6.5x47 Lapua Load Development

[sveltri]

Finally got my hands on the bullets I was waiting for my 6.5, Berger 144 gn long range hybrid target. I was very happy to see all groups come in under 1 MOA. My question is where do I go from here? How hard should this cartridge be run? I built this rifle with a Savage 110 and Shilen prefit from NSS to use in NRL Hunter competition but would definitely take on the right hunt. Do I go with the smallest group with decent velocity numbers or a slightly larger group with better velocity numbers and continue to tune the load with seating depth? All advice is welcome.

 

[AckleymanII]

Change to a Rem 7 1/2 primer.

 

[sveltri]

Change to a Rem 7 1/2 primer.

That was going to be my last step was primer testing with the 450 and the 7-1/2. I have only been reloading about a year, so my knowledge is pretty limited. What kind of results could I expect to see with 7.5's? Better ES/SD? Thanks for the help.

 

[bgris]

dont worry about the actual velocity worry more about your ES and SD. Once you were you have a powder node do your seating depth test. This being said I wouldnt try to tune anything until you have about 150 rounds down the barrel. If i were you, I would load up some cheap 140s and about 40 grains of h4350 and break in your barrel before you burn threw the 144s. 6.5x47 is a very forgiving cartridge to load for.

 

[sveltri]

dont worry about the actual velocity worry more about your ES and SD. Once you were you have a powder node do your seating depth test. This being said I wouldnt try to tune anything until you have about 150 rounds down the barrel. If i were you, I would load up some cheap 140s and about 40 grains of h4350 and break in your barrel before you burn threw the 144s. 6.5x47 is a very forgiving cartridge to load for.

I did just that, I'm over 150 rounds on the barrel. I'm not necessarily chasing velocity, but the higher velocity did offer the tightest ES/SD's but not the smallest group. This is the part of the process I get confused with.

 

[RegionRat]

Do I go with the smallest group with decent velocity numbers or a slightly larger group with better velocity numbers and continue to tune the load with seating depth?

If you say "smallest group" it should mean you have already tested to determine the tune of both the charge and the depth, otherwise it is yet to be determined, regardless of the velocity stats.

When you actually shoot for groups out at 1000, the velocity stats are likely to be at least decent in order to see a good group. In other words, prioritize the group at 1000 and the velocity stats should roughly correlate.

When you crank the math on concepts like Confidence Intervals, Central Limit Theorem, etc., and also on how external ballistics work at distances where you approach sonic transition, you will see you are unlikely to find a small group with really bad velocity stats. That only happens when you under sample.

Get your best load by testing at the longest distance you plan to shoot, then decide if it is good enough.

 

[Delfuego]

Easy. Just change your powder to "out of stock" and your primers to "out of stock" and change the bullet to "out of stock" and your done.

All kidding aside. Any of those groups are could win an NRL hunter match. Don't get caught up in the numbers or velocity. Pick the most consistent/forgiving one in the middle.

It's the Indian not the arrow. Finding, ranging and shooting targets on the clock will be more important than your load. Go have fun.

 

[sveltri]

Easy. Just change your powder to "out of stock" and your primers to "out of stock" and change the bullet to "out of stock" and your done.

All kidding aside. Any of those groups are could win an NRL hunter match. Don't get caught up in the numbers or velocity. Pick the most consistent/forgiving one in the middle.

It's the Indian not the arrow. Finding, ranging and shooting targets on the clock will be more important than your load. Go have fun.

Agreed!

 

[6bra1k]

look for smallest vertical and then tune from there, es and sd don't mean beans if you have vertical.
the fifth looks best
do some fine tuning from there
did you weight sort the brass ?
es/sd can be all over the place
what distance are shoot in a match ??

 

[sveltri]

The fifth group had ave velocity of 2737 15.83 ES, 8.28 SD. That's where I've decided to start with the tweaking. I'm planning on seating depth next, then maybe try +/- .1 grns on either side, then primer, finish with neck tension. No I didn't, and won't, weight sort brass. From what I understand match ranges can be 100-1K yds. No matter how well I can get this load tuned I know it won't be the weak link in the process.

 

[PracticalTactical]

The fifth group had ave velocity of 2737 15.83 ES, 8.28 SD. That's where I've decided to start with the tweaking. I'm planning on seating depth next, then maybe try +/- .1 grns on either side, then primer, finish with neck tension. No I didn't, and won't, weight sort brass. From what I understand match ranges can be 100-1K yds. No matter how well I can get this load tuned I know it won't be the weak link in the process.

My advice is to try using large primer cases and compare the results of LRP to SRP.

It's easy to form 6XC cases into 6 or 6.5x47.

Once I started using large primers I never considered SRPs again for my 6x47L.

 

[Tesoro]

Unless you have your rifle in a vice, repeat that and see how it matches up to the first round!!

 

[Old Navy]

I would suggest you work the velocity up to around 2850. I have a Shilen HV @ 28" and found the sweet spot with 142 SMK, 40.4 H4350, CCI-450, Lapua SRP brass and .007" off. I have clocked it several times and it was always around 2865 with low SD and ES. I will do mid .2 to mid .3 consistently.