6.5x47 - Still Current?

[Laurie]

My 6.5x47 is a hunting rig built by Jon Beanland. #3 Hawk Hill, 1/8 twist, shooting Berger 140 hunting VLDs with 37.5 grains of Varget, CCI 450 and Lapua brass. My rifle just likes Varget, my SD is under 6 FPS and my ES is under 15 FPS. I m getting 2805 FPS. I have just over 500 rounds on the rifle. For whatever reason my rifle really likes Varget, I’m probably in the minority though, H4350 and Reloader 16 would be the first powders I’d play with shooting a 140.

My experience with this design and talking to the very many people I know who load for it is that powder preference ranges from individual rifle/barrel to rifle/barrel with 123-142gn band bullets. Some like yours will only perform well with H. VarGet / Re15 and equivalents. Others don't like these powders at all and only shoot well with the 4350s and equivalent burn speed powders. I don't think I know of any that accept both, but I'm sure there will be a few about.

 

[Corjack]

1346 yards windy and cold. 36.5 Varget 140 Berger Hybrid. New brass. 26 inch Proof Research prefit. Bighorn TL3. Do not know how much jump. Dumped powder, seated bullet, looked nice and chambered. Went shooting. About 30 shots before i shot this it was 2738. About 120 down the tube when I took this picture.

 

[fourpower]

My 6.5x47 is a great gun and very easy on brass. I now have 34 reloads on Laupa brass and now anneal every firing. I have now had to increase my neck tension by .001 but brass is doing great!

 

[johara1]

With a 12 lb. rifle you will have recoil, I think you should think a little heavier..... jim

 

[Savagepc.223]

6.5x47 will fit the bill. It’s such a good round with plenty of data out there

 

[CT10ring]

Love my Bat 6.5X47 Lapua
Brass lasts, easy to load for. I anneal em.
I'm using VV N550, 108 Scenars, CCI 450's.
accurate w a few powders and bullets.
Not a competition shooter, just for fun.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

If you want to reduce the recoil consider a suppressor. Get it ordered soon — who knows how much longer we’ll be able to buy those? I have a few and I love using them with my 6 Creed which is just slightly more case capacity than the 6.5x47L. Hard to feel anything when I shoot it using 115 gr bullets, but my rifle weighs around 17-18 lbs.

 

[Indiana6547]

I am the OP, and thanks all, for the feedback. 6.5x47 Lapua it is! Seems like "Creedmoore" anything is all the rage in some circles, but always felt the '47 was ideal in a multitude of ways. Comments here tend to affirm that. In the 300 - 1000 yard range, what might be an ideal bullet and twist rate to use?

Thanks,

Phil

I run a Berger 130 grain VLD. It has performed very well at 300 - 1000 yards. My Bartlein Heavy Palma barrel is a 1:8" twist.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Probably you will use bullets from around 130-142 gr and a 1:8 twist will be right for those.

 

[Sandstorm]

6.5x47..Kelbly Atlas with a Kreiger 4 grove 28 inch 1.250 straight tube in a
McMillan MBR stock. Shoots cleans at 600 and probly could at a 1000 if I was just a little
more of a wind reading student....
Im flippin 140 Bergers with 36.7gr Varget and CCI 450s ...stellar combo for my application.
2770 fps...or there abouts last time I checked ES 10 and SD 4...

 

[MM1748]

I agree with all the posts. x47 is my favorite. I moved to the 6 x47 and 22 x 47. All like h4350. Amazing case.

 

[bbarber25]

Yes, a 6.5x47 will fit every need you listed. Now if raw accuracy is a consideration, I would do a dasher. That being said, I beat dashers and BRA’s at a 600 yard bench rest match this weekend. I didn’t win in score, but in Agg, my little 6.5x47 stacked them in there. I agged 2.2895 in light gun, I did not shoot heavy.

 

[sparker]

Yes, a 6.5x47 will fit every need you listed. Now if raw accuracy is a consideration, I would do a dasher. That being said, I beat dashers and BRA’s at a 600 yard bench rest match this weekend. I didn’t win in score, but in Agg, my little 6.5x47 stacked them in there. I agged 2.2895 in light gun, I did not shoot heavy.

What load were you shooting?

 

[Dave Way]

With a 12 lb. rifle you will have recoil, I think you should think a little heavier..... jim

Well Jim, I will let you know how the 4.25 pound ultralight I’m putting together shoots!

Dave.

 

[johara1]

Well Jim, I will let you know how the 4.25 pound ultralight I’m putting together shoots!

Dave.

Maybe ok for hunting not a lot of shots, Kind of like a 8lb .458 Win I shot it was the most pleasant thing.... jim

 

[bbarber25]

What load were you shooting?

130 Berger VLD hunts, H4350 and CCI BR4