Thread: Seriously underrated 6.5x47 Lapua

Originally Posted by Wingman

Ive never owned a 6.5x55AI and personally not a fan of long actions but a few F class shooters run that cal. There is one for sale on trademe now. It is much like the 260rem and 260 AI.. likes slow powders and long barrels. The .260 has the edge IMO as it has better small rifle primer match brass available so can cope with higher pressure loads without burning out brass/primer pockets.
Take a look at 6.5x55 in any reloading manual and you will see its max velocities come from slow powders and they are still nothing amazing.

6.5x55 is hamstrung in all the manuals and factory loaders because of all the old actions that could shit themselves with a proper load, loaded hard in a modern action the Swede has legs that would astonish you as is breezes past the tiddler 6.5 cartridges

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

6.5x55 is hamstrung in all the manuals and factory loaders because of all the old actions that could shit themselves with a proper load, loaded hard in a modern action the Swede has legs that would astonish you as is breezes past the tiddler 6.5 cartridges

Ive heard that story a lot but yet to see any truth in the theory. While it was only one rifle, I did some load development for a mates x55 with a 24" barrel and it showed pressure signs consistent with loading manual data.

Originally Posted by Wingman

Ive heard that story a lot but yet to see any truth in the theory. I did some load development for a mates x55 with a 24" barrel and it showed pressure signs consistent with loading manual data.

Which powder?

Originally Posted by Wingman

Ive heard that story a lot but yet to see any truth in the theory. While it was only one rifle, I did some load development for a mates x55 with a 24" barrel and it showed pressure signs consistent with loading manual data.

My 6.5x55 has a 21.5" barrel and with 140 Amax and N560 consistently chronos at 2840. So I guess it is rifle dependent. The first 6.5x47 I recall was @gimp 's, I think on a Sako75. He shot all sorts of stuff with it. Hell, the man himself might even come on and tell us about it.

Originally Posted by Tahr

My 6.5x55 has a 21.5" barrel and with 140 Amax and N560 consistently chronos at 2840. So I guess it is rifle dependent. The first 6.5x47 I recall was @gimp 's, I think on a Sako75. He shot all sorts of stuff with it. Hell, the man himself might even come on and tell us about it.

The one I set up was tested with 2209 and 2213sc and maxed out at about 2750 from memory due to sticky bolt lifts.

My 20" creedmoor ran 2900fps with 139gr lapua scenrs with RL16 and I can tell you that this 6.5x47 eats that for breakfast.
I think with the right powder it could improve even more on my current loads.

I tested 2209 in it last week and it is fine for lighter accurate loads but you cant get good speed and spreads from it. Bm 8208 and 2208 works great with the lighter 123gr bullets but the RL16 and the 130 to 140gr bullets are next level fast and accurate!

Originally Posted by Wingman

The one I set up was tested with 2209 and 2213sc and maxed out at about 2750 from memory due to sticky bolt lifts.

My 20" creedmoor ran 2900fps with 139gr lapua scenrs with RL16 and I can tell you that this 6.5x47 eats that for breakfast.
I think with the right powder it could improve even more on my current loads.

I tested 2209 in it last week and it is fine for lighter accurate loads but you cant get good speed and spreads from it. Bm 8208 and 2208 works great with the lighter 123gr bullets but the RL16 and the 130 to 140gr bullets are next level fast and accurate!

This is why I asked what powder. N560 for >2800 with 140s in x55

RL16 is your pick for 6.5x47? This may be why the gods incinerated my 2209 stockpile. Sounds like your RL16 load leaves my old 2209 load for dead and solves the spread problem.

Originally Posted by Tussock

This is why I asked what powder. N560 for >2800 with 140s in x55

RL16 is your pick for 6.5x47? This may be why the gods incinerated my 2209 stockpile. Sounds like your RL16 load leaves my old 2209 load for dead and solves the spread problem.

Interesting.. Ive never ventured into that powder.

Yes RL16 has proven itself so far and I have 200 rounds loaded for long range trials this week. I have 5 shot strings down to sub 5fps max spreads and will max out on velocity at about 3080fps with 130gr TMKs with no pressure signs like the 2209 shows at about 42gr.
The biggest problem with RL16 is its limited by its bulk in the small case. A powder of the same burn rate of RL16 but of smaller granules like 2208 or 2209 would probably exceed 3200fps.. I wonder is such a powder exists?
RL16 is also quite dirty leaving barrels black and sooty but I read if you run it hotter it will clean up.

I have no doubt we could spend some time with you behind it this week @Flyblown and you will easily cut those groups in half. The x47 is much softer to shoot than the .308 is too. The .308 does jump around a bit when on the bipod. Ive never shot prone with a hand on the fore end so that is very foreign to me. I feel more control from holding the rear of the stock and apply downward and rearward pressure into your shoulder. Let the muzzle bounce.. as long as it bounces the same each time..
Yeah that paddocks 100y line is far from a comfortable shooting position but I am well used to shooting in less than stellar conditions and positions.. @Friwi may recall a very wet and muddy nationals day at Whatawhata 1000 yard range where my team were shooting off bipods rolling in the mud and sheep shit without mats like pigs while the old boys watched on and took the piss..

It seems to be a bit of a theme for me.. the last time I took a mate goat shooting, I was getting pecked by a bunch of chickens as I was laying prone and sending lead out to 200 yards.. while it was very entertaining for him it was mildly off putting for my concentration levels.. lol. @Mintie do you still have that vid?
Id probably shoot like crap in nice bench rest conditions.. lol.

Originally Posted by Wingman

I have no doubt we could spend some time with you behind it this week @Flyblown and you will easily cut those groups in half. The x47 is much softer to shoot than the .308 is too. The .308 does jump around a bit when on the bipod. Ive never shot prone with a hand on the fore end so that is very foreign to me. I feel more control from holding the rear of the stock and apply downward and rearward pressure into your shoulder. Let the muzzle bounce.. as long as it bounces the same each time..

.

This is why I asked. I too shoot as you describe and just let the muzzle do its thing.

The velocity you get from the TINY 6.5x47L cartridge from a short barrel is extraordinary. Mine would put one round inside a 1cm dot without touching the edges, from a cold barrel every day. I did it for a few weeks before I got bored of it. Back when my range was behind the house I would walk up, fire one round, walk home. My only problem with my 2209 load was velocity spread, which was a bit of a non-issue as I never shot strings.

Lapua put serious thought into the round and it shows.

Shot a lot of rabbits at over 400m with that rifle and deer and Tahr to 550m. I would not have shot the 550m Tahr but I thought it was one I shot at 400m that was wounded, so I ended up with two.

My new one will also be on a Sako 75 but this time a sporter weight. I bought a barrel from Gimp because he ordered the wrong contour and ended up with a semi varmint barrel, sort of. Once my pretty 75 laminate channel was cut for it I was stuck with it. Made the rifle heavy and un-balanced but man did it shoot. I used to sight in in two rounds then knock all the drawing pins out of the paper. I cut that barrel from 26" to 20" with no loss of velocity.

2810ft/sec with 140 Amax over 2209/Federal small rifle magnum primers.

This one will get a 20" barrel in the original factory contour and a DPT muzzle forward can.

I still had 6kg of 2209 and thousands of magnum primers till last week when I brought my gear home and my wife helped me unload. We were in a hurry and my 2209 ended up sitting inside a car next to a window and baked like a potato. I assume its cactus. Was hot to the touch and stunk to high heaven.

Anyone want 6kg of ADI22something?

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

6.5x55 is hamstrung in all the manuals and factory loaders because of all the old actions that could shit themselves with a proper load, loaded hard in a modern action the Swede has legs that would astonish you as is breezes past the tiddler 6.5 cartridges

Think it has something to do with the Norwegian Krag actions having single recoil lugs, or something to that effect. Load to lowest common safe denominator.