Defending the 6.5 x 47 Lapua

[Phil3]

It seems like if I mention the 6.5 x 47 Lapua, there is always someone going on and on about how the 6.5 Creedmoor is the cat's meow and can do no wrong. It did get me asking myself, so what is really good about the 6.5 x 47 Lapua and why I chose it. I have some answers below, but if you have any, please share, 'cuz I feel like the 6.5 x 47 Lapua is not getting the love it deserves in some circles. I want to better defend it. My reasons for 6.5 x 47 Lapua vs 6.5 Creedmoor. I recognize some of these are very minor or not at all applicable to everyone.

1) Less case capacity should help barrel life.
2) Slightly longer case neck allowing a bit more room to extend bullet out chasing lands.
3) Slightly shorter case allowing a bit easier fit into magazines.
4) Designed for 300 meter competition and is a distance I like.
5) Uses small rifle primers (Creedmoor did not when I selected 6.5 x 47).
6) Better competition track record. I may be wrong on this!
7) Seems less fussy with loads. I have read this, but not sure if true.
8) Uses around 10% less powder (as best as I recall). Cuts round costs slightly.
9) Anecdotal evidence indicates more often than not, superior accuracy, however slight.

Since I only reload, off-the-shelf ammo is of no value to me.

Phil

 

[germanlongbow]

You're not wrong. Just a matter of personal preferences, I prefer Lapua or Hornady brass anytime I have the choice. There are so many choices for cartridges these days.

 

[ShootDots]

Both the 6.5 x 47 and the 6.5 Creedmoor are excellent rounds. Assuming you have both cartridges with "hummer" barrels on each. It is doubtful you could measure the difference(s) in group size out to 600 yards, if you ran say 20 / 5 shot groups each in a "shoot-off". You might get 40-50 f.p.s. more velocity with the Creed. Now that BOTH have Lapua Small Rifle Primer Brass, the brass longevity will be the same>>>as long as you don't over-pressure them. Both have extremely strong brass, IF you get the Lapua S/R brass. Both are very easy to tune and have voracious amounts of load data to digest. To put it simply, you can not go wrong with either!

 

[Kurz]

Both the 6.5 x 47 and the 6.5 Creedmoor are excellent rounds.

This is the most true statement anyone can make regarding both cartridges. The silliness which invades the contrarian information put out by sensible people amazes me. All it does is alienate shooters when there is absolutely no reason for it to be taking place. They are both excellent cartridges and for VERY good reasons, they both perform whether at the range in the the field. We should be grateful that we have the scope and depth of cartridge selection we have at this point in time. I personally shoot both and enjoy shooting both.

 

[david kieffer]

Both the 6.5 x 47 and the 6.5 Creedmoor are excellent rounds. Assuming you have both cartridges with "hummer" barrels on each. It is doubtful you could measure the difference(s) in group size out to 600 yards, if you ran say 20 / 5 shot groups each in a "shoot-off". You might get 40-50 f.p.s. more velocity with the Creed. Now that BOTH have Lapua Small Rifle Primer Brass, the brass longevity will be the same>>>as long as you don't over-pressure them. Both have extremely strong brass, IF you get the Lapua S/R brass. Both are very easy to tune and have voracious amounts of load data to digest. To put it simply, you can not go wrong with either!

I own and shoot both , that being said my love is the 6.5 x 47 . my testing shows the 47 will normally shoot inside the creed (450 -1000 yds ) The problem is , I call this case idiot proof you will find many very good loads . you will think yes this is the one , when in reality the ………… 2s and 3s could be 0s . Don't stop testing you will be amazed. I have had very very lucky days with the 6.5 x 47 and hope the same for you .dave

 

[SBS]

Smaller case capacity in the same caliber always means more inherent accuracy, more barrel life, easier to find a load, and cheaper to load (all other factors being equal). We shoot bigger cases for superior wind performance, but you do pay for it in the above ways and you have to decide if it's worth the trade off. I have smaller 6.5 cases I use for less windy days or shorter ranges and big ones for windy days and longer ranges. Nice to have the choices.

 

[Beeman]

Can't go wrong with the 6.5X47. I own two of them. I agree that on most sites the x47 doesn't get the recognition it deserves. If it had the marketing and factory ammo it would be much more popular. Probably would need a name too, as just metric numbers doesn't help either.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I'm not sure why you feel the need to "Defend" it, it has been a solid performer since day one, with bullet weights from 108-140+ for yrs.
I can tune anyone out, if it gets unbearable, tell them to prove it, it is that simple sometimes.
I myself am done with anything creedmoor, and can handle most of it, but there are some tool bags that can't seem to stfu.

 

[muleman69]

Can't go wrong with the 6.5X47. I own two of them. I agree that on most sites the x47 doesn't get the recognition it deserves. If it had the marketing and factory ammo it would be much more popular. Probably would need a name too, as just metric numbers doesn't help either.

The name would do a lot for it like the 6.5 LONGRANGE

 

[muleman69]

I own and shoot both , that being said my love is the 6.5 x 47 . my testing shows the 47 will normally shoot inside the creed (450 -1000 yds ) The problem is , I call this case idiot proof you will find many very good loads . you will think yes this is the one , when in reality the ………… 2s and 3s could be 0s . Don't stop testing you will be amazed. I have had very very lucky days with the 6.5 x 47 and hope the same for you .dave

If I were to get one chambered what would be the optimum bullet and throat length for gong shooting out to around a thousand?

 

[linebaugh]

Waiting on a reamer for 6.5x47L now and this will be my first. Looking forward to it. I dont really need any excuses but I will offer a couple anyway.

With 140 class bullets seated out to a proper throat length the bullets fit the mag fine, the creed will not. I know this from the remnants of guys that were shooting the 6.5 creed in PRS and having issues as the throat length grew.

I am building this rifle primarily for hunting and it's going to be a light sporter. I don't do the long range hunting thing and for the realistic ranges I plan to shoot the 6.5x47L has all the ass I need to respectfully hunt/kill the game I am after.

 

[Evan]

Chevy vs Ford.

I don't buy that the 6.5x47 is more "accurate". Neither has been campaigned in BR long enough, or by enough people to verify one is better than the other.

 

[david kieffer]

Chevy vs Ford.

I don't buy that the 6.5x47 is more "accurate". Neither has been campaigned in BR long enough, or by enough people to verify one is better than the other.

 

[david kieffer]

I think if you look at long range br results you will find the 6.5 x 47 dose prevail , It holds several records and wins more matches . I do feel the creed is a great choice for certain disciplines , especially if you don't reload . try it you may like it . shoot small . dave

 

[JaoeyP]

I guess I don't understand the mentality guys get about their chosen cartridge. If it works better for you, why spend time and energy defending it or arguing about it? I personally have chosen 6.5 Creedmoor because barrels are on the shelf ready to go (buy it today, receive in two days), brass is everywhere, and for the type of shooting I do it's really easy to get good enough results. If 6.5x47 is what works for you, isn't that what really matters? Or do you need more reasons to convince yourself you've gone down the right road?

 

[Evan]

I think if you look at long range br results you will find the 6.5 x 47 dose prevail , It holds several records and wins more matches . I do feel the creed is a great choice for certain disciplines , especially if you don't reload . try it you may like it . shoot small . dave

It isn't anywhere close to the 6br and variants, 6ppc, 6.5x284, etc. for proven history of accuracy across many guns is my point. It's really not been sussed out like the older stuff yet and the 6.5 creedmoor really hasn't been. Honestly, I think they are both too big for the limited benefits they give and that's why they're being dropped in all disciplines, including PRS. Not as good as a 7 or a 30, but not better than a 6.

I'm not going to be getting another 6.5. Mine will be rebarreled to a 6 or 22. For me, it simply gives no improvement over the 6BR variants to justify the extra powder, heat, recoil, and materials (copper, brass, lead, etc).

 

[Grimstod]

Every way you cut it the 6.5x47 is better then the creedmoor. That said it amazes me that the main stream industry has turned a blind eye to this. Guess its planned obsolescence. Someday someone in the big industry will discover the 47 and say it better then the CM and everyone will be switching. More $$$

 

[hogpatrol]

Every way you cut it the 6.5x47 is better then the creedmoor. That said it amazes me that the main stream industry has turned a blind eye to this. Guess its planned obsolescence. Someday someone in the big industry will discover the 47 and say it better then the CM and everyone will be switching. More $$$

Just change the name from 6.5x47 Lapua to .265 Cobra. That should do it.

 

[dsculley]

No need to defend it. It is an inherently accurate round. I use it for 600 yd F-Class and for hunting. Got 2 deer with it this year, one at 275 yd and another at 500 yds. I have been shooting the 6.5x47 for a couple of years and I really like it.

When I got this barrel, I was going to go with the Creedmoor but when I talked to the folks at Northland Shooters Supply they suggested the 6.5x47 because of the small rifle primer, this was before Lapua started making CM brass. It is the easiest round to develop/load for that I have used. From what I have seen, barrels are easy to acquire, usually in stock, brass i plentiful and you have a good choice of bullets & powder.

No matter what you shoot, someone will tell you what they think is a better choice. As long as it works for me, that is all that matters.

 

[1K6BRA]

I shoot the 6.5 x 47 in 1000 yard competition and absolutely love it and I’ve done well with it. The only thing I wonder about is how many pages this thread is going to go, maybe a new record!