6.5x47 lapua question

[Erik Cortina]

Obviously a "non-believer" about these hybrid powders being harder on barrels.
It's been a consistent observation of my gunsmith who does a lot of rebarreling for F-Class shooters.

Having said that, these guys sometimes chase max vels hoping for a micro advantage in the wind..

Chris-NZ

Ok, I'll play. How much faster do the barrels wear out using hybrid powders versus convensional powders?

 

[flatlander]

At one time, Vihta Vuori advertised that their Hi Energy powders had an ingredient that was supposed to reduce throat erosion. I used to shoot a lot of N540 & 550 in AR15 service rifles, and never really felt that these powders were much harder on 223 throats than RL15 or Varget. At the same time, I was fairly sure that the combination of N550 & 90gr. bullets was harder on throats than say, Varget & 80s.

I've yet to try N550 in any of my 6.5x47s, using RL17 instead. However, if N550 is plainly superior to RL17, I'd be willing to try it. My go-to 600-1000yd. bullet in the 6.5x47 is the Berger 130VLD - does anyone have opinions based on actual shooting comparisons between RL17 & N550 with 130s?

 

[Erik Cortina]

At one time, Vihta Vuori advertised that their Hi Energy powders had an ingredient that was supposed to reduce throat erosion. I used to shoot a lot of N540 & 550 in AR15 service rifles, and never really felt that these powders were much harder on 223 throats than RL15 or Varget. At the same time, I was fairly sure that the combination of N550 & 90gr. bullets was harder on throats than say, Varget & 80s.

I've yet to try N550 in any of my 6.5x47s, using RL17 instead. However, if N550 is plainly superior to RL17, I'd be willing to try it. My go-to 600-1000yd. bullet in the 6.5x47 is the Berger 130VLD - does anyone have opinions based on actual shooting comparisons between RL17 & N550 with 130s?

I switched from RL17 to N550, I find it easier to tune, measures better, and burns cleaner.

A friend of mine tried it with 130 Bergers and he has since switched over from H4350 to N550. 3/4" groups at 300 yards are the norm in his rifle.

 

[ChrisNZ]

As for barrel life, let me give you an example which may or may not be of interest. My gunsmith was at one stage shooting a straight 6.5 Swede in F-Class and running a "decent " load of N550 with 139 Scenars. Vels were reasonably impressive relative to the 6.5-284 but it suddenly went off the boil- borescope revealed the throat was absolute toast so new barrel time. Round count was 615.

Dunno about you but that in my mind ain't great barrel life.

Chris-NZ

 

[Erik Cortina]

As for barrel life, let me give you an example which may or may not be of interest. My gunsmith was at one stage shooting a straight 6.5 Swede in F-Class and running a "decent " load of N550 with 139 Scenars. Vels were reasonably impressive relative to the 6.5-284 but it suddenly went off the boil- borescope revealed the throat was absolute toast so new barrel time. Round count was 615.

Dunno about you but that in my mind ain't great barrel life.

Chris-NZ

I would have to look at my log, but my 6.5x47 Lapua barrel has to have at least 500 rounds using 139 gr. Scenars and N550 at 2,900 fps., and the throat has only grown about .005". I expect barrel to go 2,000+ rounds.

I just ran my load through the Barrel Life Calculator spreadsheet, and it predicts that my barrel will last 1,903 rounds. So, that plus my experiences with 6.5x47 and N550 so far indicate that I will have a good barrel well past 615 rounds.

 

[coues52]

I used to shoot Rl-17 ,cci-450 with the 140 amax,and yes it did pretty good..But then I tried vvn550 as Erik C suggested,worked up to 42.00 gr but 41.5 was the sweet spot..i am now shooting 3/4 inch vert at 300 yds (not 3/4 all day long, but many at <1.250), made a believer out of alot of shooters at the range.. you can take Eriks suggestions to the bank...my load for the 123 amaxs is 37.5 varget with cci-450,s chono 2890 18fps spread for 5 rds,gun shoots better than I can: coues 52 Danny B

 

[ChrisNZ]

I'd totally agree with your expectation Erik. You may get more, time will tell. A 6.5x47 is in a different league to a 6.5-284 as regards barrel life.

The throat in my 6.5x47 still looks good after ~400 rounds through it. Not a hot load- 38 of Varget behind a 123 Scenar giving 2945fps. I'm hopeful it'll get me at least 2500 before going West.

Chris-NZ

 

[Erik Cortina]

I used to shoot Rl-17 ,cci-450 with the 140 amax,and yes it did pretty good..But then I tried vvn550 as Erik C suggested,worked up to 42.00 gr but 41.5 was the sweet spot..i am now shooting 3/4 inch vert at 300 yds, made a beleaver out of alot of shooters at the range.. you can take Eriks suggestions to the bank...my load for the 123 amaxs is 37.5 varget with cci-450,s chono 2890 18fps spread for 5 rds,gun shoots better than I can: coues 52 Danny B

Thank you Danny, I'm glad it worked out for you.

I'd totally agree with your expectation Erik. You may get more, time will tell. A 6.5x47 is in a different league to a 6.5-284 as regards barrel life.

The throat in my 6.5x47 still looks good after ~400 rounds through it. Not a hot load- 38 of Varget behind a 123 Scenar giving 2945fps. I'm hopeful it'll get me at least 2500 before going West.

Chris-NZ

I would say that when you hit 2,000 you got your money's worth, anything over is a bonus!