6.5 BRX

[Shelley]

I have to admit that I'm really bored so I've been wildcatting. a couple of weeks ago I chambered a 30BRX. It's a 30Br that's blown out an extra .100". That cartridge is a real good shooter for 100/200 yard benchrest.

Last weeks project was a 6.5 BRX with the case being blown out .150". I tested it yesterday at the Denton range and was able to get 3100fps with a pretty hot load of RL15 and a 120gr Matchking. I suppose I'm trying to figure out if this is a useful cartridge. How much speed are you guys able to get with the 6.5X47. I like using the BR case as it will drop through the drop port on my Stiller actions. I have the Shilen 27", 8 twist barrel mounted on my Tinker Toy gun and am thinking about trying f-class as soon as I get good loads developed. I may want to run the chamber out to .175" long to make it work better with the 123 gr Scenars that I really want to use.

What do you think??? Is it worthwhile?

The photo is of a 6BR and the 6.5BRX.

Thanks
Shelley

 

[Forum Boss]

Shelley,

With the 6.5x47, with the 123 Scenars, we're seeing realistic speeds from 2920 fps to 3050,max). Some have pushed it much higher than that in long barrels, but I don't know anyone who's shooting 3100 day in/day out. I know Darrell Jones ended up at 3000-3038 with 120 Cauterucios. He had tested at much higher levels, but the accuracy wasn't there.

The real question is how fast one can push the 130 Berger. Jason's working on that right now. It appears to be capable of speeds equivalent to the 123 Scenars, but Jason's initial testing, in a Krieger barrel showed best accuracy running sub-2900. We'll soon have a Bartlein 31 incher to play with and Jason can explore the upper node.

 

[NeilNE]

I had a 6.5 x BR reamer made about 6-7 years ago. 4 or 5 shooter had it chambered for BR and Silhouette guns. It is not blown out as far as yours. Mine has minimum body taper and 40 degree shoulder with longer neck. It gets from 2700 to 2800 fps with 140 gr. bullets. I can't believe it gets the velocity it does for such a small case. There is a case called the TKS or TKO, something like this, that is used in silhouette.

 

[Shelley]

Neil

I extended the 6.5 BRX out to .175" longer than the 6BR and then throated it out as far as possible with just about .050" of a 120gr Sierra holding in the case neck. There's not a whole bunch of case neck left. I wanted to try it with a bit more combustion chamber. I suppose this would be a 6.5BRXX

Yesterday, with this configuration I could easily get 3100fps without losing the primer pocket. But the accuracy is really pretty good at around 3050fps and the case is in no danger of being wrecked. I get this with about 2 less grains of powder than it took to push a 6.5X47 120gr Sierra around 3000fps.,I didn't chronograph the bullets when that barrel was chambered in 6.5X47 so the 3000fps is a guess.) This round is good for me as it'll function in my Drop Port Diamondback and I'd have to do surgery on the actions to get the 6.5X47 to drop.

I have some 123 Lapuas ordered and would just love to get my hands on some of those new 130 Burgers. Does anyone know where the Burgers can be found in stock?

This is just so damn much fun!!!

Shelley

 

[Forum Boss]

Shelley,

In addition to the 130 Berger, there is the 130 Norma,from Neconos.com) and the 130 JLK,from Swampworks). The new JLK is what Don Nielson shot at Sacramento. They are probably also in short supply as Don just ordered a few thousand more, but you may want to call "Swampy".

http://www.swampworks.com/jlk/

Phone: ,417) 831-2309 9AM-5PM Central Time Mon-Fri

 

[NeilNE]

Like I said Shelley, amazing velocity out of such a small case. We where getting some very good groups also. I'll be putting the 6.5 x BR barrel back on in a month or two, to play with again. Have fun with your new toy Shelley.

 

[RickB]

I had a 6.5 x BR reamer made about 6-7 years ago. 4 or 5 shooter had it chambered for BR and Silhouette guns. It is not blown out as far as yours. Mine has minimum body taper and 40 degree shoulder with longer neck. It gets from 2700 to 2800 fps with 140 gr. bullets. I can't believe it gets the velocity it does for such a small case. There is a case called the TKS or TKO, something like this, that is used in silhouette.

The 6.5 TKS is, more or less, a 6.5 BR given the Ackley treatment and throated for the 139gr-142gr bullets. Velocities you may have seen involved warm loads. I briefly shot a 6.5 Viking which has the shoulder move forward something in the neighborhood of 0.080" from the TKS,definitely not as much as a 6.5 BRX), but I was unable to get adequate velocity with the heavier bullet without going to VV #550 which is not a stable powder in the type of temperatures I shoot in. Apparently, the little extra case capacity did not help out and the throating could have been longer. It shot well though. All the variations on the BR case seem to have shot well.

 

[AckleyImproved]

It is interesting what you are doing.... great velocity...

I have had the idea of a 6.5mmDasher, keeping the exact Dasher case dimensions, just expanding the neck.

If it can push the 120-123's to 3000fps... it would be a great little round. maybe when my 6.5X55AI barrel is stuffed.. might have a play!

Cheers
AI

 

[Shelley]

AI

What kind of performance are you getting with your 6.5X55 AI?

For my next project, I'm planning on running a 6.5X47 reamer in an extra .300" and fire forming 6.5X55 brass in the chamber. This should work out dimensionally and I already have the 6.5X47 reamer and some 6.5X55 Lapua brass. The 6.5X47 is fatter out at the shoulder than the 6.5X55. To fit my bolt faces I'll rebate the rims.

I also already have a really cool Shilen 8 twist barrel blank to use for the project. It's 1.450" for 12" and then tapers to 1.250 at the muzzle out at 30".

More fun

Shelley

 

[1002yards]

Shelly, What speeds are you getting with the 130's. Powder and barrel info too. I was thinking of building one for 1000br.
Thanks

 

[Kolar1]

1002 Shelly is no longer with us

 

[1002yards]

Sorry to hear it.

 

[65BR]

Wrote Dan Theodore in Cali years ago, I think Sunnyvale, but he designed the TKS IIRC, got speeds around those reported above for the BRX.

Yes, the BR cases can amaze you. Efficient, and effective.

 

[65BR]

Anyone running a 6.5 BR, TKS or BRX these days?

No doubt the 47L and CM are very easy and similar....but...

 

[smokinghole]

I have one in an AR15 that I use Dasher brass as the parent case for. Originally I used a hydroform die with 6br lapua brass.