I’m finishing up my first 6.5x47, sss savage action and a prefit x-caliber 8 twist barrel. 26in long with a jgs reamer .165 freebore. I’ll be shooting this at occasional vfs matches 100/200/300/400 maybe an occasional match longer but not very likely. With that being said is the 120-130 class better to go with rather than the 140 hybrid bullet. Any load advice or die advice would be great so I can get stuff ordered while I’m off over the holidays. I’m likely going to order a Wilson hand die to seat bullets.
The 123 Scenar has been most accurate for me. And being able to run at higher velocity yields same vertical as the higher BC 140gr, but windage is a bit more sensitive out to 1000yd.
For F\L bushing die, Harrell's. Send him 3 fired cases. Seating, Forster. I like them better for seating. More precise when changing seating depth.
The 0.165 FB might be a little long for some of the 120’s. Personally, I’d try the 130’s first and hopefully find a load I could shoot until the throat eroded to the point I needed to change to the 140’s. I’ve got a reamer on order with a 0.150 FB for this exact purpose.
Try the Berger 130 with H4350. I’m trying the 140 hybrid now but I think 130 shot more accurately. 1500 of the 130 Berger and only 300 of the 140 Berger hybrids. My load with the 130 was 40 grains of H4350 at 2850. This was with a 30” heavy Varmint barrel. My freebore is a 167. Good luck. Jason
For the ranges that your looking to shoot, I would stay with the 123-130 weight bullets. The 123 Scenar shoot very well for me. Also, I have a Wilson stainless micrometer top seater w/ vld stem. It’s brand new in the box. I don’t believe that I’ll ever use it. I would be will to sell it if your interested.
Cory, you have gotten good advice so far. I use 140's but am shooting farther. For your ranges i would stay in the 120 - 130 range. I highly recommend the Harrell's die but you need to fire 3 cases 3 tImes with only neck sizing.
@hogpatrol how has your load with RL17 done in the teens and 90's? I shoot in some really cool temps, not so much when it gets hot. I loaded some test loads a few days ago W RL17/130's and was impressed with the velocity increase over H4350/ which I've been using for years. Also using 450's. If you want to PM your load data I would be interested how it compares with a ladder I ran a couple days ago.
Alex Walrath in WI is making some outstanding 125 gr rebated boattail that come with trimed meplats. They fill that 120 to 130gr gap quite nicely. I havent had an opportunity to shoot mine yet but extremely uniform weight and comparator wise. He's on FB. Very easy to do business with and shoots F-class as well.
I personally have not shot anything lighter than 130 Grns, but I get better accuracy from 140gr Elite Hunters from Berger, at around 2750fps. And that, I get from 40 grns of RL17. and around 2725 from H4350. and CCI 450s The Redding S series Comp. dies are my go to. The micro adjust seating die is so helpful on seat depth studies, and very exact.
