6.5x47L with 140gr Class

Quick · Post by **Quick** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:37 pm

Gents,

Im considering a 6.5mm for mid range work due to the fact that it doesnt burn barrels as fast as my 6x47L and it means I can shoot it more. I have a 7mm in the works so dont need a hot 6.5mm. 140gr VLD at 2800 - 2850 is where I want to run. my goal is same ballistics, accuracy, recoil and COST as my 6x47L but better barrel life. I have a few questions:

1. Is this combination easy to get to with normal 6.5x47L pressures? I do not want to run very hot so if im running at the top end of pressures then I will choose a 6.5mm with a tad more boiler room.

2. How is the barrel life you guys are getting with this combiniation? How many rounds approx to a chamber (I know that it can vary but a ballpark figure will be good).

3. Those of you with this cal, do you think that it will do what I want?

Cheers for your help.

Shaun

DaveMc · Post by **DaveMc** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:07 pm

Hi Shaun,
Very few people run the 6.5*47 with the 140 class projectiles. Theoretically it will do what you ask but the performance of the 130 VLD on 2208 just seems to consistently be there with accuracy day in and day out and at 2950 fps + has similar ballistics.. A few will have found otherwise but this is the finding of the weight of numbers.

You struggle to get enough 2209 in the case to drive the 140's and I suspect the 09 does not like the small rifle primers quite as much as the 08 does (I say this as the 09 seems to work well with Creedmore, 6XC, 260, 260AI etc.. It can work but the 123 and 130's on 08 just hum and seem ideally suited for this round.

Perhaps 140 on 2208 is an option - I never explored that very far????

I rebarelled a 6.5*284 at around 800 rounds to a 28 inch 6.5*47 and it still shoots under half an MOA after another 2500 rounds (3300 all up).

Dave

saum2 · Post by **saum2** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:44 pm

Shaun,
i run a 6XC, it performs well at the shorts with 2213sc @ approx 3000f/s.
similar to your 6x47 but with more boiler room. Just recently tried it at the longs for fun, and it hammered the X ring right back to 900yds. You have a 7mm in the works so consider a Dasher just on cost alone & they perform. A mate uses his 6XC at 2900? fps and it hammers. Case life & barrel life is unknown yet as I haven't got past 400 rounds with the same brass. I'm expecting at least 2000rds
I like my XC as it competes well against the 6.5x47 using 115 Dtacs also @ 3000f/s It also shoots 105 & 107 bergers with ease but uses more powder than the Dasher.
If you like the 6.5, look at the SLR using a .243 case or necked down Palma .308 case, it will push the 140's at 3000f/s & be highly competitive and case life is good.
Lots to think about.
Geoff

Quick · Post by **Quick** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:03 pm

Dave,

Cheers. Its about what I thought. I have been looking at the creedmoor as it has the case capacity to do the job. Just thought Id ask as many in the USA have been getting that mv from the 6.5x47 from what I have seen.

Geoff,

I wouldnt mind a BR or dasher but the bullet weight of the 6.5mm is nice and recoil not much more from what I've shot.

Cheers guys.

Tim L · Post by **Tim L** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:27 pm

Have you considered the 6.5 super LR (an necked up 243 with slightly flatter shoulders?
There's not a lot of info on it but it's supposed to throw the 140 quite respectably.

BATattack · Post by **BATattack** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:05 pm

Yes the 6.5x47 will give you the velocity your after with 140gr projectiles. I'd expect about 2000 rounds on your first chambering and another 1000 after that for match grade accuracy.

Great brass straight off the shelf just load and shoot! The 6.5 SLR seems to be a good thing but you do have to form brass so it is extra work and ammo down the barrel fire forming. Is it as inherently accurate . . . . . I don't know but the do seem pretty efficient compared to the 6.5x284

Chopper · Post by **Chopper** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:34 pm

I have a very accurate 6.5x47 that I like up to 700, still not sure about the 130VLD over the longs ? I use a 6mm that I think carries over the longs a bit better ? I have not seen a 6.5 projy in a 47 case Yet that can carry the longs , I think if the 130 can be pushed above 3000 they may work ? Maybe a 130g BT will do the job ? Chop

Paul Janzso · Post by **Paul Janzso** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 7:19 am

I have owned a 6mm Super LR and it preformed very well. It is now still shooting very well in S. A.
The 6.5 Super LR can do what the 47 L round can do without the pressure.
As for fire forming, you size a new Win or Rem case in the die (1pass) prime it throw in the powder and shoot.
The whole design was to get away from fire forming. The shoulder of the case is pushed down along the neck, leaving the shoulder case body junction the same. Resulting in a longer neck and a 30deg shoulder.
Dies are readily available in Australia and there is a gunsmith in SA that has reamers for the round.
There are several shooters in SA that use the round as well and they are doing very well with the round.
The 6.5x47L round was designed for European short ranges. I had a barrel chambered in the 6mm variant many years ago and it did well against the 6mm BR but I was dabbling with switch barrel rifles back then as well.
I finally decided to stick with one chambering and just concentrate on shooting it well.
In the wash up, I would forget the 47L round and go with the Super LR chambering.
It will do what the 47L case can do and more and also it will do what the 6.5x284 can do without burning out your barrel in 1,000 rounds.
Cheers
Paul

barney · Post by **barney** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:12 am

Hi Shaun

I run the 6.5 x 47L exactly as you describe, for the same reason and get the same velocity from my 30" barrel. With 140 grain VLD's there is a node right around 2820 that seems to be perfect.

I run 40.3 grains of H4350 (2209?) with a 140 Berger VLD. There is no signs of pressure at all. Cases fall out of the chamber.

Seat bullet to the right OAL after doing an OAL test. Normally between 0.0" and .010" jam.

I have 1800 rounds on my barrel and it is still shooting fantastically. I does better than the 130's in the wind also.

Steve

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:56 am

Shaun, I have a couple of 6.5x47L and its a nice low recoiling accurate rifle. The Berger VLD 140's pose no problem with the cases and I launch at 2865fps using 2208 powder. This calibre these days is used mostly by my 15 yo son who prefers low recoil and the ease of accuracy this allows. If memory serves me correct he shot a 59.7 with it at 1000 yds in this years Vic Queens. Remember that the Vic Queens was shot in pretty calm conditions!

I really think that the 6.5x47L is a waste of time for anyone that can handle the mild recoil of the 7mm's. The 7mm's are perfect for short and long range using just the 180gr VLD's or Hybrids. I used both the 162gr Amax for short range and the 180's for the longs and then just the 180's. The 7mm is all you need and you have one in the works, so save your money and effort for that rifle/calibre combination.

These days I'm playing with 30 cals and heavy bullets at low velocities and its a challenge that I'm enjoying. I also have two 7mm's in the works again with a 7-300WM and a 280AI both based off 30 cal cases, thats if you consider the 280AI as a 30-06AI necked down. I have a lot of Berger 180's left over from the Shehane so a rechambered barrel or two should let me shoot these competitively. Cant wait for the new Berger 195gr 7mm's to come out, but that could be a long wait.

Ian

Quick · Post by **Quick** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:40 pm

Ian, This is gonna be done after my 7mm. I have some 162gr amax to try out when I get it. If the 7mm is nice and pleasent to shoot then I may stick with that but as I also use the rifle for Fly shoots and LG is 17lbs or less then I need to keep it there. My 308 isnt to nice from the bench so I dont want to keep using that for fly.

Both the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x47L have my eye but deciding between them is hard!!!

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:43 pm

Quick wrote:Ian, This is gonna be done after my 7mm. I have some 162gr amax to try out when I get it.

sshhh you have 162gr A-Max's don't tell anyone...at least they're onto the highest demand list since June 5th after being temporarily suspended

http://www.hornady.com/support/availability

It's no guarantee, but a promise that they're on the list of things-to-do. Kinda hard to image they're in the top half of the list though, when Hornady don't make any loaded ammunition with the 7mm 162gr A-MAX.

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:01 am

aaronraad wrote:
Quick wrote:Ian, This is gonna be done after my 7mm. I have some 162gr amax to try out when I get it.

sshhh you have 162gr A-Max's don't tell anyone...at least they're onto the highest demand list since June 5th after being temporarily suspended

http://www.hornady.com/support/availability

It's no guarantee, but a promise that they're on the list of things-to-do. Kinda hard to image they're in the top half of the list though, when Hornady don't make any loaded ammunition with the 7mm 162gr A-MAX.

Oh well, there is always the excellent Berger 168gr Target VLDs or do you have more bad news for us about this bullet as well?

Ian

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 12:35 pm

IanP wrote:
aaronraad wrote:
Quick wrote:Ian, This is gonna be done after my 7mm. I have some 162gr amax to try out when I get it.

sshhh you have 162gr A-Max's don't tell anyone...at least they're onto the highest demand list since June 5th after being temporarily suspended

http://www.hornady.com/support/availability

It's no guarantee, but a promise that they're on the list of things-to-do. Kinda hard to image they're in the top half of the list though, when Hornady don't make any loaded ammunition with the 7mm 162gr A-MAX.

Oh well, there is always the excellent Berger 168gr Target VLDs or do you have more bad news for us about this bullet as well?

Ian

I'd feel more confident in supply of Berger's if the Q-Store listed them in stock and JLK had not discontinued their equivalent last year. I haven't seen J4 Precision Jackets to suit the 168gr's from Berger for a while. They're still listed, but Berger discontinued a few jacket lines last year, maybe JLK knows something we don't?