and so it begins...6.5 gt

[Evan]

Tom called and asked what I was looking for. Might have done it for everyone on his wait-list. He then made 133, which was fine by me!

 

[SweaterDood]

I was looking heavily into a 25GT, and would have done it if I didn’t feel the need to make power factor in NRL Hunter (Needed 2900fps). I think the 6.5GT should run a 140 about 2700fps without pushing the brass too hard. A good slow node should be right in that vicinity (+/- 25fps) anyway. Interested to see results

 

[6bra1k]

I was looking heavily into a 25GT, and would have done it if I didn’t feel the need to make power factor in NRL Hunter (Needed 2900fps). I think the 6.5GT should run a 140 about 2700fps without pushing the brass too hard. A good slow node should be right in that vicinity (+/- 25fps) anyway. Interested to see results

nah benchrest testing, too old to run around chasing shooting positions...ohh and cannot shoot weakside...only one working eye

 

[itengineer.mcse01]

My 6.5x47 really likes 4064. It's what lead me to think less capacity could be good for the vapor trails. It might be worth a try if you have some. I needed to have loads 0.2gn down from my cold/morning load for the later, hotter relays but it wasn't unmanageable.

I've had some very good response from the 6 Creed in 4064 and know it would work well in the 6GT. I think many don't realize what a great powder 4064 is. Extremely versatile, very good volume to case ratios, and excellent groups. Pairs well with any of the consistent SRPs 205M, 205, 400, BR-4.

 

[itengineer.mcse01]

jgs just shipped my reamer, bbl on hand, brass on hand, some bullets to test. may actually have an action and stock.
could use some h4895 for testing but oh well

Ive been running 6GT for benchrest and F-class this year and love it. Really easy to load, not hard on brass, pretty easy to tune. Where the 6 Dasher used to be pressing the easy button; I'd argue that 6GT is right there as well.
I was wondering when someone was going to try different GT calibers to see what would happen. I'd try the 130gn STMK or 133/140. Out of curiosity I'd try the 153.5 to see what would happen velocity wise. I know Erik Cortina has a 7x47 that he uses for PRS now & that one is a tack driver out to 1k. The recoil is what brought me around to the 6GT. It isn't as taxing on my shoulder as 6 Creed and the barrel life is supposed to be around 2250-2500 and I can see that. I am at almost 700 rounds and I still have reamer marks in the throat that haven't gone yet.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I chambered one for Tom E. Naturally he shot his bullets in it. Give him a call about his loads. I was impressed with the velocity he got. He did pretty well with it In the nationals

 

[6bra1k]

I chambered one for Tom E. Naturally he shot his bullets in it. Give him a call about his loads. I was impressed with the velocity he got. He did pretty well with it In the nationals

thanks alex. yes tom and i talked before i started this adventure

 

[RickB]

trying three bullets 140 nosler, 135 atip , vapor trail.
unknown velocity..lots of powders to try
maybe a 29" bbl

I think you are likely to run out of powder capacity to move 139-142 grain bullets at the velocity you want. Take a look at 6.5x47 Lapua to see what they are able to achieve by way of comparison.

My guess is that you have a better chance of reaching a desirable velocity node with 123-130 grain bullets, maybe even 107-108 grain bullets.

In any event, good luck!

 

[RickB]

Ive been running 6GT for benchrest and F-class this year and love it. Really easy to load, not hard on brass, pretty easy to tune. Where the 6 Dasher used to be pressing the easy button; I'd argue that 6GT is right there as well.
I was wondering when someone was going to try different GT calibers to see what would happen. I'd try the 130gn STMK or 133/140. Out of curiosity I'd try the 153.5 to see what would happen velocity wise. I know Erik Cortina has a 7x47 that he uses for PRS now & that one is a tack driver out to 1k. The recoil is what brought me around to the 6GT. It isn't as taxing on my shoulder as 6 Creed and the barrel life is supposed to be around 2250-2500 and I can see that. I am at almost 700 rounds and I still have reamer marks in the throat that haven't gone yet.

Don’t rely too heavily on which cartridge Erik shoots. He’s a great guy, but he’s going to do well no matter what he shoots. Several friends shoot 7x47s in other sports and you only get slightly less recoil than some light 7-08 loads. It is a very good shooting cartridge though and is capable as a live game cartridge.

 

[Evan]

I think you are likely to run out of powder capacity to move 139-142 grain bullets at the velocity you want. Take a look at 6.5x47 Lapua to see what they are able to achieve by way of comparison.

My experience is that the 139+ grain bullets are not bench rest competitive. Everyone thinks they can make it work but it just doesn't pan out.

 

[6bra1k]

My experience is that the 139+ grain bullets are not bench rest competitive. Everyone thinks they can make it work but it just doesn't pan out.

so 103 to 105 work at 1k for br, and 204 to 215 or so work well for benchrest,
but some how there is a rule that 139 cannot......
guess i missed that book

 

[Evan]

so 103 to 105 work at 1k for br, and 204 to 215 or so work well for benchrest,
but some how there is a rule that 139 cannot......
guess i missed that book

I think Tom's 133 is way better than anything heavy I've tried in my 6.5x47 but I've just started to work with them. The 153.5 at 2820 was pretty good, when 4inch groups are good enough to win. It shot through the wind well but I did not have the skill to get it to tune in to the fine accuracy required on the days with moderate conditions. It also burned out the barrel in 900 rounds and hammered the brass. I didn't have better luck with the 144, 140, or lapua's 139. You may have better luck( or tuning skills). I didn't and was advised by more than a couple very talented shooters that it wouldn't work when I set off along this same path too. I figured it would be worthwhile to try, and I had fun along the way. I've been through 2 barrels now. From what I've seen in your posts on this site, I made the assumption that you want to be competitive above all else and the heavy 6.5 haven't been competitive in bench rest since the 6.5-284 and 142SMK ruled the roost a decade ago or so when a 4 inch group was the standard to hit.

 

[newbieshooter]

My experience is that the 139+ grain bullets are not bench rest competitive. Everyone thinks they can make it work but it just doesn't pan out.

Definitely can't argue with your experience with the 6.5s - you've written a bunch regarding your testing/results which I enjoyed reading.

For myself, I've had BR success with my 6.5x47 shooting 140s. I had to try several bullets/powders before finding a combo that was BR competitive.

Other examples:

David Kieffer dominates the 2018 World Open shooting a 6.5x47 with Berger 140s:

Williamsport World Open 1000-Yard Championship « Daily Bulletin

Held July 14-15 at the Original Pennsylvania 1000-Yard Benchrest Club, the 2018 Williamsport World Open attracted a large field, with over 130 competitors. During the two-day event, shooters competed in a four-match Aggregate comprised of one Light Gun Match and one Heavy Gun Match on Saturday...

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

Dave Way wins 2021 World Open HG Overall shooting a 6.5x47 with Berger 140s.

Greg Wilson shot a 6.5x47 LG at the 2022 NBRSA Nats with Berger 140 Hybrids (2nd overall @ 1000. 600 LG Group winner)

Bert Croy won 2020 NBRSA 600 LG Group and Score titles shooting a 6.5x47 with VT 139gr bullets.

YRWV.

 

[6bra1k]

I think Tom's 133 is way better than anything heavy I've tried in my 6.5x47 but I've just started to work with them. The 153.5 at 2820 was pretty good, when 4inch groups are good enough to win. It shot through the wind well but I did not have the skill to get it to tune in to the fine accuracy required on the days with moderate conditions. It also burned out the barrel in 900 rounds and hammered the brass. I didn't have better luck with the 144, 140, or lapua's 139. You may have better luck( or tuning skills). I didn't and was advised by more than a couple very talented shooters that it wouldn't work when I set off along this same path too. I figured it would be worthwhile to try, and I had fun along the way. I've been through 2 barrels now. From what I've seen in your posts on this site, I made the assumption that you want to be competitive above all else and the heavy 6.5 haven't been competitive in bench rest since the 6.5-284 and 142SMK ruled the roost a decade ago or so when a 4 inch group was the standard to hit.

people are different, bbls are different, g'smith are different. i spec all my reamers. i have a couple of national championships..one at 600 and one at 1000....
this project is just that.. my first time playing with a round vs building a gun on known parts.
the plan is to have an advantage on days when the 6's are getting blown around.
cause i am retired and i can do what i want!

 

[Evan]

Definitely can't argue with your experience with the 6.5s - you've written a bunch regarding your testing/results which I enjoyed reading.

For myself, I've had BR success with my 6.5x47 shooting 140s. I had to try several bullets/powders before finding a combo that was BR competitive.

Other examples:

David Kieffer dominates the 2018 World Open shooting a 6.5x47 with Berger 140s:

Williamsport World Open 1000-Yard Championship « Daily Bulletin

Held July 14-15 at the Original Pennsylvania 1000-Yard Benchrest Club, the 2018 Williamsport World Open attracted a large field, with over 130 competitors. During the two-day event, shooters competed in a four-match Aggregate comprised of one Light Gun Match and one Heavy Gun Match on Saturday...

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

Dave Way wins 2021 World Open HG Overall shooting a 6.5x47 with Berger 140s.

Greg Wilson shot a 6.5x47 LG at the 2022 NBRSA Nats with Berger 140 Hybrids (2nd overall @ 1000)

Bert Croy won 2020 NBRSA 600 LG Group and Score titles shooting a 6.5x47 with VT 139gr bullets.

YRWV.

I stand corrected. I thought Dave Kieffer was using the 130 vld. Thanks for putting those all together there!

I really like the 6.5x47 proportions and performance level, and I like 6.5 caliber in general. It feels like a really nice middle of the road below the big stuff and the 6s. My 6.5x47 barrels have just never shown the raw accuracy of my 22BR barrels shooting 90gn bullets, and I've had some disappointment around that. My 22BR barrels all dropped down into the 0.1s with some regularity and the 6.5x47 has never done it. It's 0.2+ in my hands.

people are different, bbls are different, g'smith are different. i spec all my reamers. i have a couple of national championships..one at 600 and one at 1000....
this project is just that.. my first time playing with a round vs building a gun on known parts.
the plan is to have an advantage on days when the 6's are getting blown around.
cause i am retired and i can do what i want!

I'm excited to see what the 6.5GT does for you. As I said, I think it's going to tune easier and stay in tune better than the 6.5x47. I look forward to reading whatever you share about it!

 

[6bra1k]

so a small update. the delay is the donor rifle is my current lite gun for 600/1k br. i have just about finished the replacement rifle, once it is up and running, i can work on the 6.5gt project

 

[JEFFPPC]

I wasted a summer with a 6.5 x 47 force feeding it bullets of140 plus. More recoil than a 6, less accuracy, no practical wind advantage.......went back to the 6brx and happiness. But, good luck on your quest. Be fair to yourself and give some bullets in the 130 range a try.

 

[6bra1k]

aint dead yet!
just dropped the action bbl and reamer at the g/smith.
no rush just a toy to play with

 

[dryhumor]

So, it's a gay creedmoor?

LOL

 

[xswanted]

I’m interred in this.

I would think this would be a great NRA silhouette cartridge in the right setup.