Need advice - 6.5x47 Lapua with 130gr. bullets

[x_wolf]

Hi guys, this is my very first post here on accurateshooter.
I live in Slovakia, it´s small country in middle of the Europe. Well, we have here few LR shooting ranges and i have some possibilities for LR hunting.
This is my newest toy:
R700 trued short action, (spanish) Bergara 27" barrel, AICS AT Stage II folding stock, custom stainless boltknob, 20MOA Nightforce rail and SWFA SS 5-20x50 scope in Badger Ordnance rings. I finished it in November 2014 but until now I shot only factory Lapua ammo with 139gr. Scenar bullets (works well).
Click the picture for bigger preview:



Now I tried a few loads with HDY A-Max 140gr. and Norma Golden Target HP 130gr. (new Lapua cases and Federal 205 GM primers).
A-Max performed well, no problems with it. But I had some problems with Norma bullets. Here are the first four loads, with very small, only 0,008" jump:
5.) Norma 203-B 37,0gr.
6.) Norma 203-B 38,5gr.
7.) Reload Swiss 62 40,2gr. (RS62 is similar to Hodgdon H4350)
8.) Reload Swiss 62 41,5gr. - light compression, i heard crashing grains of powder
All these loads are practically useless




Then I found some posts here on forum and I followed them. Next loads with Norma 130gr. had bigger jump, around 0,03" and I tried also other powders (I know, changing powder wasn´t best idea, but...). Here they are:
1.) Ramshot Big Game 40,5gr.
2.) Vihtavuori N550 41,0gr.
3.) Vihtavuori N540 38,5gr.




I like the first and third load, but there is always flyer and I don´t know why. Always the last shot.
Of course, i will try more loads, but do you have some ideas about these flyers?

Thank you.

 

[MrMajestic]

You probably don't want to hear this but "last shot flyers" are typically the nut behind the bolt. Oh by the way welcome aboard! These guys will sure help you spend your money! ;D

 

[SG4247]

Those flyers look like too much trigger weight.

Have you determined the trigger pull weight value?

 

[x_wolf]

There is stock trigger with approx. 2,5lbs. Will be soon replaced by Jewell. But i don´t think it is wrong trigger pull or too heavy trigger. I shot the A-Max few minutes before and there were no flyers. Just one hole like the load nr.1 only without flyer.

 

[walker]

130 Bergers, 38.0 grains of Reloader 15.
Works for me up to 1000 yards, last SWN Phoenix.
Three different barrels, all 1/8" twist, 30" long. Using this load for years.

 

[x_wolf]

Thanks walker. How fast is your load?

I am gonna visit the range today. Will prepare few rounds with 38,0gr. of Norma 203-B. It should be the same powder type like Reloader 15. Both are produced by Bofors company (there is no supplier for Reloader powders here...).

 

[kwtolman]

+1 for Berger 130 gr. VLD Target. I load with 37.8 gr. Reloader 15 and .0010" jump. I get 2922 fps out of a 30" 1-8 twist barrel. This has been a great load for me out to 1000 yds.

 

[DHD]

As everyone else has mentioned, the Berger 130 VLD seems to shoot very well in the 6.5 Lapua. They shoot just as well in my Creedmoor's. However, I had a 500 box of the Norma 130 GT's and could not beg them to shoot well out of 3 different cartridges (6.5 ×47, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6.5 Grendel) from 4 different rifles. Maybe I suck and both reloading and shooting, but other bullets say otherwise.

I saw the same type groups you posted with 3-4 in a tight group with 1-2 out of the group. I shot them @ 100, 300, and 600 yards. They look so close to the Berger VLD's but sure didn't shoot like them. Others have had good luck with that bullet, but not me. Maybe I just didn't speak their language.

Try some other bullets and see what you get. Your rifle has good components.

 

[ALO]

X-wolf. You did not mention the rate of twist in your Bergara barrel. Is it a 1-8 twist? If it is you might be happier with Berger 140 bullets instead of the 130 grain Bergers. Your velocity will be a little slower, but I believe it will improve your group size. After all it is not a race to the target, but developing a super accurate rifle. (And your barrel will ast a lot longer.) I also can not help by think that a trigger like a JEWEL will improve your group size. Use RL-15, for the 6.5 x 47 LAPUA and don't look back. With 140 grainers your sweet spot should be right around 35 to 36 grains of RL-15 with CCI BR4 primers. Play around with the seating depth also.

 

[dalej]

X_wolf as ALO mentioned I would switch to CCI-450 primers. Have a 130 gr load using CCI-450 primers and VihtaVouri N540. R-17 also showed great potential but Alliant powders are in real short supply.

 

[Eric Leonard]

I am shooing 130 Bergers also but with H4350 at 3020 fps,,

the 4 inch steel swinger at 800 yards is almost automatic,

 

[thomasholbrook43]

H-4350 41 grs. 2930fps 30 tube cci 450 primers. work up to this load. hammers 1000yds.

 

[x_wolf]

... I saw the same type groups you posted with 3-4 in a tight group with 1-2 out of the group. I shot them @ 100, 300, and 600 yards. They look so close to the Berger VLD's but sure didn't shoot like them. Others have had good luck with that bullet, but not me. Maybe I just didn't speak their language.

Try some other bullets and see what you get. Your rifle has good components.

That´s it. I read the older posts about Norma 130 GT´s they can be finicky. Very sensitive for the right jump - too small jump doesn´t work. However i was yesterday on the range but the wind was too changeable to make some testing (so i pulled out the good old 300 WinMag....). I will try these Norma 130 GT´s with some other powders and will see. May be i am only next other "smart" guy thinking i can teach them to fly.
If not i will go with A-Max 140gr., the Bergers are too pricey here.

 

[x_wolf]

X-wolf. You did not mention the rate of twist in your Bergara barrel. Is it a 1-8 twist? If it is you might be happier with Berger 140 bullets instead of the 130 grain Bergers. Your velocity will be a little slower, but I believe it will improve your group size. After all it is not a race to the target, but developing a super accurate rifle. (And your barrel will ast a lot longer.) I also can not help by think that a trigger like a JEWEL will improve your group size. Use RL-15, for the 6.5 x 47 LAPUA and don't look back. With 140 grainers your sweet spot should be right around 35 to 36 grains of RL-15 with CCI BR4 primers. Play around with the seating depth also.

Will do sir!
Yes, i have 1-8" twist. Meanwhile i tested A-Max 140gr. with good, stable results. This will be my best option because i can also hunt with these bullet. Other option is Lapua Scenar 139gr. - not so superb like Berger VLD´s but definitely most affordable bullet here.

 

[Patch700]

Not sure of your availability to the following but if you can get your hands on some try Lapua's 139grn Scenar , they are a very well made bullet. I would put my lunch money on the line any day of the week putting Lapua scenars up against any off the shelf bullet mfg. with respect to quality and consistency.

Also if you have access to VV powders I would try VV550 , it is a double based powder such as the reloader types but my experience with them is they still burn clean (hot mind you but clean)

Last one I did with a .170" freebore would shoot 139 lapua scenars with between 40.0 and 40.6 of 550 very well (got 2800-2850fps out of 26" ) .... Shot well when jammed and also shoots very nicely at .012" off.

My previous barrel on that rifle was a 6.5x284 and that is when I switched from any hogdon products to strictly VV... If it won't shoot with VV powder it wont shoot , much higher quality powder with respect to repeatability between lots and much cleaner burning.

Good luck.

 

[x_wolf]

Thanks for your opinion Patch700.
Lapua bullets and Vihtavuori powders are perhaps the only brands which i can buy everyday. Other brands coming from US are not so easy available. Hodgdon powder, Hornady, Berger and Nosler bullets - supplies are very random. If i want shoot some load then I have to prepare my own stock with enough quantity for at least two shooting seasons....
I will post in few days if I found some load with this Norma 130 GT.

 

[DHD]

If the VV powders and Lapua Scenars are what you can get easiest, you are still in fine shape. If I were in you shoes, and location, the only thing I would worry about is stocking up on CCI 450's.

I used to try to shoot the same bullets at targets that I hunt with, Berger Hunting VLD's, but they are not always available even here. So now I keep the Hunting VLD's for that purpose and shoot the Target VLD's for enjoyment. Point I'm making is, if you can do it, work up a target load and work up a hunting load.

The advice of using a Jewell trigger is good too. Once you get a great trigger in that rifle, you'll understand. I just knew years ago, that polishing and changing springs would make a factory trigger "good enough". Life's too short to play with 2.5 pound triggers.

 

[M14AMU]

130 gr. VLD Berger with 38.0 Varget/BR4 primers....15 rounds from 1000:

6.51000 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

 

[DennisH]

Try 123 Scenar's. I know their lighter, but they are pinpoint accurate.

 

[Comeback]

You probably don't want to hear this but "last shot flyers" are typically the nut behind the bolt. Oh by the way welcome aboard! These guys will sure help you spend your money! ;D

This is exactly what I was thinking. Don't beat yourself up, it's normal.
I don't say it's something you can't improve tough...