Just got my 6.5x47

[craig6547]

Hello.

1st of all id like to introduce myself. I'm Craig, from Scotland , UK. Been shooting powder burners now for around 4 years and air rifle before that for a couple years.

I had been shooting a .223 Rem 700 Tactical for 3 years, mainly vermin/fox and deer. I had planned on customising the .223 with faster twist barrel for bigger bullets but then changed the whole idea to 6.5x47.

Spec is.....

Remy 700 short action blueprinted
1~8 twist Krieger finished at 24" fluted and screw cut.
fully bedded in AICS.
AICS Panels hydro dipped in A-Tac camo
Stainless OLC ( UK suppressor manufacturer )Suppressor specific to 6.5 cal
All metal work coated in matte black teflon.
20 MOA rail
NightForce NXS 8-32x56 with MOAR reticle
Chamber reamed out for the long 140gn A-Max at 2.820.
Using a Hornady OAL gauge im getting 2.206 to the ogive.


I am going to be exclusively using 140gn A-Max's. Powder ill be using is Elcho 17 ( Reloader 17 ) I would want to be using H4350 but cannot get any in the UK at the moment, nobody has any at all. Primers will be CCI 450's

Any other 6.5x47 shooters using this loading combo ? Would also be interested to hear about any other loads with 140gn A-Max with a 24" 1~8 barrel .






Craig

 

[65BR]

Nice rifle, how many flutes? What handle/knob is that? I think you did well going with 6.5mm, good round. Enjoy and give us a range report when you can. RL15 is a powder many use, as Varget and H4350. Some can chime in on loads, some use 17 also as you know.

 

[kyreloader]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/04/erik-cortina-breaks-300-yard-f-class-record-with-6-5x47-lapua/

 

[dooley]

craig 6547, Hi my 6.5x47 is almost the same as yours IE; Rem 700 S/A also in AICS stock, I also use Elcho 17 and CCI 450's but my barrel is 30", I mainly use the 130gr bergers at 2775" COAL I use 40.6grs in the colder weather and drop this down to 40grs when the temp gets around 70F, I should think your powder charge should be around 39.8grs with your COAL and the 140gr amax
and of course this temp, your velocity should be around 2780-2800 fps.
Best Regards, dooley (UK)

 

[craig6547]

There is 6 flutes on the barrel. The bolt is from PTG and it's the tactical handle. Also forgot to mention the chamber is a no neck turn.

Thanks for that info Dooley , I have infact made up my 1st test rounds starting at 39.0gn. I made up and extra 5 at 39.0gn to get me on target when I come to load test. I got these rounds down range and noticed some pressure signs on the case head, half moon shape. Then I got home to clean it and once I got the bolt out I noticed some fluid on the bolt. !! I forgot to clean the damn chamber after cleaning out the barrel from factory and proof house dirt. So I'm thinking that's why I was getting pressure signs. Only got them on 3 cases out of the 5 so I'm guessing the 2 that never had pressure signs might have been the last 2 to get shot. Total dumb ass mistake to make.
I'm no expert Reloader and I feel I've got my work cut out for me on this caliber .

I will defo be posting up range reports and my progress on this rifle. Other forums don't have much chatter about 6.5x47 like this one. Glad I joined up.

Craig

 

[AusFclass]

There is 6 flutes on the barrel. The bolt is from PTG and it's the tactical handle. Also forgot to mention the chamber is a no neck turn.

Thanks for that info Dooley , I have infact made up my 1st test rounds starting at 39.0gn. I made up and extra 5 at 39.0gn to get me on target when I come to load test. I got these rounds down range and noticed some pressure signs on the case head, half moon shape. Then I got home to clean it and once I got the bolt out I noticed some fluid on the bolt. !! I forgot to clean the damn chamber after cleaning out the barrel from factory and proof house dirt. So I'm thinking that's why I was getting pressure signs. Only got them on 3 cases out of the 5 so I'm guessing the 2 that never had pressure signs might have been the last 2 to get shot. Total dumb *** mistake to make.
I'm no expert Reloader and I feel I've got my work cut out for me on this caliber .

I will defo be posting up range reports and my progress on this rifle. Other forums don't have much chatter about 6.5x47 like this one. Glad I joined up.

Craig

6.5x47 is an easy cal to load for. you picked up on your oil in chamber stuff up and the pressure signs so you are being observant. very good start.

I prefer 130gr bullets. in my opinion only 140s are a bit heavy. you can get them to work no problems but I like 130s in the smallish case.

the way I figure out what my MAX load is get one brand new never fired case. load it with what you think is near max charge. fire it. neck size the same case and load it again with the same charge and fire it again. keep going until it wont hold a primer. are you happy with that case life? if not back the charge off. or you might be able to go up a bit.

the key is make sure you do it with a brand new case. cases fire formed with a soft charge will handle a higher second charge. . . which is all good . . . . until you use your hot load in a new batch of brass and toast the lot! don't ask me how I know this

personally I use 4350. 40.5- 41.5gr 130gr berger, cci BR4, .015" jam.

 

[krktractor]

Nice Rifle first off. I just switched from 130 bergers to 140 berger hybrids because I couldn't find them. Im glad i switched though these things shoot better than the 130s did. I went out to the range with 41.5 grains of H4350 and 3 different seating depths and shot 2 groups in the .3s at 300 yards so I'm not going to switch. velocity 2870 ES was 6 and SD was 3 no need to change with numbers like that. you will love this cartridge it shoots most thing very well. good luck.

 

[craig6547]

I've been speaking to 2 guys that also shoot x47 and they both use 140gn A-Max with H4350 and get outstanding results. One of the guys has started testing with Elcho17 as trial testing as he still has H4350 left to use. He is achieving 2900 fps with 40gn Elcho 17, he has a longer barrel than my rig.

 

[AusFclass]

Nice Rifle first off. I just switched from 130 bergers to 140 berger hybrids because I couldn't find them. Im glad i switched though these things shoot better than the 130s did. I went out to the range with 41.5 grains of H4350 and 3 different seating depths and shot 2 groups in the .3s at 300 yards so I'm not going to switch. velocity 2870 ES was 6 and SD was 3 no need to change with numbers like that. you will love this cartridge it shoots most thing very well. good luck.

I wouldn't like to try that load in a rem700 or even my bat. That is hot.

 

[Jnewman]

Why not start out at a lower charge work your way up see what the gun likes without pressure signs your brass will last a lot longer. Speed is not the key to a accurate rifle you will find a sweet spot at a certain charge without pressure and your barrel and brass will thank you. Good luck

 

[briar]

Hi Craig, if you need some reassurance before you singe your eyebrows with your reloading give me a shout! Don't know whether to wait for h4350 or search for something else suitable for 260 rem.
As an aside how are you getting on with the guide? Bought myself the pulsar h38s- well chuffed!
atb
Andy

 

[krktractor]

it maybe hot in some rifles. I worked up from 40 grains and went up. the only reason I stopped at 41.5 is the groups came together like they did. I have no pressure signs whatsoever. I would work up to any load posted by anyone , all rifles act different I wasn't suggesting you just load up to that charge and go shoot but I'm sure that most people knew that.

 

[KWeigel]

Great looking rifle! I shoot 140 hyb with h4350 and have gotten

great results. when people say the 6.5x47 doesn't like the 140s don't listen.

 

[dooley]

Hi craig, you will probably find that people that use the 140gr bullets do so with longer barrels than you have, IE; my barrel is 30 inch, even so I still find that I would rather use the 130gr bergers, but the 123gr scenars are also superb, whatever powder loads people advise you on might be safe in their rifles which might have a stronger action than yours, always start a gr down and only load about 3 rounds, then go up in in increments of approx 2/10s of a gr, and look for pressure signs, when your rifle starts to show this back off 1/2 a gr, you want your cases to last for a least 10 reloads, you will probably find that the most accurate velocity is normally down a bit from the highest velocity you can get, Lastlly Elcho 17 is a bit spikey when the temp gets over 75F, what is a safe powder load at 10C maybe not so safe when the temp creeps up, in the 6.5x47 I prefer elcho 17 to H4350, its cheaper and available in the UK, H4350 is not at present. Regards, dooley

 

[craig6547]

Hi Craig, if you need some reassurance before you singe your eyebrows with your reloading give me a shout! Don't know whether to wait for h4350 or search for something else suitable for 260 rem.
As an aside how are you getting on with the guide? Bought myself the pulsar h38s- well chuffed!
atb
Andy

Andy as in Simmers ??

Yeah mate the guide is amazing. Looking back now I don't know why I didn't have one before.


Dooley, thanks again for that info. If for any reason I can't get the 140's to shoot then I will try the 130's. Hope they do shoot though as I have a fair few boxes stocked up
I doubt I could go to 123's as my chamber is reamed for the 140's at 2.820 COAL.

 

[craig6547]

Also Dooley forgot to add that I did read that Elcho 17 was a bit temp sensitive , being in Scotland we dont get much sun around here haha

 

[briar]

Hi mate, yes tis me, sorry I couldn't resist! ;D
Have a couple of really helpful books that will take your reloading skills to the next level and beyond if you want to borrow. The 6ppc, the necessity of having to reload for it, advice from Callum who built both it and my 260 and the amount of available info here has been a steep and enjoyable learning curve. Every other calibre you and I reload for can be as involving if you want or as simple as you need. If you want/need a little encouragement with reloading and the associated measurements am happy to help.
Had a course of tuition 0-300m with Bradley Bourner a few weeks ago, held 0.5 moa all day with the 260 without really doping for wind. Now have the confidence in my basic skills and how to improve.

Speak soon
Andy