OK,
finally, I am working closely with my gunsmith on finishing up the 6.5x47L project, started a few years ago. I use the K98 action (not many high end actions are available here where I live) and I have a "no name" 6.5 mm barrel, with some hideous contour, but its a heavy one. Chamber was done previously for this caliber, but it had to be re-fitted. Barrel wasnt used. I am a bit ashamed to post the pictures how does it look now while its still "in the white" with just attached bolt handle, and some old mauser stock that I had on hand.
So I went to the range today, to test fire it, before moving along with the finishing - polishing, bluing etc etc.
First, a bummer, I loaded the round, pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Hm, checked the primer - no marks at all. Tried again? Same thing. I opened up the bolt, and realized somehow the firing pin from M48 (which is shorter) got in. LOL. Luckily, the guy at the range had another K98, and I took his firing pin, or it would be a 50 miles drive one way for nothing.
Bam - it shoots. I had 5 rounds of 123 Bergers (and unknown powder) that a fellow shooter gave me.
In that condition (and its horrible, Timney trigger is stiff, stock doesnt even have the recoil pad, no follower inside magazine...) those 5 rounds grouped up in about 2 inches on 100 meter range. And I had to remove the bolt for every round I had to load, so I can jam it under the extractor (no folower) and then insert it in the action.
Nice
Then I tried some of my loads, 140 gn SMK with N140 powder - different OAL and charge weights, within safe pressures - all of them were inside 2 inches too, with no pressure signs.
Good - maybe I will make a shooter out of it, once I tighten everything down. I dont have the paper with speeds I got over chrony, but those 123gr ones I remember - 2900 fps, with several fps variation. Mine loads were from 2600-2650 with 140 grain bullets (will post that later).
Now some more tech stuff, and some questions
Chamber was done (now) with PTG standard reamer.
Fired round OD measures between 0.2937 and 0.2944
Loaded round OD is 0.2885 (I use metric system, so this is a conversion)
Loaded round runout is 0.001
Fired round runout is 0.001
Max OAL I can achieve with jamming the SMK 140 gr is 2.657
Barrel length is 23.74"
Are these values any good, and should I proceed with working on it? It should be used as a target and hunting rifle, to about 500 meters (or lets say 600 yards).
And two more interesting things, firing pin is making a dent not on the center of the primer, but about 0.05" on the side, and powder burning marks on the fired cases, on some it stays on the upper portion of the neck, and on few I had marks that went down to the upper parts of the shoulder area. Is that something to worry about?
finally, I am working closely with my gunsmith on finishing up the 6.5x47L project, started a few years ago. I use the K98 action (not many high end actions are available here where I live) and I have a "no name" 6.5 mm barrel, with some hideous contour, but its a heavy one. Chamber was done previously for this caliber, but it had to be re-fitted. Barrel wasnt used. I am a bit ashamed to post the pictures how does it look now while its still "in the white" with just attached bolt handle, and some old mauser stock that I had on hand.
So I went to the range today, to test fire it, before moving along with the finishing - polishing, bluing etc etc.
First, a bummer, I loaded the round, pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Hm, checked the primer - no marks at all. Tried again? Same thing. I opened up the bolt, and realized somehow the firing pin from M48 (which is shorter) got in. LOL. Luckily, the guy at the range had another K98, and I took his firing pin, or it would be a 50 miles drive one way for nothing.
Bam - it shoots. I had 5 rounds of 123 Bergers (and unknown powder) that a fellow shooter gave me.
In that condition (and its horrible, Timney trigger is stiff, stock doesnt even have the recoil pad, no follower inside magazine...) those 5 rounds grouped up in about 2 inches on 100 meter range. And I had to remove the bolt for every round I had to load, so I can jam it under the extractor (no folower) and then insert it in the action.
Nice
Then I tried some of my loads, 140 gn SMK with N140 powder - different OAL and charge weights, within safe pressures - all of them were inside 2 inches too, with no pressure signs.
Good - maybe I will make a shooter out of it, once I tighten everything down. I dont have the paper with speeds I got over chrony, but those 123gr ones I remember - 2900 fps, with several fps variation. Mine loads were from 2600-2650 with 140 grain bullets (will post that later).
Now some more tech stuff, and some questions
Chamber was done (now) with PTG standard reamer.
Fired round OD measures between 0.2937 and 0.2944
Loaded round OD is 0.2885 (I use metric system, so this is a conversion)
Loaded round runout is 0.001
Fired round runout is 0.001
Max OAL I can achieve with jamming the SMK 140 gr is 2.657
Barrel length is 23.74"
Are these values any good, and should I proceed with working on it? It should be used as a target and hunting rifle, to about 500 meters (or lets say 600 yards).
And two more interesting things, firing pin is making a dent not on the center of the primer, but about 0.05" on the side, and powder burning marks on the fired cases, on some it stays on the upper portion of the neck, and on few I had marks that went down to the upper parts of the shoulder area. Is that something to worry about?
I ll have to make another knurled wheel for cheek riser, this one is a bit thin so it wobbles a bit, and knurling is mismatched 
