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6.5x47 Lapua

39.7 grains of H4350
140 ELD at -.030" off the lands
2750 SD-3, ES-6 for 5 shots.

Loaded 5 more for confirmation of group and watched shots 2-4 go through the same hole... 5th shot laughed at me all the way to the target.
 

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39.7 grains of H4350
140 ELD at -.030" off the lands
2750 SD-3, ES-6 for 5 shots.

Loaded 5 more for confirmation of group and watched shots 2-4 go through the same hole... 5th shot laughed at me all the way to the target.

this is why ill just stick with varget...ive tryed H4350 in 3 barrels now and varget is faster,lower ESs and SDs,easier/faster to find a load and more consistent and accutare with every bullet ive tried and ive tried a few...
140g ELDMs
140g berger hybrids
140g RDFs
130g TMKs
130g ELDMs
130g RDFs
130g berger hybrids...ALL of these shot way better with varget and now my latest and go to load in the 47 from this point on...

123g lupua .010 off
38.7g varget
fed 205M...the fed205s have produced better numbers and accuracy than the CCI450s for me
3020FPS out of a 26" heavy palma hawkhill .167 freebore
 

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I just got finished load development for the 140 eld-m and Varget. I just run 15 rounds thru my MagnetoSpeed and average was 2804 FPS with a 7.2 sd. First round hits out to 1000 yards from Kestrel data.

Was not expecting that speed.
 
i was at 2760 with 140g hybrids out of a 24" hawkhill with 36.9g of varget...stupid accurate for 2175 rounds
 
37.6gr Varget
Cci br4 primers
142smk
2825fps
14ES

26" mullerworks barrel. 1/4" majority of the time and 3/8" on off days.
 
@47guy Congrats on varget working so well for you and others here.
I tried varget but didn't see any gains on paper with in my groups nor did I care to run 5% over max (per hodgdon) with this bullet weight. Not when I'm making that same velocity under thier max for H4350... FWIW, 40.8 grains is the higher node in this barrel and velocity was 2812, swapping the ELD out with a Berger Hybrid and I was in the 2840's.
 
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@47guy Congrats on varget working so well for you and others here.
I tried varget but didn't see any gains on paper with in my groups nor did I care to run 5% over max (per hodgdon) with this bullet weight. Not when I'm making that same velocity under thier max for H4350... FWIW, 40.8 grains is the higher node in this barrel and velocity was 2812, swapping the ELD out with a Berger Hybrid and I was in the 2840's.

those are some nice numbers id stick with that load as well.
 
I’m 200 rounds on my tube now and it hasn’t sped up but 36.5gr Varget with 140 Hybrids is still hammering. A touch slow but I’m sure it will pick up, and it’s a 24”. The faster node at 37.3gr is 2725fps but I see no reason to mess with this for some velocity.

Yesterday I got bored confirming zero and shot two flys. Today was stacking headshots on a full size IPSC at 886 yards.





 
I’m doing about the same..
140 RDF
24” Hawkhill
35.8 Varget, 2669

10 rounds at 600yds on A-C zone IPSC 12x24
 

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To those using varget is anyone concerned at all about varget torching the throat area faster due to being hotter than H4350?

I used varget with 123, I have a bunch loaded now with 139's however I found I hit pressure sooner with varget in my rifle 37.1 was showing pressure with 139. With H4350 I ran all the way to 41g with 139 and settled on 40g with 139. My rifle has a long freebore .250 varget leaves a lot of empty space for me, even 40h of H4350 leaves empty space can hear the powder slosh around. pretty sure il be sticking with H4350.
 
I’m 200 rounds on my tube now and it hasn’t sped up but 36.5gr Varget with 140 Hybrids is still hammering. A touch slow but I’m sure it will pick up, and it’s a 24”. The faster node at 37.3gr is 2725fps but I see no reason to mess with this for some velocity.

Yesterday I got bored confirming zero and shot two flys. Today was stacking headshots on a full size IPSC at 886 yards.







Your magneto is broken. Haha
 
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To those using varget is anyone concerned at all about varget torching the throat area faster due to being hotter than H4350?

I used varget with 123, I have a bunch loaded now with 139's however I found I hit pressure sooner with varget in my rifle 37.1 was showing pressure with 139. With H4350 I ran all the way to 41g with 139 and settled on 40g with 139. My rifle has a long freebore .250 varget leaves a lot of empty space for me, even 40h of H4350 leaves empty space can hear the powder slosh around. pretty sure il be sticking with H4350.
Agree with that. Varget is hotter and barrel life could be shorter but by how many rounds less than H4350? 100, 200, 300? Barrels are consumable. I prefer to have a very good, accurate and repeatable load for one year than having a mediocre load for one year and two months, but that just me.
 
Faster burning does not necessarily mean hotter and will torch a throat faster. 37gr +/- of powder going down a 6.5mm bore is hardly overbore and is a good 8-9gr lower than a 308 would run with the same weight bullet. Performance with Varget is actually what attracted me to the 6.5x47 in the first place.

I've shot hundreds of pounds of Varget through 223's and 308's over the years and I see no evidence that it's hard on throats. The case design of the 6.5x47 is supposed to make it easier on barrels too.

I have no concern and I wouldn't be surprised if my barrel goes well over 3000 rounds before anything falls off.
 
im on my 3rd 47 barrel...first went 2175 rounds before it started throwing random flyers...2nd barrel never really shot that well and got worse at 1075 i pulled and replaced at 1100...new-est barrel is a tack driver like the first barrel was and will only have 20 rounds shot with H4350 the rest will all be varget with 123g lapuas...so well see how long this one lasts.
 
Faster burning does not necessarily mean hotter and will torch a throat faster. 37gr +/- of powder going down a 6.5mm bore is hardly overbore and is a good 8-9gr lower than a 308 would run with the same weight bullet. Performance with Varget is actually what attracted me to the 6.5x47 in the first place.

I've shot hundreds of pounds of Varget through 223's and 308's over the years and I see no evidence that it's hard on throats. The case design of the 6.5x47 is supposed to make it easier on barrels too.

I have no concern and I wouldn't be surprised if my barrel goes well over 3000 rounds before anything falls off.

A 308 pushing varget is still a much bigger bore area compared to powder charge than the 6.5x47L. If you look at the 6mm CM (competition match) was developed to be used with cooler burning H1000 to get a much better barrel life than a 6mm creedmoor or 6x47l and from all reports it achieved that. I think there is some evidence from the f class guys shooting 284 that using 4831 for example gives better barrel life than h4350. How much better barrel life is determined on a case by case basis but in the case of the 6mm CM reports of 3500 rounds using H1000 compared to what 1500-2000 rounds from a 6mm creedmoor. That is pretty significant to me, the cost of new barrel chambering here in Australia being over $1000 is a significant investment so I tend to look at this a bit more closely than others. I'm not saying the difference between varget and H4350 is as much as the 6mm example but I'm sure there is something to be gained in this area by using H4350.
 
You’re absolutely right about .308 being a lot more bore, but you’re also talking about 25% more powder too.

H4831 still burns throats pretty good. H1000 is very easy on throats but not only is it a slow powder, it’s cooler. Slower doesn’t always mean cooler though.

I could care less though, it’s not like it’s going to torch it quickly.
 
For anyone who is interested apparently at this years world bench rest titles 1000 yard the little 6.5x47L beat all the 6mmBR variants for first place....... how good. Says he used H4350 and 140 bergers not sure if hybrids or VLD.
 
Do you guys shoot groups and work up loads with your Magneto speed on the barrel?
 
Do you guys shoot groups and work up loads with your Magneto speed on the barrel?


I have a Labradar now but used my MS V3 for load development with it on every time. Does it cause an impact shift, yea. But if you have it on for all your testing its repeatable so no issues. I did take it off for searing depth testing after finding my load
 
Do you guys shoot groups and work up loads with your Magneto speed on the barrel?

No, but I did get bit by curiosity after using mine the first time. I shot a load I knew would do .5MOA after shooting my load work up. Shot 5 with and without, both groups measured the same, just with the bayonet on my POI shifted up and left about 1.5". I'm running a 26" medium palma contour so it's not like I got a telephone pole for a barrel and it's not affecting accuracy.
 
Thank you padom. Was just curious if it affected the group size. I could care less about impact shifts. I can fix that easily.
 
It did affect group size on mine. But i seem to be the exception not the norm. Id do a pressure test with 5 rounds each charge to get a rough idea of sd/es and speed. Then do the rest of development without it until i had my final load. I switched to a labradar since it was a pain the the butt for me
 
Hondo I'm still keen to give the 4831sc a try in my 47. Is anyone here mathematically inclined want to have a go at how much 4831sc I could fit in using 140 RDF overall length 1.420, my freebore is .250. If I seated these out to the lands they should be around 2.9 COAL. But I have seen people back calculate how much powder you could get in based on these variables but I'm not very math inclined anyone wanna have a guess?
Depends on where gun hits ogive to be 100%. I like 4831sc in 6x47 - in 6.5x47 I luke URP. getting in low teens with 140 BTHP from Hornady. I have a Bartlein 5R with 2200 through it and the BTHP is more accurate now that I am chasing the lands. Was using Reloader 16 and N550 - with Berger 1el30 and 140 - but URP and 140 BTHP has changed everything. Maybe give it a shot before the 4831?
 
Depends on where gun hits ogive to be 100%. I like 4831sc in 6x47 - in 6.5x47 I luke URP. getting in low teens with 140 BTHP from Hornady. I have a Bartlein 5R with 2200 through it and the BTHP is more accurate now that I am chasing the lands. Was using Reloader 16 and N550 - with Berger 1el30 and 140 - but URP and 140 BTHP has changed everything. Maybe give it a shot before the 4831?

How is the URP? Hard to find details.
 
First loads out of the 6.5x47 barrel. I used new Lapua brass, Varget, 140 RDFs, and CCI 450's. Wanted to break-in and do a pressure test. Book max looked like ~35gr, I went up to 36gr wihch is still lower than I've seen here with 140s. Never saw a stiff bolt or any other signs except a little primer flow on 35gr (2nd down from top left in pic), which didn't repeat or flatten at 35.5gr and 36gr. I had just cleaned the barrel and am thinking I may have had some solvent still in the chamber.

Not much brass stretch on the first firing, started at 1.460" base to shoulder and once fired at 1.463"

0.030" off seems to be the got to for the RDFs. I found my touch with the 140RDF to be 2.148" base to ogive, loaded to 2.118"

Going to load groups of five and shoot over the magnetospeed now.

IMG_2536.JPG
IMG_2536.JPG
 
How many rounds are you guys getting with your barrels? I have tried the 140 RDFs and given up. They won't shoot for shit with either Varget or H4350. My Berger 140 hybrids that I have left (not many) are still one ragged hole. I ordered 300 ELD-Ms (140 gr) to see if I can make that work until the elusive Bergers get back on shelves.
 
How many rounds are you guys getting with your barrels? I have tried the 140 RDFs and given up. They won't shoot for shit with either Varget or H4350. My Berger 140 hybrids that I have left (not many) are still one ragged hole. I ordered 300 ELD-Ms (140 gr) to see if I can make that work until the elusive Bergers get back on shelves.

What load are you running with both rounds?
My COAL is longer with the Bergers vs the RDF. I’m having good luck with the RDF 0.025 off the lands at 2.760”. The 140 Hybrids were set 0.020 from the lands with a COAL of 2.860.
 
What load are you running with both rounds?
My COAL is longer with the Bergers vs the RDF. I’m having good luck with the RDF 0.025 off the lands at 2.760”. The 140 Hybrids were set 0.020 from the lands with a COAL of 2.860.




Jumped the Bergers 15 thou.

Tried jumping RDFs 50, 40, 30, 20 thou and kissing lands. No go
 
Anybody running the 107smk with varget?

Edit: nvm...142smk not 107. You have the right thread? Lol


37.6gr
Cci br4
.02" off lands

2828fps out of 26" mullerworks and 1/4" typical groups....it will do one holes when im feeling my oats.
 
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How many rounds are you guys getting with your barrels? I have tried the 140 RDFs and given up. They won't shoot for shit with either Varget or H4350. My Berger 140 hybrids that I have left (not many) are still one ragged hole. I ordered 300 ELD-Ms (140 gr) to see if I can make that work until the elusive Bergers get back on shelves.

Im at 1770 down the tube. Running a Shilen barrel and my go to bullet is Normas 130 grain Golden Target. No notisable changes in accuracy or speed.
 
Great thread packed with info. Thanks for all the load data guys. Picking up my 47L from Moon today!
 
Update on barrel 2
25” HawkHill MTU
Cci 450
140 Berger Hybrids
37.6gr Varget
2.075” BTO
2750 fps

Barrel 3
26” HawkHill M24
Cci br4
123 Scenars
37.4gr Reloader 15
2.185” BTO
2930 fps

Barrel 4 thus far
26” HawkHill M24
Cci 450
123 Scenars
37.7gr Varget
2.165” BTO
2940 fps
I will be trying the 130 Berger Hybrids in it when time allows. The particular lot of 123 Scenars I am using have a low bc compared to the other lot I was using. I will also finish load development on the 140 Hybrids. They are holding 1/2 moa at 600 yards with what I’ve tried. I can get them tighter.
 
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What's the lightest weight bullet you have seen work in a 1:8 twist. Trying to find a bullet for my kid to shoot out of his 18in 6.5x47.
 

Have you tried it? It shot very well in my Grendel, the extra velocity led to outperforming the 123s.

I have a Creedmoor barrel I’m going to try them in. Concern with the x47 is the distance to the lands with the shorter case.
 
i just threw a load together for the 95gr VMax.
40.5gr Varget but I was experimenting with seating depth.
2.500”, 2.546”, and 2.605” OAL.
All of them shot well, but 2.546” got the best numbers on the magnetospeed, while the 2.500” got the best looking group at 100m.
 
i just threw a load together for the 95gr VMax.
40.5gr Varget but I was experimenting with seating depth.
2.500”, 2.546”, and 2.605” OAL.
All of them shot well, but 2.546” got the best numbers on the magnetospeed, while the 2.500” got the best looking group at 100m.

Speeds?
 
2.500” avg 3303fps, SD 18.2, ES 42
2.546” avg 3269fps, SD 10.3, ES 23
2.605” avg 3215fps, SD 16.3, ES 38

All 10 shot groups. The whole thing started as an experiment into making a decent varmint round to keep me busy...
 
6.5x47 with .170 freebore
140 Berger Hunting VLD
IMR4451 41.2 grains
CCI small rifle mag primer
2.78 OAL
Shot this a while now. Right at 2700 fps from 22" barrel. Shoots a lot of .2-.3 type 5 shot groups.
 
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I am shooting:

Rem 700 blueprinted
AI Stock
Bartlein 5R MTU
6.5x47
IMR-4451 with 140 VLD

Groups hover around .2 at 100m

Took it out to 1k but wind got the better of me - shot to 1500 with 300wm before wind got going. Hit 1 mile with 300 Norma AI switch barrel AX (not my gun)

Attached shows recovered debris at 1m, .284 with Lab Radar and me pointing to my one hitcat 1m. The other 5 are from the rifles owner. My gunsmith who prefers to remain nameless.
 

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