Question on max loads for 6.5X47 Lapua-Different published data?

[DHuffman]

Hope this doesn't sound like total B.S. But I have two 6.5x47 Lapuas one on a long action 700 with a 27" barrel and I load 43.5 gr of H4350 with 130 Berger Hunting VLD for a velocity of 2980fps.There are no signs of pressure at all. If there was more room in the case I think I could go another 1/2 - 3/4 grain before any pressure sign became evident. The second is a short action 700 with a 19" barrel sort of a patrol type rifle. I shoot the exact same load in it but it does flatten primers a little but not badly. It chronos at 2875 fps. I could not believe I only lost around 100 fps with 8 inches less barrel but have verified both rifle velocities numerous times! Most of my friends rifles pressure out around 41 grains or so with 130's so when they see this rifles speed and accuracy with 43.5 grains it causes a lot of head scratching!

I'm certainly not calling BS on you but after I took my 28" barreled 47 up to 42.4 I'm not sure how I would have got another 1.1 g of powder in and still got a bullet seated.

At 42+ mine was starting to show pressure and as I've heard on many forums before by the time you notice signs of pressure you are way over pressure. At 42+ the mild recoil was gone and when shooting with a loose hold with the rifle in bags spotting your hits was no longer doable. I didn't have a chrono then so I can't say what kind of FPS I was getting but 40.1 behind a 130 TMK was big medicine and shot my best groups ever until I made lapua brass for my 6.5 Creedmoor and got serious about tuning it. My 47 Lapua with Varget and 130 Norma Golden targets recently put 3 shots in 1 1/4" @ 600 yards after some serious tuning.

So what I'm really saying either the creed or the 47 can be extremely accurate with tuning. At one time I would have picked the 47 over the creed only because of the brass but after making my own Lapua brass they're equal in my hands.

 

[DHuffman]

I feel books or data sheets at only safe guidelines . And everyone should use them as such . Larry

I know this will sound hypocritical. I agree Larry but it seems I usually find my best loads at or within .5 grains over Berger book max. on many cartridges.

 

[gat]

I'm certainly not calling BS on you but after I took my 28" barreled 47 up to 42.4 I'm not sure how I would have got another 1.1 g of powder in and still got a bullet seated.

At 42+ mine was starting to show pressure and as I've heard on many forums before by the time you notice signs of pressure you are way over pressure. At 42+ the mild recoil was gone and when shooting with a loose hold with the rifle in bags spotting your hits was no longer doable. I didn't have a chrono then so I can't say what kind of FPS I was getting but 40.1 behind a 130 TMK was big medicine and shot my best groups ever until I made lapua brass for my 6.5 Creedmoor and got serious about tuning it. My 47 Lapua with Varget and 130 Norma Golden targets recently put 3 shots in 1 1/4" @ 600 yards after some serious tuning.

So what I'm really saying either the creed or the 47 can be extremely accurate with tuning. At one time I would have picked the 47 over the creed only because of the brass but after making my own Lapua brass they're equal in my hands.

I barrel a couple of 6.5x47's a week it seems and have yet to have one duplicate this with no pressure. I use a long drop tube of around 14" and it is a squeeze to get the powder in there. I really wasn't trying to get that much powder in the case but when I did not see pressure at 42.5gr I had one of those.....Let's just see!.... moments.

 

[DHuffman]

I barrel a couple of 6.5x47's a week it seems and have yet to have one duplicate this with no pressure. I use a long drop tube of around 14" and it is a squeeze to get the powder in there. I really wasn't trying to get that much powder in the case but when I did not see pressure at 42.5gr I had one of those.....Let's just see!.... moments.

I was using an 8-10" drop tube to get 42.4 in and it was still crunching horribly. Again wasn't calling you out but I wonder if the strength of the cartridge combined with the small primer doesn't hide pressure signs to some extent and lull people into thinking there is no pressure.

 

[gat]

I was using an 8-10" drop tube to get 42.4 in and it was still crunching horribly. Again wasn't calling you out but I wonder if the strength of the cartridge combined with the small primer doesn't hide pressure signs to some extent and lull people into thinking there is no pressure.

 

[gat]

Probably right!

 

[Richard Whitcomb]

I'm looking to build a precision rifle in 6.5X47 Lapua and I've been doing some research on loads. Looking at Berger's data and comparing that to the 6.5 Guys data located here:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/65x47/

I note the following differences:

Bullet - Berger 130 gr. VLD
Powder: H4350
Berger Max Load: 39.7 gr. achieving 2790 in 24" barrel
6.5 Guys Load: 42 gr. achieving 2875 in a 26" barrel


Bullet - Berger 140
Powder: H4350
Berger Max Load: 38.9 gr. achieving 2698 in a 24" barrel
6.5 Guys Load: 39.6 gr. achieving 2790 in a 26" barrel

Obviously I expect higher velocities out of a 26" barrel vs. a 24" barrel, but clearly the 6.5 Guys published loads are over Berger's recommended max load. For those who load for the 6.5X47, do you shoot loads that exceed what Berger recommends as Max? Is this safe?

Lou

I was reading where the max pressure is in the 50,000psi range and they tested wit no problems up to 73,000 psi. I was on the CIP WEBSITE AS THIS IS A EUROPEAN ROUND. NO SAAMI SPECS USE CIP.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Thanks for that info 6.5creed. Out of curiosity, why the switch to Varget?

I also switched to Varget, better accuracy and bit more velocity with 142 Sierra, 205m.

 

[Evan]

What I was told is that max book loads are loads that generate the instrumented max rated pressure (63 ksi for the 6.5x47 per CIP). They don't go beyond that to where there are traditional "pressure signs" which is always beyond max rated pressure in safe and correctly assembled firearms.

 

[North Fork]

You guys should try V V 550 my 6x5x47 loves it