Thread: Seriously underrated 6.5x47 Lapua

Originally Posted by gimp

It's fine get a 6.5CM instead it makes more sense now

I thought you gave up shooting?

Why does more barrel for the same velocity make more sense? Are are you framing this within your own preferences? We have known you a while and which ever way your preferences are swinging, this is the advice you give, and these preferences are prone to extreme reversals.

6.5 x 47 everyday now for me over the Creedmoor & I've built a few of each now.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....7-lapua-43552/

The range even had green grass then...

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....7-lapua-45237/

It lacks the outright grunt & velocity of its bigger 6.5 sisters, 6.5 CM, 260, 6.5 x 55 & 6.5-284 but is more inherently accurate in my experience

Originally Posted by Tussock

I thought you gave up shooting?

Why does more barrel for the same velocity make more sense? Are are you framing this within your own preferences? We have known you a while and which ever way your preferences are swinging, this is the advice you give, and these preferences are prone to extreme reversals.

What I've given up is arguing on forums

aside from that my preferences haven't significantly changed in over a decade (and I don't own a 6.5CM but think it makes the most sense if buying a new 6.5 due availability of everything & essentially same performance unless you like splitting hairs)

Originally Posted by gimp

What I've given up is arguing on forums

aside from that my preferences haven't significantly changed in over a decade (and I don't own a 6.5CM but think it makes the most sense if buying a new 6.5 due availability of everything & essentially same performance unless you like splitting hairs)

I'm not arguing with you, but once apon a time you were the authority on how to split a hair.

"It's fine get a 6.5CM instead it makes more sense now" is an argument, so what you really mean is you have stopped discussing things on forums.

plenty of people ran around 2900 in 6.5x55 with 140's. 22" barrels. I did... my 6.5x55AI ran 3050 and up to 3200 before pressure 24" barrel.. it was probably an exception to the average result in that version..

its no theory that loading manuals ran low pressure loads for 6.5x55... it was standard practice for years particularly in the time that modern rifles were not being chambered in 6.5x55. I would suggest that a lack of personal knowledge about stuff doesn't make it a theory.

I have run 6.5x47s and they tend to be 50fps-100fps light on the average modern 6.5x55... and well short of my AI version..

Small efficient modern cases get more bang for your buck not more bang in total...

Originally Posted by Sidney

plenty of people ran around 2900 in 6.5x55 with 140's. 22" barrels. I did... my 6.5x55AI ran 3050 and up to 3200 before pressure 24" barrel.. it was probably an exception to the average result in that version..

its no theory that loading manuals ran low pressure loads for 6.5x55... it was standard practice for years particularly in the time that modern rifles were not being chambered in 6.5x55. I would suggest that a lack of personal knowledge about stuff doesn't make it a theory.

I have run 6.5x47s and they tend to be 50fps-100fps light on the average modern 6.5x55... and well short of my AI version..

Small efficient modern cases get more bang for your buck not more bang in total...

Yes I agree with you on most of that and I can only speak from experience of one rifle..
You would think a case like x55 would leave a much smaller case like x47 well in its dust but this is simply not the case. The little x47 holds its own up against those larger powder wasters for sure especially once barrel length is reduced.
Lack of personal knowledge for me most definatly makes it theory in my books until Ive tried something for myself its all just theory. If I didnt operate with that school of thought Id be loading mild 2209 loads like every other sheep out there and be shooting 2600 to 2700fps.
Im confident that with the right powder if it exists yet the x47 could actually run even faster.

My Creedmoor maxed out velocity due to pressure with 44.5gr of RL16 but the x47 shows no pressure signs with a compressed load of 42gr RL16 yet is already 150fps faster than that creed load.
Its an interesting cartridge for sure and I have no doubt it ill be my daily shooter. I have more info on it by next weekend and will share some load development with several other powders and bullets too.

I had no intention of this thread becoming a 6.5 pissing match but will definatly aim to illustrate just how efficient this little case is when compared to its closer matched short action non magnum counterparts.

Originally Posted by Wingman

Yes I agree with you on most of that and I can only speak from experience of one rifle..
You would think a case like x55 would leave a much smaller case like x47 well in its dust but this is simply not the case. The little x47 holds its own up against those larger powder wasters for sure especially once barrel length is reduced.
Lack of personal knowledge for me most definatly makes it theory in my books until Ive tried something for myself its all just theory. If I didnt operate with that school of thought Id be loading mild 2209 loads like every other sheep out there and be shooting 2600 to 2700fps.
Im confident that with the right powder if it exists yet the x47 could actually run even faster.

My Creedmoor maxed out velocity due to pressure with 44.5gr of RL16 but the x47 shows no pressure signs with a compressed load of 42gr RL16 yet is already 150fps faster than that creed load.
Its an interesting cartridge for sure and I have no doubt it ill be my daily shooter. I have more info on it by next weekend and will share some load development with several other powders and bullets too.

I had no intention of this thread becoming a 6.5 pissing match but will definatly aim to illustrate just how efficient this little case is when compared to its closer matched short action non magnum counterparts.

Absolutely - nor I and there isn't a 6.5 that I don't like well, maybe the 264WM is well overblown and I wouldn't bother. I just wanted to contribute to your sample size - would hate to have you base your personal theory on one seemingly aberrant 55 -

I'm running my 6.5SLR at 2750 with 130s out of a 16" barrel and building a 22" 6.5SAUM that will operate at 3100-3200 for the same pills

The 6.5 is a cool calibre - its ballistically efficient at a projectile weight range of 120-140gr which is perfect for most of our hunting, whilst at the same time being light enough to allow for small powder cases and low recoil.

Originally Posted by Sidney

Absolutely - nor I and there isn't a 6.5 that I don't like well, maybe the 264WM is well overblown and I wouldn't bother. I just wanted to contribute to your sample size - would hate to have you base your personal theory on one seemingly aberrant 55 -

I'm running my 6.5SLR at 2750 with 130s out of a 16" barrel and building a 22" 6.5SAUM that will operate at 3100-3200 for the same pills

The 6.5 is a cool calibre - its ballistically efficient at a projectile weight range of 120-140gr which is perfect for most of our hunting, whilst at the same time being light enough to allow for small powder cases and low recoil.

shite for a moment there I couldve sworn you were talking about the mighty poohseventy!!!!

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

shite for a moment there I couldve sworn you were talking about the mighty poohseventy!!!!

Oh man.. who left that closet door open again?

I stopped making arguments until someone tagged me in this thread would be accurate

Originally Posted by gimp

I stopped making arguments until someone tagged me in this thread would be accurate

You did pioneer 6.5x47L as a hunting round in this country. Go on, split a hair or two for old times sake. There is some good knowledge in there somewhere. Is there a zipper somewhere on your gimp suit that is stuck?

Hairs split I'm done

You can buy a factory rifle from almost any brand chambered in 6.5CM with a sensible twist rate, and a large selection of factory ammo with >.6g1 bc bullets at good speeds. To the handloader the difference is purely academic in terms of results for actually shooting things.

Originally Posted by gimp

To the handloader the difference is purely academic

This was the topic.

Originally Posted by Tussock

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

Most people these days shoot prone/bipod with the non-trigger hand tucked in under the buttstock. And all power to them. I learnt to shoot prone a long time ago with no bipod, supporting the air rifle or .22 with my left hand, then the same with centrefires. And no amount of anything can get me to change that now, irrespective of what kind of rest is up front.

Interestingly my wife who is army trained, also controls the forend with her left hand, for exactly the same reason, most of the training was done without a forend rest, especially with the R4. Now she tells me this evening that when using the 7.62 R1 (FN-FAL) with the bipod, the taught position was still left hand on the rifle forend, which obviously is at odds with the US Military for example.

Just a simple case of old habits die very hard, when the old habit doesn't appear to hinder you in anyway then why change?