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One of our members shot the 6.5x47,brass flown in from Europe) today. Here are initial results:
123gr Scenar, Varget, CCI 450, 28" barrel, bullets seated in lands.
Varget
38.0 2950 FPS
38.5 2999 FPS
39.0 3042 FPS
39.5 3075 FPS
Accuracy was excellent with 38.5, not so good at other levels. But keep in mind that this was a new barrel and we know nothing about tuning this round. I don't know the barrel brand or twist yet.
It is significant though that the cartridge is matching the performance of a Rem .260 with the 123,3000 fps). I think it may go a little faster with RL15.
Please note, we've observed significant lot to lot variations in Varget. I don't know if this is a fast lot or a slow lot. Velocities taken with a CED Chron.
These numbers are pretty consistent with data David Tubb got recently with a "prototype" 123gr Sierra in a 6.5 XC,Schneider polygon bbl). But the 6.5x47 Lapus needed about a grain less powder to achieve 3000 fps. But that could be explained by many things--less barrel friction, powder lot variances, ambient temps.
If we call the 6.5x47 a 3000 fps round with the Scenar 123, this is how the 6.5x47 stacks up ballistically with a 6BR shooting Scenar 105s.
105,.530 BC) 2900 fps = 23.27" drift at 600yd,10mph Xwind)
123,.547 BC) 3000 fps = 21.45" drift at 600yd,10mph Xwind)
About 8% less drift.
and by contrast, a 6.5x284 shooting 139 Scenars:
139,.610 BC) 2950 fps = 19.18" drift at 600yd,10mph Xwind)
-----------------------------
6.5XC Report From DAVID TUBB:
Testing the 6.5XC -- April 16, 2006
All of the tests were done with one seating length,about .020†jump to the rifleing) Reamer was Henriksen with .296 neck and 1 ½ degree lead,set for a 142 Sierra at 2.800†to touch the rifleing). Reamer is designed to allow using a 142 Sierra and still feed out of the Tubb 2000 magazine box,2.877 inside length). A 142 Sierra when seated at 2.780†length keeps the full diameter of the base of the bullet just in front of the neck shoulder junction of the case.
Maximum OAL 6.5XC case length 1.911â€,48.54mm) trimmed to 1.900â€
OAL of the all loaded rounds were 2.782â€,give or take a couple of thousandths.)
Resize die was a Superior Shooting Systems tool steel die body with interchangeable integral neck shoulder bushings,same one use for the 6XC). A .286 resize bushing and .2625 expander were utilized.
Barrel in all 6.5XC tests was a T2K profiled Schneider 26†8 twist polygonal. All of the bullets were molycoated.
Bullets used were experimental 123 gr Sierras,Looks like a little brother to the 142) and the 142 Sierra Matchking.
All velocities were 5 shots each with the same 5 pieces 6XC brass,neck opened up to 6.5mm) till the maximum load was reached – then I changed to a different 5 pieces of twice fired brass in order to guage brass flow into the ejector.
Note ---Maximum velocity charges were based on brass flow into the ejector plug. This means it is a HOT load. If you do not have an ejector plug in you bolt face you may not see these pressure signs – and probably will go off of the looseness of the primer pocket – with this 6XC brass the primer pocket did not loosen during these tests – so be careful.
All of the 6.5/6XC brass used had been shot with my normal H4350/6XC load a couple of times – could have used new brass but thought this would be more indicative of actual results.
Density altitude for the tests was 4100 ft,+ or – a 100 feet)
Russian primers used in all tests.
All tests were with either Hodgdon’s Varget,lot # 4013) or 4350 powder,lot # 4647)
I did no accuracy tests just chronograph tests.
All barrels lengths were 26†– a longer barrel will usually give slightly more velocity
Experimental Sierra 123 with Varget
Charge Velocity
36 grs 2761 fps
38 grs 2907 fps
39 grs 2980 fps
40 grs 3042 fps
41 grs 3101 fps MAX
As for the 6.5 XC – Varget is a very good choice of powder,or similar burn rate) for the 123 gr bullet weight,not hardly enough usable case capacity in the 6.5XC for H4350 and the 6.5x47 has slightly less capacity)
I was more impressed by 6.5XC than from my tests,3years back) before. I attribute the increased velocity of the 142 with H4350 to a couple of items. The barrel used before was not a polygonal rifleing configuration and additionally I feel that the better head hardness of current production 6XC brass is probably the main reason for the extra 100 fps when compared to the prior test.
123gr Scenar, Varget, CCI 450, 28" barrel, bullets seated in lands.
Varget
38.0 2950 FPS
38.5 2999 FPS
39.0 3042 FPS
39.5 3075 FPS
Accuracy was excellent with 38.5, not so good at other levels. But keep in mind that this was a new barrel and we know nothing about tuning this round. I don't know the barrel brand or twist yet.
It is significant though that the cartridge is matching the performance of a Rem .260 with the 123,3000 fps). I think it may go a little faster with RL15.
Please note, we've observed significant lot to lot variations in Varget. I don't know if this is a fast lot or a slow lot. Velocities taken with a CED Chron.
These numbers are pretty consistent with data David Tubb got recently with a "prototype" 123gr Sierra in a 6.5 XC,Schneider polygon bbl). But the 6.5x47 Lapus needed about a grain less powder to achieve 3000 fps. But that could be explained by many things--less barrel friction, powder lot variances, ambient temps.
If we call the 6.5x47 a 3000 fps round with the Scenar 123, this is how the 6.5x47 stacks up ballistically with a 6BR shooting Scenar 105s.
105,.530 BC) 2900 fps = 23.27" drift at 600yd,10mph Xwind)
123,.547 BC) 3000 fps = 21.45" drift at 600yd,10mph Xwind)
About 8% less drift.
and by contrast, a 6.5x284 shooting 139 Scenars:
139,.610 BC) 2950 fps = 19.18" drift at 600yd,10mph Xwind)
-----------------------------
6.5XC Report From DAVID TUBB:
Testing the 6.5XC -- April 16, 2006
All of the tests were done with one seating length,about .020†jump to the rifleing) Reamer was Henriksen with .296 neck and 1 ½ degree lead,set for a 142 Sierra at 2.800†to touch the rifleing). Reamer is designed to allow using a 142 Sierra and still feed out of the Tubb 2000 magazine box,2.877 inside length). A 142 Sierra when seated at 2.780†length keeps the full diameter of the base of the bullet just in front of the neck shoulder junction of the case.
Maximum OAL 6.5XC case length 1.911â€,48.54mm) trimmed to 1.900â€
OAL of the all loaded rounds were 2.782â€,give or take a couple of thousandths.)
Resize die was a Superior Shooting Systems tool steel die body with interchangeable integral neck shoulder bushings,same one use for the 6XC). A .286 resize bushing and .2625 expander were utilized.
Barrel in all 6.5XC tests was a T2K profiled Schneider 26†8 twist polygonal. All of the bullets were molycoated.
Bullets used were experimental 123 gr Sierras,Looks like a little brother to the 142) and the 142 Sierra Matchking.
All velocities were 5 shots each with the same 5 pieces 6XC brass,neck opened up to 6.5mm) till the maximum load was reached – then I changed to a different 5 pieces of twice fired brass in order to guage brass flow into the ejector.
Note ---Maximum velocity charges were based on brass flow into the ejector plug. This means it is a HOT load. If you do not have an ejector plug in you bolt face you may not see these pressure signs – and probably will go off of the looseness of the primer pocket – with this 6XC brass the primer pocket did not loosen during these tests – so be careful.
All of the 6.5/6XC brass used had been shot with my normal H4350/6XC load a couple of times – could have used new brass but thought this would be more indicative of actual results.
Density altitude for the tests was 4100 ft,+ or – a 100 feet)
Russian primers used in all tests.
All tests were with either Hodgdon’s Varget,lot # 4013) or 4350 powder,lot # 4647)
I did no accuracy tests just chronograph tests.
All barrels lengths were 26†– a longer barrel will usually give slightly more velocity
Experimental Sierra 123 with Varget
Charge Velocity
36 grs 2761 fps
38 grs 2907 fps
39 grs 2980 fps
40 grs 3042 fps
41 grs 3101 fps MAX
As for the 6.5 XC – Varget is a very good choice of powder,or similar burn rate) for the 123 gr bullet weight,not hardly enough usable case capacity in the 6.5XC for H4350 and the 6.5x47 has slightly less capacity)
I was more impressed by 6.5XC than from my tests,3years back) before. I attribute the increased velocity of the 142 with H4350 to a couple of items. The barrel used before was not a polygonal rifleing configuration and additionally I feel that the better head hardness of current production 6XC brass is probably the main reason for the extra 100 fps when compared to the prior test.
