Help needed - 6.5x47mm Loads

[Quinny]

I am finally getting around to rebarrelling my Savage F/TR in 6.5x47 Lapua. I have been looking around for load data on this calibre, but there doesn't seem to be much around.

I will be using a Savage 12 target action with 30" Maddco barrel (1:8" twist), and I am looking for help from anyone who has any information to help me get started with a load for this thing.

I will be trying a few different projectiles - 123gn Lapua Scenar, 130gn Berger VLD and 139gn Lapua Scenar.

From the information I have been reading, a lot of people suggest Reloder 15, but I will also try some 2208.

Does anyone have any information on loads for these projectile/powders? Looking for something that will be accurate, reliable and safe, that will get me out to 800m+ without too much trouble for F Class.

[BATattack]

have you done a search of this forum?? i recon there would have been at least 3 threads intthe last 6 months on the subject.

[Quinny]

I did try searching, but didn't really find what I was after. I will try again.

[Brad Y]

Posted it in a heap of threads
37.5gr 2208, 130 berger CCI 450. Start lower and work up you should find somehting around this mark to be accurate.

[Quinny]

Ok, I have done some searching around lots of forums, and there seems to be a fair bit of info on the 130gn Bergers, but these seem to be hard to get at the moment. I have managed to get hold of some 139gn Scenars.

I am interested in who uses these for long range - what loads are you using? What sort of velocity are you getting?

[Matt P]

I use the 130 Berger VLD's with 37.5 of 2208 jammed 10-20 thou. Velocity is around the 2900 mark. IMO the 140grn class bullet is to much for the 47 case and if I was looking using the 140 I'd chamber in 260, I've chamber a few 260's of late and all have worked very well with 140's.

Matt P

[Quinny]

I have heard a few people say this, and I am not really sure why, while others say that 140s are fine. Looking at the ballistics, the 139gn Scenar at 2800fps has 1.6MOA more drop than a 123gn at 2950fps at 1000yds, the wind is around 0.5MOA better per 10mph, and retained velocity at 1000yds is about the same (around 1460fps).

Am I missing something here?

[Matt P]

Just my opinion.

Matt P

[Quinny]

And I thank you for it. I am not trying to have a go or anything, just curious.

There seems to be many people share that opinion, and I am trying to work out why... whether there is some factor that I have not considered - drop off in accuracy, reduced barrel life or something else?

[Brad Y]

No harm in trying but a few people on here have found that 139's werent as accurate as the 123's. In this game its all about whats accurate. It dont matter a heck if you can deflect the wind by x amount more with heavier bullets. Shoot what you find accurate. If you want a cal that bucks the wind better, then you will need larger case capacity or a 7mm or 30 cal magnum.

[macguru]

I dont have a chrono, but from what i can work out from drop tables on the computer, both my 6BR and 308 have a sweet spot around 2900 FPS, or just over,& if you can drive 123s that fast in a 6.5 but not 140s, then the lighter pills may give the tighter groups. Even the 260 rem is struggling a bit with 140s, although I cannot argue with the results i have seen from a few guys...

[Brad Y]

I dont have a chrony either but looking at given data, I should be around the 2800-2850fps mark with my 260 improved. I can run plenty more powder in it and in fact havent got to the point where I got pressure signs. But around this estimated area is looking to be quite accurate.

[macguru]

I think 260 improved is a good idea , either shoulder angle, i seem to remember yours is the 30 deg rather than ackley......

some reading:
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek046.html

[ecomeat]

Quinny,
Last August I already had 6 x 47 Lap, and had a 284 win switch barrel on the way, but had bought a 6.5 x 47 Lap specifically for using the 140 gr Berger. On paper it was the perfect "middle ground" combination. I intended using 105 gr Bergers in the 6 x 47 from 300 to 5/600 yds, the 6.5 x47 with Berger 140's at 600 to 7/800 yds or so, and the 284 for windier days and generally from 700 to1000.
Theory was great.......for me. The 140 grainer and the 6.5 x 47 Lapua looked like they we made for each other.
Problem was that no matter what I tried I just couldn't get the 140 gr Bergers to shoot. I tried vv550 (filthy dirty in mine) 2208, 2209, REL 15. Jumped em..... Jammed em.......nothing worked.
I had seen Matt Paroz at the QRA Queens in August, using the load he willingly shares with everyone, brass straight from the blue box with zero case prep..... And he absolutely kicked butt in the lead up event, ( won by about 5 pts from memory) and was Top 10 in the Queens itself against 25 pretty hand shooters.
Tried his load.......very accurate in mine straight up.
Tried the 123 gr Lapua......easily found a very accurate load.
Kept going back and trying the 140's along the way, but same result every damn time..........me cranky at the result and rifle condemned to the back of the gun safe til the next time I decided I needed beating up.
In the end I finally realised that I was never going to get the 140's to work in MY rifle, so I sold it.
In hindsight, there were a lot of indicators along the way. Too many mentions to count , from here in Australia, from the USA and from the UK suggesting the same thing .... that the 140' are probably just a little bit too much projectile for the size of the case.
I console myself with the knowledge that you and I sure aren't the first to defy the advices and try to make it work, and we probably won't be the last.
Rgds
Tony

[DaveMc]

We have tried to get the 139 scenar working in several of these and always fall back to the 123 and 130. Don't let it stop you having a go though. As you will hear over and over - each barrel is different and you may strike gold. I certainly had some good scores with them and they do work - just the others seem to work better.

Basically a full case of 2209 (40+gr) and cci 450 primers ( I use BR4s with 2208) and you should get close to 2800 or roundabouts. We found a small jump best. Nice load in some ways. You can easily see when you have made a mistake with the charge and it is very safe (hard to overload) but you soon come to start thinking - I just wish I had a bit more capacity.......

A few years ago when rel 17 came out I spent a long time with 139's and 140's trying to get the "magic" that was being widely published at the time for the 6.5*47 but this just ended up in severe frustration.

But (as Matt said) we also found the 123 and 130 more accurate in all barrels so far and ballistically speaking you lose very little (if any) - IMHO they are a perfect match for the cartridge - and this seems where the 47 case shines.

Good luck and enjoy what is truly a magical little cartridge.