Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 6.5x47 Lapua Loads

I've been running a heavy for PRS comps, rifle, for 8-1/2 yrs and a light, for hunting, rifle for 7-1/2 yrs now. The heavy is on it's 2nd barrel and it's likely nearing it's life expectancy before the end of the year. Light's had more testing, trying to find different hunting bullets.

Light, Pierce SA, 24.5" #3 Broughtton in a McM Rem Sporter with a NF 2.5-10x42 on top. 5-shot groups.

140 Berger, Ramshot Hunter (43'ish gr) with CCI 450's. 2845 fps, .7 moa
142 Matrix, Rel 17 (42'ish gr), Fed 205match primers, 2917 fps, 5 sd, .6 moa. Killed spike elk at 950 with this load.
130 VLD, H4350. (40'ish gr), CCI 450. 2850 fps with single digit SD. .2 to .6 moa.
127 LRX, Varget, (36'ish gr), CCI br primer, 30 off, 2803 fps, 13 SD for .6 moa groups. This load has killed 1 mulie and 3 elk; 250 to 500 yds.
130 AB, Target (36'ish gr) CCI br primer, .1" off lands, 2760 fps, 6 sd, .55 moa
140 VLD, H4350, (40'ish gr) CCI 450, 5 off lands, 2770 fps, 3 SD
140 VLD, IMR 4007ssc, (40'ish gr), 2750 fps, single digit SD.
129 ABLR, Rel 17, (41'ish gr) 25 off lands, single digit SD....5'ish moa
142 LRAB, Rel 17, (39'isg gr), 5 off, 2800 fps, 10 sd, .65 moa

Heavy rifle with Kreiger 8.5 twist, 26" MTU contour

Original load was, 130 VLD, 40'ish gr H4350/CCI 450 for 2820-40 fps. Single digit SD's and .4-.6 moa 1000 yd groups.
Switched to 140 VLD when it came out, pretty much same load but 2750'ish fps with single digit SD and .5 moa

New, Hawk Hill Marksman contour 26" barrel, running 36'ish gr Varget, CCI 450 and 139 Scenars for .25 moa at about 2740 fps, single digit SD.
Forgot I ran the 140 Hybrid and Varget too. Good load. Hybrids more $ than the Scenars.

With H4350, powder compression was the norm, making consistent bullet seating difficult. Varget leaves enough room, you can hear powder shaking in the case but bullet seating is dead nuts on. When your reloading 400-500 rds per month to shoot 2 matches each month, you look for ways to cut corners and this is one. I'll glad give up a few fps for spot on bullet seating.

Alan