I'm having a 8" twist Bartlein 2B chambered in 6.5x47. Should be done in three weeks or so. I see folks regularly post where their heavier barreled 6.5x47s shoot in the .2s and .3s. I've seen that GSSP and Aalf have lightweight 6.5x47s. Is there anyone else? How are they performing for you?

John

Mine weighs less than 8#...

Cool. You're running a Brux #5 aren't you?

John

I've been using this one for 2.5 years and ~1700 rds. Bartlein #3 @ 24", a little over 9 lbs with the LRHS.



I've shot some fantastic groups with it, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a benchrest gun. It probably averages around .9 for 10 shot groups with Scenars or Hybrids, has shot .6 on the low end and 1.3 on the high end for 10. There is of course the human element (grin) as I typically only shoot prone off a bipod.

My 16lb M24 contour'd 6.5x47L probably averages in the .6's for 10, again with me driving.

Thanks Carl. Anything less than 1" is great for ten shots from a hunting weight rig. That gives me a pretty good idea of what to expect.

John

I have a GAP Non-typical. First range outing with starting loads are in the 1/2" range for 5

What are the specs on that, and what does it weigh if you don't mind?

I just got this in recently....Kimber 84M Montana with a Benchmark barrel duped to Lilja mod84m contour. As she sits with no rounds.....Got about 15rds thru initial load work-up...Shows promise with .75-1" groups

#4 Mullerworks.

Borden alpine with a #2 bartlein in a Mcmillin hunter's edge. Smithed by Jon Beanland.

Yeah, it's got a hubble on it. It gets used at night on coyotes.

Crow Hunter,

How's that rig shooting for you?

John

How does the small rifle primer work in cold conditions (-30)?

It shoots great. I built it for shooting 100 TTSX's and got it done just before deer season last year. I just threw together some loads with varget and seated the bullet .050" off the lands, added powder until the chrono read 3080 & said that's fast enough to hunt with. Everything went 1/2" or less. I took three deer with it last season. I'll fine tune it a bit more this year now that I have time but really there's no need, no place I deer hunt has shots over 300 yds. It's just a pleasure to shoot, so mild.

I've got a prairie dog hunting trip coming up in a couple of months and am gonna take it out there with some 100 Amax's. I haven't shot any of them yet, that's to do in the next few weeks. I swapped scopes to a 4-14 conquest with turrets and am going to use it to "snoop and poop" over the hills for a walkabout varminter when I get tired of shooting my heavy rifles off the bench. Should be fun.

In Mississippi that's decidedly NOT a concern for me. However, if I were in Canada like you I probably wouldn't want to rely on small primers. I've heard of ignition problems in the cold with them. 6.5x47L cases can be made from 22-250 cases though, so if one felt the need for large primers it could be pretty easily done.

This thread warms my heart.

Alan

You, and others, have sure got my hopes up…

John

I opted for the .260 and DBM
McM Classic Edge,
Defiance Rebel
24" Bartlein #3 fluted.
Can't find a reason to go heavier!

Carl,
Want stock is that? Manners? Looks great!

This one does pretty well, it wears a #4 Broughton.

That's a Manner's EH3 with the Elite carbon fill, GAP color scheme. I like the stock, and really like the finish.

Thanks, Carl. Awesome looking rifle.

Finally got it done. Had it in the LVSF stock for a while, but it now resides in a Manners EH3.

Stainless 700 action trued by Jon Beanland
Bartlein 2b, 8" twist, finished at 24". Also have threaded and chambered 22-250 (8" twist) and .308 barrels for it.
PT&G BDL floorplate
PT&G recoil lug
Timney trigger.
Burris XTB bases
SWFA rings
Bushnell 3-12 LRHS

Not done with load development, but it is showing some promise.

John

Congrats! I'm looking forward to hearing how the other barrels do. I've long been enamored with the idea of a switch barrel bolt gun.

Did you have the lug pinned?

EVERY rifle i've ever heard of that was built by Jon Beanland, is a tack driver!

Alan

Pointer,

I did have the lug pinned. With barrel vice and action wrench, switching barrels is a 10 min job, max.

Alan,

Jon trued the action, but another top notch 'smith did the barrel work for me. I got the EH3 from the Manners ready to ship list and bedded it myself.

John

I don't have any good pics of mine but this gives a decent idea of what's in it.

Pierce CM action
Rifle Basix trigger
Pierce 20 moa pic rail
Broughton 24.5" #3 with Harrell brake
PTG BDL bottom metal
McMillan Remington Sporter Edge filled stock
Cerakote in matte black
Farrell 30mm alum rings
NF NXS Compact 2.5-10x42mm with MOAR reticle
Sinclair offset level bubble
Triad Stock Pack



A little up close of the important stuff.



With the old NF 2.5-10x32mm which is 1 oz lighter than the 42mm



It's got 3 animals to it's credit. 3x4 mulie at 500 and a very large cow elk at 450, both with the Barnes 127 LRX and Varget. Then, last October a spike elk at 950 with the Canadian 142 gr Matrix VLD running 2917 fps with Rel 17.

Fun stuff!

Thanks for the info! I have a Savage action, currently a 260 Rem, that I'm thinking of having the lug pinned and getting a couple of extra barrels for. 358 Hoosier would be first as it meets the stupid cartridge restrictions in IN for deer hunting. Any future builds will either have the lug pinned or use an action with an integral lug.

Coating and mounts aside John, that rifle looks quite familiar!

Glad to see it's performing for you.

I am very happy to hear that. My Jon Beanland built 243 AI will be here on Monday. Should be about 6 lbs before the scope.

If you are worried about pinning, check this out:

ebay item number

252007346860

I have been using the Kliendorst Lug locater on Remingtons for twenty plus years

one thirty grain bergers left zero blood trail, so they are out the window for us. One twenty nine Hornady flat base are a hands down winner, and we will be trying the 123 and 140g Nosler accubond which we worked up fantastic loads today with using R#17 and win primers, tiny groups with the R17 including the 140g Sierra BTSP which is also a hands down winner on white tails from many years use in various 6.5's.

I posted this in December 2013 when I had the same question. I have no problems with 450s and cold weather.
**********************
A while back I asked on the forum if anyone had experience with the 6.5x47 in cold temperatures and if there were any issues with delayed ignition or no bang at all. My questions were not answered to my satisfaction so I had one built over the summer and went out today in -36C (not counting windchill which was -44C) and wanted to see for myself. I left the rifle and ammunition exposed on the bench for the entire session (3 hours) and then fired several shots prior to packing up and going home. Load was 36.3gr Varget with a cci450 and 140 bergers. Every single load went bang perfectly just like in the summer. No delay or anything. My group and POI was unchanged as well. I was going to use 22-250 in cold weather if needed but I won't have to go through that now. The cci450's and varget work perfectly in -36C and if you've been wondering if small primers will be a problem, perhaps I have given you some useful information.

To the OP. My 6.5x47 weighs 8lbs 2oz with the rail and rings.

6.5X47 Lapua
Stiller tac30
#4 Benchmark 5r 8twist 24"
McMillan BDL mcgranit olive green with black and tan speckles.
PTG bottom metal
Timney 510U
Sightron s3 6-24lrmoa or Zeiss 3.5-10x44 depending what I'm doing.

Anymore updates Hondo? Those groups look great. That's a good shooting rifle for a 2B contour. Good shooting and you got a good barrel and someone who knew how to put one together.

I guess you're gonna be climbing/hunting Pikes'Peak!

I have a Montana 308 donor and a 84M Lilja 6.5 on the way, would ya'll post your reamer specs if you have 2.8" box?

Thanks,

Great post! I have been shooting 6.5x47 in f class, but i have had a lightweight 6.5 in the back of my mind... this now brings it to the front..

Here's my GAP non typical with an edge Classic stock, which I recently painted in an ATACs camo

The Kleinendorst tool while a nice touch does not replace a pinned lug. There is some play in the fit and a lug will not alway go back where it came out. If you have a glass bedded action, this can be a problem. I much prefer the double pinned lugs myself.

Weighs ~8.5#

Stiller Predator
Micky Classic (blind box)
Remington spring, box & follower
Jewel Trigger
Broughton #3
Seekins Rings
S&B scope pictured but now wears a VX7







While it doesn't show quite how it "groups" like the others posted; these were the only target pictures I had on Photobucket currently.








It shoots VERY well with the Berger 130's but when hunting season gets here it seems I just keep shooting the Nosler 120's. They shoot under .75 all the time & usually hoover around .5. The first 23 deer I killed with this rifle never took a step. Only had 2-3 get out of their footprint since; and they were only 20-40 yards at the end of the red carpet... I have found to 6.5x47L to be quite fantastic though I've never had problems killing them with 6mm variety either.

Darren, what bolt knob is on that rifle? To my eyes it looks smaller than the standard GAP Templar. Thanks!

It's the defiance tear drop. Your right, a little smaller than typical knobs, but I like it a lot.

Thanks, I might try that one on my next build

Borden Alpine with #3 Lilja

ML

Mullerworks barrels are the "cats's jammies" and making a name for themselves. Got 2 myself, #4 6.5 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and a #4 6mm, soon to be chambered in 6x47L.