6xc vs 6-6.5x47 accuracy choice

[onlyfineknives]

I am needing to chamber a rifle with a maximum 28" barrel to push a 105gr bullet from 3050 to 3100 that must magazine feed.

I know that both of these cartridges would work for this need but I'm curious if any of you have any evidence of one of the 6xc or 6-6.5x47 being more accurate than the other?

Thanks!

 

[DennisH]

IMO, I perfer the 6x47 Lapua, I have two, both dayum accurate! I know the 6xc is pretty accurate also.

 

[onlyfineknives]

Any other feedback? - Thanks!

 

[338Lapua]

i think a Dasher, BRX or BRDX would be a little more accurate than than a 6x47 Lap, and push a 105 gr bullet at 3050 to 3100

 

[flatlander]

I'm coming down on the side of the 6x47 - have built myself three of 'em vs. one 6XC. While the 6XC with Norma brass is a very good cartridge, I feel the Lapua case has a slight accuracy advantage. Only negative comments I have on the Lapua are: 1. High price of the Lapua brass. 2. I've seen a slight increase in ES numbers over the chrono when temps drop below 35*F.

 

[DennisH]

I have a 6br, brx, and a 6x47 Lapua, all are great,

6x47 is my favorite!

 

[onlyfineknives]

Thanks for the help!

 

[shortgrass]

For some reason I'd seem to think that the ability of the shooter, the quality of the ammo, the quality of the barrel fitting, and the quality of the blank would have more to do with accuracy than which cartridge. I wonder why David Tubb isn't shooting the 6x47 if its so much better? Just my 'pea' sized brain goin' again!

 

[Baron]

Shortgrass,
The reason Tubb does not shoot the 6x47 Lapua, probably has something to do with the fact that he didn’t design, sell cases and dies for the 47 Lapua case. The XC on the other hand is his cartridge. But you are correct about what make the most difference in an accurate rifle shoot accurately. The case has more to do with interior and exterior ballistics. In those terms the 47 Lapua case beats the XC hands down. I just so happen to have a Wildcat off of the 6x47L with the body length being very close to the XC, but with 40° shoulder (I can use the XC brass to form with).Using H4350, it will safely run the 105 BT to 3,400 fps (42.8 gr.) and the 115 VLD to 3,200 fps (41.8 gr.) and the primer pockets are still tight.

Baron

 

[shortgrass]

"The reason Tubb doesn't shoot the 6x47 Lapua, probably has something to do withe the fact that he didn't design, sell cases and dies for the 47 Lapua case". I don't buy that , Baron. Those guys that shoot to win, like in the Nationals, wouldn't stick with something, even of their own' design, if they thought another, different round would give them any kind of edge at all. To them, winning is everything. All the interior/exterior ballistics anyone may want to quote are all up to individual interpretation. Sure, numbers count, sometimes. But practical application is always the final judge. Here in my local area (and I'm definately not a pro shooter) there are a couple of those 6x47s. Neither one can/will out shoot my XC. When it comes to cases that are as close to each other as these are, whos hands the rifle is in (and the other things I mentioned, like ammo, bbl,chambering work) is the biggest variable.

 

[Nomo4me]

Love my 6x47L rifle and having a 16" Lilja fitted up to an XP-100 presently. Should be a fun toy. Just don't be on the next bench over at the range

 

[MarkS]

onlyfineknives
I will tell you my story. I was shooting a 6BR for 600yds IBS benchrest. it was doing fine, but I wanted more speed. I had one of my HG 6BR rechambered to 6XC. And the other rechambered LG to 6BRX. The BRX gave me 3050 f/s with a 25" barrel. The 6XC had to be pushed hard to get the same. I could not get the 6XC to shoot below 3". the BRX would run in the low 2". I shot a record with the two guns - 2 gun agg score. The 6CX would shoot center, but not small. 3" would not cut in 2005. I rebarreled the HG to a light gun 17lb in 6BRX to shoot in both classes. I shot to 2 more records with the 6BRX and won a lot of wood. The 6.5 X 47 came along, and many of the guys jumped in the 6 x 47 wagon. I know of 5 top shooter that tried to get the 6x47 to shoot, but could not. I know many do get them to shoot, but you don't see many in long range benchrest. The 6BR, 6BRX, and 6Dasher own the 600 yd line. If you need mag feed they may not feed well. You see 6.5 x 47 doing well, I am looking at that one myself.

Good luck with the build

Mark Schronce

 

[onlyfineknives]

Mark,

That's the kind of info I was looking for. I have a BR in a single shot bolt gun and a BRX in an AR that runs great, but no BRX in a bolt.

My issue is that I would like to not do a lot of fireforming if possible and mag feeding is a necessity being as this will be for tactical rifle use. I am not the most experienced tactical rifle shooter in the world, but I have learned that ultimate acccuracy trumps a little better ballistics every time. That's why I'm trying to build another rifle around the best accuracy possible with the criteria listed. I have 2 - Surgeon 243's that both shoot sub half minute consistently, but I've found that inside 500 to 600 yards (which is the majority of the shots in tactical rifle comps) I can see an advantage if the gun will hold in the .3's. This is most evident when shooting dot drills at 100 yards, but can be seen with other conditions as well.

Do you have any explanation for why the BR case and it's derivitives tends to be easier to shoot accurately than the 6x47L or 6mm SLR or others? Is there a point where the powder column gets too high for it to be optimum for accuracy?

Thanks again!

 

[jlmurphy]

My understanding is that you want a case that contains only enough volume to push the bullet of choice to the velocity you desire. There are certain velocity nodes for the heavy 6mm bullets ( 2850 and 3000 fps) that can be reached by first, the 6mmBR and then the 6mmDasher, more powder only gets in the way and tears up the barrel. The 243 Win has twice the volume of the 6mmBR, but no one can make one shoot as well. I switched from the 243 to the 6mmBR and was able to score higher totals at our local varmint silhouette competitions. The problem I am having now is that the 6mmDasher shooters have a slight edge in velocity which give them a few more hits to my near misses when the wind is switching. My present hope is that the 6X47 has the correct case volume to push the 115 DTACs to 3000, with acceptable accuracy. Hope springs eternal. Another concern is that the larger case size cannot be reliably ignited with small rifle primers. I have opened up the flash holes on my 6X47 cases and so far the ES and SD are very good.

 

[onlyfineknives]

jlmurphy,

I'm looking to shoot the 105 berger vld or hybrid at up to 3100. I've shot the dtacs out of my 243's and they shot well, but the bc's of the 105 bergers allow them to beat the dtac when run at a slightly higher velocity.

 

[jlmurphy]

onlyfineknives,

Well, that is the classic discussion, faster with a lower BC, or slower with a higher BC. My reasoning is that I haven't seen many posts of better accuracy at velocities above 3050 fps. with either 105 or 115 weight bullets. There are plenty of cases with enough volume to push either weight to 3200 or faster. I personally tried the .243 Win. with the 115 DTACs, but while occasionally printing tiny groups, on long strings the groups would usually open up. I am hoping the 6X47 will have just enough volume to push the 115 DTAC to 3000. I have reached velocities above 3100, but pressure was too high. I am using the 6x47 only because I had a decent barrel already chambered for that round, otherwise the XC would have been my first choice. This size case is, in my opinion, marginal for ignition with slow powders using a small rifle primer. I originally shied away from the 6X47 because of difficulty getting it to shoot well, the primer size may be why. I have opened up the flash holes of my cases, although I was concerned the larger hole would cause higher primer pocket pressures. I bushed my firing pin hole, and my present load shows no problems. We are limited to 6mm and smaller at our varmint competitions, but for a tactical rifle, I would use the 6.5X47 and 123 gr.bullets. I personally shoot a Model 70 LA in 6.5X55 for tactical matches. This case pushes a 139 gr. bullet to 2850 easily. The 6.5X47 and .260 Rem, I feel are better suited to 123 gr. bullets, plus they are short action cartridges.

 

[WyleWD]

For some reason I'd seem to think that the ability of the shooter, the quality of the ammo, the quality of the barrel fitting, and the quality of the blank would have more to do with accuracy than which cartridge.

I've got a pair of 6xc's. One is a bench rifle, the other is a hunting rifle. I've shot against more than just a fair number of 6X47's and a few 6.5x47's. And after a few years of this, IMHO, the ability of the shooter/reloader, the quality of the components, and the ability of the gunsmith to "do it right". Also, realistic expectations of the shooter need to be well grounded. So in closing, I pretty much agree with the above quote on the 3 cartridges in the original question. WD

 

[newboy]

Ive been shooting the 6.5x47 for about 2 years now for target use short range F Class (600yrds) and they just plain shoot well , i use 130 grn bullets out of a 28 inch barrel .
RL15 and RL17 give me very good results . I don't believe in kicking the crap out of the cases for speed so my loads are pushing along at around 2750 with the 15 and 2930 with 17.

I have just started to play with the 6mmslr with the intention of useing 115 dtacs barrel life should be good and speed is better than the 6.5x47 with out bashing cases . this round i think is the smart mans choice for the above uses ,and gets you into the speed BC area that we all seek when dreaming about V bulls . i haven't done to much with this round yet But it really is look to be what i hoped it would be .

As good as the 6.5-284 with three time the barrel life .

Regards newboy

 

[Erik Cortina]

"The reason Tubb doesn't shoot the 6x47 Lapua, probably has something to do withe the fact that he didn't design, sell cases and dies for the 47 Lapua case". I don't buy that , Baron. Those guys that shoot to win, like in the Nationals, wouldn't stick with something, even of their own' design, if they thought another, different round would give them any kind of edge at all. To them, winning is everything. All the interior/exterior ballistics anyone may want to quote are all up to individual interpretation. Sure, numbers count, sometimes. But practical application is always the final judge. Here in my local area (and I'm definately not a pro shooter) there are a couple of those 6x47s. Neither one can/will out shoot my XC. When it comes to cases that are as close to each other as these are, whos hands the rifle is in (and the other things I mentioned, like ammo, bbl,chambering work) is the biggest variable.

Shortgrass,

In that case I bet you think DTAC's are the best bullets in the world and the T2K is the best rifle in the world because Tubb uses them? If your answer is yes, I have a bridge I'll sell you! ;D

Tubb uses that because that's what he sells, period! He has been beat by 243's and 260's as well as other cartridges, which goes to show that the cartridge is not what wins championships!

You say the 6x47's in your area can't beat your XC? Well, I have news for you, one day they will! And when that happens will you say the 6x47 is a better cartridge and have your rifle rechambered?... I didn't think so!

I know some guys that shoot both, the guy that shoots the 6x47 always beats the guy that shoots the guy that shoots the XC, I wonder if it has to do because the 6x47 shooter is a better shot?

Back to the OP, I think the 6.5x47 would be a better choice like previously stated.

 

[shortgrass]

No Eric, I 'm not shooting the DTACs and T2K isn't exactly my 'cup of tea'!