6.5x47L Roll!

[M14AMU]

Fired these ten rounds this morning from 1200 yards with my 6.5x47L! This rifle/cartridge just continue to amaze me. This was using 39.0 grs. Varget/Sierra 123 gr. HPBT/BR-4 primers. White plate is 20" diameter so looks like it's holding little less than 1/2 MOA on vertical. Think I'll move the bullet out just a tat on next ones loaded.


6.5x47L @ 1200 yards. by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

 

[headhunter]

Good stuff

 

[MrMajestic]

Well done, great shooting! Obviously the wind was cooperating or you are just really good at reading it!

 

[TheSnake]

I think it's that awesome target, pulls em in like a magnet. Good shooting, again.

 

[queen_stick]

.... Think I'll move the bullet out just a tat on next ones loaded.

Or not... I don't think I'd mess with it! That's some serious accuracy right there! Very impressive! What did that measure? 8 or 9 inches or so?

 

[billmo]

That is some fine shooting. Sure would like to have a 6.5 x 47 one of these days. I think I'd give up my 6 x 47 for one.

 

[M14AMU]

Well done, great shooting! Obviously the wind was cooperating or you are just really good at reading it!

Hmmm...I've had almost 60 years worth of practice! ;D And I still get me Irish arse handed to me quite often!! :'(

 

[M14AMU]

.... Think I'll move the bullet out just a tat on next ones loaded.

Or not... I don't think I'd mess with it! That's some serious accuracy right there! Very impressive! What did that measure? 8 or 9 inches or so?

queen_stick

Don't know what it measured as I didn't have my tape with me! From the through bolt in the center of that plate it's 10" to the outside edge. And yes I should have left well enough alone! The below photo is a perfect example of why once a great load is found....don't dick around with it! I moved the 123 gr. Sierra about .010" forward and shot this CF with the conditions the same as they were when I fired from 1200 and this one is from 1300. I wouldn't even call it a group!! : But I know where to go back to! ;D


1300yd6.5 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Got to go to Wally World tomorrow and get some paint as I've had some kids out here shooting lately and my back plate is getting kind of woolie!!

 

[DennisH]

Great, I have always loved the 123 Scenars in my 6.5x47L

 

[40X Guy]

Very nice, just leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling after a shooting session like that!

Frank

 

[queen_stick]

.... Think I'll move the bullet out just a tat on next ones loaded.

Or not... I don't think I'd mess with it! That's some serious accuracy right there! Very impressive! What did that measure? 8 or 9 inches or so?

queen_stick

Don't know what it measured as I didn't have my tape with me! From the through bolt in the center of that plate it's 10" to the outside edge. And yes I should have left well enough alone! The below photo is a perfect example of why once a great load is found....don't dick around with it! I moved the 123 gr. Sierra about .010" forward and shot this CF with the conditions the same as they were when I fired from 1200 and this one is from 1300. I wouldn't even call it a group!! : But I know where to go back to! ;D

Got to go to Wally World tomorrow and get some paint as I've had some kids out here shooting lately and my back plate is getting kind of woolie!!

I'm interested in seeing what happens at 1300yds when you bump the bullets back the .010.

Have you tried adjusting bullet seating in smaller increments? If you're curious to see if you can squeeze a little more out of it, try moving the bullets in or out .002 at a time. I would use your initial seating depth (on that 1200yd target) as a starting point... try 5 rounds seated .002 deeper, and 5 rounds .002 longer. If you see an improvement in either direction, go another .002 in the same direction until you the groups start to grow. Once you find the sweet spot on seating depth changes in .002 increments, go down to .001 increments. It's tedious work, but once you find it, you'll know it. With that said, it's very possible that you won't find anything better than what you have already!

I know of two short range BR guys (both are well respected shooters) that tune their loads with bullet seating only. They measure their bullet seating out to the ten thousandths, then write that number with a sharpie right on the side of the barrel. Every barrel they own has the seating depth written on it. Both of those guys have told me on separate occasions that bullet seating can even also cause horizontal dispersion (not only vertical). At long range, I don't know that we could quantify that (too many other variables going on there).

 

[M14AMU]

queen_stick

"Have you tried adjusting bullet seating in smaller increments?"

No...as I don't have the .264" comparator guage that I need to measure from cartridge head to ogive! I know from prior bullet making experience that coming off the tip of the bullet to the case head is not the best because bullet jackets will vary in length when they are pointed up giving an incorrect reading! I have this morning ordered from Sinclair the tools to be able to make a correct measurement which includes a digital caliper! I'll see what the results will be after I get more work done in the reloading room!

Thanks for the comments!

 

[queen_stick]

Do you still make bullets? (Doesn't sound like you do, based on that last comment) If not, and you don't mind me asking, why'd you get out of it?

Reason I ask, is one of these days I think I want to try it. (it's freakin' expensive to get started though). I had a handful of people tell me to not bother with bullet making, and if I wanted to play with bullets to try trimming and pointing meplats. I just bought the stuff to trim and point... should be here next week .

If you didn't have the .264 comparator, does that mean the sierra's you were shooting were not sorted (base to ogive)? I've always been told to sort the Sierra's (even the SMK's), as they can vary significantly within the same box of 100. I've personally seen the 6mm 107's vary by .010 (base to ogive). With that said, I don't see a need for you to sort your bullets! They're working just fine as is!

 

[M14AMU]

No sir...don't make 'em anymore! My arse was glued to the seat of an Ag plane most of the time and betwixt that and making bullets for NRA HP shooters....I didn't get any shooting time myself plus I was wearing my shoulder out but you're talking to the guy that made Walt Berger and Sierra get serious about making a decent bullet for the military Service Rifle shooters because my main bullet was a 173 gr. rebated boat-tail that the guys could shoot in their M-14s and have a bullet that would remain stable at 1000 yards without key-holing!! I made the USMC a bunch one year and sent to Quantico and their team proceeded to pretty well 'wax' my old team-mates from MTU at Ft. Benning in the LR matches! Shortly thereafter Berger/Sierra came out with their 175 gr. bullet. I still have a few of mine left! And yes...it's expensive! I had at the time I started about 15 grand tied up in all the goodies required!

 

[Hombre0321]

Rick, Glad to see you posting here. I thought you had given up all of this smokeless stuff once you found Black Powder.

Nice group in the vertical on that top target, thats for sure. The 6.5X47L is quickly turned into my go to round for my F-Class matches. Easy to load for and very quick to come around. I think you do need to play with the seating depth a little more. My rifle really turned on when the bullets reached the rifling. You also might want to try H4350 in this cartridge just for grins. For me everything came together with a case full of 4350 I am now shooting 41 Grns and it is a case full, well almost.

If you get the chance tell "Ole Bagwell" the Gunny said hello!!

Roland

 

[M14AMU]

Rick, Glad to see you posting here. I thought you had given up all of this smokeless stuff once you found Black Powder.

Nice group in the vertical on that top target, thats for sure. The 6.5X47L is quickly turned into my go to round for my F-Class matches. Easy to load for and very quick to come around. I think you do need to play with the seating depth a little more. My rifle really turned on when the bullets reached the rifling. You also might want to try H4350 in this cartridge just for grins. For me everything came together with a case full of 4350 I am now shooting 41 Grns and it is a case full, well almost.

If you get the chance tell "Ole Bagwell" the Gunny said hello!!

Roland

Roland

I NEVER have had any intentions of getting totally away from smokeless powder cartridges; just had too much fun and success with it over the years! Frankly...I've just about burned myself out on BPCR....been at it a while now and I decided to take a hiatus for a bit! The guys over on the dark side seem to think that the smokeless game is an easy row to hoe but with the advancements being made in powders/barrels/bullets/actions available to people today...the competition is extremely tuff as you well know! I've had an extremely good time shooting this rifle/cartridge and as you say it's extremely easy to load and in the right platform....EXTREMELY ACCURATE! I'll try some 4350 soon as I used this powder to win quite a few 1000 yard matches in years past! Might I ask what bullet you're shooting and velocity is it delivering?

Thanks for the comments and contact!

 

[Hombre0321]

Rick, I understand what you say about the level of shooters in the High Power games, it is a daunting task to say the least.

I have two different rifles that both are switch barrel rifles. One is a Farley actioned rifle I had set up as a Long Range Benchrest rifle. It orginal came as a 30 BR point blank gun with a Kelby klub stock. I changed this one over to a Long Range gun. I had it barreled with a 5C Broughton barrel at 29 1/2" and in 6.5X47L, used a Shehane MBR Tracker stock and a Nightforce NXS 12X32 scope. Rifle wieghs 16.42 LBS set up like this.

I took this rifle to it's ( and mine) first F-Class match last month. I shot myself into third place at my first match. I was so happy that I ordered a another barrel in 6.5, made it a staright cylinder profile and at 31" set up like this it is going to be much closer to the 22 lbs allowed for F-Class.

The other rifle is a Bat SB with a Hart 30" 6.5X47 Barrel and it is set up for Long Benchrest benchrest as well but it shoots so well I am leaving it alone.

Both of these rifles and barrels just love the lapua Scenars at 123, they also shoot the Berger 130 Grn VLD just as well. As to velocity I have only chrony'ed these once and I did it with two different powders. One load was with RL15 and the other was the H4350 load. My range book is out in the reloading room, but I do remember that one or the other of these loads went 3050 for a 10 shoot avearage and the other one was 2870 for the same 10 shots. Just don't remember which was which. The RL15 shoots very well but I have to give the edge with the Berger 130 to the 4350 load.

Glad we crossed paths again Rick, I always did like to pick your brain from time to time. You have forgotten more than I will ever know about this smokeless powder, maybe I can seek your advice from time to time.

Roland