I am building a 6.5 x 47 and really can't find that much info on them. I see RX15 is the powder to use. Any other good results? Also should I use small rifle primers or small rifle magnum primers?
Thanks
Thanks
6.5x47 lapua
- Thread starter mdh21225
- Start date
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I started and stopped with RL-15.
Give Wolf small rifle magnum primers a try. A few places have them in stock.
260
I started and stopped with RL-15.
Give Wolf small rifle magnum primers a try. A few places have them in stock.
260
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I'm using H4350 @40.1 grs, wolf small rifle magnum, 130 vld.
Fed 205m primers were fine too but needed 40.3 grs to get the same speed. Reloder 15 was just ok, faster, but lost accuracy a bit as speed went up.
I'm using H4350 @40.1 grs, wolf small rifle magnum, 130 vld.
Fed 205m primers were fine too but needed 40.3 grs to get the same speed. Reloder 15 was just ok, faster, but lost accuracy a bit as speed went up.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
Definately start with R15 because just about everybody has good results with it. Second would be Varget, about .5 grains less will give you same velocities as R15.
Definately start with R15 because just about everybody has good results with it. Second would be Varget, about .5 grains less will give you same velocities as R15.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
What kind of velocity are you guys getting with H4350 and 130vlds. Please include barrel length. I'm going to have to give that a try as soon as I get my 130 JLKs in. I have not been impressed with 140 Bergers with RE17.
What kind of velocity are you guys getting with H4350 and 130vlds. Please include barrel length. I'm going to have to give that a try as soon as I get my 130 JLKs in. I have not been impressed with 140 Bergers with RE17.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
My rifle and my wife's both liked the 123 Scenar better than the 130 Berger. However, I recently tested the 130 Berger with RL17 39.1 grs and that combination has promise. We both were shooting 123 Scenars over a stiff charge of RL 15 (38.8 my rifle and 38.4 for her's). We don't have a chrono, but judging from the drop and back calculating the velocity would only have been about 2925. We both have 24" barrels.
On the above listed charges I used Moly'ed bullets for all loads.
I have used both the rifles for a local F-class match and RL-15 seemed to display some temperature sensitivity. I'm looking at a load using VV530 now. It does not shoot quite as well as the RL15, but it does shoot better than VV550 or RL15.
My recommendation is to use magnum primers or military primers like the CCI#41.
My rifle and my wife's both liked the 123 Scenar better than the 130 Berger. However, I recently tested the 130 Berger with RL17 39.1 grs and that combination has promise. We both were shooting 123 Scenars over a stiff charge of RL 15 (38.8 my rifle and 38.4 for her's). We don't have a chrono, but judging from the drop and back calculating the velocity would only have been about 2925. We both have 24" barrels.
On the above listed charges I used Moly'ed bullets for all loads.
I have used both the rifles for a local F-class match and RL-15 seemed to display some temperature sensitivity. I'm looking at a load using VV530 now. It does not shoot quite as well as the RL15, but it does shoot better than VV550 or RL15.
My recommendation is to use magnum primers or military primers like the CCI#41.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: justmatt</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I see RX15 is the powder to use. </div></div>
I prefer not to use RL15 in anything. May shoot good one day and like crap the next. Seems to be pretty temp sensitive.
I tested only Varget and N550 in my 6.5. Both produced excellent results, but stuck with Varget since that is what I use in my .308s.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: justmatt</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I see RX15 is the powder to use. </div></div>
I prefer not to use RL15 in anything. May shoot good one day and like crap the next. Seems to be pretty temp sensitive.
I tested only Varget and N550 in my 6.5. Both produced excellent results, but stuck with Varget since that is what I use in my .308s.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
Matt,
Since WnRoscoe built our rifles last year, Matchking and I have done allot of work with this caliber. Not more than some others, but perhaps more than some others chose to share with us. I hate re-inventing the wheel so I believe in sharing information. This is some of mine.
Some guy in Colorado published a test in an attractive article, but the test was inconclusive and less than exhaustive as to what I believe a new round test should be. That tester mentioned blowing primers. The problem for me is at Colorado altitudes/air density, the occasional blown primer is "an every blown primer" here at humid 90F sea level air density. I suspect those blown primers were caused by the same large firing pin hole in the bolt face of his and my commercial sniper rifle that originally blew primers in my early tests; cup extrusion breaking off into the firing pin hole.
Another shooter in Tennessee on 6mmbr.com did some benchrest tests and published his reports too. That shooter's match load was 39.3 RL15, 120, 3k+fps, but that charge was too hot for my rig. His test was like the Colorado test. He did not write about conducting long range accuracy tests, nor tests at varying altitudes and most importantly, varying degrees of ambient temperatures. I've been testing mine for a year from 38F to 98F.
My experience was similar to Matchking's and Seth's: RL-15 was ambient temperature sensitive. Although exciting at first, RL-17 velocities varied across a broader range from morning to afternoon firings than did RL-15. I wish 17 had worked well, but it did not in my gun in NW Louisiana this Summer. One may consider using a different powder for every season, or every 10F change, or a morning load and an afternoon load, but that's dang sure more than I want to do though benchresters may find that way smart.
H4350 has been the SECOND most stable powder across various ambient temperatures among the favorite propellants I tried for this round - in my test experience, in this case: 6.5x47L with 120 and 130's. Note Matchking's VV test too.
HVarget has been THE most stable powder across various ambient temperatures, in my tests here, and at matches in Stephenville, Waco, and Kingsville, TX. Don't know about "no where else cause I ain't shot it no where else."
Your bullet choice will depend on your barrel twist. Ours are 8's. They shoot all the bullets well (120, 30, 40 grainers). Having about 2 grains less capacity than 260Rem., some believe 6.5x47 case capacity tends to favor 120-30 grain bullets. The gun will shoot these bullets well if its built right. Flip a coin among the top performing bullets and develop a load with it, or get ChadTRG to do that for you.
We can't tell where you are from the absence of your profile so we don't know your atmospheric variables or altitude. CCI#41 primers are what I use. Rem 7 1/2 Benchrests, and WLR shot good too.
COAL will be around 2.7" but the bullet choice and chamber dimension will determine that measurement. Start at the lands and go back on the seating after finding your accurate powder charge starting at 36.0 Varget and going up to the node of around 2850 and another at 2950mvfps firing either a 120(123) or 130 bullet. To me, upon Rich Emmons' suggestion, the 130 is the more versatile tactical sport bullet due to its superior long range exterior ballistic performance.
This book helped me and I recommend it to all my friends:
Handloading for Competition by Zediker.
These shooters help me and I recommend them to you as watched users:
Rich Emmons, WnRoscoe, ChadTRG, 4Rail_Gunner, Matchking, to name a few.
I went out on a limb for ya; be careful.
Matt,
Since WnRoscoe built our rifles last year, Matchking and I have done allot of work with this caliber. Not more than some others, but perhaps more than some others chose to share with us. I hate re-inventing the wheel so I believe in sharing information. This is some of mine.
Some guy in Colorado published a test in an attractive article, but the test was inconclusive and less than exhaustive as to what I believe a new round test should be. That tester mentioned blowing primers. The problem for me is at Colorado altitudes/air density, the occasional blown primer is "an every blown primer" here at humid 90F sea level air density. I suspect those blown primers were caused by the same large firing pin hole in the bolt face of his and my commercial sniper rifle that originally blew primers in my early tests; cup extrusion breaking off into the firing pin hole.
Another shooter in Tennessee on 6mmbr.com did some benchrest tests and published his reports too. That shooter's match load was 39.3 RL15, 120, 3k+fps, but that charge was too hot for my rig. His test was like the Colorado test. He did not write about conducting long range accuracy tests, nor tests at varying altitudes and most importantly, varying degrees of ambient temperatures. I've been testing mine for a year from 38F to 98F.
My experience was similar to Matchking's and Seth's: RL-15 was ambient temperature sensitive. Although exciting at first, RL-17 velocities varied across a broader range from morning to afternoon firings than did RL-15. I wish 17 had worked well, but it did not in my gun in NW Louisiana this Summer. One may consider using a different powder for every season, or every 10F change, or a morning load and an afternoon load, but that's dang sure more than I want to do though benchresters may find that way smart.
H4350 has been the SECOND most stable powder across various ambient temperatures among the favorite propellants I tried for this round - in my test experience, in this case: 6.5x47L with 120 and 130's. Note Matchking's VV test too.
HVarget has been THE most stable powder across various ambient temperatures, in my tests here, and at matches in Stephenville, Waco, and Kingsville, TX. Don't know about "no where else cause I ain't shot it no where else."
Your bullet choice will depend on your barrel twist. Ours are 8's. They shoot all the bullets well (120, 30, 40 grainers). Having about 2 grains less capacity than 260Rem., some believe 6.5x47 case capacity tends to favor 120-30 grain bullets. The gun will shoot these bullets well if its built right. Flip a coin among the top performing bullets and develop a load with it, or get ChadTRG to do that for you.
We can't tell where you are from the absence of your profile so we don't know your atmospheric variables or altitude. CCI#41 primers are what I use. Rem 7 1/2 Benchrests, and WLR shot good too.
COAL will be around 2.7" but the bullet choice and chamber dimension will determine that measurement. Start at the lands and go back on the seating after finding your accurate powder charge starting at 36.0 Varget and going up to the node of around 2850 and another at 2950mvfps firing either a 120(123) or 130 bullet. To me, upon Rich Emmons' suggestion, the 130 is the more versatile tactical sport bullet due to its superior long range exterior ballistic performance.
This book helped me and I recommend it to all my friends:
Handloading for Competition by Zediker.
These shooters help me and I recommend them to you as watched users:
Rich Emmons, WnRoscoe, ChadTRG, 4Rail_Gunner, Matchking, to name a few.
I went out on a limb for ya; be careful.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I also started with RL-15 in my 6.5X47 and now that the has weather changed, accuracy is no longer there. There's just too much vertical spread.
I also started with RL-15 in my 6.5X47 and now that the has weather changed, accuracy is no longer there. There's just too much vertical spread.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I started with RL-15 also under 130 gr. Berger VLDs. I ran the OCW test and found a good accuracy node at 2950 fps. However, I could not get the consistency I was looking for, especially at longer ranges. I started over with Varget and found the best node at 2940 fps in my setup. I shot it from 45 to 85 degrees and from 100 to 600 yds. It shows good promise with good ES & SDs. It has been my experience that loads that shoot great at 100 yd. testing don't always hold up at longer ranges. I have only been able to shoot to 600 yds. as the crops are still on around here but will be taking the Varget load out past 1000 soon.
My second 6.5 x 47 should be here by the end of the month and I plan on starting with 37.0 gr. of Varget and working up in .2 gr. increments until I reach high pressure signs, then backing back down until I get in the middle of an accuracy node. I have only tried these powders with the Berger 130 VLD as this is what I had Dave Kiff make my reamer for.
I hope this helps someone.
Good Shooting
I started with RL-15 also under 130 gr. Berger VLDs. I ran the OCW test and found a good accuracy node at 2950 fps. However, I could not get the consistency I was looking for, especially at longer ranges. I started over with Varget and found the best node at 2940 fps in my setup. I shot it from 45 to 85 degrees and from 100 to 600 yds. It shows good promise with good ES & SDs. It has been my experience that loads that shoot great at 100 yd. testing don't always hold up at longer ranges. I have only been able to shoot to 600 yds. as the crops are still on around here but will be taking the Varget load out past 1000 soon.
My second 6.5 x 47 should be here by the end of the month and I plan on starting with 37.0 gr. of Varget and working up in .2 gr. increments until I reach high pressure signs, then backing back down until I get in the middle of an accuracy node. I have only tried these powders with the Berger 130 VLD as this is what I had Dave Kiff make my reamer for.
I hope this helps someone.
Good Shooting
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I have been shooting the 6.5x47 in F-class competition since it first came out, and have found the Berger 130 and Varget combo to the be the most consistent and accurate.
Until I swapped over to the .284 for 800+ yards, I ran it clear out to 1k and won quite a few matches with it. Now I shoot it at 300, and 600 if the wind is light - shoots as well as any 6BR I have seen...
I have been shooting the 6.5x47 in F-class competition since it first came out, and have found the Berger 130 and Varget combo to the be the most consistent and accurate.
Until I swapped over to the .284 for 800+ yards, I ran it clear out to 1k and won quite a few matches with it. Now I shoot it at 300, and 600 if the wind is light - shoots as well as any 6BR I have seen...
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I have finally settled with 40.5 grains of H4350, around 2840 with a 142 SMK. I shot RE15 and the 123 Scenars this summer, and gave lack luster preformance beyond 600 yards.
This load virtually duplicates the load I ran in my 6.5x284, its not a hot load but SD's are under 5.00 with Lapua Brass and Federal 205m.
I tried the Magnum Primers with 123 Scenars and 142 SMKs with RE15 and H4350, but I was getting peireced primers, so screw that.
I have finally settled with 40.5 grains of H4350, around 2840 with a 142 SMK. I shot RE15 and the 123 Scenars this summer, and gave lack luster preformance beyond 600 yards.
This load virtually duplicates the load I ran in my 6.5x284, its not a hot load but SD's are under 5.00 with Lapua Brass and Federal 205m.
I tried the Magnum Primers with 123 Scenars and 142 SMKs with RE15 and H4350, but I was getting peireced primers, so screw that.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I went a bit different in that I use Ramshot Hunter and 139 Lapua Scenars.I have over 3200 rounds down the tube, with 3000 +- of them being this load:
139 Scenar, 43 grains Hunter, Lapua brass, CCI 450 small rifle magnum primers, loaded to touching the lands. 2830FPS.
25" Lija 3 groove 8 twist. The last group I shot was just last week, 4 shots at 600 yards that went right at 2".
I'm lazy and like to load all my ammo on my Dillon presses, so I went with a ball powder that looked lke it would work.
Never had any primer problems, full lenth resize all my loads.
I went a bit different in that I use Ramshot Hunter and 139 Lapua Scenars.I have over 3200 rounds down the tube, with 3000 +- of them being this load:
139 Scenar, 43 grains Hunter, Lapua brass, CCI 450 small rifle magnum primers, loaded to touching the lands. 2830FPS.
25" Lija 3 groove 8 twist. The last group I shot was just last week, 4 shots at 600 yards that went right at 2".
I'm lazy and like to load all my ammo on my Dillon presses, so I went with a ball powder that looked lke it would work.
Never had any primer problems, full lenth resize all my loads.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
Jim, have you experienced any velocity deviation during ambient temperature changes?
Jim, have you experienced any velocity deviation during ambient temperature changes?
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
Casey, a little, but not enough to matter, 25-45 fps high to low mid winter high teens to low 20 degrees, to mid summer 100-105 degrees.
For what ever reason my two rifles run fine with this load.
Two of my shooting buddies would get unexplaned fliers with Hunter but with the 130's.
Casey, a little, but not enough to matter, 25-45 fps high to low mid winter high teens to low 20 degrees, to mid summer 100-105 degrees.
For what ever reason my two rifles run fine with this load.
Two of my shooting buddies would get unexplaned fliers with Hunter but with the 130's.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
Stick with the H extreme powders you will be alot happier in the end. Varget and 4350 both worked well in mine. I used the 4350 with the 130 and up bullets and varget with the lighter ones.
Stick with the H extreme powders you will be alot happier in the end. Varget and 4350 both worked well in mine. I used the 4350 with the 130 and up bullets and varget with the lighter ones.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
I'd say with close to 3500 rounds in the two rifles using Hunter, I'm pretty sure I'm happy.
I'd say with close to 3500 rounds in the two rifles using Hunter, I'm pretty sure I'm happy.
Re: 6.5x47 lapua
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cigarcop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm usuing H4350 @40.6 grs, cci450, 130 Bergers VLD </div></div>
Yep! Depending on what batch of H4350 you've got, I've gone from 40.25 (2800 fps from 26" Kreiger 1:8.5)) to 40.8 (2860 fps). Don't even have to trim my brass. Use Redding Type S FL bushing die with .289" bushing. Seat 10 thou into lands.
Alan
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cigarcop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm usuing H4350 @40.6 grs, cci450, 130 Bergers VLD </div></div>
Yep! Depending on what batch of H4350 you've got, I've gone from 40.25 (2800 fps from 26" Kreiger 1:8.5)) to 40.8 (2860 fps). Don't even have to trim my brass. Use Redding Type S FL bushing die with .289" bushing. Seat 10 thou into lands.
Alan
