6x47 Barrel Life

[xswanted]

This topic has been discussed before but I’d like opinions from people who have actually shot the barrel out of a 6x47 Lapua.


I have a Broughton 5c 7 twist 6x47 Lapua that after today has between 2500-2600 rounds on. (I haven’t counted up total shots fired today to get an exact total)

I’ve kept track meticulously and the round count is accurate.

I had two Dashers both lose accuracy quite dramatically at 1800 rounds each.

This 6x47 has not shown any signs of it as of yet. It still shooting well under 1/2 MOA when I do my part.

Am I on borrowed time here?

What have you guys seen for “accurate” barrelnlife on these things?

 

[dstoenner]

I pulled my barrel at 2600. Like you it was still shooting well but it was at the end of a season and I didn't want to have to switch barrels in the middle. I based mine on the lands. They had moved about 120 thousandths. I also don't shoot really hot loads. My match load is 39.5 H4350 with a 115 DTAC.

David

 

[xswanted]

I pulled my barrel at 2600. Like you it was still shooting well but it was at the end of a season and I didn't want to have to switch barrels in the middle. I based mine on the lands. They had moved about 120 thousandths. I also don't shoot really hot loads. My match load is 39.5 H4350 with a 115 DTAC.

David

This is sort of where I’m at in my thinking.

I’m not sure I want to use it again next summer but it’s still shooting well.

Roughly the same load pressure for me.

 

[ArtinNC]

I have a Hart Barrel 6x47 Rem that must have 10 K on the clock and will still shoot .250 easy LOL LOL LOL built in 1976 LOL

 

[Clancy]

Tapping in for interest.

Very interesting thread. I’ve never kept one long enough to shoot it out. I usually get bored.

I wonder if a slower, cooler powder used is what offers the longer barrel life?

PRS guys have got to be the worst indicators for barrel life, because of the long strings and infrequent cleanings. I take their quotes with a grain of salt. Although, one friend of mine cleans after every one day match and his BR is knocking on 4,000 rounds, so they’re not all anti-cleaning.

 

[6bra1k]

I have a Hart Barrel 6x47 Rem that must have 10 K on the clock and will still shoot .250 easy LOL LOL LOL built in 1976 LOL

me thinks they are talking TWO differnt 6x47's, on a necked down 6.5x47 and one a necked up 223 rem

 

[alf]

me thinks they are talking TWO differnt 6x47's, on a necked down 6.5x47 and one a necked up 223 rem

Actually, the old 6x47 is the 222 mag case necked up.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Two different 6x47?
OK, thanks Google

 

[xswanted]

I have a Hart Barrel 6x47 Rem that must have 10 K on the clock and will still shoot .250 easy LOL LOL LOL built in 1976 LOL

So that’s the one built off the 222 mag correct?

 

[xswanted]

Tapping in for interest.

Very interesting thread. I’ve never kept one long enough to shoot it out. I usually get bored.

I wonder if a slower, cooler powder used is what offers the longer barrel life?

PRS guys have got to be the worst indicators for barrel life, because of the long strings and infrequent cleanings. I take their quotes with a grain of salt. Although, one friend of mine cleans after every one day match and his BR is knocking on 4,000 rounds, so they’re not all anti-cleaning.

This has served as my primary PRS rifle for a few years.


Cleaned “enough” I guess……not very regularly but frequent enough so it keeps shooting.

Realistically an F class rifle will shoot longer strings by almost double than a PRS rifle will. Was at a pro-am shoot yesterday where the longest string I fired was 12 rounds. 105 shooters it was a solid hour or more before it shot again.

I’m interested to see how long this one will go though.

 

[ArtinNC]

Actually, the old 6x47 is the 222 mag case necked up.

Yep that is the 6x47 rem . And not the 6X47 you guys are talking about .

 

[Clancy]

This has served as my primary PRS rifle for a few years.


Cleaned “enough” I guess……not very regularly but frequent enough so it keeps shooting.

Realistically an F class rifle will shoot longer strings by almost double than a PRS rifle will. Was at a pro-am shoot yesterday where the longest string I fired was 12 rounds. 105 shooters it was a solid hour or more before it shot again.

I’m interested to see how long this one will go though.

F class isn’t easy on barrels either, but gosh I feel like you really are on borrowed time with that one. If it’s consistently shooting half moa, there’s really no telling??

I shot out 2 6.5x47s with varget, the longest of which went 2400. It started to shoot 3 and 2 despite vigorous cleaning and full reworks of seating depth and powder. I think Varget is a barrel killer though, but still surprising to see you’ve made it this far. It “could” be the Broughton part of it?? Who knows!

 

[xswanted]

F class isn’t easy on barrels either, but gosh I feel like you really are on borrowed time with that one. If it’s consistently shooting half moa, there’s really no telling??

I shot out 2 6.5x47s with varget, the longest of which went 2400. It started to shoot 3 and 2 despite vigorous cleaning and full reworks of seating depth and powder. I think Varget is a barrel killer though, but still surprising to see you’ve made it this far. It “could” be the Broughton part of it?? Who knows!

I agree.

Anytime I miss a target my brain goes to “well that’s it then”

I think it had something to do with Broughtons 5c rifling. No way to prove it but it could be. H4350 is the only powder I’ve ever ran. Varget was the culprit in both my Dashers that went at 1800 each b

 

[alf]

I took my last Varget/Dasher barrel off at 2629 rounds, as 1/2 MOA was not competitive at 600/1000 BR.

 

[xswanted]

I took my last Varget/Dasher barrel off at 2629 rounds, as 1/2 MOA was not competitive at 600/1000 BR.

No I imagine it wouldn’t be.

For the PRS game I’m using this rifle for it is very much so competitive still.

I’ve shot groups quite small groups with it but I’m not patient or meticulous enough to try and make it do it all the time.

When a guy is leaning over a cattle gate trying to hit a 6” plate at 489 yards yards and moving to a new rung every two shots, 1/2” MOA groups will work as long as there’s no flyers.

 

[The boogalorian]

6x47L
26” Krieger
Rl16
Berger 109’s (moly coated) @ 3060 fps
…pulled at about 2400 rounds fired

Used for PRS. Was still shooting, but the throat was severely fire cracking for 6-7” and pieces were flaking off. Never adjusted for throat erosion.

 

[gutpile271]

In F-class gun 1500 and cut rechamber . Get another 500 rounds. Then put another barrel on.

 

[searcher]

This topic has been discussed before but I’d like opinions from people who have actually shot the barrel out of a 6x47 Lapua.


I have a Broughton 5c 7 twist 6x47 Lapua that after today has between 2500-2600 rounds on. (I haven’t counted up total shots fired today to get an exact total)

I’ve kept track meticulously and the round count is accurate.

I had two Dashers both lose accuracy quite dramatically at 1800 rounds each.

This 6x47 has not shown any signs of it as of yet. It still shooting well under 1/2 MOA when I do my part.

Am I on borrowed time here?

What have you guys seen for “accurate” barrelnlife on these things?

If you have another tube ready to go - and I'd just run with your existing tube till it shows signs of difficulty maintaining tune to get what you want from it. There are way too many variables to know when that will be- between powder use, barrel steel composition, length of bullet, how hot you get it, cleaning regimen, etc. A bore scope exam of the throat will give you some indications of roughness that might tear at jackets if you are experiencing more copper collection in throat, etc.

 

[xswanted]

If you have another tube ready to go - and I'd just run with your existing tube till it shows signs of difficulty maintaining tune to get what you want from it. There are way too many variables to know when that will be- between powder use, barrel steel composition, length of bullet, how hot you get it, cleaning regimen, etc. A bore scope exam of the throat will give you some indications of roughness that might tear at jackets if you are experiencing more copper collection in throat, etc.

I’ve got one at the gunsmith as of this afternoon and only have one more match I believe I’ll shoot this year.

I’m going to run the current one until she goes though, I’m curious to see what it’ll last !

 

[cinch29433]

Interesting thread. It seems that PRS matches are minute of truck hood and bag. As long as the bullet keeps hitting steel I might keep chasing the throat. It seems hybrids aren’t as picky in my gun and keeping neck tension on hundreds of brass is a part of the game too.

Good luck with the wiggles and wind