139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

[338LM]

Will the 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets perform to their maximum potential in a 6.5x47 at distances out to 1000 yards? Or does the 6.5x47 perform optimally out to 1000 yards with high B.C. bullets of 130 grains and less?
I have always been under the assumption that the 139-142 grain bullets are pushing the perfomance of the 6.5x47 cartridge at the ragged edge.
Please give me some of your real world experience on this topic. I am ready to have a barrel chambered and throated in 6.5x47 for a bolt build and I am wanting to know if its best not to go heavier than a 130 grain bullet.

 

[Hasgun Willtravel]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

Many say this round is built for 123 class of bullets, which in my real world experience, now 3 years deep with the same rifle, approaching 4k rounds, I can say thats bullshit.

I use a 142 SMK in a 6.5x47. I run 41.5gr of H4350, Lapua Brass, Federal Match Primers, and a 28" Broughton barrel. The load is well under 5's for SD, and very consistent. The load runs 2875fps, and is still deadly accurate at 1000 yards, and is still super sonic to I think its around 1300-1400 yards. I had similar success with the 139 Lapua bullets, but not as good for accuracy, and the cost was much higher.

Oddly enough, the gun was chambered with the PTG reamer set up for the 123 Lapua bullets, however, the 142 bullets seat fine, and definitely not too deep into the case.

In a nutshell, get the 142's, and you will be very pleased. I spent a lot of time during the build worrying about bullets, and wasted a lot of time, money, and barrel life pissing around with 123 and 139 bullets, ultimately to start using the bullet I hoped would work in the first place, the 142 SMK.

Nick

 

[tansinator]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

tag

 

[5RWill]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

Agreed, Zak Smith also has had hits out to 1300+ with this 6.5x47 lapua if i remember right. As a general rule from what i've read any cartridge with a BC higher than .5 and fps of 2600+ will make it to 1000yds. So yes the heavier high BC bullets will be fine.

 

[Jim the Plumber]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

Many say this round is built for 123 class of bullets, which in my real world experience, now 3 years deep with the same rifle, approaching 4k rounds, I can say thats bullshit.

I use a 142 SMK in a 6.5x47. I run <span style="font-weight: bold">47.5gr of H4350</span>, Lapua Brass, Federal Match Primers, and a 28" Broughton barrel.
I'm thinking he might have ment 37.5 as 47.5 won't fit in the 6.5x47

 

[RobertB]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jim the Plumber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Many say this round is built for 123 class of bullets, which in my real world experience, now 3 years deep with the same rifle, approaching 4k rounds, I can say thats bullshit.

I use a 142 SMK in a 6.5x47. I run <span style="font-weight: bold">47.5gr of H4350</span>, Lapua Brass, Federal Match Primers, and a 28" Broughton barrel.
I'm thinking he might have ment 37.5 as 47.5 won't fit in the 6.5x47

</div></div>Agree. I put 37.5 varget in mine (123SMK) and my .260 (which has more case cap. Gets 45 grns and it is a compressed load. 142 SMK

 

[Hasgun Willtravel]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jim the Plumber</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HasgunWilltravel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Many say this round is built for 123 class of bullets, which in my real world experience, now 3 years deep with the same rifle, approaching 4k rounds, I can say thats bullshit.

I use a 142 SMK in a 6.5x47. I run <span style="font-weight: bold">47.5gr of H4350</span>, Lapua Brass, Federal Match Primers, and a 28" Broughton barrel.
I'm thinking he might have ment 37.5 as 47.5 won't fit in the 6.5x47

</div></div> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RobertB</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Many say this round is built for 123 class of bullets, which in my real world experience, now 3 years deep with the same rifle, approaching 4k rounds, I can say thats bullshit.

I use a 142 SMK in a 6.5x47. I run <span style="font-weight: bold">47.5gr of H4350</span>, Lapua Brass, Federal Match Primers, and a 28" Broughton barrel.
I'm thinking he might have ment 37.5 as 47.5 won't fit in the 6.5x47

</div></div>Agree. I put 37.5 varget in mine (123SMK) and my .260 (which has more case cap. Gets 45 grns and it is a compressed load. 142 SMK</div></div>

You guys are absolutely right, my mistake. The charge is 41.5 grains, thanks for the heads up for my mistake.

 

[338LM]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

^

 

[Alan Griffith]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

If someone tells you the 140's won't work with the x47, their are seriously deluded! I actually prefer the 130-142 class vs the 123 gr crowd. Much better BC and wind bucking ability waaay out there. I currently run 140 AB, VLD and PT in my "little" x47 with a 26" Broughton in conjunction with Rel 17 and don't even see pressure until I hit 3021 fps; and that was a barely perceptible hitch in the bolt lift (Berger 140 VLD). Pressures appear earlier with the Noslers.

My best bud has hit 3148 fps with the 130 VLD!

Alan

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

I've loaded both, and personally, would prefer the 140 class bullets. The lighter will run faster, but the heavier bullets will buck the wind better for longer range shooting. If you plan to shooter claser range, say 600 or less, the 130's or lighter would be a good choice. For all around shooting and if you reload, the 140's would be the ticket.

 

[338LM]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

Nice to know that there are shooters getting good results with the heavy bullets. Thanks for sharing.

 

[labdad]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

Which rate of twist?

 

[ryanjay11]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

I noticed you are in St Louis. I shot a 6.5x47 in F-class there last year with 142 SMKs and it worked great. I'm shooting a slower load of 34 grains Varget, but the accuracy was there, so I'm happy. The only 1000 yard shot I have taken with the 6.5 was at a match in Oklahoma. I connected with the steel, so the potential is there.

 

[samnev]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

I have found that all of my 6.5 rifles shoot best witth 140 grain class projos.

 

[crumpmd]

Re: 139-142 grain 6.5mm high B.C. bullets

I shoot the 139 scenar. I am very happy with it to 1000. I only shot one F-class match with it but it easily goes to 1000. The shooter connecting at 1000 is another issue.