6.5x47 Lapua Bullet Selection

[daj]

Robert Whitley and a number of other well respected shooters have suggested that lighter projectiles are better suited to the 6.5x47 Lapua than the 139-142 heavies.

As a relative newcomer to precision shooting, and as a new 6.5x47L shooter, I would greatly appreciate it if someone could elaborate on why the above should be so.

Is it because it is more difficult to achieve low ES and SD with the heavies thus making them less attractive for long range,600 to 1,000yds)? Or, are they simply less accurate or more difficult to shoot accurately?

 

[Asa_Yam]

It's because some think the 6.5x47 doesn't have the powder capacity necessary to push 140 grain class bullets fast enough to offset the wind drift advantage of 123-130 grain bullets.

 

[Forum Boss]

We're seeing the 140s maxing out at about 2810 in 26" barrel while the 120s can be driven close to 3000 in longer barrels and 2950 pretty reliably in 25-26" tubes. The Berger 130s are topping in the 2900-2950 range. If you run the numbers, the Berger 130 at 2950 has less winddrift than a Sierra 142 at 2810.

Plus, IMHO, the shorter bullets tend to be more forgiving to tune and often shoot slightly tighter groups.

The 120 range seems to be a "just right" combo of weight and bearing surface for the 6.5x47's case capacity.

 

[StevenCO]

We're seeing the 140s maxing out at about 2810 in 26" barrel while the 120s can be driven close to 3000 in longer barrels and 2950 pretty reliably in 25-26" tubes. The Berger 130s are topping in the 2900-2950 range. If you run the numbers, the Berger 130 at 2950 has less winddrift than a Sierra 142 at 2810.

Plus, IMHO, the shorter bullets tend to be more forgiving to tune and often shoot slightly tighter groups.

The 120 range seems to be a "just right" combo of weight and bearing surface for the 6.5x47's case capacity.

For the 120 gn and 130 gn bullets, what twist barrel are shooters using?

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

StevenCO,
I'm shooting 123 gr. Scenars in a 28" Border 1/8.5" twist 5R barrel with excellent performance. I have a feeling that a 1/9" twist would also work well.

 

[daj]

Asa Yam and Moderator,

Thanks for your replies.

Unfortunately, 130 Bergers and JLKs are not available in Australia so Lapua 123s it has to be.

 

[Ogre6br]

DAJ
Try gary little an aussie custom projectile maker
He's making me a 120 HPBT with a really nice long ogive point almost with a driving band stle on size section and a very nice D-46 rebated BT design.
Cheaper than 123 Lapua too.

garyrl@iprimus.com.au

I'm waiting for my 6.5x55 to come back from the Gsmiths with a new tube on it so I cannot give you load data or testing info but if it shoots half as well as the long ogive FBHP 57 grainers he made me for my .223 1:12 twist- you will be well happy with it.

The bc of the 120 is at least as good as the 123L if not better from prelim measurements etc and from Garys explanation.


You might also want to try Charlie robinson from CDC projectiles in QLD- he makes wonderfull projectiles as well- he made me a 120 FBHP hunting projectile that worked really well in my mates .260 for it's purpose and his 60 FBHPs that he made me in .224 have grouped with an avg 0.6 over only a couple of groups on a really CRAP wind day at little river in a stock sporter .223 with a 1:12 twist barrel that wasn't cleaned or prepped in any way before the accuracy testing/load development was done. This rifle is a cow cockies ute gun that isn't looked after at all- again CDC is cheaper for much higher quality projectiles that any of the big names.
Sorry I dont have CDC's phone number handy.
HTH

later
P

 

[rcw3]

Asa Yam and Moderator,

Thanks for your replies.

Unfortunately, 130 Bergers and JLKs are not available in Australia so Lapua 123s it has to be.

Don't make it sound like the Lapua 123's are step down. Personally I have found, in my rifle, the Lapua 123's outperform just about every other bullet out there. First time I shot a 600 yard match with them I shot a 200/16x and every non x shot was nothing more than my body movement, and they also resisted crosswinds very well too. When I rceently shot the Lapua 123 factory 6.5 x 47 ammo, the first target I shot was a 100/10x perfect target.

As far as the 139-142 gr bullets out of the 6.5 x 47 Lapua, it's really an issue of power to weight ratio - the case capacity is a mismatch for the size of the bullet,kind of like trying to use a 4 cylinder car engine to power a big truck - it may be able to do it but it labors and it's a mismatch).

The Lapua 123's and the Sierra 120's are bullets that I can pretty much run "full throttle",2950+ fps) out of the 6.5 x 47 and them seem to shoot well like that ,at least they do in my rifle). I did not find that to be true of the 130 Bergers, it seemed they pressured up faster and the groups came apart when I started getting the velocity up around 2850- 2875 fps.


Robert Whitley

 

[gnoble]

I am using a slightly larger case in 6.5, 50.3 vs 47.1 in the 6.5X47 Laupa. It will push the 130 bullets 2900 to 3000 much easier. Last load was 38.7 grs of N150 ave. velocity 2901 ES 9 and SD 4. Two hundred yard group of .298. This in a nine twist Hart 27 inches.

 

[RickB]

I am using a slightly larger case in 6.5, 50.3 vs 47.1 in the 6.5X47 Laupa. It will push the 130 bullets 2900 to 3000 much easier. Last load was 38.7 grs of N150 ave. velocity 2901 ES 9 and SD 4. Two hundred yard group of .298. This in a nine twist Hart 27 inches.

What case are you using?

Thanks

 

[gnoble]

I am using a shortened 308,Laupa brass. It is very easy to make. The case looks like an enlarged 6BR.

 

[RickB]

I am using a shortened 308,Laupa brass. It is very easy to make. The case looks like an enlarged 6BR.

Thanks, there used to be a popular case with more names than I can remember which was a full length .243 Win case made into a long 6 BR. All reports were that it worked well and the barrel life was typically somewhat better than a .243 Win.

Cheers

 

[gnoble]

I forgot to mention the bullet I was using. They are 130gr Normas.

 

[daj]

Ogre6br,

Thanks for the tips on Aussie bullet makers.

I've just emailed Gary for more information on his range of projectiles but a Google search for "CDC Projectiles" returned no hits. If you find CDC's contact details please pass them on and I'll follow it up.


Robert,

I'm glad you joined in on this topic.

Don't get me wrong, I am a great fan of Lapua and would never consider any of their products a step down, quite the reverse in fact. I was only referring to the lower bc of the bullet, not its quality.

I have seen the 6.5x47L with 120s perform brilliantly out to 600yds but, in light of what you and others are saying about the heavies being mismatched to the case capacity, I am wondering if this chambering is such a good choice for the longer ranges - out to 1,000yds. In other words, would a one-gun F-Class shooter be better served by a 260Rem,AI) or .243,6CM) that can shoot high bc bullets way out there?

BTW I have greatly appreciated all of your 6.5x47L reports. Thanks for sharing your information.

,Perhaps a 1000yds test of the Lapua factory ammo could be next .....? )

 

[rcw3]

daj

In truth, there is no doubt there are better 1000 yard cartridges,performance wise) than a 6.5 x 47 Lapua,like maybe a 6.5 x 284 which is what I would pick for 1000 yard work). If all I was going to shoot was 600 - 1000 yards, I would not pick a 6.5 x 47 Lapua as the cartridge of choice.

Robert Whitley

 

[daj]

Robert,

No argument there. I don't know of anyone dumping their 6.5x284s in favor of the 6.5x47L, but I do know two-gun shooters who are moving from 6mmBRs to 6/6.5x47L for the shorts and keeping the 6.5x284s, 7mm etc. for the longs.

Looking only at the one-gun shooter's options though, shooting from 300 to 1,000yds, do you have a sense of where the 6.5x47L fits into the pecking order here? My guess is that, in terms of overall performance, it is above the 6mmBR but below the 260Rem, 6.5x55, and the .243.

Anyone else care to comment as well?

 

[daj]

Let me rephrase the above question.

Given that a 139 at 2700fps beats a 123 at 3000fps in windage at 1,000yds, does the ability to comfortably shoot 139s at 2800+fps make the 260 or 260AI a wiser choice than the 6.5x47L for shooting F-Class at all ranges from 300yds to 1,000yds?

While I am looking at rechambering options, is loading down the 6.5x284 for short range a viable proposition?,to extend barrel life)