Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5X47 Lapua Powder

Constant reformulation.
Is one of Reloader powders biggest problems.

dave

4064 with the 120-130g bullets is stellar!

Tag

I'm working up new 6.5x47 but for a hunting gun for grandkids to shoot 120-130 grain bullets (Model Seven 21" #1 sporter)- so I was looking for the most efficient (read lowest recoil) 6.5 - just started barrel break-in and then load development with Reloader 15 because at the time it was still difficult to find Varget which seems to be the most popular powder for this caliber. I went with the maximum chamber length that would still feed in a Model Seven so with that and the short barrel my velocities are little slow compared to most: in 5-shot batches, my averages with Nosler 120 BT's are: 35.0=2549fps, 35.3=2563fps, 35.7=2578fps - boring data but what's impressive (to me) is that my velocity spread has never exceeded plus or minus 6fps. Accuracy is so-so but I have not yet bedded the action in the factory laminated stock. Right now my priority is to get a some idea of what my load 'envelope' is for both R-15 and then Varget and then get serious about accuracy loads. For anyone thinking of younger, beginning shooters this began life as a factory 260Rem and the recoil and barrel whip was noticeable to me and I weigh 180lbs - the 6.5x47 is really sweet and I think I will end up with lightweight rifle that will shoot 120 grain bullets accurately at 2800fps or so with the lowest possible recoil. My hat is off to you long-range guys who have paved the way with this great little caliber.

41.3 grs H4350
CCI #41
Berger 130 VLD
.005" Jump

Here's one I've never seen posted on any site. Right between Varget and H4350 on Burn Rate charts�..IMR 4007 SSC. I tried it last summer when I was getting low supplies of my trusty H4350. I tried it with the 140 VLD and wunderba! I ran a 660 yd ladder but without my 35P chrono. Accuracy node was at 40.2 gr, CCI 450's running about 2775 fps in 60 F morning summer temps. On Dec 27 when the temp was 32 F, it ran 2750 fps. Accuracy did not change which was typically 2.5" of vertical @ 660 yds. This is my 32 F group @ 660.



Here is my 660 yd group at 60 F on a Summer morning.



Alan

Keith, can you tell me what loads you like w/4064, and is that IMR?

Alan, hope you are doing well. Any hunting updates?

Cliff,

Thanks for the inquiry. Haven't been around a bunch. Fell in with a "Long Range Shooters of Utah" bunch on Facebook. Between them keeping me busy ordering them shooting supplies (i'm an FFL), taking care of my very sick wife on dialysis and raising my 16 yr boy, pretty much on my own, just not much time to get over to the CF.

Wife was sick for 1st weekend of the Utah general elk hunt but did get out the 2nd weekend. Killed a spike elk @ 950 with the light 6.5x47 and the 142 Matrix VLD running 2917 on top of Rel 17. Story over on the "Long Range Hunting" section of the CF. Following weekend, neighbor asked me to watch over his property, behind mine, while his family was out of town. I have a dozen steel plates up on the ridge behind his house ranging from 450 to 2000 yds. I go up and develop loads and practice all the time. He left me a "thank you" gift. A mitigation doe tag for his property. So, I grabbed my very custom Pre 64 M70 in 257 Roberts and had a doe on the ground with 10 minutes of leaving the truck. He's now offered me a mitigation cow tag at a reduced price but i'm not so sure I can make room in the freezer.

You?

Alan

Alan,

Sir I am sorry your wife has continued to be sick. You are all in my prayers.

Congrats on the bull and 257 doe success. Just finished my MBA and looking for my next career - slow in this town. Perhaps I need to move West and live on fresh Elk! Good hearing from you.

Cliff