6 x 47 Lapua or 6.5 x 47 Lapua?
- Thread starter peter6mm
- Start date
Peter,
probably six of one and half a dozen of the other so far as accuracy is concerned. What ranges do you plan to shoot over? There may be an external ballistics advantage one way or the other depending on use.
What you will get with the 6.5 version is considerably longer barrel life since both use around the same amount of powder but you're pushing those same amounts of hot powder gasses down a much larger hole with the bigger calibre.
The 6.5 version may be a little easier to fine-tune loads wise too for top accuracy, although I think it needs somebody who's tried both to comment on that.
In any event, they are both fine cartridges - accurate and ballistically efficient.
Laurie,
York, England
probably six of one and half a dozen of the other so far as accuracy is concerned. What ranges do you plan to shoot over? There may be an external ballistics advantage one way or the other depending on use.
What you will get with the 6.5 version is considerably longer barrel life since both use around the same amount of powder but you're pushing those same amounts of hot powder gasses down a much larger hole with the bigger calibre.
The 6.5 version may be a little easier to fine-tune loads wise too for top accuracy, although I think it needs somebody who's tried both to comment on that.
In any event, they are both fine cartridges - accurate and ballistically efficient.
Laurie,
York, England
...as I read "six of one and half a dozen of", I smiled. 
Such an English comment, that this had to be another Brit posting.
The signature confirmed the point - greetings Laurie, from Sussex.
Sorry Peter, I can't comment on your question as I've only played with the 6x47 Lapua. I will add that in 6mm, there is a huge range of bullets out there!
JH
Such an English comment, that this had to be another Brit posting.
The signature confirmed the point - greetings Laurie, from Sussex.
Sorry Peter, I can't comment on your question as I've only played with the 6x47 Lapua. I will add that in 6mm, there is a huge range of bullets out there!
JH
300 yds. is a relatively short distance and it follows that there are a great many bullets designed for that yardage in .243. The 123 grain 6.5 bullets are better designed for greater distances as are most of the .264 bullets.
If small groups at 300 yds. is really what interests you, chamber for a 6mmBR or a 6 PPC and choose the barrel twist appropriate for 68 grain bullets.
If small groups at 300 yds. is really what interests you, chamber for a 6mmBR or a 6 PPC and choose the barrel twist appropriate for 68 grain bullets.
JR's comments reminded me that Lapua supposedly developed the 6.5x47 to provide better performance in windy conditions, but according to their press releases of the time, they were still talking about 300m International match shooting. You'd have a hard time convincing me to switch from a 6BR/S107MK to a 6.5x47/S123MK if I had no intentions of shooting farther than 300m.
Whatever - I've owned/built/shot five different 6 Dashers, one 6BR, one 6.5x47 (on DPMS AR10 platform, but with two on bolt rifles in the works), and three 6x47 bolt rifles. I really like the 6x47, but mostly because I shoot them on out to 1000yds. with DTAC 115s. Even at that, the Dashers aren't giving up much to the larger cartridge, and are easier to shoot & tune. Don't have enough experience with the 6.5x47 yet to have a solid opinion, especially with lighter bullets at short range. Also, port pressure/casehead damage & magazine length have been such a consideration in the AR10 that I haven't been able to focus completely on seating depth & primer choice for best accuracy yet. Won't take long to get a better feel for the 6.5 once I get a bolt rifle finished.
Whatever - I've owned/built/shot five different 6 Dashers, one 6BR, one 6.5x47 (on DPMS AR10 platform, but with two on bolt rifles in the works), and three 6x47 bolt rifles. I really like the 6x47, but mostly because I shoot them on out to 1000yds. with DTAC 115s. Even at that, the Dashers aren't giving up much to the larger cartridge, and are easier to shoot & tune. Don't have enough experience with the 6.5x47 yet to have a solid opinion, especially with lighter bullets at short range. Also, port pressure/casehead damage & magazine length have been such a consideration in the AR10 that I haven't been able to focus completely on seating depth & primer choice for best accuracy yet. Won't take long to get a better feel for the 6.5 once I get a bolt rifle finished.
Peter,
I missed your reference to 200/300yd use first time round - so the external ballistics are obviously going to have little bearing on your choice, just accuracy, and depending on your annual round-count, barrel life.
As various people are pointing out, 6BR is hard to beat at these ranges accuracy-wise, but I presume the reference to a magazine fed rifle is significant and rules that cartridge out for you due to the relative difficulty in getting reliable feed and ejection, subject to your choice of action?
Lapua developed and introduced the 6.5X47 in partnership with the respected Swiss target rifle builders Grunig & Elmiger with 300-metre ISSF 3-position shooting as a primary 'target' attempting to supplement or even replace 6mm BR Norma. Whether they did or not I don't know, but they obviously thought it would provide sufficient accuracy to match the BR. A major claim in this was a large increase in barrel life up from around 2,500 rounds to the 4,000 round mark. Since ISSF 3-P involves a 60-round standard match course and a lot of practice to be competitive, this presumably is a big issue in this discipline, which has a reputation for being a wealthy shooter's sport anyway.
In the UK, when the 6.5X47L came out, and equally quickly the 6-6.5X47L was adapted from it, we saw a big surge in people ordering barrels and dies for the wildcat version, but this has since tailed right off. The parent cartridge had a slow start but has picked up steadily and has seen a great growth in use here over 2009, especially by sniper, McQueens, and tactical shooters mostly switching from .308W. It's regarded as exceptionally accurate, light recoiling, and gives flawless feed. The current 600yd UK BR Association Factory Sporter Class record group is held by a shooter using an Accuracy International sniper rifle in 6.5X47L, beating off a horde of Savage 12 Fs in 6.5-284 Norma and the odd same in 6BR.
So, this still doesn't answer your question, and I don't think you'll get one until you say exactly what you're planning to shoot and so what your requirements are - then find the rare person with direct experience of both versions.
If you're thinking of rapid fire disciplines, a more appropriate choice may not in fact be between the 6 and 6.5X47L, but between the 6.5mm version, .260 Rem, and 6.5 Hornady Creedmoor?
Best wishes and good shooting in 2010,
Laurie,
York, England
I missed your reference to 200/300yd use first time round - so the external ballistics are obviously going to have little bearing on your choice, just accuracy, and depending on your annual round-count, barrel life.
As various people are pointing out, 6BR is hard to beat at these ranges accuracy-wise, but I presume the reference to a magazine fed rifle is significant and rules that cartridge out for you due to the relative difficulty in getting reliable feed and ejection, subject to your choice of action?
Lapua developed and introduced the 6.5X47 in partnership with the respected Swiss target rifle builders Grunig & Elmiger with 300-metre ISSF 3-position shooting as a primary 'target' attempting to supplement or even replace 6mm BR Norma. Whether they did or not I don't know, but they obviously thought it would provide sufficient accuracy to match the BR. A major claim in this was a large increase in barrel life up from around 2,500 rounds to the 4,000 round mark. Since ISSF 3-P involves a 60-round standard match course and a lot of practice to be competitive, this presumably is a big issue in this discipline, which has a reputation for being a wealthy shooter's sport anyway.
In the UK, when the 6.5X47L came out, and equally quickly the 6-6.5X47L was adapted from it, we saw a big surge in people ordering barrels and dies for the wildcat version, but this has since tailed right off. The parent cartridge had a slow start but has picked up steadily and has seen a great growth in use here over 2009, especially by sniper, McQueens, and tactical shooters mostly switching from .308W. It's regarded as exceptionally accurate, light recoiling, and gives flawless feed. The current 600yd UK BR Association Factory Sporter Class record group is held by a shooter using an Accuracy International sniper rifle in 6.5X47L, beating off a horde of Savage 12 Fs in 6.5-284 Norma and the odd same in 6BR.
So, this still doesn't answer your question, and I don't think you'll get one until you say exactly what you're planning to shoot and so what your requirements are - then find the rare person with direct experience of both versions.
If you're thinking of rapid fire disciplines, a more appropriate choice may not in fact be between the 6 and 6.5X47L, but between the 6.5mm version, .260 Rem, and 6.5 Hornady Creedmoor?
Best wishes and good shooting in 2010,
Laurie,
York, England
Thanks for your replies.
Laurie has identified the issue for me - it has to be a magazine fed rifle for McQueen and Sporting Rifle competitions at ranges up to 300yds. These competitions need a degree of rapid fire, 10 shots in 1 minute. Accuracy and light recoil is what's needed. So 6br would be my ideal choice based on my own experience of a single shot 6br. But reliable mag feed is the issue. Replies suggest I would be wise to follow the 6.5 x 47 Lapua route, take a chance on mag feed with a 6br.
Laurie has identified the issue for me - it has to be a magazine fed rifle for McQueen and Sporting Rifle competitions at ranges up to 300yds. These competitions need a degree of rapid fire, 10 shots in 1 minute. Accuracy and light recoil is what's needed. So 6br would be my ideal choice based on my own experience of a single shot 6br. But reliable mag feed is the issue. Replies suggest I would be wise to follow the 6.5 x 47 Lapua route, take a chance on mag feed with a 6br.
therifler
Silver $$ Contributor
The posts that I have read here all have valid points I have built my fair share of rifles around these cartridges . Based on that fact both cartridges enjoy great accuracy with the edge going to the 6mm round 200-300yard. I have had good results feeding both rounds ,however the need for rapid fire feed from a magazine was never an issue. These rifles were for benchrest shooting single shot .Or long range hunting which feed from box magazine or clip with no need for speed . www.therifler.com
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