory 140 match. Very handy rifle! Bart barrel on mausingfield with bar-loc. That is beside 26” creed.

 

[cecztayl]

Well my 6.5x47 L went to the smith today to get trimmed down to 18”. Can’t wait to get it back.

 

[clinto]

I have a Gradous built 16.5” I’ve been working a load up with Varget and 130 grain precision ballistics
I’m at 37.5 grains giving me around 2615 FPS. No pressure signs so I may eventually go up a bit and see where the next node is. I was hoping to get a bit more speed but the 5 shot group I shot today had extreme spread of 7 and sd of 2 and that was with virgin brass, kinda hard not to just go with that.

 

[alaskalanche]

I second RL-16 with 130s in short barrel 6.5. 16" barrel 6.5 is getting 2790 fps with 130 ELDms which worked great on a deer and a couple caribou this fall. Going to give 135 A Tips (on sale currently at midway) a whirl and hoping for 2525 or so and see how it does.

Just a follow up on the shorty barrel 6.5. Just ran up a ladder on the 135 A Tips out of my 16" barrel 6.5 bolt gun. Settled on a load .2 grains less than my 130 ELDM charge weight and ended up with the same 2795 fps velocity out of the 135. Zero pressure even .5 grain above that which is as far as I went with the ladder.

Anyways that BC at that velocity from a 16" barrel is pretty encouraging and looking forward to taking that setup out to distance.

 

[clinto]

Has anyone tried h4895 in their short barrel 6.5x47?