6.5 x 47 Hunting Rifle

[ElmerThud]

A good friend is having a custom rifle built in an English tradional style right now. The metalwork is done & the stock is being hand carved at the stockmaker. He's hoping this is all going to be done by the end of Aug. so he can break in the barrel & have a load ready to hunt with by mid September.
Barrel - Shilen 24", 1 in 8 twist. Action - GBR UK made Sako Style. Trigger - Arnold Jewel.
Scope - Swarovski Z6 3-12 x 50 & 30mm tube.
Stock - pic attached (before any work)
Total weight estimated to be approx. 8lbs.

He went to the toyshop & bought a whole load of reloading stuff for this calibre yesterday inc. a box of 100 brand new Lapua brass...wow £100/$163 for the box!! It needs to be damn good for that kind of cash.
He's intending to shoot the Hornady SST 129gn bullet, so, when ready, that's the load we'll work up first to see how it goes.

 

[gerry]

Would love to see pictures of that gun when it's ready, the 6.5x47 should be a ballistic twin of my 260 Remington. The 130 gr AccuBond or Swift Scirocco would be great in it if the Hornadys don't work out to well.

 

[ElmerThud]

I'm sure I'll post pics when it's done Gerry. We'll see how the new rifle works out - I'm sure it'll be brilliant.
I just wish we could get hold of Nosler bullets here. I've been waiting since May 15th for some .257 110gn AB & 115gn BT's. still the importers have not got a shipment in.

I have not yet tried AB's in my .25-06, but am looking forward to doing so ASAP.
Having said that, there is a fair difference in price - not that it matters much.
Cheers.

 

[DrMike]

That is assuredly nice character showing in the wood. It will undoubtedly be a handsome rifle when it is finished. That is a good stockmaker to complete the carving in that time period. Interesting cartridge that would work quite well for the game your hunt.

 

[ElmerThud]

As you know guys, there's a whole lot of calibre choices out there and everyone will have their own views about what works/may work best.
In the end, we choose with a certain amount of knowledge and hope the result is all we expect.

This will probably be a once in a lifetime purchase for my very good friend who, like the rest of us, has been stalking with a .243Win pretty much all his life. As far as things appear, all is going to plan & now is the time for him to 'Splash the cash'. Brilliant, we're looking forward to seeing this in action pretty soon.
(Probably a long time before I get my AB's from the Nosler importer over here!!!)

In our circumstances, the occasional long range shot of 300 yards +/- will be taken perhaps once or twice through the year. Most deer we shoot will be taken at between 100 & 220 yards.
The largest deer we have over here is the Red Deer Stag, with the very heaviest at around 300lbs......but these will be woodland deer living lower down near farmland, with hill stags much lighter in weight.
Cheers.

 

[257 Ackley]

That is some gorgeous wood and will make for a fine piece of art! I like the caliber choice for the hunting you are doing as well. Very light recoil and a bullet that will penetrate very well. Make sure to send pictures of the finished rifle and some of the hinds that are harvested with it.

You should do some penetration tests once you have a load worked up for it. It would be fun to compare that caliber/bullet with your 25-06 and the 110 AccuBond.

 

[Guy Miner]

Wonderful piece of wood. That should turn out to be a great looking, great shooting rifle! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[gerry]

By the way Elmer Thud is one of the best user name ever :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

Very nice piece of wood. Just holding that rifle will be awesome! Can't wait to see what it looks like when it is finished. That has to be one of the nicest pieces of lumber I have seen in a long time. Scotty

 

[ElmerThud]

I'm sure I'll post pics of this once it's in action. If all else fails, it should be ready and in use in time for our November gig on hinds in the Sutherland Highlands.

ET is what my wife calls me in her 'Kinder' moments! I Couldn't possibly repeat what she calls me when I've vexed her - which is pretty often. LOL
Cheers you guys.

For interest, these are the websites of the suppliers/gunmakers involved in this build.
http://www.precisionrifles.com/
http://www.gbrengland.co.uk/products/action.aspx
http://ttproctor.com/

 

[ElmerThud]

'You should do some penetration tests once you have a load worked up for it. It would be fun to compare that caliber/bullet with your 25-06 and the 110 AccuBond'.

It would be interesting to do this J, if I've managed to get any of these at all. It's very frustrating having to wait this length of time + more...The importers are not advising when their shipment is due, so I just have to wait.
There's no way around it due to UK laws on expanding ammunition/bullets.
Cheers.

 

[257 Ackley]

When the shipment gets there you better buy every box they have so you don't run out for a few years. With the number of hinds you shoot every year, you will need a box every year just for that...let alone a little practice. 8)

 

[Oldtrader3]

Beautiful piece of wood! Is it Bastogne? I hope that he gets exactly what it looks like now when he is finished. I had one AAA Select Bastogne that did not finish as it appeared before shaping, it happens. A couple of dealers in California have some pretty wood for sale.

 

[taylorce1]

Awesome wood! Nothing prettier than a wood and blued rifle IMO. 6.5X47 seems to be a very interesting round, I can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[GSSP]

Elmer,

That stock is going to be incredibly beautiful. I honestly believe it's going to look better than my Pre 64 M70 stock on 257 Roberts.

I shoot two 6.5x47's; both have 26" barrels. My competition/sniper rifle uses the 130 Berger VLD, CCI 450 primers running 40.8 gr of H4350 for about 2850 fps. The other shoots both the 140 VLD or Nosler Partition very well with Rel 17. Rel 17 likes the Fed 205m primer. The VLD runs 42.1 gr for 2962 fps and the Partition runs 41.6 gr for 2869 fps. All three loads I've mentioned will run 1/2 MOA and better out to 1000 yds.

Alan

 

[ElmerThud]

Thanks for that info Alan...your rifle certainly looks terrific. I'll pass the detail on to my good friend Roger who's having the rifle built.

All the barrel/metalwork/trigger has been done and the wood inletted. The stock shaping is underway right now and completion is hoped for, including initial oilings by 2nd week Sept.
Then, the barrel will need to be 'Broken in' with the first proper loads commenced.

If all goes according to plan, the rifle will have taken its' first stags by the end of Sept. & pics should be available for posting.....we shall see!!
Cheers, ET

 

[SJB358]

Alan, that is one very nice rifle! Wow, that is some excellent wood on that rifle! Thanks for posting your pictures. Scotty

 

[wildgene]

...beautiful, Alan, that rifle reminds me of going into Al Biesen's gunshop in Spokane when I was a kid...

 

[DrMike]

Beautiful wood on that rifle, Alan. And the checkering and scroll work looks very nice. In all, it is a most attractive rifle; and I love the chambering.

 

[ElmerThud]

My good friend Roger now has his custom 6.5x47 Lapua rifle....it's already drawn first blood just over a week ago and shoots well. We still have some work to do on the loads for it, but - we're getting there. The rifle certainly copes easily with accuracy to 300 yds at present & is capable of much better.
Cheers, ET