Defending the 6.5 x 47 Lapua

[RustyPin]

Did he say 250 X 47mm?? Because all I heard was Quarter Bore with 131 Grain Bullet... Wow that came full circle quick.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Let me summarize: My 6.5 is better than your 6.5.

This thread can end now.

You are very welcome.

 

[chrisj]

No need to defend the 6.5x47. The in crowd who has tp shoot the popular cartridge probably hasn't had a 6.5x47. I have both and theres only 1 plus to the creedmoor.. tons of factory ammo and brass. If federal, win, Rem, Hornady, etc.. started making 6.5x47 brass and ammo for the same prices as the 6.5 cr and rifle makers started proding as many rifles in 6.5x47... you'd see the 2 options even out QUITE A BIT.

 

[rgc54]

Guys it's just a rifle cartridge. Plan your rifle build, pick your components and cartridge and shoot what you had built. Don't worry what the guy on the next bench is shooting.

 

[Deton8tor]

I own and shoot .260's and 6.5x47's because they were here long before the Creed. Then along came some knucklehead writer that said a 6.5 Creedmoor was everything a .260 and 47L should have been! It has been an all out assault by Hornady/Hodgdon and others to deter or derail the .260 and 47L. Folks at one the ranges I shoot at similarly boast the Creed.

I agree with Grimstod: Every way you cut it the 6.5x47 is better then the creedmoor. That said it amazes me that the main stream industry has turned a blind eye to this. Guess its planned obsolescence.

 

[Snuggie]

It will be quite a long, long time before the 6.5X47 ever becomes obsolete! Also, all new shooters we see with 6CRM have them in AR platforms. They must shoot FTR in OPEN class. They don’t stand a chance against a custom 6.5X47 in accuracy! Not to mention the 6X47’s or Dashers. I’ve seen that myself. Haven’t seen a CRM in a bolt gun yet but I’d go against it any day! Bring em on! Just my 2cents.....

 

[JEFFPPC]

It will be quite a long, long time before the 6.5X47 ever becomes obsolete! Also, all new shooters we see with 6CRM have them in AR platforms. They must shoot FTR in OPEN class. They don’t stand a chance against a custom 6.5X47 in accuracy! Not to mention the 6X47’s or Dashers. I’ve seen that myself. Haven’t seen a CRM in a bolt gun yet but I’d go against it any day! Bring em on! Just my 2cents.....

Which cartridge means little. The quality of the barrel, the knowledge of the shooter to tune it, and the ability of the shooter will determine what is best. That being said I have a 6.5 X 47 and find it very competitive.

 

[Snuggie]

Which cartridge means little. The quality of the barrel, the knowledge of the shooter to tune it, and the ability of the shooter will determine what is best. That being said I have a 6.5 X 47 and find it very competitive.

I agree Jeff! My 6.5X47 shoots great!

 

[Sandstorm]

From Finland the Country that SAKO built...just my2c

 

[Peebles24]

I would have to say in my limited experience the two cartridges are close enough to make no real distinguishable difference. I may have accidentally made the best of both. When i ordered my 6.5 Creedmoor dies, midway sent me a set of whidden dies with a 6.5 creedmoor seater die (big white easy to read writting) and a 6.5×47L sizing die (not so easy to notice writting) i shot my first mid range competition with this and did ok. I dont have a 6.5×47L but can gaurantee i wouldnt turn one down. Hard to go wrong with about any of the 6.5 mm cartridges.

 

[284winner]

It seems like if I mention the 6.5 x 47 Lapua, there is always someone going on and on about how the 6.5 Creedmoor is the cat's meow and can do no wrong. It did get me asking myself, so what is really good about the 6.5 x 47 Lapua and why I chose it. I have some answers below, but if you have any, please share, 'cuz I feel like the 6.5 x 47 Lapua is not getting the love it deserves in some circles. I want to better defend it. My reasons for 6.5 x 47 Lapua vs 6.5 Creedmoor. I recognize some of these are very minor or not at all applicable to everyone.

1) Less case capacity should help barrel life.
2) Slightly longer case neck allowing a bit more room to extend bullet out chasing lands.
3) Slightly shorter case allowing a bit easier fit into magazines.
4) Designed for 300 meter competition and is a distance I like.
5) Uses small rifle primers (Creedmoor did not when I selected 6.5 x 47).
6) Better competition track record. I may be wrong on this!
7) Seems less fussy with loads. I have read this, but not sure if true.
8) Uses around 10% less powder (as best as I recall). Cuts round costs slightly.
9) Anecdotal evidence indicates more often than not, superior accuracy, however slight.

Since I only reload, off-the-shelf ammo is of no value to me.

Phil

There is no need to defend the 6.5x47 cartridge. It's history cannot be denied. Many cartridges can't walk where it's plowed. Including the Creedmoor.

 

[284winner]

I own and shoot .260's and 6.5x47's because they were here long before the Creed. Then along came some knucklehead writer that said a 6.5 Creedmoor was everything a .260 and 47L should have been! It has been an all out assault by Hornady/Hodgdon and others to deter or derail the .260 and 47L. Folks at one the ranges I shoot at similarly boast the Creed.

I agree with Grimstod: Every way you cut it the 6.5x47 is better then the creedmoor. That said it amazes me that the main stream industry has turned a blind eye to this. Guess its planned obsolescence.

Couldn't have stated it better !!!

 

[chrisj]

I own and shoot .260's and 6.5x47's because they were here long before the Creed. Then along came some knucklehead writer that said a 6.5 Creedmoor was everything a .260 and 47L should have been! It has been an all out assault by Hornady/Hodgdon and others to deter or derail the .260 and 47L. Folks at one the ranges I shoot at similarly boast the Creed.

I agree with Grimstod: Every way you cut it the 6.5x47 is better then the creedmoor. That said it amazes me that the main stream industry has turned a blind eye to this. Guess its planned obsolescence.

 

[chrisj]

It was all just about marketing.. Lapua intended th 6.5x47 to be used in Europen 300 meter rifle matches. It it was marketed to death like te creedmoor and then had ammo manufactured by all major ammunition manufactures... it likely would have held the creedmoor back from its current popularity. Creedmoor is a nice cartridge but no better ballistics or bbl life over a 6.5x47, 260 or a handloaded 6.5x55.

 

[SS GO DEVIL]

The 6.5x47L is a thoroughbred. Does well at all ranges. This picture is from the last 600 yd benchrest match. Names have been etched out for privacy.
Equipment:
Bat B Multiflat Full Marinetex Bed and Pillar
28'' Bartlein 5r 1:8 twist Heavy Varmint (2000 round barrel)
No turn chamber (brass has 20 firings never annealed)
McMillan Tooley MBR
Kahles 10-50x56 Moak
130 Berger Hybrid on top of H4350 2900 fps

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Who was attacking the 6.5x47L to begin with?

Tilting at windmills if you ask me.

 

[Sixgun]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned..but do you think Lapua clipped their own wings by offering 6.5 Creedmore with the small primer pockets? Since everyone wants their cases.. they should of kept that card up their sleeve. I understand why they did it though...money. I'm afraid the 6.5x47L will be phased out.

 

[Laurie]

I'm afraid the 6.5x47L will be phased out.

Lapua was simply bowing to reality, viz 6.5 Creedmoor had already been adopted by all mainstream US rifle manufacturers and nearly all case / ammunition makers and was also seeing significant adoption by European rifle manufacturers (which they tend to do rarely with new American cartridges and if so usually years after the US introduction).

Conversely, there are virtually no factory rifles offered in 6.5X47 Lapua even in Europe. (Sauer and Blaser offer barrels for some QD switch-barrel models and IIRC Sabatti briefly offered a blackticool job in this chambering.) Nobody other than Lapua produces brass or factory ammunition.

It wasn't that Nammo Oy signed the cartridge's death warrant by adopting the Creedmoor as the 6.5X47L was already dead as a factory sporting rifle option. Its original commercial objective and to be honest raison d'etre was to knock 6mm BR Norma off its throne in 300 metre ISSF / CISM 3-position shooting and so its size was determined by this short-range task. It failed absolutely in this role - 90% + of 3P 300M competitors still use the 6BR and without exception all top competitors. (The 300M disciplines are very big in Scandinavia / northern Europe and attract a lot of media attention, sponsorship etc making them very important to manufacturers for publicity and marketing reasons.)

The good news is that Nammo Lapua has a reputation for keeping relatively small volume brass in production for many, many years - to wit 220 Russian and 6BR which also see few production rifles / little factory ammo listed. So for the handloading varminting and competition shooting customer I'd expect to see Lapua continue to produce its quality brass well into the future.

 

[Longrange57]

I shoot for 6.5 x 47 in 1000 yard competition and absolutely love it and I’ve done well with it. The only thing I wonder about is how many pages this thread is going to go, maybe a new record!

1BAD284 is dead on...should have ended after 1st 5 posts. I have 2... 6.5 x 47's that would easily shoot inside the Creed at 5-600 yards until Lapua came out with brass. Now its a matter of calling the wind....and those pesky 284's !!

 

[Don Shelton]

That was just good luck , The wind gods blessed me . dave

Well Dave,,,got me one of those 6.5x47 light gun being put together,,,maybe see ya in the shootoffs!