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25x47 Lapua

swd said:
Have you tried any H4350? It seems like it would be a great powder for that case.
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Yes Sir. H-4350 is a good candidate for this bullet along with Varget. Have worked with both up front and numbers looked good. My builder "ODCR" suggest VV-N540 so wanted to give it a shot. Seems like the E S & S D is better with VV-N540 and with better M V #s. Will not rule either of the other powders out but for now will stick with the VV-N540 with swapping over to the Berger 135 gr. LRHT. Base to Ogive on these are far more consistent (10 bullets @ .0005 variances ) than the Sierra 131 gr. M K I am abandoning due to poor quality. I have not ever seen the variances in any Sierra bullet as I have found with these.
 
WOW!!! What a difference a bullet can make. I was doing O K with the Sierras but I just did not feel it was giving my rifle it's best. Worked with the Berger 135 gr. LRHT bullet today with powder check and seat depth. Checked it at 100 yds. a few mins ago and I think my rifle is a happy camper. I may turn the tuner a tad but I'm not sure it needs a thing.


CAUTION - DO NOT DUPLICATE THIS LOAD WITHOUT THE CORRECT REAMER
IT IS PERSONAL TO MY SMITH - ODCR

LAPUA ONCE FIRED BRASS
135 GR. BERGER LRHT 2.131 O M 2.883 COL T/L B S .456 B C .650
POWDER VV-N540 38.3 GR. PRIMER CCI 450 .281 BU. T/S @ -0-
SEATED @ 2.124 O M 2.876 COL .007 OTL 07/11/25
 

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Bill Norris said:
WOW!!! What a difference a bullet can make. I was doing O K with the Sierras but I just did not feel it was giving my rifle it's best. Worked with the Berger 135 gr. LRHT bullet today with powder check and seat depth. Checked it at 100 yds. a few mins ago and I think my rifle is a happy camper. I may turn the tuner a tad but I'm not sure it needs a thing.


CAUTION - DO NOT DUPLICATE THIS LOAD WITHOUT THE CORRECT REAMER
IT IS PERSONAL TO MY SMITH - ODCR

LAPUA ONCE FIRED BRASS
135 GR. BERGER LRHT 2.131 O M 2.883 COL T/L B S .456 B C .650
POWDER VV-N540 38.3 GR. PRIMER CCI 450 .281 BU. T/S @ -0-
SEATED @ 2.124 O M 2.876 COL .007 OTL 07/11/25
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Bill, that looks great.
 
Matt_3479 said:
That’s sounds like an awesome build too! Let us know what you decided!


I wanted a 6.5x47 Lapua for my first build but was advised against it as I was new to reloading at the time and most recommended the 6.5 creed (right when it was introduced) or the 260 rem. I ended up with a 260 and while it shot amazing I never loved it as I wanted the 6.5x47 and regretted not doing it.
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"I ended up with a 260 and while it shot amazing I never loved it as I wanted the 6.5x47 and regretted not doing it."
IMHO the 260 Rem and the 6.5x47 are twin sisters but not identical twins; just a matter of preference. I have both and my preference is based on the rifle configuration, not the cartridge.
Now suffering from the 25 craze. The 257 Weatherby might have to move over.
 
Explorer1 said:
"I ended up with a 260 and while it shot amazing I never loved it as I wanted the 6.5x47 and regretted not doing it."
IMHO the 260 Rem and the 6.5x47 are twin sisters but not identical twins; just a matter of preference. I have both and my preference is based on the rifle configuration, not the cartridge.
Now suffering from the 25 craze. The 257 Weatherby might have to move over.
Click to expand...
Oh I’m not saying 1 cartridge is better over the other one, it was my first build and really wanted a defiance and a 6.5x47. I got talked into a stiller and a 260 and regretted it right away. Just never fell in love with the rifle even though it shot awesome.
 
Matt_3479 said:
Oh I’m not saying 1 cartridge is better over the other one, it was my first build and really wanted a defiance and a 6.5x47. I got talked into a stiller and a 260 and regretted it right away. Just never fell in love with the rifle even though it shot awesome.
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The 260AI with a 1 - 8 tw. is much more interesting with the 140 gr. class bullets. Especially with powders that allow up around 2900 + FPS. Flat & accurate.
 
Matt_3479 said:
Well my 25x47 Lapua has arrived and it didn’t take long to get started with this one. Was pretty eager to try a x47 Lapua for a few years now. I’m new to the cartridge, actually new to this family of cartridges. I am planning on trying rl16, h4350, varget, n150 and possibly n140 to get some information on this caliber.

To break in the barrel I started with rl16. I picked a random charge of 37.5gr behind hornady 134gr eldm and the results were staggering. I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten lucky like this.

First 3 shots out of the barrel

View attachment 1606514

I didn’t have a chrony that day so I threw up a target at 740 yards and dialed what I thought they might be running and held straight up hoping to find splash for elevation and wind. It was easy to spot trace and easy to spot the splash. I made the correction and sent 4 quickly to just make sure I got the call right and had a .4 moa group at 740 yards. Realizing the potential I ran home and loaded the remaining with the same charge to just break the barrel in and once fire some brass. Upon return a few hours later I shot this cold bore 740 yard group then moved to 600 for a nice 5 shot group

View attachment 1606515

View attachment 1606516
I went on to shoot a long range ladder test the following down View attachment 1606517

A little pressed for time I loaded 5 rounds for both the low and middle potential node and shot 5 shot groups over the Chrony at 100 yards before having to go pick up the kids. First node shot 2700.2 fps with an sd of 5 and es of 13.3. And the middle node shot 2781.3 with an sd of 2.3 and an es of 6.3.View attachment 1606518

View attachment 1606519

I have loaded the upper potential node as well and will shoot it at 100 and then shoot all 3 at 600 yards to confirm.

I am loading up ladders of rl16, n150 and varget with the Berger 135’s to hopefully shoot next week.
Click to expand...
Is the Berger published BC consistent with your elevation come ups out to 700yds?

I am curious if the published BC is accurate or not.
 
Explorer1 said:
"I ended up with a 260 and while it shot amazing I never loved it as I wanted the 6.5x47 and regretted not doing it."
IMHO the 260 Rem and the 6.5x47 are twin sisters but not identical twins; just a matter of preference. I have both and my preference is based on the rifle configuration, not the cartridge.
Now suffering from the 25 craze. The 257 Weatherby might have to move over.
Click to expand...
While I would love to do a 25 Souper (25-308) build, and the 25-47 interests me, I'm not about to give up my 257 WBY over it. ;)
 
Bill Norris said:
Yes Sir. H-4350 is a good candidate for this bullet along with Varget. Have worked with both up front and numbers looked good. My builder "ODCR" suggest VV-N540 so wanted to give it a shot. Seems like the E S & S D is better with VV-N540 and with better M V #s. Will not rule either of the other powders out but for now will stick with the VV-N540 with swapping over to the Berger 135 gr. LRHT. Base to Ogive on these are far more consistent (10 bullets @ .0005 variances ) than the Sierra 131 gr. M K I am abandoning due to poor quality. I have not ever seen the variances in any Sierra bullet as I have found with these.
Click to expand...
That's a shame Sierra's 131's aren't consistent with the lot's you're working with. I have yet to try them as I went with the Berger 135 LRHT, and 133 EH's when I had GAP build my 25x47 two years ago. I had Dave Manson make me a reamer with a .195" free bore and a .289" neck for neck down Lapua brass. It's worked very well with 41.2 H4350 behind both of the Berger bullets. I'm getting 2,850 w/a 27" Brux #17 bbl. using that load, it usually shots in the .2-.3's. I use it for NRL Hunter and ran it at the Steel Safari this past May 2025.

I might add l had Manson Precision Reamers recut my reamer for the Alpha 25x47 brass to have a .288' neck, and I reduced the free bore to .180".

I might give a try to VV N540 someday? But I have a 25/7 PRC for pushing the speed limit in a hunting rifle that I'm currently looking forward to hunting with this year.

I'll have to check the BTO on the Newly made Black Jacks I have on hand...... Sierra has always been known for decent length averages off the ogive lot wise in my limited experience over the last 25 years. Lot to Lot they do vary a lot, but then I just seat them to the same distance off the lands.

Good luck with your successes on your 25x47, what are you using it for?
 
longrangehunterII said:
That's a shame Sierra's 131's aren't consistent with the lot's you're working with. I have yet to try them as I went with the Berger 135 LRHT, and 133 EH's when I had GAP build my 25x47 two years ago. I had Dave Manson make me a reamer with a .195" free bore and a .289" neck for neck down Lapua brass. It's worked very well with 41.2 H4350 behind both of the Berger bullets. I'm getting 2,850 w/a 27" Brux #17 bbl. using that load, it usually shots in the .2-.3's. I use it for NRL Hunter and ran it at the Steel Safari this past May 2025.

I might add l had Manson Precision Reamers recut my reamer for the Alpha 25x47 brass to have a .288' neck, and I reduced the free bore to .180".

I might give a try to VV N540 someday? But I have a 25/7 PRC for pushing the speed limit in a hunting rifle that I'm currently looking forward to hunting with this year.

I'll have to check the BTO on the Newly made Black Jacks I have on hand...... Sierra has always been known for decent length averages off the ogive lot wise in my limited experience over the last 25 years. Lot to Lot they do vary a lot, but then I just seat them to the same distance off the lands.

Good luck with your successes on your 25x47, what are you using it for?
Click to expand...
Sounds like yours is working well for you too. We just received the replacement bullets for those that had an issue and so far app. .003 variance is what I'm seeing base to ogive. The ogive on these new bullets are sitting app. .014 further towards the point than the first batch and the seat depth test shows these new ones want to be .013 off of just touch (wheeler method) with my existing powder charge and shot a .195 3-shot group. Still need to go back and verify the load with a couple 5-shot groups when possible before turning the tuner. Good luck to you as well and I am using mine to shoot BR 600 yds. and beyond.
 
Last edited:
Bill Norris said:
Sounds like yours is working well for you too. We just received the replacement bullets for those that had an issue and so far app. .003 variance is what I'm seeing base to ogive. The ogive on these new bullets are sitting app. .014 further towards the point than the first batch and the seat depth test shows these new ones want to be .013 off of just touch (wheeler method) with my existing powder charge and shot a .195 3-shot group. Still need to go back and verify the load with a couple 5-shot groups when possible before turning the tuner. Good luck to you as well and I am using mine to shoot BR 600 yds. and beyond.
Click to expand...
Bill, we always enjoy seeing pics of your groups!
 
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