6.5x47 Lapua starting load

[wmdron]

Anyone care to share a starting load for 123g scenars ? I have Varget, H380, RL15. I also need advice as to the brass max and trim length. Thanks.

 

[Pappy42]

Case length max 1.85. Trim length 1.84

 

[X-Caveman]

I say start with 36gr of Varget and work your way up to 38gr-ish. Usual warnings apply.

 

[gotcha]

Max length is 1.85", trim length is what you'd like it to be. My pet load with 123 Scenars is 37.5 gr RL-15, .010" into the lands with BR-4's Yields 2900 fps + in a 26" Criterion. Again, usual safety precautions regarding starting low and working up. Some say Varget is less temp. sensitive. I can only verify that RL-15 is stable into the high 80 degrees F. But did yield higher velocity than Varget.

 

[wmdron]

Thanks folks for the info and the help. Ron

 

[JCardenas]

Ron,
I have tried both rl15 and varget, both are great. My groups started to shrink once I got to 37.5 for both powders and settled on 38.0. Mine is a hunting rifle and i shoot the 123sst and it will group really nice for 3 shoots (sub .5") I also tried rl17 with some 130 and it does well, plus I got a bit more velocity with it and the 130.

 

[wmdron]

Thanks, I am starting with 36g of Varget as per the advice to start low and work my way up. Mine is a hunting rifle also. I hope I can get sub .5" nice shooting Colo204.

 

[avidflyer]

Try some H4350 if you can get it....my pet load is a 123 Lapua over 40.9 4350 with a BR primer...shoots in the .1's great load.

 

[Grimstod]

Just was at Hodgdons load data center. Shockingly they have no load data for the 6.5x47

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

Avidflyer has a good idea though using IMR 4350. Here is a load from reLoadersNest. As with all recipes back down 10% then work your way back up checking for pressure signs. Just like any load book would tell you to.
http://www.reloadersnest.com/unverified_detail.asp?CaliberID=549&ID=7357

 

[Laurie]

IMO, 6.5X47 barrels and chambers seem to fall into one of two groups as to preferred powders. There are Re15 / VarGet lovers, and there are 4350 / Viht N150 lovers. Mine falls into the latter category and won't shoot well with anything in the VarGet burning range; others I know of are the opposite.

I've not found anything to beat N150 with the 123 Scenar - which is lucky as it's (a) relatively cheap here in the UK, and (b) actually available unlike all Hodgdon's extruded ADI manufactured products. In a shortish throated chamber (2.650" COAL just off the lands), 40gn is around max and shoots very well at just under 3,000 fps from a 28-inch barrel. If your barrel likes N150, start at 36.5 or 37gn and work up from there. Use a BR or SR Magnum primer.

 

[wmdron]

I also looked at the hogdon load data site,no luck there. I loaded 20 6.5x47 with 36g of varget the other day so I am going to give that a go. I don't have any 4350 or vv150 on hand but I have noticed that there is some for sale out there. If Varget/RL15 doesn't work I will give 4350,vv150 a try. Thanks folks, for all the advice,info, suggestions and support. Good shooting, Ron...

 

[Laurie]

Yes, good luck Ron.

Looking at my loads data again, 40gn N150 is a bit too hot for the 123 Scenar in the 47L with a short chamber. 39gn is my match load and I wouldn't care to go above that. (40-40.5gn N150 works very well with 123gn Scenars in 6.5mm Hornady Creedmoor and a short-throated .260 Rem.)

 

[schumi]

I can speak from experience in my testing in the last three days, my 6.5L likes 123 Scenars with 37.5gr of Varget or RL15. They shoot almost identically. It's really hard for me to decide which one to go with. A longer range and more research is needed to decide I guess....

 

[wmdron]

I finally got around to shooting my 6.5x47L last weekend and things went reasonably well. The rifle a Cooper M52 is new so I did the break in with the 20 cartridges I loaded with 36gr of Varget ,450 primer . There were no pressure signs at this load so I am thinking of upping the charge to 36.5gr and trying that, so far I will be sticking with Varget. I like what I am seeing and feeling, the rifle has very manageable recoil and even with all the cleaning etc. I did manage to shoot some 3 shot 1/2" groups. So I am pleased and will be experimenting with different powders and loads. Once again thanks to all for the sage advice I really appreciated all the comments and suggestions.