Best Projectile for 6.5x47 Lapua?

[AlanA]

I am having a 6.5x47 rifle built for F Open. Naturally looking for sub 0.50 moa and ideally max barrel life. Local opinion seems to favour 130g projectiles so I have already obtained some Berger 130g VLD’s and 130g Sierra TMK’s. However US forums seem to point to 140g as best for 6.5x47. Would really appreciate the forum’s opinion.

[williada]

Alan, the barrel twist rate determines the projectile accuracy and the gyroscopic stability factor to maximise BC. If looking deeper into the mud then the barometric pressure range can be more closely aligned with twist rate for an optimized gyroscopic stability for a given velocity. If looking deeper again, then the distance becomes a factor. Some elite competitors use switch barrels for different distances with different twist rates. In the past, people used to minimum twist rate due to jacket imperfections which was said to yaw bullets off if unbalanced. The general gyroscopic stability factor to maximise BC is 1.5. For long range I prefer a tad higher. Of course a an all round combination for a specific bullet can be used. Maybe a 1 in 7.5 twist with 140 Bergers in a 31 inch barrel? I am sure others will chime in with their current practice and general view.

[AlanA]

Thanks for your reply. Barrel will be 1:8 Maddco 30 inch. I have no experience with this calibre, only ever reloaded for 308.

[BATattack]

130gr Berger VLD will be perfect. Depending on powder batch somewhere between 40 and 41.5gr of 2209 should give you very good results. Some use 2208 with 130s and others have used 140s with good results but personally I feel 130s is the sweet spot for the the 47.

Its very easy to load for and you.shouldn't have any trouble progressing from the 308.

[Daveh]

I agree with Bat. Have tried 120-140gn and although I don't have data to prove my comments I have found the130's to shoot better than the 140's I have tried. The 120s seemed better for closer ranges and I had better results out to 900yds with 130gn.

I don't think the 47 has enough powder behind it to get the 140gn fast enough to keep up with the creeds..Have only tried 2208 and had good results so I didn't go any further.
Dave

[Graham Mincham]

The 6.5mm calibre with your 1:8 twist barrel is only suited for the 130 grain projectiles. If you want to use 140 grain projectiles you will need a 1:7.5 inch twist barrel. I've used both the 6.5x47 Lapua and and 6.5 Creedmoor with both 130 and 140 grain projectiles in the 1:7.5 twist barrel. The 130 projectiles will shoot very tight groups approaching 0.25MOA, the 140's will group within 0.5MOA.

Both shoot well at up to 1,000 yards, but the 140's have less wind deflection. If you use the 1:7.5 inch twist barrel with both, you can use the 130's at short to medium range and the 140's at the longer ranges. I agree with Dave that the 6.5 Creedmoor is more competitive, particularly at the longer ranges, than the 6.5x47Lapua.

I cover the 6.5Creedmoor with both 130 and 140 grain projectiles with BM8208, AR2206H and AR2208 on three different nodes in my latest book.
Graham

[Steve N]

Don't be afraid to try the 140 grain projectiles especially if that's all you can get. I've found they go okay in an 8 twist barrel with AR2209 and prefer them over the 130s beyond 600 yards in wind.

[Steve N]

Don't be afraid to try the 140 grain projectiles especially if that's all you can get at times. I've found they go okay in an 8 twist barrel with AR2209 and prefer them over the 130s beyond 600 yards in wind.