6.5x47 Load Development Started.

[craig6547]

Hello

For those of you that saw the 1st post that i received my new 6.5x47 build, I have now went onto starting developing the best load for it. Bullet choice is 140gn A-Max with CCI 450's and Elcho17 ( Reloader 17).

My 1st batch of test rounds were from 38.0 - 41.0gn in 0.5gn increments seated at 2.810" which for my chamber was a .010"jump.

Started off 1.5"group for 1st 2 batches, and then went down to 0.5" .Best group was 0.475" using 39.5 gn powder.
The last 2 groups opened up to 0.6" and then on packing up the gear to go home i found the moderator was slightly loose. Im guessing it only got loose for the last 2 groups as the 2 before were good.

So i decided because i didnt know when the mod came loose i would do the lot again but missed out the 38.0 and 38.5 gn batches. This time i took advice from someone to jam these bullets cos the A-Max likes them. So this time i loaded up 39.0 - 41.0 in 0.2gn increments and seated them to 2.830" with a.010" jam so i didnt miss out the sweet spot in between the 0.5gn increments from the 1st tests. This time the groups were all to hell. 2" , 1.5" , 0.8" and the best group at 0.533" with 39.6gn powder.

I never got loads 40.4 - 41.0 done cos the weather got bad so i stopped. But the way the groups were going i was best to stop anyway. Speed for the 39.6 was average 2652 fps with ES 31 fps.

Im undecided what to do for the next stage now. Should i do the lot again but this time seat with the jump, the jam or this time try kissing the lands ?

So far I have not had any pressure signs at all in my rifle.

By the way, I am no expert reloader. My old rifle was a .223 that loved varget and seated at SAMMI length. Easy rifle to develop a load.


Any advice and help is much appreciated.


Craig

 

[Hoier]

I would go back to the jump since it was working better there.

 

[ShootDots]

Because you state that you are less of a seasoned "match" type reloader, I am going to assume you do not turn your necks. That is a HUGE factor in getting your groups to not only get smaller BUT stay consistent.. Having said that, I know I am going to get flack from this one but here goes: I have never, in any caliber I have tried them in, got good, consistent accuracy from A-Max's. I know some people do BUT I never did. So my first suggestion is to either get some Berger 130 VLD's or some Lapua 123 Scenars.. Then get yourself some RL-15, Varget OR H4350 (in that order) and start there. The VLD's I would start 12K INTO the lands and the Scenars 7K into the lands. You can vary the seating depth later>>this is to get you started. With RL-15 and or Varget start about 36.5 and go to 38.0 with the 130's. With the 123's start at 37.0 and go to 38.3... With the H4350 and the 130's start at 39.0 and go to 41.0 and with the 123's start at 39.7 and go to 41.5. I would only use the H4350 IF you are unsuccessful with the RL-15 or Varget>>>which you won't be>>you will love them! H4350 is BETTER suited for the 139-142 weight bullets..

 

[craig6547]

No i am not a match type reloader at all, this rifle will be for mainly deer/ fox and occasional target shooting. I got the chamber reamed out purposely for the 140gn bullet after doing thorough research and advice taken from a couple guys i know that shoot the same setup. Varget and H4350 is impossible to get in the UK at the moment and nobody knows when it is coming back. The smith told me that i cannot go back to the 123 gn bullet cos of the long throating, so 140's it is. I should have wrote that in the 1st post of this topic, sorry. I also do not turn my necks.



Craig

 

[ShootDots]

Well in that case Craig, I would either do what Hoier stated OR try some VV N550 if you can get that... Since it is primarily going to be used for hunting, I would set a goal of 3/4" or a bit less at 100 yards.. That will get you ALL the hunting accuracy you need and up to 300 yard competition, you should do fine with that..

 

[craig6547]

Thank you for the advice guys. Ill report my next results when i get a chance to get back out again.



thanks


craig

 

[C. Collins]

I think you should start .020 back, and youll probably end up around .015 off.

 

[dooley]

Hi Craig, as I said before I have exactly the the same rifle as yours including the aics stock but a longer barrel than yours, and I use Elcho 17 powder, it would appear that you were getting better groups with the bullet jumping instead of being jammed, however I would do some more testing using 39.5 grs as a yardstick and just vary your coal, like I said before and "shoot dots" has told you the 6.5x47 is better suited to the 130gr bergers, but thats not written in stone, Regarding the sound mod last year the same thing happened to me, only the bullet had hit the baffles making it a write off, I won't replace it. Good Luck with your testing try better weather conditions nex time. dooley

 

[craig6547]

Dooley : hi mate, thanks for the input there. I do not doubt for a second that the rifle would probably love the 130's but as I have so many 140's ill need to give them a go.
Ill definitely go back to the jump seeing as it liked it better. Ill start them at .020 off and work my way out.

Even though I'm not a match shooter I would still prefer to get the absolute smallest groups possible.


Craig

 

[BradY]

You can go back to any bullet you want. I shoot 55gr nosler 6mm's in a 6 dasher chambered for 105gr bullets. They are jumping something crazy over 100 thou and shoot bugholes at 100yds. But if you go back to a lighter bullet then look at something a bit more jump tolerant like a nosler BT. Or try the 130berger hunting VLD. I shot it in a 6.5x47L with 37.5gr varget (you should be able to substitute RL15 or V150 or 550 Im guessing) and it worked best jumped 40 thou. Held very good waterline out to 800yds and and beyond.

 

[tedsalad]

Hi Craig,
I'm also trying to get a 6.5x47 Sako 75 to behave.
The best 4 shot group out of the 1st attempt was .35 using Amax and 36g N140
I've disregarded all the other bullet types for now and I'm going to matrix load a bunch of Amax with differing seating.
Where abouts in the UK are you?
BR
Rupe

 

[dooley]

Hi Craig, don't be worried about bullet jump we know in theory that bullets should be seated closer to the lands, However I have two friends with 308 Sako TRG's they load to coal of .2800 thou with 155gr scenars, both of these rifles have a bullet jump of 0.200 thou and they still can shoot sub 1/2 inch groups consistantly and with sound mods, providing of course that they don't work loose, when you run out of 140 amaxes try the 130gr bergers you will gain a lot more speed and accuracy with these. dooley UK

 

[craig6547]

Ted salad: what sort of speed were u getting with that load ? I'm in Aberdeen, where abouts are you?

I'm the same , I've chose the 140gn A-Max through advice and at the moment have also disregarded other bullets for now, seeing as I have 1600 of them in the cupboard I think I should try get these to work
I am however not at all saying that nothing else will work through the rifle , it's just what I've chosen.
What is the spec of your rifle ?

Dooley: that is one hell of a jump in the TRG. But if it works then it works. Unfortunately I am having to go away with work next week up in invergordon so doubt ill get any testing done this week or next. Week after I'm off to Prague for a few days, one of which to a shooting range to fire pistols and automatic weapons will probably start testing after then.
Once I do run out of the A-Max I will experiment with 130's. Are there any hunting 130's preferably BT's ?


Craig

 

[tedsalad]

Craig
No speed data, will get he chrono out next visit.
I am just inside M25, 20 minutes from Bisley.
Sako has a Border 1 in 8 twist.
The idea was the 6.5 would act as long range and deer rifle, but it's way too heavy with the McMillan on to be lugging it around your manner chasing deer.
I've got a load of Sierra Prohunter which are 120g and these grouped to about 1/2 inch on first attempt, but I'm gonna concentrate on the Amax and getting these right first.
I'm going to load some more tonight ready for weekend.
Will let you know what happens.
Cheers
Rupe

 

[craig6547]

Would be interested to hear of your speeds when you get a chance.
My rifle build will be a deer/foxing/target , she has got a good weight to her though but I'm a big loon so ill just lug it about with me.

I may look at getting 130gn hunting bullets and see if I can get my hands on any and see how they perform and when I run out of amax 'a ill use them if they are better.


Craig

 

[Erik Cortina]

140 Amax and RL17 will work good. It makes me laugh when guys from across the world think they know what your rifle likes. For hunting, always jump the bullet, as you will eliminate the chance of sticking a bullet in the lands.

Find my load development thread and try going from 38.0 gr all the way up to 42.5 gr. Keep in mind, you will be testing for accuracy as well as pressure, so if you see or feel pressure signs STOP immediately and DO NOT shoot the hotter loads. Find your powder node, then seating depth node, and you are done.

If accuracy is not acceptable after you do the entire load testing procedure, it is time to change something, but at this point, keep testing.

Good luck.

 

[craig6547]

Erik. Thanks for that info , encouraging words there which has put more confidence in my bullet / powder choice.

I will post results when I get a chance to get out.

Craig

 

[tedsalad]

Craig,

Managed to get a few rounds off at Bisley today, blowing a gale and pissing down. Not the best weather for LD!

So shot 100 rounds of 120g Amax in 5 shot groups with differing loads of N140.
I borrowed a mates chrono which wasn't that happy in the rain!
I won't post them all up or I will be here all night.

A4 34.5gains 2704/2716/2719/2689/2690 spread 30



A8 36.5grains 2804/2826/2839/2781/2779 spread (60) flyer down to me


B7 36grains no chrono flyer down to me again


B9 37grains no chroni


Not sure if there are any useful conclusions here.

Gonna try 140 Amax next followed by 130 Bergers and buy a decent chrono.

How you getting on?