Best pill for 6.5x47 LAPUA for F open

[John23]

Hello

New member and first time poster on this forum so please be kind.

I am entering the world of target shooting and plan to shoot F open using my Savage 12.

The rifle is currently 223rem but I have plans to replace this barrel with a MAB 6.5x47 LAP.

The smith has requested that I choose the pill I want to use and chamber the rifle to suit.

This is where I need help. The barrel will be a 1:8 twist and I am thinking of running 140gr pills.

So..... whats the best one???
I have been looking a SMK's as I have had good results in the past and they can be bought at HPGS. If I have to mail order pills I will but it is not preferable.


Can equal accuracy be obtained form the 140's or will a 120 shoot better?


Thanks in advance for the help

JH

[Brad Y]

I won the WA Queens FO this year with a friends 6.5x47L and 130 bergers. Matt P also did real well in the leadup at Belmont in Qld with his and 130 bergers too.

Honestly the 140's are possibly a bit much for it. But they are awesome with 130 VLD bergers. Will soon be running a 260 based wildcat for 140's. If I was going to build a 6.5x47L I would be running the 130gr bergers or 123gr lapua scenars.

As an example at 900yds in Swanbourne during the queens most 308 shooters were running 9-10 minutes of wind on. I was running 5.5 to 6 from memory.

Get it chambered so the bearing surface/boat tail junction of the bullet is seated higher than the neck/shoulder join on the case plus a whisker so you can jump bullets 40 thou or jam them 10 thou and still be clear.

You can get berger 130gr VLD's from www.benchrest.com.au but I imagine local shops can get them in as well.

[John23]

Thanks for the advice.

If my bank balance was a little better I would run 260 AI but I just dont have the cash to be buying custom dies ect and also the extra range time fire forming.


Forum member Denis is a a mate and keeps recommending the Bergers. Sydney stores can get them but dont stock them. I will just have to order from BRT.

Scenars are a bit expensive correct? and when looking for my 223 they were the dearest and offered the lowest BC.

VLD's are a little fussy when loading correct? They also require bullet jam?

Looking at BRT website it says Bergers are in sort supply and on back order. Is this a common thing?


Next question, will the 6.5 cut the cheese or will I be in the shadows of the 7mm's?

JH

[Brad Y]

I think 130's are possibly out. I do know they have 140 vlds and hybrids as I have a couple of boxes on the way.

Scenars I thought were fairly well priced actually, but who knows what the new distributor will price them like.

Most seem to jam the bergers, I dont know why but my mates rifle like them jumped 40 thou over the jam.

I think about the 6.5vs 7mm argument this way. Put a good shooter behind an accurate 6.5 and an average one behind 7mm and I reckon the 6.5 will win most times. Get my drift If you want to work on paper the 7mm has an advantage yes.

[Dave P]

260AI will not cost you anymore than 6.5x47 will.
Barrel is the same both use Lapua brass (although with the 260AI you can use other types as well)
260AI dies are easy just get Redding / Forster 243AI and have your smith mill them out or use wilson in line dies.
If going the 260AI route then I would suggest the 123 Lapua with a 1:9 twist or 1:8.5 twist.
Mine loved 47 grains of 2209 with the 123 Scenar and ran between 3151fps and 3156fps.
As for will it keep up with the 7mms I set a couple of records in Long Range BR with it competing against pretty much eveything you could think of from 6mm to 30 cal .... so yes it is more than enough gun.
Its also hides under the guise of 6.5-308 AI or variants which provides a longer neck and the option to try small primers in Lapua Palma brass.
If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

[Razer]

JH, you will find this site useful.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/03/berger-tips-for-loading-vld-bullets/

[AndrewP]

John, I am running 123gn Scenars in 6.5X47 and am very happy with their performance. They were probably the cheapest match projecticle I have bought in the last 20 years as I was lucky enough to pick them up when the previous distributor was selling off his stock.
The 140gn projecticle is more suited to 6.5 x 284 in my opinion. You will find a variety of 123 - 130gn choices from Lapua, Nosler, Hornady & Sierra as well as Berger. The 6.5 x 47 is an easy caliber to get going if you are starting out in F Open.
Don't be too phased by calibers & projecticles to start with, at the end of the day it is the shooter who wins matches. Go out and enjoy your shooting and get a variety of experience in different conditions and ranges.
If you PM me I can help you with some loads.

[BATattack]

ive tried 139gr lapuas and they gave great accuracy but to hit a good node it was tough on brass. now all i run is 130gr bergers and they seem to give extremely consistent results with between 40 to 41.5gr of 2209 with a .015" jam.

ive also seen 123gr sierras work well and the 123gr lapuas measure very consistently and might be worth a try.

first step try a 130 berger with one of the above loads and i doubt you'll be disappointed.

as far as 6.5x47 vs 7mm do the numbers yourself and listed of using the 2900fps figure some say they can get with a 180 try a more realistic 2800fps vs 2950 for your 130 bergernnd you'll see even on paper there is stuff all difference. i shoot a 7saum and 6.5x47 and I've won more with the 6.5 than the 7. just much easier to shoot really well andcconsistently extremely accurate.

[Chopper]

I have just shot some longs , 1000, 1200 yds with the 6.5 x 47, for fun at 2900, and think at this stage has not much hope against 7mms, at 1000yds Just, 1200 , No hope, with 130 bergers, 300 to 700 Good,, they just dont seem to carry the distance I think ? I feel another load may be needed for the longs ?Chop.

[macguru]

Makes sense, the best 6mm and 130gr 6,5s have BC in the mid .5s, the 7mm 180s and 210 30cals are over .6 BC so under the same conditions they have the edge on paper, all else being equal.

[John23]

Thanks for all the help everyone!


The rifle is on the way to the smith now to be chambered.

Just need to sell my bloody weatherby to fund some brass,dies pills!!
Free plug! Weatherby vangard houge 22-250 less than 100 shots fired $400




I am sure I will be back asking silly questions or showing off results once I have it all up and running.

JH