6.5x47 Lapua Twist Rate

Slug870

Slug870

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I am looking at putting together a rifle to be used for PRS style shooting and have decided that I want to finally get into the 6.5x47 Lapua (been humming and hawing for a while)

Having said that I have zero experience with the 6.5x47 Lapua and am in need of a little guidance with regard to twist rate. Am I correct in assuming I would want to go with a 1-8" twist? If I understand correctly, this twist should allow me to shoot the 130gr-140gr bullets with no issues.

I am hoping to hear from those who shoot or have shot the 6.5x47 Lapua prior to ordering a barrel.

Thanks for any help!
 
Slug870 said:
I am looking at putting together a rifle to be used for PRS style shooting and have decided that I want to finally get into the 6.5x47 Lapua (been humming and hawing for a while)

Having said that I have zero experience with the 6.5x47 Lapua and am in need of a little guidance with regard to twist rate. Am I correct in assuming I would want to go with a 1-8" twist? If I understand correctly, this twist should allow me to shoot the 130gr-140gr bullets with no issues.

I am hoping to hear from those who shoot or have shot the 6.5x47 Lapua prior to ordering a barrel.

Thanks for any help!
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The 6.5x47 Lapua is a great cartridge provided you like boringly predictable accuracy. They seem to work with pretty much any load in the book and thrive on bullet weights between 120 and 140 grains. Working up loads for my own was diificult, not from the loading aspect but from trying to determine which of the 5 loads I tried would be the 1 to go with as all shot between .2 and .25 repeatedly.

1 in 8 is the most commonly used twist rate, I don't see any point in messing with proven success.

Word of caution for reloading. This cartridge is a tad higher pressure than many mainstream cartridges so extreme pressure comes on REAL quick! The difference between a great load and a gross over pressure load can be as little as .5 grains and being most casings employ small rifle primers you don't see signs as easily. Varget works well but be extremely careful when approaching maximum loads.
 
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alberta tactical rifle said:
The 6.5x47 Lapua is a great cartridge provided you like boringly predictable accuracy. They seem to work with pretty much any load in the book and thrive on bullet weights between 120 and 140 grains. Working up loads for my own was diificult, not from the loading aspect but from trying to determine which of the 5 loads I tried would be the 1 to go with as all shot between .2 and .25 repeatedly.

1 in 8 is the most commonly used twist rate, I don't see any point in messing with proven success.

Word of caution for reloading. This cartridge is a tad higher pressure than many mainstream cartridges so extreme pressure comes on REAL quick! The difference between a great load and a gross over pressure load can be as little as .5 grains and being most casings employ small rifle primers you don't see signs as easily. Varget works well but be extrem,ely careful when approaching maximum loads.
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good sound advice as per usual. Jeff
 
As much as I love my 6.5 x 47's, have had about 5-6, and am completely tooled up for the cartridge having my own reamers, custom dies and inside reamers custom ground to suit, I would recommend that you look at the 6.5 Creedmore. More factory support with factory match ammo and far cheaper brass. As far as I can see, the accuracy is the same.

As far for either, I would run a 7 1/2 twist to allow you to run the heavier 6.5 bullets such as the Hornady 147, Sierra 150, Matrix 146. All will work out of a 1 in 8 but work better from the 1 in 7 1/2 twist. These bullets give far better wind drifts at long range.
 
SteveB said:
As much as I love my 6.5 x 47's, have had about 5-6, and am completely tooled up for the cartridge having my own reamers, custom dies and inside reamers custom ground to suit, I would recommend that you look at the 6.5 Creedmore. More factory support with factory match ammo and far cheaper brass. As far as I can see, the accuracy is the same.
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also good thoughts, OP said for PRs and no experience with 6.5 by 47

I have built both these last few months and for PRs, beginner the 6 creedmoor may be another choice

so much fun, not enough time all have merits depending on recoil sensitivity and if you may use them for other uses. Like at the bench or prone for fun and so on. Gongs at 1000.

so much fun, not enough time

JEFF
 
The first 6.5x47 Lapua I built the customer supplied the reamer. The reamer cut such a nice chamber I bought the reamer from him...

The second 6.5x47 Lapua I built was for a very capable shooter. He shot an elk at 440 yards... two shots in about 2 seconds, he recorded the shoot, I couldn't believe he could cycle it as quickly as he did... the bullets were less than 2 inches apart and the bull elk didn't go far.

but it also shoots small groups on target.

The next four I built all shoot very well too. The customers really like the cartridge.
 
I’m on my second barrel with the 6.5X47. I have ran 123 lapua, 139 lapua, 140 RDF through my Barrels and they all drove tacs with a 1-8 twist barrel. Just make sure to use good components and you will be good. All 3 of my Barrels are 26” hawkhills. Don’t cheap out and if you are looking for a good rifle builder talk to insite they have a great reamer for the 6.5X47. And just run Varget with the 6.5X47
 
guntech said:
The first 6.5x47 Lapua I built the customer supplied the reamer. The reamer cut such a nice chamber I bought the reamer from him...

The second 6.5x47 Lapua I built was for a very capable shooter. He shot an elk at 440 yards... two shots in about 2 seconds, he recorded the shoot, I couldn't believe he could cycle it as quickly as he did... the bullets were less than 2 inches apart and the bull elk didn't go far.

but it also shoots small groups on target.

The next four I built all shoot very well too. The customers really like the cartridge.
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I own a 6.5x47 lapua that you built for me.

As Rick says it's very difficult to determine which loads shoot best at 100m. I have to do load development at 200 or 300m. It's an exceptionally accurate rifle. I have on it a shilen select match barrel in a 1 in 8 twist and have had no problem stabilizing 140 grain bullets. However I find 140's tend to be fairly compressed loads. My best powders have been N550, Reloder 17 and H4350. I've had great luck with 123 lapua, 130 Berger vld and 139 lapua pills. The brass keeps chugging along. I'm over a dozen firings on some of it and have yet to get a loose primer pocket.

The only other cartridge I'd consider would be 6mm Dasher.
 
Anyone have experience with the 6.5x47 Lapua from a Desert Tech SRS A1 using the factory barrel? I have this rifle in .308 and am considering picking up the 6.5x47 conversion barrel...any thoughts on whether the accuracy of the factory barrel is consistent with what appears to be yet another excellent cartridge in the 6.5 family?
 
6.5X47 Lapua: Obtaining 2750 fps, low SD with N550, 139 gr Lapua Scenar, CCI primers. Extremely accurate with 26" MTU(heavy) Krieger barrel, 8T, R700SA, MDT chassis with recoil lug bedded. Kahles 3.5-18X56. Used to demo at CISC, 941 meters. Have to admit - mostly misses on figure 12 due to the most brutal conditions seen in twenty years with army tent blown downrange after hitting me in the head and destroying Terrapin X.
 
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FirearmsEnthusiast said:
Anyone have experience with the 6.5x47 Lapua from a Desert Tech SRS A1 using the factory barrel? I have this rifle in .308 and am considering picking up the 6.5x47 conversion barrel...any thoughts on whether the accuracy of the factory barrel is consistent with what appears to be yet another excellent cartridge in the 6.5 family?
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I think DT has discontinued the x47 because they only sold well in Europe (what I was told on the phone just after Christmas). Might be able pick one up used though.
 
I second what others have posted - would say the x47 is one of the easier cartridges to load for accuracy - of all the combos I tried, they all shot great - found nodes with each one.
I have a switch barrel SSG3000, and the x47 barrel shoots good from first shot on after replacement. I did notice POI shift with changing barrels at first, but once i set and followed a routine ( (1)order of tightening bolts that hold new barrel (2) and set to same torque value every time), the POI is bang on.
 
Yep accurate easy to load for, relatively light recoil. However if you are shooting PRS at sanctioned matches it puts you in Open Class, where you may or may not want to be starting out..and off course shorter barrel life,
 
Not exactly germane to the OP, but the posts raise the question:

What are the options for obtaining 6.5x47l brass? Do you have to buy it, or can it be fireformed / die sized from something common?
 
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