When would you use 123 grain 6.5 mm bullets

[stubbicatt]

I am still waiting for my rifle back from the stock maker. So I read here as much as I can to help control the "D.T.'s".

So I loaded up some test rounds for my 6.5x47 Lapua, should it ever return home, to test for pressure. And I got to thinking, based on my intended uses, F class, I wondered if anybody ever used the lighter, say 123 grain, bullets to good effect, or have people pretty much settled on the sleeker, heavier, bullets?

I have several boxes each of 120 Scenar L and 123 grain Scenar bullets, but am beginning to think that I may not have a use for them.

Sorry guys. Too much time on my hands because I cannot SHOOT the darned thing...

 

[ShootDots]

I have a 6.5 x 47 Lapua I use for F-Open.. I use the 123 SMK for it presently. I would have rather tried the 123 Scenar, however, at the time my rifle was finished, we were in the throws of this hoarding madness and I even had trouble getting the 123 SMK's.. PRIOR to my using 123's, I tried BOTH the 140 Hybrid and the 142 SMK's.. My rifle apparently does not get along very well with heavier bullets, even though it has a 1-8Twist barrel.. BUT it eats the 123's like candy! I am getting 2985 F.P.S. with it using 38.0GRS. of RL-15. My "maiden voyage" with it was a match at 600 yards at my range "Bayou Rifles" ... I scored 199 - 16X's in the first match! I would have had my "clean" but on shot 17, a little change of wind appeared and I did not see it. It blew my bullet SO CLOSE to the 10ring that my "puller" almost gave me the 10>>> but it was not to be>>it was an honest 9.. Now if I had a 140hybrid, I probably would have stayed at least ON the 10 ring>>> but it was NOT THE RIFLE's NOR the bullets fault, it was MINE for not paying close enough attention.. Out to 600 yards, the little 123's will do their job, if you do yours!!

 

[jonbearman]

Try jumping the 140 class bullets .030-.050. It made a difference in how they behaved in my gun.

 

[ShootDots]

Hello Jon... My rifle LOVES the 123's so much that I am hesitant to try anything else... Maybe later this winter (if you call it winter here in Texas) I will try it again... Thanks Jon...

 

[jonbearman]

I myself am shooting the sierra 120 matchkings right now becaue my shoulders have something going on that is causing severe pain.The 120's on a 35 mph day and switching were able to produce a .715 group at 200 yds several time's.Now that isnt match grade but for the conditions it wasnt bad.This was the worst summer of all time due to helping several family members with medical issue's.I will try better next year.

 

[navyrad8r]

Stubbi,
I am running 123 lapuas, and 120 bergers at maglength in a .260 tube gun. 39 gr of i4064 in LC made brass wolf primers are giving me just over 3kfps (~3010 ish) 31" 1:8 twist. but my firing pin is bushed by gre-tan. the 140 class (berger vld) lapua 139s, and sierra 142s were just kinda hard for me to tune. I was using it for 600 yard sling shooting. the 120 class bullets were just easier to get to perform. I will get back to the 140s one day to take to the 1k matches.
cheers,
doc

 

[stubbicatt]

So perhaps it wasn't a mistake to buy all those bullets. I try not to think of the rifle, but it has been gone a long time. Spoke w/ stock maker yesterday. *Maybe* I'll get it back mid December.

 

[AR Shooter]

I have a 6.5 x 47 Lapua I use for F-Open.. I use the 123 SMK for it presently. I am getting 2985 F.P.S. with it using 38.0GRS. of RL-15.

Ben - Will be loading for our 'winter' matches (aptly named 'Frozen Nutz') and am going to use the 123gr SMKs. Am wondering if you jumped or jammed yours?
Thanks.

 

[ShootDots]

Hello AR, I have them NOT JAMMED but "set" into the lands at 7-8k in... This will not cause you to leave a bullet in the barrel should you have to remove the case>>> I use 1.5K neck tension.. There was a whole thread on here about what exactly is a "jam"... Let's put it this way, 7-8K into the lands either leaves no sign the bullet has actually entered the lands OR sometimes it leaves a tiny little "dot" or 2 on the bullet>>> It could be my eyes too and I don't always see any "impressions" most of the time..

 

[AR Shooter]

Got it.
Thank you.

 

[Deton8tor]

StubbiC,

Like some others here I could not get the 130-140's to shoot well for me. I went to the 123 Scenar and 123 AMAX and the gun woke up. The 123 Scenars shoot well out to 850 on steel and the AMAX do as well, but are not at the same velocity, I backed it down some for those. Scenar velocity is a bit over 3000 according to my chrono.

Though most ascribe to not hunting with a match bullet, I hunt with the 123 AMAX and it drops WT's like a sack of hammers. Velocity is 2945.

 

[AR Shooter]

Just loaded up a bunch of 123gr Scenar and A-Max for our "winter" matches (first one this Sunday - 65F ain't much of a winter thus far). With 37.5gr of RL15 both were holding ~1" at 300yd from the bench. Expect to do better once in the prone position.

 

[ShootDots]

AR, let us know how the 123's perform at a match or 2... Thanks...

 

[AR Shooter]

Will do so, but our 'winter' matches are 300yd, so not the same challenge as 600yd. Of, course, these matches can present their own set of circumstances when the wind howls and the snow obscures the target and no additional time is given. The only reason we would not shoot is if there is so much snow that we can't get down to service the targets. Sunday's 65F is about 20F above normal for this time of year. And mild wind, as well. Expect the winning score will be 595+ and likely based on X-count, even with the MR-52 200yd target set at 300yd.

 

[ShootDots]

I think 300 yard matches can be MORE competitive! WHY? At our range if you drop below 599 you can kiss the winners circle goodby.. On more than 1 occasion it has come down to "X" count! A VERY accurate 6.5 x 47 shooting 123's just shy of 3000f.p.s. makes for a VERY formidable force to be reckoned with at 300 yards! I have not shot my '47 at 300 yards yet>>>BUT you can rest assured before too long I want to see what that rifle will do at 300!

 

[southern_idaho]

Re: When would you use 123 grain 6.5 mm bullets

Right off the bat. ;D

 

[LCazador]

+1 on "Southern ID"s post. The 123's have a superior ballistic coefficeint over the 120g bullets!

 

[areaone]

Please do not spread this around, but.....and they are available most places...Nosler 123 CC...best kept secret and great pricing, out shoot my 123 Hornady, and lapuas. They work for me in a 6.5x47L behind RL15, or IMR 4350, or H $350, or Varget. Keep this to yourself, if the cat gets out of the bag they will go up inprice and be hard to find

 

[LCazador]

Please do not spread this around, but.....and they are available most places...Nosler 123 CC...best kept secret and great pricing, out shoot my 123 Hornady, and lapuas. They work for me in a 6.5x47L behind RL15, or IMR 4350, or H $350, or Varget. Keep this to yourself, if the cat gets out of the bag they will go up inprice and be hard to find

Cat must out of the bag ;D! I can't find any lately. +1, Great bullet !

 

[AR Shooter]

OK...... had a great time at the match this morning. The 123gr A-Max being pushed by 37.5gr of RL15 shoots great at 300yd. First target, 195-7X was me settling in with the rifle after not shooting it since early Sept. Second target, 198-9X was the 1moa of wind that kept coming and going during the string. With no wind-flags allowed, it was a bit puzzling, so was not unhappy. Last target was 198-10X and should have been a clean. I lost my mind and started centering up on my group rather than the bull. Needed to put in 1, maybe 2 clicks up. We shoot 2-sighters and 20 for record in a 25min block-time and speed things up by scoring the low 20.