Is it my shooting or the loads.. How does one answer this?

[Milano]

I have a 6.5x47 totally custom built Borden action etc. So,.. I have to assume the rifle will shoot well. I have loaded it 200 times to date and cannot get it to shoot under 1.75 inch 5 shot groups at 300 yards. No matter what I feed it.

The load that several ladder tests have shown is a charge of 41.2 gr of RE17 under a Sierra MK 142 moving at 2,915 ought to shoot. Even with a ES of 25 to 35 depending upon what I am doing. The seating depth has yet to matter. 0.010 out of the lands all the way to 0.005 in has not made any difference. Same results. 1.75 at 300. Half inch at 100, 2.25 at 400. CONSISTANTLY. Went and even tested from 40.8 all the way to 42.0 grains in 0.2 increments it still likes that 41.2ish load.

So it must be me right? I would think so. Pulled out my trusty SSG-69. 10 rounds of 168 FGM into a nice tight little 1 inch group at 300. Then I commenced to pulling out my hair and kicking my dog.

What do I do now. Am I expecting too much of the 6.5? Should I just be satisfied? Do you all have any thoughts on the load that I am using? I am so used to that 308 it is totally natural. Might i just need to shoot the 6.5 more? How do I eliminate me as the potential problem? Any help would be great thank you.

 

[funk]

I have two 6.5x47L they both shoot the same size groups that yours does with the 140gr class bullets, but with the 130s they shoot a little bit better and the 120s with H4350 shoot under .25 moa consistently.

 

[watercam]

Try seating further out. My brother has a rifle that needs bullets jumped .200" (not a type). With SMK 142s my 6.5/284 liked them at .020" off lands. Some out to .080" or more. Nothing to lose.

 

[stgw77]

Maybe you should try 120 grs class bullets with powders like Reloader 15, Varget or H4350. Plenty accurate at 300. I really did not find any need for 140 grs bullets at 300.

 

[necchi]

Glass?
Glass hight?

 

[Heavies]

Did you try any other powders that RL-17? I have got great velocity from RL-17(not ina 6.5 though), but could never get spectacular accuracy.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Then I commenced to pulling out my hair and kicking my dog.

Try 139 Scenars, that's what I shoot and they shoot great, under 1" at 300. If that doesn't work, try kicking the dog again! ;D

 

[TerryPohl]

I had similar experience with a 6-Dasher. Bat action the hole works. Turned out to be neck tension. But I kicked my dog several times before I figured it out with help from fine people on this forum. It is more then likely something simple. Check scope mounts, change out scope if you have another to try, change powder, primers, bullets. But just do one thing at a time and you will figure it out. Just don’t get to discouraged, things like this happens a lot. Hope this helps and good shooting.
Terry Pohl

 

[DCRYDER]

i second what terry said, i'd try another scope before anything else. the last 2 years i've had 3 scopes with bouncy crosshairs. and that was with 2 6br's and a custom 220 swift.

 

[Kenny474]

My uncle had a similar issue with his 300RUM, full custom, just wouldn't shoot under 3" at 100 yards for several range sessions. And it's not fun at all to shoot off a bench at just under 10lbs with no brake, so it was starting to get painful, as he had asked me to help get it dialed in. Turns out that we had destroyed the brand new Leupold mounted on it within the first 10 or 20 shots.

Installed a brake and Leupold sent a new scope, problem solved. Shoots .75 for 5 @100 all day. Would likely do better, but it still is anything but fun to shoot, so it is what it is.

Don't get discouraged. Keep trying. I have not heard of the new 6.5x47's doing very well with anything over the 120 class bullets. Maybe your answer lies in a lighter bullet? But check everything to be sure it's tight, and swap in a scope of known quality. Even new glass can go south in a hurry.

 

[Milano]

Thank you all for the help. ... keep the ideas coming though.

I thought of the scope being loose as well. Went from a Leup Mk4 4-14x50 to a mk4 6-20x50 on a Pic rail to try to eliminate that problem.

As far as the height it is about 1.5 inches above the bore, maybe 1.7. The barrel is a Leigia (<--spelling sucks, I know. Late for work anyway.) 1 in 8 #7 contour 26 inches long.

The primers I have been using are CCI standard and Magnum with the magnum giving better/more consistant performance. I will try different powders but what would you all suggest about primers? I have heard the Win SR are really good as well.

Additionally, I really didn't kick my dog. He is scared to death of guns. Sucks for him since I work on a ranch and have one on the seat ALL the time!

 

[15Tango]

2915 with a 142 seems awfully fast for a 6.5X47. R17 gave me insane velocities too but it's far from the most accurate powder. Try the 140 class bullets out with H4350 at a slower velocity or a 120 class.

Wayne

ETA, about your primers, try Wolf. Wolf significantly shrunk my ES/SD, that and getting away from R17. ES went from about 25-30 FPS to 2-3 FPS.

 

[CJ6]

"Is it my shooting or my Loads" Try haveing an equal or better shooter than yourself shoot your loads(to rule out/confirm loading issues)

 

[Erik Cortina]

You are on the right track with RL17 and 140 gr class bullets. 2915 fps. is not too fast, as I shoot my 139 Scenars at 2930-2950 fps with RL17 from a 30" bbl. I use CCI 450 primers.

Check your neck clearance, make sure everything is tight, and try about 1-2 thou neck tension. I'll send you some Scenars to try if you want, they shoot great for me!

 

[15Tango]

2915 fps. is not too fast, as I shoot my 139 Scenars at 2930-2950 fps with RL17 from a 30" bbl. I use CCI 450 primers.

Out of a 6.5X47? Seems like it'd be past that optimal accuracy speed for that cartridge. I can run a 140 at 3100 out of my 6.5 Creedmoor but it's not as accurate as 2900 FPS.

Wayne

ETA, oh yeah, and trying some different 140 class bullets is a good idea like X3 is saying. Give the 139 Scenars and 140 A-Max a try. The 140 AMax has really surprised me. Also the 140 VLD . . .

 

[Erik Cortina]

***Work up to this load!***
My load is 42.0 gr. RL17 with 139 gr. Lapua Scenars and CCI 450's and 0.010" jam. It shoots 3/4" groups at 300 yards out of my old 28" Krieger bbl, I have a new 30" bbl now, but haven't spent much time with it lately.

You can also try some Lapua 123's.

What is your barrel length? Loading process? I don't think your bullet weight is the problem, as mine shoot great.

Again, I have about 3500 139 Scenars, I'll send you some to try if you want.

Let me know.

 

[rocketron]

X3M.....what twist are you using?

Ron

 

[AusFclass]

130gr berger 39-41.5gr H4350 .010 jam 2950 fps should give very good results ;D

if it is not your load. . . having you paralex adjustment slightly off can cause similar results.

with the gun in a rest i look through the scope at the target and bob my head slightly up and down. at the same time adjust the paralex untill the cross hair stops bobbing around on the target when you moove your head. just an idea if you dont allready do it.

 

[Erik Cortina]

X3M.....what twist are you using?

Ron

1:8" twist

 

[Milano]

Wow, thank you all very much. I am looking forward to trying these ideas.

X3M I will get some 139s off of Midway I am going to try some H4350 and RE15 as well. So, I will just order it all at once. Thank you very much though I appreciate it.

What would you all recomend for a starting and a "get nervous" maximum with RE 15 and the Hodgdon 4350?

As far as my reloading process I am using a Forester Bonanza Full length die to size the brass down 0.002 from the fired headspace length. Uniforming primer pocket. Brushing case neck. Trimming to 1.8350. Using a 22 degree deburring on the neck. Trickling in the powder from a RCBS Charge Master. Setting the bullet with a F-B ultra seating die. What do you all think?

My question is the case neck tension. I have never messed with that. So, how do you change that? (I am sure I can do a search here on the forum and get the answer.)

I was flipping through my reloading book that I put together and it appears that most of the groups are more wide that tall. Does this say anything to you all?