6.5x47 Load Development Question

[minnesotamulisha]

Ok, so yesterday I unloaded 10 loads in my 6.5x47. All loads were Varget under 130 Berger Hybrids. They shot absolutely great and I couldnt be more happy. I am reloading for fun more than anything. I would like to shoot PRS in 2016 so I would like to have an accurate rifle.

Rifle is a Savage action, 22 inch Shilen 1:8 barrel.

If you look at the targets below, there are three groups in the bottom row, all on the right that I am quite pleased with. The groups are 36.9, 37.2 and 37.5 grains. If you look at 37.2, it has a differant POI than 36.9 and 37.5. This worries me a bit. No signs of pressure were seen. No sticky bolt lift, no ejector marks, etc. I did not chrony these loads as I don't want the Magnetospeed to have an effect on the load development

How would you move forward? Load up the same charges and shoot them again? Load up to a higher charge weight?

Thanks for any help.

 

[minnesotamulisha]

And the bottom row of targets is 4 shot groups. Top row is 5 shot groups.

 

[Scott Harris]

Go with 37.2 grains and get on with shooting the PRS matches. First off, this cartridge shoots just about any load fabulously, so load development can be quite short. Secondly, you are in the same sweet spot everyone else has found with Varget....37.0 to 37.5 grains. Third, the PRS matches are practical shooting.....any of the groups on that paper are good enough to win all the matches. Get out and practice!

Regards,
Scott

PS. Knowing the ES/SD is essential for long-range load work. We put the magneto on and leave it on for all the five-shot groups. It does not change POI much if at all at 100 yards and does not effect group size. Of course, with the 6.5x47L , every single load we tested had an SD of 5 or less.....amazing.

 

[minnesotamulisha]

Thanks for the info, Scott. Yeah, I'm pretty happy with my results. I will be loading up some more rounds today and will check out velocity hopefully this week.

 

[barefooter56]

+1 to Scotts response. 37.2 looks real nice. Very little vertical dispersion which is what you want/need. Run the velocity numbers on our BALLISTICS CALCULATOR found under the BALLISTICS tab on our homepage to confirm you have what you need for velocity for the round to still be supersonic at the longest range (s) you will be shooting at. The 6.5x47 Lapua is a great cartridge !