Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5X47 Lapua and 140 berger doing 2900 fps???

I am not going to judge, but know PERSONALLY I would want to stay at speeds similar to cases that are close in capacity. Having had a near mis-hap long ago for several reasons, I err on the side of caution.

I trust the brass......and yes Scenar I have Lapua for 260

Where their is a NEED for speed, there is always a way to safely achieve it, without worry IMHO.

What a bullet will do at 3,000 mv I cannot imagine it won't work at 2,700 mv at any sane range on game, with a few clicks more.

I'd be looking at 2750 on the high side for 140s in a 22-24" bbl, 2850 w/130s, and 2900 w/123s....just me, but I'd be very content...not knocking those who do something different, but we each must do what we feel is ...sensible.

Those speeds are based on what I know are realistic/safe in 55s and 260.

Jim - agree - the 120-130 is a perfect wt. IMHO for the 47, and likely the 260 also given the COL in an SA. Having shot a .15 or so group CtC w/my 260 and 123 SMK, there MUST be something about it

Oh, maybe I flinched right...as I was using only a 6x!

Thanks to all for the responses!

As far as primers, There are certainly some with harder cups than others. In large rifle primers, the toughest I have found are the Wolf primers and BR2s are second.

As stated. The small rifle primers have less surface area and are less susceptible to deformation. Not sure how this translates into real world results but if someone is suggesting that it makes it safe to push 75,000 PSI because the primers hold, I would disagree with them.

Not doubt, and I would bet they are running hotter than 75K at those speeds they list.

I don't see a little more soft metal brass around the small primer hole as being THE factor for these pressures they claim are safe.

"I run Lapua brass with small primers holes therefore I can run pressures at 75K to 85K" and I still have my face intact".

What a deciption,

I want nothing of it.

SU - +1

Brass may not be the weak link here - as I think Steel is more likely to BLOW whereas Brass can FLOW.......

Maybe or maybe not those loads are safe....100%, but I'd hate to be holding an action that decided otherwise.

MAYBE a Ruger #1, but a fellow on the fire has had one let go also, I just think safety is first, and if one needs more speed, it can be had by rounds designed to do so.

I'm guilty of Hot Rodding my 6.5 Lapua. Running the 140 Berger hunting VLD @ 2960 with H4350 and CCI450's through a 27" Pac Nor, 1/8, 5 groove. Chronographed and validated at 1000yds.

I'm sure the pressure is up there, and I am not leaving anything on the table, but the rifle and brass appear to be operating comfortably. I'm at 200 rds of this load through the rifle. Spent primers have a nice round edge, no cratering, primer pockets tight after multiple reloads, no plunger or ejector marks on case head, no sticky bolt lift, and I have not even had to trim the brass after 4 reloads. Crazy.

My OPINION is the 6.5 Lapua is a stout, efficient little SOB that likes to Rock N Roll. Off a bi-pod and rear bag, its a 1/4 inch gun at 100 and 5 inch gun at 1000. At long range, I can watch my bullet strike through the scope. Very mild recoil and a pleasure to shoot.

In addition to recreational long range shooting, I used this load on a 150" 10pt Missouri buck this November. He didn't like it one bit! LOL

Show me the 5" groups at 1000 yards.

URDADDY,

You're ROCKIN there man! Way to go!

Here are a few groups.

1011 yds



.53 moa



.5 MOA ,1000 yds, Used corner to aim @ B27 target.

Just wanted to add, my current load of Rel 17 with the 140 VLD's, running 2910-2950 (temp variations) is 1.5 gr below the max I hit @ 3020 fps where the bolt showed a hint, and I mean, hint of difficult lift in the Pierce action.

Just a bit of peace of mind for "me" since I don't need to sooth anyone else's.....

Alan

Thanks for the backup and photos Alan! I will take the camera to the range next weekend for a photo shoot with the Lapua.

You realize you guys are claiming that you do this on a regular basis and these groups would win most 1000 yard BR shoots against riles built for just such a thing off benches and rests.

And you say your doing this in the dirt from a bi-pod???

Dirt...bench...truck bed....concrete

bipod....Snipe-Pod.....front rest.....

Just get me prone.

Alan

Show me the rig..

I'll give you one or 2 targets, maybe.

I'll also assume this is early morning no wind nor mirage.

I've shot against the best 1K BR shooters there are and they can't consistently keep 5" groups at 1K.

Oh my goodness NO! 5" all the time? No, no, no! More like 6-8 MOA all the time.

Pretty much quiet winds in the am.

Alan

Re: 2960 in a 27", my experience showed about 100fps for a 3" shorter bbl in a 55,

so in the 47, I figure you are getting about 25 per inch +/-, so about 100-130 or so more than a 22" sporter.

2850 in a 22" w/140 is moving in a small 6.5. Nice performance.

Comparing the 140 Berger .612, dropping from 2950-2750:

200 yd zero

400/500 yd clicks:

18/28 vs. 21/33

The initial 200fps MV diff drops to 169 at 500 yds....

Energy 1554/1328 at 500 yds...either capable of doing fine as far as I am ever likely to shoot.

Even a 130 Berger/2850 will do 1250 lbs at 500, drop 20/31 clicks at 400/500 w/200 zero.

BTW, nice shooting above!

No doubt perfect conditions and having a good shooter who is having a good day is key to optimum results, but seeing the potential above shows whats on tap.

Who cannot love the accuracy 6.5s give?

Come on Cocadori? Under favorable conditions, with a capable rifle, a 3 shot 1/2 moa group @1000yds is not that difficult. Five rounds becomes more challenging. Ten round groups in BR competition is really, really challenging, testing the endurance of the shooter, rifle, and your luck with the wind.

I'm a long range hunter, so I train with bi-pod and rear bag, shooting 3 or 5 shot groups from 300-1200yds. Mostly 3 shot groups. Anything more for me is just toasting the barrel for no purpose.

These were last August when getting ready to hunt. Fired from 833 yds, downhill about 45 deg, cross canyon with a 3-5 mph 4 o'clock wind from back of my Tundra bed using my Snipe-Pod and rear bag.

Alan

I'll agree but they way this was spun is you guys are doing the 5" thing at 1K all the time. Also 1/2 moa at 1k isn't difficult but it ain't easy either.

Best I've ever done in competition "for record" is 4.1".


I too am a LR hunter. I worry more about the first round hit within 5" of my POA at 1K than I do the small group. In a all types of conditions. Although small groups at distance are fun.

Wouldn't want to be on the other end of you Alan

I agree re: 3 shot groups, for a hunting rifle, more is just wearing out your bbl faster IMHO.

Agree last post, the 1st shot from cold bore, and being consistent is where the rubber meets the road 99% of the time for game.