6.5X47L as a hunting rifle.

[Chuckhunter]

Just wanted to report on my new hunting rifle. It's a 6.5X47Lapua with a 24" Krieger barrel, on a trued Rem700 SA with a Kiff bolt, pillar bedde in a Brown Precision classic style hunting stock and topped off with a 3.5X10 Zeiss Conquest scope. Several powders worked very well specifically H-4350, N-550, RL-17 and RL-15. I setteled on a load of RL-15 which gave me a MV of 2910 and 100yd accuracy runniing from the mid 2's to low 3's. Shooting 130 Berger Hunting VLD's. Although I the buck I saw was not legal here in Pa. I did manage to shoot a nice big doe for the freezer and I can tell you that she never took a step. I can see why the europeans have had an affinity for the 6.5 caliber. Recoil is next to nothing, accuracy is superb and terminal results are devastating. Hope to book an antelope hunt for next year so I can get a chance to stretch her out a bit. Keeping in mind that this is strictly a handloaded round anyone considering on of these for hunting but were not sure of performance, I can tell you this thing is flat nasty for the little amount of powder used and such light recoil. I know most guys shooting this round are using it for competative purposes but I do believe this will be my new go to rifle for anything deer size and down. Happy Holidays and good shooting.

 

[SongdogHunter]

My Borden alpine 6.5 x 47L is my favorite hunting rifle.

SDH

 

[RonRouse]

Chuck Hunter, is your rifle a repeater? If so, how does it feed from the magazine? Nice gun. TIA Ron

 

[RonRouse]

Song Dog, whose bottom metal are you using in that neat looking 6.5/47 and how does it feed? I'm becoming inspired to build something similar for deer hunting and hog hunting. TIA Ron

 

[Chuckhunter]

Ron, my rifle has a blind magazine, just my preference as I feel the lack of a cutout for the drop floorplate adds a little extra stiffness to the stock. I can fit three in the Mag and one in the chamber and it feeds flawlessly. It's an absolute joy to shoot.

 

[SongdogHunter]

Ron my bottom metal is Williams bottom metal. Feeds perfect as does my Sako- 75 in 6.5- 47L I think thats the beauty of this round....

ML

 

[bughole]

Did you have to lengthen the box to make it work or are you seating the bullet way down in the case. What reamer did you use

 

[SongdogHunter]

on my Borden alpine i amusing 120 grain NBT and seated to the lands they work perfect. Standard Remington BDL box. But on my sako i am shooting 123 grain lapua and i seated them as long as possible to fit the magazine but i can't reach the lands. But they shoot fine right there.

SDH

 

[Erik Cortina]

Chuckhunter, what kind of speeds did you get with RL17 using the 130 Bergers? What load?

Thank you.

-Erik

 

[JRinCo]

I think that the greatest strength of the 6.5X47 Lapua is that it fits so well in a standard short action magazine. You can load both 130 and 140 grain VLD bullets seated above the donut and have plenty of room in your magazine. And you can do this while getting performance that nearly equals a .260 Rem.

I'm using 130 Berger VLD'S as my primary hunting round for everything smaller than elk, with outstanding results. So far using the 6.5X47 I've taken 2 mule deer, 2 whitetails and a dall ram. Not to mention a bunch of unlucky coyotes.

I used to be a fan of the .260 Rem. but the obvious problem is that longer bullets don't fit in the magazine, but if you want to make longer shots you have to use the heavy bullets. And 6.5X47 Lapua brass is a better choice for hunting than .260 Rem. Using Reloader 17, I can shoot the 130 grain bullets at 3,000 fps and have great brass life.

 

[Erik Cortina]

JR, what is your load and how long is your barrel? The reason I ask is I'm using rl17 but with 40 gr I'm only getting 2750 from a 25" barrel with the 130 Bergers, I wonder if I should push it harder since I don't have any pressure signs.

Thank you.

-Erik

 

[Chuckhunter]

X3MHunter, I used 40.5Gr's. of RL-17 with the 130 Berger Hunting VLD's, seated to an OAL of 2.795 which is .010 into the rifeling and still gives me ample room in my standard Rem Magazine(2.800). That load gives me a M.V. os 2840, with an E.S. of 34fps an a S.D. of 12 fps. This is from a 24" 8twist Kreiger.38.2Gr's. RL-15 gave me higher velocities(2910 fps)) and lower ES and Sd(24 & 8 ). I setteled on that load for hunting purposes as it was faster and more consistant, accuracy was superb. As usual, start lower and work up if you decide to try either load to be on the safe side. Good Luck and good shooting.

 

[Coleridge]

Song,
What speed are you tossing the 120's and what barrel length? I have a stiller pred I’m about to send off for a carry rifle build. McMillan Rem classic stock, 24” #3 barrel... Was looking at the 6.5x47 prior to the thread but didn't think the velocities would be this high...??? Looks almost silly to go with the 260

 

[SongdogHunter]

41+ grains of H4350 give single digit ES and SD along with nearly 3100 FPS out of a 23" #3 Pac- nor barrel.

SDH

 

[Erik Cortina]

Well, looks like I need to get out there and do some more load development for my gun. Although the load that I have really hammers out to 400 yards (1.5" 3-shot groups), but I would like a little more speed for the longer shots!

Here's my rifle.
6.5X47 Lapua
Borden Alpine Action (single shot)
25" Flueted Bartlein gain twist 5R bbl
Remington BDL Stock (pillar bedded and glass bedded)
Jewell Trigger set at 1.5 lbs.
Mark Pharr trigger shoe
6.5-20 X 50mm Leupold VX-III LR Scope
S&K Rings and Mounts
Smith work done by Mark Pharr - Tumbleweeds Custom Rifles

-Erik

 

[Chuckhunter]

X3MHunter, Sweet looking rig, love that Hurst Shifter bolt handle and I see we have like tastes in ring selection. Made right here in Pa.

 

[JRinCo]

X3MHunter, that's a nice looking rig.

Mine has a 26" Krieger 1-9 twist. I'm using 40.5 gr of Re. 17 with 130 gr. Berger VLD's