My new 6.5x47 Borden

[Evan]

Hi all! Thought I would share my latest adventure. I started a discussion a while back about a 6.5x47 benchrest rifle:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/6-5x47-hv-gun.3998349/

After talking to a couple gunsmiths, I decided to take the leap. Jim Borden convinced me to step up to a Rimrock BRL when I mentioned wanting a right bolt, left load, drop port. He also convinced me to glue this one in. He built the barreled action for me and timed a Jewell to it. He used his reamer, a 0.293 neck with a 0.166 freebore, on a Kreiger 8 twist, 4 groove, 31inch HV blank. Final finished length is a bit over 29 inches.

I got a "desert laminate" target blank with a 3" forearm from Richard's microfit and carved the stock myself. The barreled action arrived last Monday and the background check took 3 days. Got it home Thursday evening and worked hard to get it all together to shoot yesterday for the first time.

This was a bit of a departure in shape from my previous stocks:
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/my-20-vartarg-custom.3969176/
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/new-stock-for-my-22-250.3978615/
but I'm happy with how it turned out. I REALLY like this combination of colors. With my Sightron SVSS ED, I just barely make 17 pounds. I need to take off the sunshade and the caps and I just sneak in under weight!

I took it out yesterday with some new Petersen brass, RL16, and a handful of 147ELD. Starting at 39gns and working my way up to a drop tube and a slow pour got me to 2850fps without any change in bolt lift and no other pressure signs. I kind of ran out of room for any more powder! I backed it down to 2820 and shot the rest of the 50 there. I'll post some pictures of how they fit later when I load up the next 50. I'm going to be a bit wild and get up Wednesday morning and shoot before work.

I've got some 140 Hybrids in hand to try (thanks, Jerry!) and I have a box of 144 and 153.5s coming. After the tremendous speed it showed me yesterday, I'm not worried the 153.5 are too big anymore. It'd probably push them 2800 if I asked it to!

 

[Stan Taylor]

I think you will be well pleased with your combination a great cartridge.

 

[Ranger188]

Evan, did you get some of the Vapor trails new 6.5 bullets?

 

[Evan]

Evan, did you get some of the Vapor trails new 6.5 bullets?

Not yet. Vapor Trail and BIB are on my list. I've got a lead on some BIB.

 

[Evan]

147ELD seated to touch with the .166 freebore, for those interested:

 

[Evan]

Got up nice and early this morning (4) and went shooting before work:

Tested 40.2 up to 40.8gns of RL16, 147 ELD seated 0.007" into the lands, 0.002" into the lands, 0.003 out, and 0.008 out (0.005" steps), all with CCI 450 and virgin Peterson brass.

Target was set at 330 yards.

40.2 up to 40.4 had a stable point of impact. when I stepped up to 40.6, it hit 2" high (2nd row, 2nd column). Clicked back to down and all the way up to 40.8 stayed pretty consistent. This high "node" is 2850fps. If you try this, work up to it. It's crunchy!

I can't make any sense out of seating depth. Doesn't seem to shoot better at one setting. All in all I don't think this is the powder/bullet combo I'm looking for. Kind of mediocre. Smallest group (row 1, column 2) is 0.70". Most are in the 1-1.5" range.

I'm excited for my Berger 144 and 153.5 to show up. I also have some 140 Hybrids on hand too. See if one of those 3 performs a little stronger. If it doesn't shoot any of those bullets better, it'll be time for a powder swap. Can't say I'm thrilled about how compressed these loads are anyway. I've got some Shooters World Long Rifle, Precision, and SW4350 to try. I have plenty of IMR4350 and 4064. And I have the speed demon, Reloader 17. Something will work.

The rifle is an absolute delight to shoot. Recoil is very mild, the BRL drop port is slick and I can run it very fast. My stock tracks straight. All in all, I'm very happy with the outcome. 100rnds down the tube as of today.

EDIT: I studied my log and this target: Row 1, column 2 and column 6 (far right) are both seated 0.002 out. Row 2, column 4 is also seated 0.002 out. These are 40.2, 40.4, and 40.6 respectively. Row 3 and column 3 would have been the next 0.002 out at 40.8, but wind wasn't cooperating with me at that point, as seen by the increasingly larger group sizes. I think in this rifle, the 147ELD prefers to be 0.002" out of the lands.

 

[hammerjack]

You should give 123 Sierra or 130 Berger a try.

 

[FeMan]

I am interested to see how you are able to get the heavier bullets to shoot in the 47. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Longrange57]

Heavies shoot well in my 47's. This target is from Monday at 400 yds, 147 eldm, just touching with 39.3 H4350 and 28 inch 8tw Bartien, 450 primer....
2752 fps. I have another 47 that shoots 140 hyb about the same. 6.5 x 284, 8tw Brux shoots 140hyb the best at 2930-2940.

 

[Evan]

Heavies shoot well in my 47's. This target is from Monday at 400 yds, 147 eldm, just touching with 39.3 H4350 and 28 inch 8tw Bartien, 450 primer....
2752 fps. I have another 47 that shoots 140 hyb about the same. 6.5 x 284, 8tw Brux shoots 140hyb the best at 2930-2940.

Was there a target you meant to upload? I'm not seeing one.

 

[Evan]

You should give 123 Sierra or 130 Berger a try.

I'll fall back to them if the heavier stuff doesn't provide the accuracy I'm after. A lot of people seem to get really good accuracy from the 123 and 130, so I think that's a safe way to go but I was kind of looking at the 6.5x47 to get a wind advantage over the 6s, which the lighter bullets don't give.

If the 153.5 can go 2800+ with good accuracy, that's right on the heels of the 284 guys shooting 184s. Just have to see if it pans out; ultimately the accuracy wins, but I'm excited to investigate the heavier bullets because many people dismiss them out of hand as too much for the little Lapua.

 

[Longrange57]

Was there a target you meant to upload? I'm not seeing one.

Thanks!

 

[Longrange57]

You can see the vertical in that target....8-10 mph gusting headwind. Over-all avg for both 47's and 147 eldm or 140 hyb is .25-30 moa.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I spent most of last summer trying to force feed a 6.5 x 47 140 class bullets. It never did what I wanted. I think there is not quite enough powder capacity. If I ever decide to put the barrel back on I will try the 123 and 130 bullets. Only thing I gained over 6brx was more recoil and less accuracy. I have talked to a couple dedicated 6.5 x47 shooters lately who said they stick to the 130 class bullets. I tried several powders, ended up with Varget as my best option. Hope you make your set up work.

 

[Longrange57]

I spent most of last summer trying to force feed a 6.5 x 47 140 class bullets. It never did what I wanted. I think there is not quite enough powder capacity. If I ever decide to put the barrel back on I will try the 123 and 130 bullets. Only thing I gained over 6brx was more recoil and less accuracy. I have talked to a couple dedicated 6.5 x47 shooters lately who said they stick to the 130 class bullets. I tried several powders, ended up with Varget as my best option. Hope you make your set up work.

Absolutely, 130's and 123's work well also!

 

[Sandstorm]

Try a 140 Berger BT Long range behind some Varget perhaps.....works pretty well for me....

 

[Scooby-93]

Have you considered using viht n160 with the heavies?

it will be a compressed load but I think you will be surprised with the consistency and velocity

 

[Evan]

Have you considered using viht n160 with the heavies?

it will be a compressed load but I think you will be surprised with the consistency and velocity

I'll look in to it. I am kind of leaning the other way towards faster powders though. Reloder 16 is very compressed and I'd like to get away from that due to the stress on the seating die and the extreme care it takes to not damage bullets and get consistent depths.

I only have a pound of Varget left, so I'm not going to mess with it unless I find more. I do have several pounds of 4064 (a hair faster) and 4320 (a hair slower). Just have to try some things out and see if they tighten up the groups. I'm really looking for 0.5" at 300yards as where I'd like to be.

 

[hogpatrol]

I had good accuracy in a hunting rifle with RL-17 and 130 HVLDs. Am now trying VV 550, very clean burning.

 

[rkittine]

I like the Lapau 123s in mine. 1:8 Twist. The Berger 130 Hybrids were ok, but not as good in my gun. 4064 for the powder.

Bob