New 6x47L - I like it!

kombayotch

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So, I ended up chambering a barrel in 6x47L. Got my own no-turn reamer with a neck that is 0.2765 at the mouth tapering to 0.2775 at the neck-shoulder junction. It has a 1 deg. throat angle with 0.083 freebore. Seats the 105 Hybrid perfectly 0.050 in front of the donut area. Over 300 rounds down the barrel so far and I'm quite pleased. The brass is built like a tank, tougher than my Lapua 308 win brass.

So far, I've only shot 105 Hybrids, but I've tested them with H4350, IMR4451 and RL-26. Have used Rem 7.5 primers exclusively. This was after some investigation. Notably, this experiment by German Salazar (which I repeated with Rem 7.5s, Fed. 210Ms, and CCI BR2s): http://www.6mmbr.com/primerpix.html

The small Rem primer creates a bigger spark than either of the two popular large rifle primers I tested, even through the 0.062 hole in the x47 brass. I can't see how it would have trouble lighting powder if those primers don't. Temperature tests confirm no ill effects in cold weather. I cooled rounds to the low 20's F and heated them to above 100 F, in addition to firing them at the ambient 38F on the day I ran the test. H4350 varied by 0.69 fps/F, IMR4451 varied by 0.45 fps/F. SDs for IMR4451 were higher, but still only 12 at most, H4350 had SDs in the singles, and ES of 16 at most at each temperature. Measured with the LabRadar. I did not test RL-26 because the node was at the same velocity as the other two and the larger powder change created noticeably more muzzle blast.

I worked up to 45.0 gr. of RL-26 under the 105 Hybrid. This gave me 3201 fps. out of a 26.5" 7.5 twist MP 5R Bartlein barrel. Grouped ok:



This was during break-in, when the H4350 load I've settled on was giving me 3015 fps. That load now gives me 3089 fps., so I suspect the RL-26 load is also faster. 3201 fps. is already above the 3150 fps. limit of most PRS matches, so I didn't pursue it any further. I will look at RL-26 again when my throat wears enough to shoot the 115 DTACs without seating them into the case.

As for brass forming, it's simple: just lube a 6.5x47L case and run it into the 6x47L die. The die does make a difference though. I bought a Forster regular FL sizing die and a Redding type-S FL Match set. The regular Forster dies over-sizes the neck and the case comes out short and with a really crooked mouth. The Redding die with a 0.269 bushing does a nice job. Cases come out with good neck tension, straight mouths and are 1.846" long. They grow to 1.850" (trim length) after a couple firings. Most of the loaded virgin rounds have had runouts of 0.002" or less. I'm going to have the Forster die's neck honed to give the right neck tension once I settle on one.

Highly advise using a bolt with a 0.062 firing pin. Primers were cratering at starting loads with a regular firing pin. I only blanked one primer so far, but the piece stopped the firing pin from hitting the round after it and it failed to fire. Had to take the bolt apart and remove it. Have since ordered a bolt with the small firing pin.

I can see why this round has been popular in PRS. It loses nothing to bigger 6s within the 3150 fps. velocity limit of most matches, and recoil is noticeably less than my 6mm Crusader, which makes a difference in spotting shots when shooting from unstable positions like off of barricades. I will be running it in PRS this year. Well worth the initial pain of the cost of the brass (which I still need to stock up on). I may try some N150 since I'm not wild about the IMR4451 SDs and H4350 is hard to find.
 
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Nice write-up. I'm taking my 6x47L to my smith this weekend to get the throat lengthened. I hope to get a good load with the 105 VLDs, largely because I have a ton of them and the hybrids are damn hard to find.

Just out of curiousity, why did you go with a reamer with a tampered neck?
 
If I shoot loads with the bullet seated into the case, it gives a little extra clearance if a donut starts to develop.
 
Great write up. Ive been really happy with my 6x47 and the IMR4451. Couldn't find any 4350, and my ES is about that 16fps mark. Getting my 3030fps out of my 25" barrel. I have the .272 neck so I did end up trimming my brass a bit, but I don't lose brass like you.

No brake and it is nice a gentle to shoot. I do get cratering out of my regular firing pin through. We have been talking about bushing it, but I haven't blown one yet.

Great cartridge.
 
I have 7 1/3 lbs of h4350, new production. Trade ya for the same of varget or h1000. If you're in ontario.

Looks like a nice cartridge btw. How do you make the brass?
 
Went out to try some CCI450 primers today. Was a bit rainy and foggy... simulates mirage nicely, lol!



Still grouped pretty good.

 
I really want to see what it can do in calm conditions. Haven't played with seating depth yet since the wind has always been blowing since I chambered it. The pitfall of getting a new barrel in the fall...
 
I finally "deflowered" my 6x47L today. Did a VLD seating depth test with 38gr of N150. Got cloverleafs at 2.560 and 2.545, so that looks like the sweet spot. Bit more jump then I would've preferred, losing some case capacity, but can't argue with the results. Chronyed in at average of 3110 at -8 C. Load is a little on the warm side, will drop down for the ladder test. BR4s were cratering nicely but easy bolt lift, if that keeps up at lower charges I too will be looking at a bushed firing pin hole. Serves me right for using a factory action....
One thing I am super impressed with is my Benchmark Miller brake. Holy hell this rifle barely recoils at all! The Cadex 2 stage I put in is also really sweet, breaks very cleanly.
Weather looks good for tomorrow, will hit the 600m range.
 
Ill bet that thing is smooth with the brake on it! I dont have a brake at all and absolutely love how gentle it is to shoot! Can spot hits all day, most comfortable rifle I have ever shot. Love my 6x47. Running my Scenars at 10thou jump and I get clover leafs. Shoots into the .3s on a regular basis at 3030fps with H4451.
 
The brake is pretty big, so a couple of the guys at the range were like "whoa, that must be big", to which I sheepishly reply "no, not really....."
 
I really want to see what it can do in calm conditions. Haven't played with seating depth yet since the wind has always been blowing since I chambered it. The pitfall of getting a new barrel in the fall...

might wanna give 35-50 thou off hard engrave a try( but 35 should work very well)...I have 2 and have been shooting the cartridge for a few years now........To say this cartridge is accurate is an understatement....
 
Have you tried it with 115 DTACs and/or 117 VLDs? My plan is to try them throat wears to the point where they won't be seated into the donut area.
 
No I don't think my twist rate would support it( 1-8) but maybe. I have tried 88 bergers fb, 105 vld and 108 BT . All very accurate.For long range I think the 108 BT may be ever so slightly more accurate...
 
Putting aside my misadventure at the range today, I got some interesting results with the ladder test....

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6 shots with different powder charges grouping with 1/2" vertical at 500m!?!?! Oh my...... :rockOn:
 
Probably not, I'll just use this as my winter load as I don't have lots left and need to save it for my 6.5x47L. Hodgdons had a chart on their website for temp sensitivity that had N150 at 50fps between 0 and 125 deg F.
In the meantime I want to find some H4350, burn rate is pretty close.
 
So I got my grubby hands on some H4350, and re-did my ladder. Damn near the same pattern, only 200-240fps slower! Promising node, but 2800fps just doesn't cut it, I could get that out of my old 6BR!
I stopped at 37.8gr, which is about 1-2gr lighter than a typical load with 4350. Don't have much case capacity left, since I am running VLDs and my rifle likes them jumped quite a bit. Will up the charge next time, no pressure signs so far so we will see how far I get. I may need a faster powder.... good thing I have lots of Varget.
Coincidentally, I shot some groups with Varget in my 6.5 based on an old ladder, and got some good results, so N150 might be out the door......
 
You must be pushing them pretty far into the case. I went over 41 gr. with H4350 and the 105 hybrid and wasn't getting any crunch.
 
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