6.5x47 Lapua in AI-AW Teaser Post

Status
Not open for further replies.
Zak Smith

Zak Smith

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
9,174
Location
Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Ok, so it feeds from AW magazines...
D101_3929_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.


Works well with the can...
D101_5637_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.


Or without the can...
D101_5985_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.


I dialed the correction to obtain a 100-yard zero with this load, and thought the first shot was a complete miss. Turns out it was just in the black and invisible through the mirage. Shot #2 was in the exact same hole and I "pulled" #3 right.
D101_6005_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.


The 130 VLD's shoot "OK" too.
D101_6011_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.

Shooting from the bench is lame but essential for load development. After the Steel Safari match is done this weekend, I'll have time to wring it out in the field at long range.

I took some 123gr "plinker" loads to Raton for demo at a meeting, and everyone could easily hit the 10" plate @ 550.
D101_5880_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.

AccurateShooter.com has a blurb here and will be reporting on this project as it progresses.

norcalzak2x600.jpg

Thanks to AccurateShooter.com, Satern Barrels, GA Precision, and Lapua.


What makes this interesting is I have a virtually identical setup in 260REM--

D100_3236_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.

The difference is that the 260REM barrel is lighter (med palma - same as AI 26" 308 AW barrel), 26" (vs. 25.3" on the 6.5x47). I'm still waiting on my second 3-12x50mm PMII, so I'm "making do" with a 5-25x56mm stolen off the 338 Lapua for now. George did both the 260REM barrel and the 6.5x47 barrel.

The 260REM also shoots bugholes---

D101_5940_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.

I can't say which is better, yet. The idea of this experiment is to work up the 6.5x47 with a load appropriate for the long-range field games, and then shoot both rifles side by side at matches, with different shooters, etc, and see what differences arise.

I am still developing loads for the 6.5x47, but I think it is safe to say that velocities achievable with the same bullets in the AW rifle will be within 30-50fps of each other, or may even end up basically identical.

The 260 is going with me to the Steel Safari this weekend, just because it's totally sorted out and has been delivering for a year. The answer I give in 3 or 4 months should be interesting.

-z
 
they were nice guns for sure. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting both at Raton.

so zak, my prediction is that the 6.5x47 wins this little contest of yours, and that you wind up rebarreling the 260rem this winter to something with the distance to hit that 2000 yrd plate.
 
taliv,

Turns out that load I was shooting at the 2000 yard plate was going subsonic around 1700. If I would have brought the 338, it would have still been supersonic at 2000 and needed about 20 mils to get there....

I don't know if anything I could fit in that short action would make it to 2000....

-z
 
Zak you suck.... :neener:

Those are some nice guns... would love to have one.

BTW the bullets on the 6.5 seem pretty long... are they a custom job? I know nothing about the 6.5 caliber...
 
guess you'll have to sell it then *cough* *cough*

:)


so what dope did you have on it when we were shooting?
any guess as to how far off we were? maybe another 20-30 feet?
 
I truly wish that I had the time, resources, and places to shoot the distances you guys had....man it sounds cool
 
afy,

Here is a photo of four LR bullets, left to right: .30 175 SMK, 6.5mm 139gr Lapua, .30 .210gr Berger, .338 250gr Lapua.
D100_9642_imgwb.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.

taliv,

If it kept tracking, we should have needed about 25 mils, but it might also have just fallen out of the sky when it went trans-sonic. I probably tried about 22 first and we saw nothing.

-z
 
Gorgeous. Did I read correctly that it's a Satern barrel? What's the twist?

I'm curious: Why even consider a switch from the .260? Hoping for some technical improvement? Or simply bored? ;)

John
 
Satern barrel, I think it's 8.5 twist.

I'm pretty happy with the 260REM. My load is very accurate (per photo), very consistent through different conditions/temps (measured less than 10fps change for 90F change), and the gun has been rock solid for a year.

If there were some better factory brass available for the 260, that would be great. Right now I am still necking up and turning Lapua 243WIN brass for my 260 loads. I have around 500 pieces formed, which is a reasonable number. There are just a few loads that most people use and seem to work well in most of the barrels.

Since the opportunity kind of fell into my lap (thanks mainly to AccurateShooter.com), I figured why not shoot 6.5x47 instead of 308 in my second gun for a while. If it turns out to offer no advantage, I can screw the 308 barrel on and be back in business. If it works the same as 260, I'll have two guns ballistically equivalent. If it works out better due to a converge of factors, then I'll consider rebarrelling the 260 to 6.5 when its barrel is dead (it should be at around 50% done based on round count at this point-- 1 year in).

Anyway, it's giving me something to do after work. ;)
 
Nosler Custom Brass

Zak,
I've been looking at a 6.5 of some type for a year or so.....mainly as a hunting gun. I've wanted a 260, but like you, have been concerned about brass. Have you tried Nosler Custom's 260 brass yet?
 
I haven't, mainly because it is super expensive (more even than Lapua 243/308). Winchester is supposed to be coming out with brass this year. Many people are using R-P .260 brass and have good luck with it. I did not (and neither did another local shooter). You can neck anything in the 308 family to 260 and use it- some combinations of brass and chamber neck dimensions might require neck turning. I am currently using Lapua 243 brass necked up.
 
As an aside, why are there no high-BC bullets for .257 caliber? 6mm and 6.5mm seem to get all the love.
 
Great article Zak...the creedmore seems to do for rifles what the 45 GAP did for the handgun community...replicates, almost, an exsisting round. But who knows wierder things have thrived in the shooting world I guess. Thanks for that!
 
Percy I've wondered the same thing. The lack of bullet selection for .257 has forced me to build my target rifle in 6.5x47. The brass and bullets got here this morning. The barrel dies and go gauge should be here this afternoon. I should be shooting it by sunday.
 
I love the 6.5 bullets. They look like brass ice-picks.

I'm partial to the original 6.5x55mm, myself. I know it's not optimal anymore with the 260s and 6.5x47s around, but I like it's history. Plus it comes in a beautiful Swedish Mauser. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Zak Smith
  • Locked
Photos from May 2009 Sporting Rifle Match in Raton
Replies
1
Views
277
sarduy
sarduy
Zak Smith
  • Locked
First rounds from the Accuracy International AW50
Replies
13
Views
1K
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
D
C
  • Locked
Cartridge and reamer choice for LR hunting rig
Replies
20
Views
2K
DRYHUMOR
D
Zak Smith
  • Locked
Finally a 7mm: AI-AWSM in 7mm Remington Magnum
Replies
5
Views
6K
240SX
2
Zak Smith
  • Locked
Accuracy International AW in 260 Rem (PICS)
2
Replies
26
Views
14K
Zak Smith
Zak Smith
Back
Top