6x47 using 222 Magnum case

[Brewz]

Hi folks

I have come into possession of a Shillen 6mm barrel. Its done about 2000 rounds, 1:8 twist, 29" long and chambered in 6BR for a savage action.

I have a Sako L461 Vixen 222 Magnum and lots of brass, and am thinking of shortening the barrel up and having it re-chambered to 6x47 (6mm-222 mag) to fit to an old A series Remington action i have sitting around to utilize available brass.

I'm interested to know if anyone else has any experience, advice or tips about this chambering?

Cheers

 

[Outrider27]

My late cousin-in-law shot his way into the Benchrest Hall of Fame with a much tweaked Remington 40xBBR in that 6x47 cartridge, so there is no lack of accuracy potential. I haven't checked any of my other manuals, but Sierra reloading manuals have loads for the .222 Rem mag based 6x47.

 

[bheadboy]

I first shot that in a 40x in br in the 70's and did very well, also had custom ones built for lv comp.

the cartridge is superior to the 223AI and about the same as the 6/204 - it is very accurate and lots of bbl life.

Bob

 

[5spd]

I build a 6x45 in 2011, BUT if I had a lot of .222 r mag brass I would of built a 6x47 over that.
Its an accurate as heck cartridge from the ones Ive been able to shoot at the range.
If you build it Im pretty sure you will be very happy.
Its not a high speed round w/heavy bullets but with a 55/65g bullet its still running 3300 + fps w/light recoil

 

[Brewz]

Thanks for the replies folks

I have started the ball rolling!

Sako now have brand new 222 Remington magnum brass on the shelves in Australia and i have bought a couple hundred for the project.

I have taken a late 1970's A series Remington 700 action i had sitting around waiting for a call up and stripped it back to bare metal and rough hand polished it ready for some time on buffing wheels before a full fresh hot blue job. Going to get it trued up if it needs it and also plan to re-jewel the bolt to make it look like brand new again.

I have ordered Wilson neck and seater dies, and put in an order for a custom Redding S type full length die as well.

I bought a brand new stock removed from a 5R Milspec for a good price and it will suit my purposed perfectly. I plan to do a full bedding job once all the metal work has been done.

I took a new (cheap stamped steel) mag follower and chopped the front 1/4" off a 308 magazine spring so it fit. I also removed the spacer in the back of the magazine.
The 223 mag follower now sits right at the back of the full length magazine and will give me almost 2.8" OAL so i wont have issues with long pils soaking up powder space. It will fit 107 VLD's seated just in the neck and feeds perfect so I'm stoked with that as i didn't want to go down the road of detachable mags, as much as i like them.
The pics show a 222 case necked up to 6mm holding the 107's heaps of room!

The barrel will be cut back to 24" and turned down a bit to remove weight as its very heavy, re chambered and fitted up.

I cant wait.

 

[jghoghunter]

very nice. Good luck with your project.

 

[Mega]

I have come into possession of a Shillen 6mm barrel. Its done about 2000 rounds, 1:8 twist, 29" long and chambered in 6BR for a savage action.

Okay, you put up the same Topic on "Shooting Australia" where I can't comment but you haven't got any decent replies.

For a start, 2000 rounds and it's getting near the end. Why waste $250AU or more to have it re-chambered when that is near half the cost of a new barrel which is under $600AU landed here from the USA then get a Smith to chamber that for you.

6x47 on a 222Magnum Case, well I'm sure it's an experiment for someone that has all the gear, Chamber Reamer, Dies etc but in my opinion you are wasting your time and good money. Isn't that where the current 6x47L started off many years ago then moved onto to greater pastures and accuracy.

Why stuff around with custom dies. You mentioned the 6mmBR, well my opinion would be to stay with that same bolt face....6mmBR, 6mmx47L based on a 6.5x47L Case, or anything else that is proven to be accurate and has easily obtainable dies etc....

The Sako L461 I wonder if the bolt face will open up, I have an S491 which has a lot bigger bolt in diameter and bolt face, it is now a .22/6mm BR with the typical .308 Bolt Face.

Perhaps you should have a good long talk with a Gunsmith and discuss the safety / practical terms of the idea. Yet alone accuracy issues.

 

[jobhopper66]

I think forum member Mega has some misinformation regarding the 6x47 cartridge based on the 222M case. This fellow's project is no "experiment" as most know that the 6x47 was a real contender in its day in the benchrest world. I have one built on a 40XBR action and it is a joy to shoot. Almost nonexistant recoil and routinely shoots in the 2's and 3's with an unknown numer of rounds down the barrel. With a better shooter I'm sure it would do better. If you have a good supply of brass I can't see a reason not to build one. As far as that goes 204 Ruger brass is easily formed into 6x47 cases. The 6x47 may be old school but so is the 222 and I can't get enough of them either.
Ray

 

[Brewz]

It's a good point made about the used barrel. It looks like new to the eye but I may take it my local gun shop and borrow their bore scope to do a closer inspection before I commit

I have my heart set on the 6x47 and gear is ordered.

I am also a huge fan of the 222 and own an old rem ADL which shoots 0.2's with it's well worn sporter barrel

I recon, and I'm gunna don the flame suit here, that if the military forces that needed the shorter neck of the 223 had of been able to get the 222 magnum to work, there would still be all major manufacturers offering 222 and 222 mag rifles. They work so well that it saddens me to see them killed off by the 223.
I plan to use them for the rest of my shooting days.

 

[BoydAllen]

I think that the .204 is based on the .222 mag case, and that perhaps you could expand it up to make the 6x47.

 

[bheadboy]

Boyd is correct he 204 is based on the 222m and can be opened up. you have the 222m brass and that is easy to work with. the question re 2000 rounds seems to be without experience related to the 6x47 as they go an easy 6000+ rounds and shoot in th .100s-.250's easy with good components and knowledgab le shooter.

I have had BR grand averages below mid .300's many a time with 4 different rifles.

build it and enjoy
Bob

 

[Brewz]

The 2000 rounds was in 6BR and I plan to chop a good 3 inches off the existing chamber end to give it fairly fresh rifling, but as I said, I will get it checked with the bore scope first.

For those experienced in the cartridge, will a 1:8 twist be ok?

 

[bheadboy]

1-8 will work, however the target rifles in the 170's were 14 twist and handled the 70hpbt very well, you will be slightly over twist but will handle heavier pills if you wish, it should do well

Bob

 

[Brewz]

I decided to leave the used barrel for something else, and have purchased a new Krieger Stainless Steel 1:10 in Rem varmint profile to fit in the stock.

It should be in the hands of my trusty gun smith in a week or so.

I tell ya..... i didnt think about how difficult it would be to get decent 6mm pills..... hardly anything in stock anywhere.

I rang the few places in Aus who sell Berger's and got told to ring back in a few months to see if another shipment makes it here.

 

[bheadboy]

if you can get the SIerra 70's they are great in the chambering.
Bob

 

[Brewz]

Yeah the Sierra 70gn pills are the main ones I am chasing but the price of Sierra match kings in Australia is rediculious.
50c per projectile in bulk.

I have contacted Brownells to see if they ship to Australia and what it will cost if they do, but freight will need to cost $250 to make them more expensive

 

[Brewz]

Question:

I have ordered a redding S Type full length resizing die for the 6x47. Its gunna cost me about $240 delivered.

I just had a thought........ the 222 and 222 mag case dimensions are identical apart from the mag being a few millimeters longer.
For the odd chance i may get tight cases, would i be better off buying a Redding 222 shoulder bump die and reaming the neck opening to 6mm?

That should take care of tight head spacing if i experience it, and i could then just neck size as normal

Thoughts?

 

[bheadboy]

back in the yester years, a number of competitors took 222m redding fl dies and had the necks opened to match their fired chamber neck/case thickness, necks were usually in the .011-12"after opening up.

this is a lot cheaper than a custome set.


Bob

 

[Brewz]

Hi Folks

The barrel and action is with my gunsmith. He is waiting on a loan set of head space gauges and reamer to be sent to him to do the job.
I was super impressed with the finish inside the Krieger barrel when it turned up. It looks so sharp, i cant wait to see how it shoots.

I have ordered a pile of Speer 70gn TNT's to use in it. I use them successfully for target shooting with great accuracy in my 222 and 308 and at a much cheaper price than the sierras, it made them difficult to pass up. I can use them for hunting light game as well where the Sierra's would be range only pills.

Now..... speaking of shooting, can anyone help with any knowledge they may have on what powders work best for this cartridge shooting 70 to 80gn pils. I have been doing a bit of reading on what the 6x45 folks are using but thought i would ask anyway.

Cheers

 

[bheadboy]

the powders of choice in the 70's were IMR 4198 and IMR4895, a few shooter used IMR 3031

both have changed in the years as manufacturing has moved around, plants have burned, etc.

having shot a number of them i would suggest the following depending on availability

4198, H322, 2015, h335, H4895, and maybe IMR 3031

Bob