6.5x47 Sierra 123 and 130

[JamesnTN]

I’m fixing to begin testing using the Sierra 123 grain and 130 grain match bullets.
If anyone here has any experience using these bullets could you chime in what you found worked best? Things such as powders, seating depth etc.....

I typically start my seating depth .012 into the lands and test powder charges. But if the majority says the best accuracy is jumping them then that’s where I need to start and go from there.

 

[ShootDots]

Hello James.. I used to shoot the 123 SMK at 7 thousandths INTO the lands. My load was exactly 38.0grs of RL-15. No doubt you could substitute Varget in it's place. It has been MY experience that with BOTH the 123s (SMK / Scenar) that 38.0grs. performed the best! I don't know what twist you have, but I found that the 1-8.5 would give a very slight edge in accuracy with bullets 130 or less. I do NOT have any experience with Sierra's 130.. But Berger's 130 VLD likes being 10-12 thousandths INTO the lands.. My load was 37.2grs of Varget. If you want some REAL speed and excellent accuracy, albeit a little temp sensitive, substitute VV N540 for either Varget or RL-15 with the 123s.. Now I used to get 2970f.p.s. with the 130s using 40.1grs of VV N550>>>same drawback as N 540. Additionally, I found that the VV 5 series powders eat up throats rather quickly! But they do produce excellent accuracy and amazing speed!

 

[stacy]

MY 6.5X47LOVES THE BERGER 130 VLDH OVER 40.5GRS H-4350 AND 450M PRIMERS IT DIDN'T LIKE THE 123'S THAT GOOD

 

[DennisH]

 

[DennisH]

This is my best with 130 grain Bergers. My rifle loved the 120's & 123's, the 130's and above, I always struggled with them.

I settled with the 123 Scenars.

 

[JamesnTN]

Thanks Guys
Both of my 6.5x47’s shoots the 130 VLDH really well.
I’m just wanting to test some other Bullets and weights to see if it likes something even better.

 

[DennisH]

Mine loves the lighter bullets, 130 and up, "forget" it with my rifle. Their MOA, but not like the lighter bullets!

Of course, I have a blast shooting the 123's or the 120's!

 

[DennisH]

139 Scenars, I could have tried harder with the 40.0 load, but I had already been through several powders, primers, charges, and out of all used, this is the closes I got to being "close" to where I wanted to be. Same with all 130 bullets. I spent several hundred trying to dial in both of these bullets.

The 120 and 123 were "super" simple! And both are very respectful @ 600 yards, the 123's especially! My favorite!

NOTE: The round targets are 3", and the red dot is about the size of a #2 pencil eraser.

It's "amazing" how .1 grain of powder will make such a difference.

 

[DennisH]

This picture I was building up the the 40.0 grain load.

40.0 held it's accuracy with all tests.

 

[muleman69]

Mine loves the lighter bullets, 130 and up, "forget" it with my rifle. Their MOA, but not like the lighter bullets!

Of course, I have a blast shooting the 123's or the 120's!

View attachment 1080354

Nice,what twist and how long is your barrel

 

[DennisH]

Nice,what twist and how long is your barrel

28", 8 twist!

I maybe would have kept trying with the 139 Scenars, but the loads were hot, showing signs, and the speeds was nowhere near where I needed to be, FYI.

Every barrel is different!

Dennis

 

[muleman69]

28", 8 twist!

I maybe would have kept trying with the 139 Scenars, but the loads were hot, showing signs, and the speeds was nowhere near where I needed to be, FYI.

Every barrel is different!

Dennis

are you wanting to shoot bigger bullets? The 120's shot awesome

 

[DennisH]

are you wanting to shoot bigger bullets? The 120's shot awesome

NO, several advised to too, but the 123's have won many tournaments! And their my favorite!

Dennis

 

[JamesnTN]

Well I got a break in the rain today so I did a quick 2 shot test at 100 yards on powder charges and seating depth with the Sierra 123 grain MK
Tests were conducted at 100 yards using Varget and the 450m primers
Once I got a rough idea of what powder charge to use I then began the seating depth test.
The powder charge I used for seating depth test is 37.8 grains.
Right out of the gate 2.195 put 2 in a ragged hole, then as I kept going it began opening up. Then bam at 2.180 it stacked 2 in the same hole. That’s all the brass I had prepped for the day so I stopped there.

 

[DennisH]

Well I got a break in the rain today so I did a quick 2 shot test at 100 yards on powder charges and seating depth with the Sierra 123 grain MK
Tests were conducted at 100 yards using Varget and the 450m primers
Once I got a rough idea of what powder charge to use I then began the seating depth test.
The powder charge I used for seating depth test is 37.8 grains.
Right out of the gate 2.195 put 2 in a ragged hole, then as I kept going it began opening up. Then bam at 2.180 it stacked 2 in the same hole. That’s all the brass I had prepped for the day so I stopped there.


View attachment 1080565

Very Impressive!

Amazing how a few thousandths makes a "big" difference!

 

[JamesnTN]

Very Impressive!

Amazing how a few thousandths makes a "big" difference!

Thanks but sadly I can guarantee what showed promise at 100 won’t at 500. I’m never that lucky.

 

[DennisH]

Thanks but sadly I can guarantee what showed promise at 100 won’t at 500. I’m never that lucky.

I am not saying I am lucky, but "every" rifle I dialed in @ 100 yards, I move the turret up 12MOA's, and was always on paper the first time @600.

My last rifle I set up, a 284 Win, I was dead on @ 100.

The first time this rifle was shot @ 600 yards, with less than 40 rounds down the tube, I shot a 595 out of 600. And I have never touched the load or anything else.

It was shot this week, and was easily shooting .2 MOA 3 shot groups @ 100. A dime was easy covering the 3 shot groups.

Just making sure the scope was still dead on, and the NightForce didn't fail, it was still dead on the money.

 

[DennisH]

Thanks but sadly I can guarantee what showed promise at 100 won’t at 500. I’m never that lucky.

Next time I dial one in, I am going to try the .005 seating depths increments. I knew this is critical, but not in the thousandths. I usually found my spot using .100 increments.

You obviously bring your seating die to the range with you.

How far off the lands, or are you in the lands with your loads?

 

[JamesnTN]

I am not saying I am lucky, but "every" rifle I dialed in @ 100 yards, I move the turret up 12MOA's, and was always on paper the first time @600.

My last rifle I set up, a 284 Win, I was dead on @ 100.

The first time this rifle was shot @ 600 yards, with less than 40 rounds down the tube, I shot a 595 out of 600. And I have never touched the load or anything else.

It was shot this week, and was easily shooting .2 MOA 3 shot groups @ 100. A dime was easy covering the 3 shot groups.

Just making sure the scope was still dead on, and the NightForce didn't fail, it was still dead on the money.

Getting on paper isn’t the issue with my load development at 100 yards, what I find is those single hole groups at 100 don’t translate to the same MOA at 500 or 600 yards. So I get close at 100 then do my tweaking at 500 or what ever distance I plan to shoot at. Sometimes my worse groups at 100 will give me my best overall groups at 500. Yes very confusing. Same as I get my best groups with an ES between 15-22 fps at 500 and out. I’ve shot some big (ugly) groups at 600 yards with ES of 1-5 fps which does not make any sense but paper shows the proof.

The .005 increments will further get fine tune down down to .002 once I get the ideal powder charge for this bullet. And yes you can actually see .002 on paper in seating depth.

 

[JamesnTN]

Next time I dial one in, I am going to try the .005 seating depths increments. I knew this is critical, but not in the thousandths. I usually found my spot using .100 increments.

You obviously bring your seating die to the range with you.

How far off the lands, or are you in the lands with your loads?

This test today was done in my backyard. I have a 100 yard range 100’ from my reloading shop. So I can do just about any test needed up close.

When I go long I usually have enough rounds loaded with various powder charges to find the optimum charge. Then I’ll make another trip based on the previous testing for seating depth.
Then the same session I’ll have my optimum powder charge and bullets seated long with 3-4 different primers so when I find that optimum seating depth I then can seat the bullets for the next test of primers. From there it’s about just doing very minimum tweaks either with neck bushings to find the best consistency load I can compete with.