6.5X47 Load Work

[257 Ackley]

Finally got out to do some final load work yesterday with the 6.5X47. I had several recipes that shot well, but finally decided on 139 grain Scenar behind 37.4 grains of N540 with a BR4 primer. The bullets are seated 8/1000ths off the lands. Velocity averaged 2805 for the 5 shot group. This brass was on it's second firing and has the necks turned, pockets uniformed and weight sorted.
I am still testing 123 Scenars, 123 Nosler CC and 130VLD's with various powders. The 123 Scenar seems to run second to the 139 Scenar in group size. I hope to get R15 to work since it is a lot cheaper than N540 and I have 10lbs of it sitting in the cabinet.

The mirage was terrible yesterday with the targets being hit directly by the sun most of the afternoon. I think I took an extra minute or 2 for the fifth shot on the target after seeing where the first 4 went :roll: . The group in this target measures .395 and was shot with an Atlas bipod and rear bag off a bench.
The rifle:

139 Scenar using 37.4 grains of N540:

 

[Desert Fox]

Yup! that'll do it. What's the velocity?

 

[FOTIS]

Velocity averaged 2805 for the 5 shot group

 

[DrMike]

Oh, yeah, Joel, that'll do. Very nice.

 

[usmc 89]

Joel, what was your extreme spread with the 540? Did you get into any pressure signs and if so were they abrupt? I have noticed with 160 that when you get near max it gets upset quickly, kind of like RE-15.

 

[OU812]

Excellent shooting. I've had some 1 shot groups that looked like that. :mrgreen:

 

[gerry]

That is a very nice group, nice shooting.

 

[SJB358]

Great shooting Joel! Steve puts together some nice rifles! Way to go buddy!

 

[shoots_5]

That certainly looks promising! I've yet to try the Scenar's despite just about every report showing results similar to yours... So far the Amax has been a winner for me at a reduced cost so I don't even want to try them until I run out! Although the new 136gr scenar L has me pondering....

 

[.300winmag]

Looks great! I'm hoping my 6.5x47 shoots that well. Have you played with H4350 with 139 or 140 grain bullets? Also, what barrel length do you have?

 

[Elkman]

Excellent shooting. I've had some 1 shot groups that looked like that!

What more can I say? the rifle is outstanding as are your shooting skills.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

.257 Ackley, TINY little group there!
Looks like you have a cracker of a rifle/ammo combo!!!

FYI, it was recommended to me, to use 40grains of ADI AR-2209 (H4350? I think???), under a 140grn bullet!
I have worked up to this powder charge, with the bullets (140grn SMK and Nosler CC) just touching the rifling, with no signs of excessive pressure!
Sorry, I can't remember the velocity but I think it was around 2700fps?

What a cartridge eh!!!

Doh!
Homer

 

[257 Ackley]

Looks great! I'm hoping my 6.5x47 shoots that well. Have you played with H4350 with 139 or 140 grain bullets? Also, what barrel length do you have?

I did try H4350 with 139 Scenars and 130 VLDs (not 140's) and did not get the groups in initial tests to make me continue trying it. I know DF and USMC89 both use 4350 with the 130VLD and have had great results, so I either didn't find the node they have or my rifle doesn't like 4350. Most articles on load work I have seen say the 120-130 grain bullets work best in the little 6.5 case, but mine seems to like the heavier bullet (the 123 Scenar does show one hole possibilities though). The barrel length on this rifle is 27.75 inches (couldn't have 28 :lol: ).

 

[257 Ackley]

G'Day Fella's,

.257 Ackley, TINY little group there!
Looks like you have a cracker of a rifle/ammo combo!!!

What a cartridge eh!!!

Doh!
Homer

When I was deciding on a cartridge to build a tactical rifle on it was between the .260. 6.5 Grendal and the 6.5X47 Lapua. It was a fairly easy choice after looking at velocities and the accuracy that came with this caliber. With high BC bullets it is capable of beating any of the calibers built around the 6BR and .243 for mid-range competitions. I may try it at a couple 1000 yard matches this summer to see how it fares. It will need to be shot off a bipod instead of a front bench rest, but it seemed pretty stable with the Atlas bipod. The 139 Scenar needs about 22 MOA at 1000 yards. It should work a little better at 600 yards on a windy day over the 105 grain 6mm bullets at that distance. This caliber would make a great sporter rifle for someone that was recoil sensitive or needed a good caliber for yotes through deer.

 

[.300winmag]

Looks great! I'm hoping my 6.5x47 shoots that well. Have you played with H4350 with 139 or 140 grain bullets? Also, what barrel length do you have?

I did try H4350 with 139 Scenars and 130 VLDs (not 140's) and did not get the groups in initial tests to make me continue trying it. I know DF and USMC89 both use 4350 with the 130VLD and have had great results, so I either didn't find the node they have or my rifle doesn't like 4350. Most articles on load work I have seen say the 120-130 grain bullets work best in the little 6.5 case, but mine seems to like the heavier bullet (the 123 Scenar does show one hole possibilities though). The barrel length on this rifle is 27.75 inches (couldn't have 28 :lol: ).

Thanks for the info! My 6.5 should be here in a few months and I'm getting pretty excited for it. I've got 123 Scenars, 130 and 140 VLD's, 140 Hybrids all on my reloading shelf ready to load. Along with H4350 IMR4350, RL-15, RL-17 and VARGET. I really want to use a 140 grain bullet because of the BC. I am having a 29" barrel on mine, so I'll probably get around the velocity you will.

Great looking rifle and shooting! Thanks for the info again.

 

[Desert Fox]

I am having a 29" barrel on mine, so I'll probably get around the velocity you will.

You don't really need barrel that long. The 6.5-47 is very efficient. My friend Frank's rifle has 26" Hart 8 twist. It can easily push the 130 grain at over 2900 fps. The Krieger on my rifle is a bit on a slow side. I can only manage about 2850 fps.

Here's the 25 shot group at 1000 yards. My come-up from my 110 yards zero is 27 MOA.

 

[Woodycreek]

Awesome looking/shooting rifle Joel! Make sure to bring it with you next trip to Va.

 

[.300winmag]

I am having a 29" barrel on mine, so I'll probably get around the velocity you will.

You don't really need barrel that long. The 6.5-47 is very efficient. My friend Frank's rifle has 26" Hart 8 twist. It can easily push the 130 grain at over 2900 fps. The Krieger on my rifle is a bit on a slow side. I can only manage about 2850 fps.

Here's the 25 shot group at 1000 yards. My come-up from my 110 yards zero is 27 MOA.

Thanks for the info DF. I went with 29" because it's the longest I can fit into any of my rifle cases, and it will be used primarily for target shooting and tactical matches so hanging up on branches isn't an issue. Plus, it should give me a little more velocity and plenty of room to push the chamber back and rechamber it several times and still have plenty of barrel length.

I've seen what your 6.5 will do and it is impressive! That photo of your log book proves that even further. I am hoping to get the 140 Hybrid to shoot 1/2 MOA or better and run it about 2,850-2,900, this may be a little optimistic but with the short bearing surface and longer barrel, that's what I'm hoping for. :roll: If that doesn't work out, then I'll go to what seems to work for just about everyone, a 130 VLD with H4350.

 

[Guy Miner]

DF, good shooting!

You use 27 MOA up for 1000 with that 6.5x47.

For comparison my .308 needs 23 MOA up at a mere 820 yards! It's been so doggone long since I've shot 1000 yds that I'll have to go look it up. Whatever it is, it'll be a LOT more than 27 MOA elevation...

Guy

 

[Desert Fox]

With 155 grain Scenar at 2925 fps, I have to dial 29 MOA to get to 1 K with my 308. The bullet will be below mach at around 1,200 yards. The 168 is even worst. At 1k my come up is 37 MOA and the bullet will be below mach by the time it passed the 1050 mark. This is at 2630 fps velocity. The efficiency of the 130 grain Berger on my 6.5 will extend that range 500 yards further before entering the transonic region of the bullet flight. It will do these burning 10 percent less powder when compared with a 308.