6,5 x 47 Reloading help

[no 23]

I'm going to try to find out acceptable hunting load for my 6,5 x 47 rifle and this is what i have:

6,5mm Bullets
Nosler 120 grs BT
Sierra 120 grs Pro-hunter
Sierra 130 grs Game King HPBT

Which bullet would you guys recommend for hunting reindeer up to 450 - 500 yards.

Powder:
VV N-140
VV N-150
Alliant RL 17

Does anyone have a recommended load combination for me or should i check out other powder for these bullets?

1. I can't find any load data for these bullets. Is it ok to use load data from, lets say 120 and 130 grs Bergers. I have the Berger manual, but not the Sierra or the Nosler.

2. Can i use powder that has almost the same burn rate as the listed powder in the manual?

3. The Berger Bullets can be hard to get where i live, but would you recommend either the 130 or the 140 hunting bullets.

I have 25 inch Krieger barrel 1/8,5 twist rate. And i would like to save some testing time if anyone here has experience from a similar rifle...

 

[dooley]

Hi, if you have a 1-8.5 twist you will probably find the 130 and 140gr bergers will not stabilize, I have a 6.5x47 1-8 twist, it will stabilize virtually any bullets, However I have a 260 rem 1-8.5 twist, 26 inch barrel and it will not stabilize the 130 and 140gr bergers, it will however stabilize the 139gr lapua scenars, but these are not hunting bullets, I normally use 123gr bullets in the 1.8.5 twist and N140 powder, varget, or similar powders and use the R 17 powder for the 139gr scenars, check the berger website they have a twist rate calculator, the 120gr bergers will be fine, hope this helps a little, dooley

 

[snowpro440]

Will this help ; I shoot 120gr sierra with 37.5 of varget in an 8.5 twist 28" kreiger which works very well for me. Also shoot the 130gr berger with 35gr of varget very well




6.5 x 47
Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
120 Grain VIHT N550 38.0 2657 42.5 2964 99.3%
120 Grain WW 760 38.5 2655 43.0 2972 99.4%
120 Grain Ramshot Hunter 40.0 2672 44.4 2975 101.6%
120 Grain NORMA 204 39.0 2590 43.6 2918 104.6%
120 Grain IMR 4350 38.0 2673 42.0 2955 103.5%
120 Grain H414 38.0 2612 42.2 2902 95.6%
120 Grain VARGET 34.0 2617 38.0 2880 92.1%
120 Grain RE-15 35.0 2665 38.8 2923 94.6%
120 Grain AA 4350 38.5 2662 42.6 2960 103.8%

6.5x 47 Lapua
Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
130 Grain VIHT N550 36.5 2575 40.6 2853 99.4%
130 Grain WW 760 37.0 2577 41.0 2856 99.4%
130 Grain Ramshot Hunter 38.0 2564 42.5 2871 101.9%
130 Grain NORMA 204 37.5 2517 41.7 2815 104.3%
130 Grain IMR 4350 36.0 2556 40.2 2850 103.8%
130 Grain H414 36.0 2497 40.2 2786 95.4%
130 Grain VARGET 32.5 2518 36.2 2759 92.0%
130 Grain RE -15 33.5 2570 37.0 2804 94.5%
130 Grain AA 4350 36.5 2549 40.6 2843 103.7%
130 Grain Hybrid 100V 36.0 2537 40.0 2798 107.5%
130 Grain RE 17 35.5 2580 39.6 2855 96.1%
130 Grain H4350 36.5 2562 40.6 2853 104.0%

 

[Down South]

Hi, if you have a 1-8.5 twist you will probably find the 130 and 140gr bergers will not stabilize, I have a 6.5x47 1-8 twist, it will stabilize virtually any bullets, However I have a 260 rem 1-8.5 twist, 26 inch barrel and it will not stabilize the 130 and 140gr bergers, it will however stabilize the 139gr lapua scenars, but these are not hunting bullets, I normally use 123gr bullets in the 1.8.5 twist and N140 powder, varget, or similar powders and use the R 17 powder for the 139gr scenars, check the berger website they have a twist rate calculator, the 120gr bergers will be fine, hope this helps a little, dooley

My 6.5 x 47 i built but just sold to a good friend of mine stabilizes the 130 VLDs just fine with a 8.5 twist. 25 inch Krieger loaded with 38.1 grains of Varget and CCI BR4 primers. The load flat out hammers at all distances with single digit ES and SD. Deadly on deer and hogs.

 

[Strongman]

I shoot a McWhoorter 6.5/47 Lapua with a 24 inch 1-8.75 twist in a Obemeyer barrel with 130grn Bergers one thousands off the lands with 37.5 grn's of Varget @2875 MV. This thing is a hammer.

 

[no 23]

Hello snowpro440

Is this info from Quickload? Are the results from QL reliable?

This is the Stability factor i get for the bullets i have:

Bullet	Stability factor	MV
139 grs Scenar	1.38	2550
108 grs Scenar	1.32	2950
100 grs Scenar	1.4	3050
120 grs Nosler BT	1.71	2800
130 grs Sierra Game King	1.96	2700
120 grs Sierra Prohunter	2.53	2800

I haven't measured the MV, i'm just guessing by looking at reloading data. The MV doesn't seem to be all that critical, but the bullet length is. looking at some early test i made it seems like 100 grs Scenar is very accurate in my rifle at 100 meters. The attached target is shoot with bipod and sandbag rest in the rear.

What do you guys think about fill ratio, i heard that around 95% fill ratio is optimal, is there any truth in this?