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Range Report 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

pdd614

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 2, 2006
203
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dfw
So I have had my 6.5x47 for a couple years now, and just passed the 4k mark on my shilen barrel. I just got the call from bartlein that the new blank was being shipped this week. I am also just about to complete a "blown out of budget" build of a stevens 200 chambered in 30-06. I hear all the time that all these different calibers are unnecessary when you could just buy a 30-06 and have all the rifle you would ever need.
My objective is to see if this holds true against a very new x47. I also want to test in true field conditions the difference between running a left bolt left port, ie the x47, and running a conventional right bolt right port.

The rifles:
My x47 is pretty standard affair by todays standards. A lefty stiller tac 30, manners t4, 22 inch 8 twist shilen rem varmint contour, SAS arbiter, badger dbm, and a vortex razor 5-20. Note: I may go as long as 24 inches for the new bartlein. I shoot a medium loaded 130 jlk at 2820 fps via 37.8 grains of varget. I could go as high as 2900ish but I wanted a load that would not wear out my barrel so fast.
IMG_0014.jpg


Here is the 06:
Stevens 200, timney trigger, manners t5a, a 26inch 10 twist medium palma mike rock,cdi bottom metal, tab gear biathlon sling, and a weaver 3-15. I am hoping to get the 208 amax going around 2700ish via h4831sc. The rifle still needs bedding and a bit of machine work, but otherwise it is finished. Sorry for the crappy pictures but I don't have any time behind this rifle just yet.
104_4217.jpg


The testing field for this comparison will be both a tacpro and my family's large cattle ranch. I have lots of steel hung at various places around the ranch, and hogs are always a real problem here in Texas. It's obvious that the 06 will have an advantage in the energy department at distance.

I will update this thread as I work out new loads for both these rifles, and get real data on each. I'm looking for ideas on how to compare these two rifles in an objective way. Anything you guys can think of let me know. This is going to be a custom vs. savage, left vs. right, long action vs. short action, etc, etc comparison.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Nice rifles.

You will easily get to 2700 fps with the 30-06/208AMax/4831.

A few of us are/were getting 2800 or so with the 208 and RL22 in 26" barrels.

I cut my 30-06 to 22.5" and braked it. It still gets over 2700 fps with the 208s, fueled with RL22, and RL17.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Thanks MM, any other bullets I should consider? I choose the 208 amax for the b.c., and the fact that they are relatively cheap.

I am hoping the new bartlein will shoot my 130 jlk's, because I have a small stockpile of them. The jlk's shot so well in my shilen that it's hard to stray away from them.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

208 amax going around 2700ish via h4831sc


Please post your results with H4831 as i was debating trying it.
Also might i suggest trying H4350 it seems to work for me so far still testing however.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pdd614</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks MM, any other bullets I should consider? I choose the 208 amax for the b.c., and the fact that they are relatively cheap.

I am hoping the new bartlein will shoot my 130 jlk's, because I have a small stockpile of them. The jlk's shot so well in my shilen that it's hard to stray away from them. </div></div>

I had great results with the Berger 210gr VLD, but went to the 208 AMax for economy.

I have a box of the Hornady 225gr BTHP moly'd up, but haven't shot any yet. BC .690 looks good on paper, I'm thinking 2700 fps with a moly/26" bbl might work with RL22 or similar. I'll be looking for 2600-2650 fps in my 22.5" bbl.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Bolt/port configuration aside, I would choose the X47 every time. Admittedly i have no loyalty to the 06, but if little powder/little bullet will accomplish what big powder and big bullet will, the choice is easy.

Enjoy your experiment.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: longguntoter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I saw that they were considering replacing the 7.62x51 with that 6.5x47. Is that true? </div></div>

Where is the source on that? That would be a huge change.

The 6.5x47 is a super accurate cartridge and you have a good bullet going in it (130gr JLK). Its a great choice for targets but prehaps not for hunting - buddies of mine were out in WY a few weeks ago w/ the 130gr JLKs and they didn't perform very well on game. I think the jackets on the JLKs are the target ones from J4, not the hunting ones. Also the very small meplat isn't great for expansion.

I look forward to following this field test.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BoilerUP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why use JLKs for hunting when Berger makes a 130gr hunting VLD? </div></div>

The JLK 130 is a better ballistic performer. 0.595 G1 v 0.56 on the Berger. I'm pretty sure this comes from the smaller meplat on the JLK. Plus we have seen less bullet to bullet variance with the JLKs (not that Berger is bad, they are VERY good). The JLK is a better target bullet, but you are right that the Berger 130 Hunting is the better choice for its terminal performance.

 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Most excellent topic
P7180005.jpg

Da PIG GUN, built with sole objective ...
I shoot 123gr bullets Amax or Scenar both kill pig with aplomb.
No way would I take a 06 over a X47, thats like trading a vette for a model T.
123 Skinnie @ 3037fps 20" broughton 5c, destroys pigs
thou i only shoot neck n head
RE17 baby

 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Sorry for taking so long on the reply.
First off, load development on the 06 has been shaky to say the least. The rifle flat out doesn't like the 208 amax or the 155 scenar. I had some extra 175 smk's at the house from the old days of shooting the 308, and they have printed a consistent .5 moa. The half moa load was right at 2888, which is a fairly mild load. The disappointing fact is that the 175 smk doesn't carry a whole lot more energy then my little 130 jlk, when shot out past 500 yards. That was the whole reason for building the 06 in the first place. I am going to give the 190 smk a try, but that will be the last bullet put to the test.
I guess I have become a little spoiled when dealing with the x47, because it seemed like every load and bullet combo I tried shot in below .5 moa. With the only exception being the 142 smk, all I had to do was pick a bullet and what speed I wanted to run it at. It hasn't hasn't been that easy with the 30-06.

The 6.5x47 and a fresh bartlein blank are being sent off next week. So this will give me some time to really perfect a load for the 06.

photo-28.jpg


Here is two consecutive five shot groups that I shot this weekend out of the x47 at 500 yards. The group size is about right around moa, and this has been right at half moa up until the 4k mark. It's time for a new barrel.

On a side note. The question about using the 130 jlk while hunting is simple. The 130 jlk is an outstanding bullet for target shooting. When it comes to hunting hogs, I don't care about terminal ballistics. If the bullet enters the head, spine, or any vital organs, the pig is done for. I care more about actually hitting the pig in the vitals, more so than how the bullet is going to act once it gets in there.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Some more observations about shooting a right bolt from the left side. It is very hard for me to quickly put rounds downrange. Simply put, with a short action, I can rack the bolt very quickly with either my left hand with a left bolt, or the right hand with a right bolt. But with this long action, the bolt stop is just about a quarter inch from my nose. If you add my hand around the bolt, the set up gets very close indeed. If I don't want to break my cheek weld, then I simply have to operate the bolt slower. In the first post on this thread, you can see my dilemma with the savages bolt open. This is just something to think about if any of you lefties are thinking about long action right bolts.
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Thanks for the update , I hope the 190smk's work for you they should carry a bit more energy down range .

I would of thought the 1 in 10 would of worked with the 208's

the 190's are still a hammer , I use 180 silvertips and powerpoint's in 308 on pig's over here it stop's them so the 190 out of and 06 will pound what ever you hit with it , so will the 175's .
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Your X47 target indicates you might want to spend a lil more time on its load development.
IMHO
@ 22" 130 is to heavy for your short barrel you will get better results running a 123 class bullet
Amax is cheap n cheerful n well just works

4K rounds on x47 barrel is inline with others so shooting under power loads has saved you nothing.
Varget is not a do it all powder and does not generate velocity capability of x47 high pressure case
RE17 used it now exclusively for 3yrs in my x47, lose the varget and run some high test loads that case was designed for, shoot me a pm if ya need load data
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

I'm scared of RL17 temp swings. I have a buddy that was using it in his F-class gun and a really cold day screwed him (this is in northern VA - we get hot days up to 100 and cold days down to 0). You had any problems w/ RL17 in the TX heat/cold?
 
Re: 30-06 vs. 6.5x47

Regardless of powder a smart shooter has a log book
and thus any temp related issues are trivial.
Screwed and scared are terms generally associated with those that are NOT informed or prepared.