6XC into a 6x47

[rcw3]

I just received some of the Lapua 6.5x47 brass which many want to make into 6x47. I may be wrong on this but when I measure the brass and how a 6x47 would be vs a 6XC, it seems to me you can cut the chamber for a 6x47 by just using a 6XC reamer and holding it short .050". You can also use a 6XC fl sizing die by removing .050" off the bottom of a 6XC die and replacing the decapping pin with a small one. Am I missing something? This seems like a no brainer cheap and easy conversion set up for a 6x47 if you have 6XC stuff.

If you had a 6XC barrel, it seems all you would have to do is set it back .050", and you would not even need to cut a new chamber.

Robert Whitley
6mmAR.com

 

[Forum Boss]

Robert,

Interesting observation. I don't have the final production brass with me, but I know that the 6.5x47 is very similar to the 6XC dimensionally. My concern is that if you run a 6XC reamer 0.050 short, the chamber might be too tight at the web.

What's the diameter of 6XC brass at the point that would correspond with the top of the extractor groove on 6.5x47, if you measure down from the body shoulder junction with each case?

 

[rcw3]

Moderator

Sure doesn't look like there would be a problem to me. Near the web my 6.5x47 brass runs around .467", a 6XC chamber runs around .4695 there, and resized brass,with a 6XC die) around .467". Sure seems like a good fit to me. I have studied this pretty carefully, it seems like Lapua might have had this in mind when they made up their brass. Even the neck length seems to work out well for using a 6XC reamer held short. Too many coincidences to have just all worked out that way.


Robert Whitley

 

[rcw3]

The 6XC reamer held short .0486" works like a charm, and a 6XC resizing die ground off .050" works very well too. I set up an informational website for it at www.6mmHOT.com.

Robert Whitley

 

[Wild_Bill]

Oh if only Lapua made the 6.5X47 50 thou longer you could have just necked it down and fireformed it into the XC but in all honesty i would just have the barrel rechambered to suit the new case and you will have no troubles. You can play and shorten the XC though as this is what helps with the eveloution of our sport. I dont think there is a conspiracy here the 30 degree shoulder was always going to happen the length was the only thing that they had to realy determine along with the primer pocket configuration. Remember this case was designed to go head to head with the 6X47 Swiss match and 6mmBR in 300m competition where 60 scoring shots and sighters are fired without cleaning the rifle. Lapua must have believed the 6.5 would hold up better with long strings of fire over the 6mm's however is other disiplines the 6mm i believe is a better option.


Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[rcw3]

Bill

Actually mine was made by setting back an existing new chambered 6XC barrel by the required amount and not even touching the existing chamber.

Robert Whiley

 

[Wild_Bill]

Robert that sounds like a Fix for the brass issue it may be a better round than the XC because of the ability to get great cases and also use a variety of dies. It also means the anyone with an XC reamer should be able to chamber the new case and people could use the XC dies and shorten them to get a full lenght die. Sounds like a lot of people could change without much expense at all.

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[Pbike]

Meanwhile,

Everyone has their own Ideas on Lead angle, and through length, freebore etc. How does the neck length measure up? Personally I would make my own reamer and use the Lapua 6.5mm X 47 Brass to begin with, then make the brass fit my needs. I would probably even make the chamber a bit tight so one has to neck turn, and in turn clean up the case necks a bit, reducing size from 6.5mm to 6mm will make the necks a hair thick, and possibly out of concenticity. I believe a turned and trued neck is the begining of a good cartridge.

Paul

 

[rcw3]

Meanwhile,

Everyone has their own Ideas on Lead angle, and through length, freebore etc. How does the neck length measure up? Personally I would make my own reamer and use the Lapua 6.5mm X 47 Brass to begin with, then make the brass fit my needs. I would probably even make the chamber a bit tight so one has to neck turn, and in turn clean up the case necks a bit, reducing size from 6.5mm to 6mm will make the necks a hair thick, and possibly out of concenticity. I believe a turned and trued neck is the begining of a good cartridge.

Paul

Paul

The neck length is essentially identical between a 6XC and a 6x47 Lapua,.305" vs .302" respectively). A 6XC chamber held short .0486" makes a tighter chamber that's about perfect for the necked down 6.5x47 brass,if you work with the case you'll see - it's almost as if the people at Lapua designed it that way). If a guy is looking to make a bench gun or a specialty prone or F class rifle, then neck turning is the way to go. I come from the background of being an across the course highpower shooter and if neck turning was required for highpower shooters to use the 6x47 Lapua cartridge, that would be the end of the cartridge for about 95% of them. Get things too tight for a highpower cartridge where we have rapid fire sequences out of a magazine and you set yourself and your rifle up for alibis and rifle problems - no good,.002"-.003" neck clearance is no good for an across the course highpower rifle, and .005"-.010" is the norm).

Dave Kiff will make you whatever reamer you want, with whatever freebore and lead angle you specify, whether it will make a stellar chamber or a dog of a chamber who knows. The one and a half degree lead angle is tried, true and competition proven, and is a good benchmark standard, but if you want to play with something else that's o.k. too!

Robert Whitley