6.5x47Lapua vs 260Rem and 6.5x55

[BrownDog]

Another question regarding the 6.5x47:

I'm failing to understand something and would be grateful if someone would explain it to me:

The 6.5x47L is described elsewhere as 'matching factory 6.5x55' .....something I thought 260Rem did.

How is the 6.5x47,perhaps better named the '260 Kurz' ) doing this?
Does it run at wildly high pressures,and therefore, presumably, offer reduced barrel life)?

or put another way:

Why should I choose 6.5x47L,other than 'because it's there!) over 260Rem,or 6.5x55 for that matter)?

Many thanks!

 

[SF340Driver]

High quality,Lapua) 260 brass must be formed from 243 or 308, and needs long bullets seated well into the neck to fit mag length requirements. The 6.5X55 needs a long action. The 6.5X47 will lose some performance to max loads in the 260 or 6.5X55. It all depends on what you want.

 

[Forum Boss]

Velocity-wise, I think the 6.5x47 Lapua will come close to a standard Rem .260 shooting 110-125 grain bullets, using a powder similar to Varget.

For the heavy 6.5mm bullets, such as the 142 SMK, I don't see how the newer case can run with a .260 or 6.5x55, because they have more case capacity. You need to use slower powders with the heavier bullets also. Moving all the way up to the 6.5-284, most people are running something like H4831 or H4350.

But with the lighter bullets, I think the 6.5x47 should be an excellent performer. Do a search for David Tubb's recent post on the 6.5XC, a similar case.

 

[RickB]

I shot a 6.5 X,not XC) briefly a few years ago. The 22-250 cases did OK, but the primer pockets would start getting loose after about 4 firings with 142s and 4350 at the velocities that David is achieving with the necked up 6 XC cases. The velocities were not quite the same as the .260, but for target shooting inside of 600 yards the 6.5x47L should be a useful case with slightly less recoil than the 260 and, at least potentially, a little better barrel life.

All of this presumes that the Lapua brass will measure up to everyone's expectations when it gets in country.

If you intend to shoot anything based on the,small primer pocket) 6.5x47L case it would be a good idea to go ahead and get the firing pin hole in the bolt bushed to a smaller size unless it is an action from one of the custom manufacturers who use a small firing pin hole to begin with.

The 260 will remain a fine cartridge, especially if throated for a longer than 2.800" overall length, for longer distances where it is a smaller alternative to the 6.5x284.

 

[BrownDog]

All,

Thanks for the responses!

 

[chrisj]

The only factory 260 brass is Remington which is not that good in quality for serious target shooting. If you weigh and sort ...Rem brass can do, but Lapua brass is tops.
Also..the 6.5x47 should not need to be trimmed as often due to the 30 deg. shoulder. That right there is enough to make me switch.
The 6.5x47 was intended to be a 300 meter cartridge.,i believe) I don't think Lapua intende to run 140 class bullets at the same max velocities as the 260. Although...the 6.5x47 Lapua was tested to be safe at something like 62k.

Chris

 

[JER]

The only factory 260 brass is Remington which is not that good in quality for serious target shooting.

Several people who are better shooters than I have proved that all the brass prep affectations favored by the BR crowd are unnecessary in Highpower until one starts shooting at 900 yards and beyond. Maybe if one is shooting consistent 795s across the course, some of the BR brass prep tricks might be useful.

Therefore, Remington 260 Rem brass is more than good enough for some forms of serious competition with only a trim and a size.

And since I use RCBS X-dies,again no need for BR tricks in HP) case length growth is not a concern regardless of shoudler angle.

Lapua is nicer brass, true that. But I'd rather do something else than neck up and then later neck turn to clean up doughnuts.

 

[MattPeetz]

I have a 260 built for F-class and have a minimum Spec chamber.
I started out necking down 308 lapua brass but had to neck turn. I got tired of neck turning and have switched over to Remington 260 brass.

I don't see anything wrong with the remington brass. I shot my first registered F-class match in Byers last weekend and shot a 581-26x. Made a dumb mistake and cross fired an x.

At 1000 i fired a 590-27x. With experienced highpower shooters spotting and scoring for me all dropped points were due to wind changes at both ranges. I can't tell a differance in performance between the brands of brass but lapua brass is better.

For me, my time is better spent behind the trigger than doing all the tedious things that will maybe gain me a tenth of a percentage. Just depends on what you want to do.

For inside 600 i like the 6.5x47 but once past there my preferance is the 260 but the 6.5-55 or 6.5-284 get the nod.