varget or H4350 6.5x47

I am trying to get to 2950+ with my 6.5x47 using 123 lapua bulets. i currently run 41 grains of H4350 and have difficulty seating the bullet with that much powder. vel. is only arounf 2850- 2880 give or take. Shooting a 8.5 twist Krieger 5R. 24.25" long. I have a stock of varget which I did not try yet but read that 38.6 was giving folks over 2900 easy, even with 130's. I want the extra speed for 1000 yard F-class going against bigger faster comp. Any suggestions would be great I tried 39.5 of N550 (only 2740fps).
thanks
jer

 

Thats a hard caliber to find data on....guess because its so new ?? Only thing I found was 38.0 of Varget and 139gr Scenars was giving a guy 2880 FPS...

 

Not in my 27" 8tw Brux! I could only get that with more powder and the 123's. Varget produces quite a bit more pressure than the slightly slower powders and is reasonably accurate. Ran H414 with the 123 gr. A-Max and reached 3K but am getting better accuracy with H380 and the 130 gr. Berger's. Haven't chrono'ed them yet but expect 2900.

 

*** WORK UP TO LOAD ***
I shoot 41.5 gr. N550 in my hunting rifle with 123 AMAX, velocity is 3,000 fps. from a 25" barrel.

 

Drop your powder into the case with a 24" drop tube and you won't have trouble seating!!

Varget beats 'em all!!

 

41.5gr H4350, 130gr VLD, and Wolf SRM is my go to load for 2 different 6.5x47's. One is throated fairly short, to easily fit in an AICS mag with the bullet 0.015" into the lands, but I can still fit 41.5gr of H4350 into the case without too much crunching.

 

I have a few rifles chambered in 6.5x47 and have shot this caliber for a couple years now. I started off with H4350, but couldn't ever get th velocity that everyone talks about (2,950-3,000) with the 130's. At 42.5gr of H4350 from a 25" Bartlein with the 130's I was only getting 2,890fps and this was a very hot load in MY rifle. Also, 42.5 was compressed and with only .002" neck tension and polished necks it was causing inconsistent seating depths (especially after the ammo had been trasnported to a match).

I switched over to Varget and found a good load at 37.5gr with the 130's. I'm still only able to get 2,875-2,880 with this, but it's not compressed and I don't have any issues with seating depth variances.

I have 4 rifles chambered in 6.5x47. A 22", 24", 25" & and 26" barrels and I've only been able to break 2,900fps with one of them using the 130's (without pressure signs).

Someone suggested that I try some 4007SSC and try jumping the 130's .030"-.040" and see what that would produce. Right now I'm .005" off the lands.

***To the above poster, what is your H380 load? I've never heard of anyone using that powder in the 6.5x47.

 

I have an Obermeyer 9.1 twist cut at 28", .109FB and .294nk. Primer CCI450 and Lap 123's

41.6gr of RL17 3104fps groups somewhat erratic, better accuracy around 41gr and 3044fps.
Under moa @ 100 but sometimes 6ish" @ 600yd. Haven't shot it to 1000 yet.

38gr of RL15 3015fps for a 10shot string with SD of 4 Shot great and need to test further

41.5gr of H4350 2880fps probably the most accurate but was hoping for 2950 at least but this is max in my barrel

Haven't tried Varget but need to get out and shoot the durn thing!!!! Would really like to run around 3kfps is the goal.

 

I don't have a clue what 39.0 grs. Varget and BR-4 are giving me with Sierra 123 grainers and really don't give a flip as long as it shoots like onto this from 1200 yards!


6.5x47L @ 1200 yards. by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

 

Very new to 6.5x47 Lapua and Long Range Benchrest but Varget & H4350 (our ADI AR2208 & AR2209 here in Oz) are long term friends.

With my 6.5x47L using 130gr Berger VLD's I can average 2,860fps with ES=8 & SD=2.46 using 37.4gr of AR2208 (Varget)...figures do vary a little from day to day depending on how dammed cold it is outside...have not shot this in Summer here but out ADI Powders are very temperature stable. Sorry, but Vihtavuori Powders are not available to me. This was with Virgin Lapua Cases and I'm yet to confirm with fireformed cases.

This I believe is the low accuracy node and my test spread was 36.4-37.8gr of AR2208 in 0.2gr increments.

I have not shot at longer distances but my average is 550 Yards and the average 5 shot group is between 1.5-2.0 inches .... I have not learnt to read the wind properly so suffer at this time from my own inexperience.

 

41.2, START Lower with H4350 and the 130's should get you close!

 

subscribing to this thread for future reference

 

Shooting 123 Scenars with Varget.

Below is my load, second target from the left.

Give Eric's load a chance, it may work in yours also.

Work up to this load, amazing what a few grains of powder will do to a pattern

 

PS: RL15 isn't bad using smk 120's,

123 Scenars are about the best in my rifle.

 

Nice group! I've been using RL-15 also w/ the 123 SMK's @ the lands. I struggled 'til I switched to BR-4's (from 205m's). Neither Varget or 4350 worked for me. I've got a box of the 123 scenars, looks like it's time to try them. Note: the 123 SMK varied up to .012" OTB box to box but properly sorted the rifle didn't seem to notice. Note 2: I couldn't get near 39 grns RL-15 w/o sticky bolt lift. Again nice group!

 

Every gun is different. I have no pressure signs or anything shooting the 120 smk's shooting 39.3 grns of RL15.

My gun shot better with H4350 using 130 grain bullets and up. N550 did well also. Some people love their groups with the heavier bullets. My gun doesn't like anything over 123 grain bullets and will drill them.

I tried 123 smk's and couldn't get close to the above groups, something I still don't understand. Put a 123 Scenar in, the gun loves them.

 

I don't know exact specifics and I hate to admit it but I get my butt kicked regularly from a guy shooting a 6.5x47 with 8208 w/ Berger 130's but I don't know the specifics of his load. I know it is a Borden action in an HS Precision stock but don't know the barrel maker.

Sorry, not a whole lot of help besides 130's and 8208 might be worth looking into????

 

38.8 grs R 15 and 123gr in my 8.5 twist 26" Bartlein is 2975fps, and very accurate.

 

39.6 gr RL-15 over wolf small magnum rifle primers using 123 gr Lapua scenars gave me one hole at 100 yards. Oehler shows average from a 5 shot string as 2,975 fps. 12 MOA at 600, shoots very flat.
I use 41.5 gr H4350 with the Hornady Match 140's with AMP jacket, avg was 2806 fps. Both have single digit SD's. I have shot hundreds of rounds using 41.5 gr H4350 with Berger 130 gr VLD's.
I have not used Varget in the 6.5x47

 

I will not test any load with a 6.5x47L @ 100 yards. I have two, one is a Tikka T3 in a Benchrest Stock and the other is a Kelbly Grizzly II Custom.

With either unless something is really wrong with the load all I get at 100 yards is one hole groups, it's too close a distance in my view for this calibre. I test at 200 yards and the load I mentioned earlier out of the Stolle did 0.086" 4 shot groups a few times, the fifth shot I believe is my fault but makes the group 0.200". As I said earlier at 550 yards I can consistantly produce 1.5 - 2.0" groups in a breeze blowing...under 10 mph.

My point, I like the low node using Varget, it is very consistant and here in Oz there are a number of setup's using the same powder load, different rifles but they win some 500 Metre Fly Competition shoots.

I am yet to try some 140gr Berger VLD's which my Stolle was chambered for and one of Australias most sucessful Benchrest Shooters suggested Reloader 15. I forget his powder weight suggestion but will try.

Over the past 40 years I have used a lot of Reloader Powder and like it, not as much as our locally made ADI Powders sold by Hodgdon. Reason, Summer or Winter from -5C to near +40C they don't vary with my tests.

Love the 6.5x47L.....