OzFclass

Hi All,
I started shooting F open around 3 years ago and at the time had a 284 and 6.5x47 made for the same action, they both were popular at the time.
The 7mm for me is a survivor and the 6.5 x 47 was never really explored.
Are many people still shooting the 6.5 x 47 ?
And are you happy with it?

Tim I have several examples of this from myself and shooting buddies

1) a few years ago I had 2 x 6.5*47 barrels and some 284 barrels..(6BR already semi-retired) My father now has them all. I soon found the 284 was more than capable of shooting outstanding scores at short range and had a few good barrels doing well (in fact one 284 barrel was good at short range but didn't hold as good a velocity spread so fell apart at 900/1000) I tried many times to use the 6.5*47 at the shorts and 284 at the longs but quickly migrated to the accurate 284 barrel for the shorts as well - shooting one caliber in one style of stock helped me tremendously (even if several barrels). I know others that can switch better than I can.
2) Dad has just come to the same conclusion. He switched from 6.5*47 to 284 for second day of the Queens and smashed it. He is now switching to shoot 284 all the way through after struggling a little more with the 6.5*47.
3) Another guy up here set up a pair of savages with switch barrels - 2* 6.5*47 and 2*284. He drags the 6.5*47 out for a few club days (and they are very accurate). But now goes to the 2*284 barrels for any major comp.
4) a fourth person had one of each up here as well. The 6.5*47 was recently sold and he is sticking with the 284 and going very well.
5) Marty has done same thing with 6BR and 284 combo

Now this all may be a local influence up here but I see very few going the other way round and this is arguably in an area where there is not much wind. If I was in a windier area I think the decision would be simple.

The 6.5*47 is a beautiful cartridge to shoot and highly accurate. Is it a game changer as predicted??? Can it keep up with a 284??

My personal opinion is it should be more prevalent in areas where there is a lot of 300-600 yard shooting and prize meetings where it is truly outstanding.

(Now where is Bruce to bite back at that! )

I have also been shooting the 7mm exclusively with the logic being there's no surprises when getting down to shoot.
However I have ordered a 6mm for a bit of fun
When I shoot it I will use a scope with a different reticle to hopefully prepare for the change in recoil etc
Has anyone tried that and did it work?

I started F shooting with a 6.5 Rogue - which is a slightly modified Swede. So close you can almost compete while fireforming. Very likely, a 6.5x47 would be a better choice but they can all be made to shoot well.

Because of reports from others, I set up a 6BR. And of all crazy things a 22 PPC running 80 grain pills in a 1 in 8 inch barrel.

Both shot well and were a delight to shoot. The 22 PPC is a fun gun - but never used now. I may rechamber to a 223. Which I did shoot a lot way back.

But I came to the conclusion you are better off shooting the one cartridge, and back then, 6.5 shooting with Lapua projectiles was cheaper than the 6 BR anyway. And when I had the 6.5 running well it could do anything the 6BR could. In any case, my main interests are in longer range shooting.
A few times, the 6.5 shot Match rifle extremely well.

Now I have moved to a 7mm. Straight 284. Because of initial uncertainties and delays, I did rebarrel the 6.5 as a backup. It is shooting brilliantly. But I am not using it now.

I find that I cannot shoot them all and want to concentrate on one and that means the 7mm.

I never had the 7mm running properly in Tas. but have ironed most of the bugs out of it now.

I find that one stays in touch with one cartridge better. If you are playing with different cartridges, and one goes off the boil, it takes longer to pick up on that. If you are really in touch with your cartridge, you load and shoot better.

Peter Smith

I agree with Peter and others who prefer the one calibre way. I started with this philosophy with a 6.5-284 back in 2003 (some will say I was too miserly to buy the extra dies ). It was on the old 10 ring target, then in 2008 I was persuaded to get a 6mm for the shorts, so used a 6 Dasher as well for a couple of years with underwhelming results. When the ICFRA target was introduced for F-Open with the super V as a tie-breaker value only, I decided that a 284 would be accurate enough even at 300 to enable a one gun solution again. I usually have several barrels on the go, but all in 284 Shehane. Even in retirement, I don't consider there's enough time to give full attention to more than one calibre .

Coincidently, tomorrow I'll be bringing out a 6.5-284 barrel for the first time in 18 months to test some new 130gn projectiles.

Alan

My plan was to shoot my 6XC at the shorts and 7mm at the longs. Still do.
I reckon my XC is as good if not better than the 6.5x47. In saying that, if the weather picks up the 7mm is screwed in, (switch barrel action) I have ordered another action & stock just for the 7mm. Now, last weekend I used the 7mm at 500yds for fun and was very impressed with how it groups so I can now see why some shooters just go for the one cartridge.
I think Alan may have it right with a 168grner for the shorts & 180's for the longs with the .284 Shehane. (is this right Alan?)
i wouldn't want to shoot the 7saum every range just on powder cost alone but if you can handle both calibres, 6 & 7's work well weather permitting.

Geoff

6.5 x 47 is an excellent cartridge but IMO it is just slightly on the small side for the longer ranges. To stay close to the 284 i believe you need to push a 6.5 140 gn at 2950+ to stay with the 7mm especially if it gets rough. I went with a 260AI which will do this speed with ease and with about 5 -6 gns less than a 6.5/284, so barrel life is really good and with Palma brass necked down accuracy is on par with the 6.5x47 . You can shoot this all the way back and not feel too disadvantaged against the 284!! I will probably go down the 7mm road very soon but I will switch barrel with the 260AI. I like to be able to have a couple of cals i can choose on one rifle but its not for everyone and some prefer just one!!

Rebel105 wrote:I think Alan may have it right with a 168grner for the shorts & 180's for the longs with the .284 Shehane. (is this right Alan?)

I do use all the 7mm Bergers Geoff, and the intention was originally as you say, but in practice I just try a few different things in the leadup, then use the most accurate load in the Queens. Recently I've been running the 168s up to nearly 3000fps, which makes them virtually the same in the wind as the 180s in the low 2800s.

Alan, how do they look ballistically over that last 100 yards?

There certainly seems to be regional differences. In the area where Tim shoots, it is a sea of 6mms, with the occasional big 6.5mm and the rare, big grizzled macho shooter like Tim with one of those big booming 7mms at prize shoots in this area.

Then again, it is a rarity to shoot past 600yds in his area, conditions are usually fairly good and ranges flat.

johnk wrote:Alan, how do they look ballistically over that last 100 yards?

They look fine John. By my calculations the 168s with MV of 2980 are doing over 1700 at 1000. Even the 180 hybrids are doing less than 1700 if started at 2820. However the wind deflection in the hybrid calculates slightly less, even though it has slower velocity than the 168 throughout the trip. Its a bit counter-intuitive but wind deflection depends on the rate of velocity loss in addition to average velocity.

Alan

Ive already done the same as Brett plans. A 260 improved with 140 vld's though I run them a bit slower at 2870fps. Again lapua palma cases necked down really helps. Awesome elevation at 1000yds and easy enough to shoot all day. Its almost as tight as my 6 dasher at 300m- easily capable of 60.10's if I do my part. Also have a 284 shehane barrel on the same action. Ive got it there if it gets rough or if the 6.5mm goes out of tune. The 6 dasher is built on another rifle, which is great fun when its calm and short ranges. However, Im a believer that with too much choice it is possibly confusing. I never thought about using the dasher in serious competition but it shoots so well its sometimes hard to put it away. A caliber for short ranges and one for the longs is a great way to work. Whether you want a 6.5x47L or a 6 dasher or similar for the shorts is totally personal preference. But like others have pointed out some are getting awesome performance in the 7's at short range as well as long range. Certainly be afraid of the person with one gun and that knows how to use it!

I don't disagree with what anyone has said. Shooting one gun / caliber can be a good thing. BUT I've got a few 6.5x47 barrels and I love them for what they are.

Like Alan and Dave have said with the target scoring and the accuracy of the 284 the 284 is good enough to get the job done. . . The 6.5 might technically be no more accurate but they are extremely easy to shoot well.

I also have a few 7mm Saum barrels and having the 6.5x47 allows me to practice more often because they are cheaper to run and barrel life is less of a consideration. They do get pushed around more than the 7mm but that can also help with wind reading and the low recoil makes them really easy to shoot even for beginners.

I recon I'll always have one in my cupboard. Mostly for club level, the occasional prize meeting and practice when I'm trying to save a good 7mm barrel.

Is anyone using molyed projectiles in a 6.5x47? I may have some projectiles for you to try.

Alan