Reloading for 6x47LAP

[SnipeWench]

AusVarminters,

I have acquired a 6x47LAP off TrevorT, and am needing some "special sauce" to base the reloading off.

I currently have stock of AR2208 and AR2213SC. But my problem is that 6x47LAP isn't mentioned in the ADI handbook for these powders. So how do I start with these powders?

I have the OAL and everything else, just need to have an idea as to how much powder to use. I'll need to fireform these Lapua cases, so a min powder load would be nice, and then I'll work up from there.

Am planning to use the CCI BR4 primers, 6.5x47LAP cases necked down to 6x47LAP, and Berger 105VLD's.

So, for the 6x47LAP benchrest rifle, what are your special sauce ingredients and quantities?

- bec

[Tony Z]

Hi Bec, i have had a couple of these in the past. With the 103 to 107 range of pills, i found the best consistency with AR 2209 where both 2208 and 2213 were a little elusive or miss matched to this cartridge. Me and many others are going to recommend 2209. Start with 34 grains and work up in half grain increments looking for nice flat groups. From my test sessions i found the first accuracy node was at something around 36 grains and from a total elevation and bullet BC interpolation i calculated a velocity of 3050 fps. The second node was not possible for me because i was hurting the cases at anything over 37.5 grains. Some people go well beyond this to the second node and approach 38+ grains, but for me the option was not worth the constant need to replace brass and more importantly the accuracy was inconsistent in both barrels. One good group/score does not make an accurate rifle, it is the aggregate.
If you continue to see vertical at range, the first thing i would suggest is side stepping the rather cool BR4s and use the CCI 450 magnum primer. This is what i used in my Lapua 6.5 x 47 based brass before i opted to go to formed down 308 brass and the 210M LR primer.

Just to add, from the results seen by many shooters in both FClass and 1K, a bullet well worth trying is the 103 Copperhead made here in Australia by Ken Melgaard. By my calculations, this bullet has a real world BC of very near identical to the Clinch Rivers i have at 0.560. A full 3 minutes flatter than SMKs at a 1000 yards. They need sorting, like they all do, but the reward is worth the work.

[juzz338]

As Tony said try 2209 but did trev not give you a load? i would imagine he would know what it likes!

[adamjp]

I don't want to sidetrack this too much, but....

What kind of velocities are expected from a 24in barreled 6x47 Lap with 107/108gn bullets?

I ask because a certain 6mmBR I am familiar with gets 3050fps with a 22in barrel and 30.5gn AR2208.

[JasonF]

...what i used in my Lapua 6.5 x 47 based brass before i opted to go to formed down 308 brass and the 210M LR primer...

Tony - How do you go about forming the cases? Do you need any special dies or will a FLS dies get it done?

Bec - all the research I have done for my upcoming 6x47L suggests that Tony's advice about 2209 is on the money.

Cheers, Jason

[trevort]

As Tony said try 2209 but did trev not give you a load? i would imagine he would know what it likes!

I did, 38.8gns of 2209 are in the few rounds I gave you. Nothing changes with the case except the neck. There is no serious fireforming requiring reduced loads.

I did PM you the ladder test

[Tony Z]

Jason, years ago i made a set of dies for forming many of the wildcats i have played with like the 6x47. I would suggest the best way would be to get a shortened 308 die or a 30BR FL die preferably and take the shoulder back. Then progressively come down on the neck, 7 mm, 25 then finally with the 6x47 FL die. Then cut, trim and neck turn as the neck will be quite thicker than Lap 6.5x47 brass formed down is. It may be possible to come down with just the 6x47 die, but i have no experience with that.

[Ned Kelly]

G'Day all,
get some lapua 6.5x47mm brass, use a forster FLS die to resize in one pass, to have a slight crush fit in your chamber.

107gn Moly coated SMK's, jammed 10 thou into the rifling, CCI450 primers and 2209, 36gns was a bit soft in my Hall and Stolle, Hall top end accuracy node at 39.5gn 2209, the stolle top end accuracy node of 41.5gn 2209. Probably find max loads a fair bit lower for factory actions i.e. Rem700, Savage, Sako etc. Next bullets to test are the Berger 108gns and 103gn copperheads

I used 6-250 load data as a starting point but any 243 load data should also work.
After fire forming, I use redding type s FLS dies and their competition shellholders to bump shoulder about 2 thou.

Superbly accurate round, easy to form, easy to tune and shoots like a 6ppc.

Hope this helps

Cheerio Ned

[JasonF]

Thanks Tony. I will be using the 6.5x47L brass for my rifle, but want to form a few from 243 brass to make a Hornady modified case and some dummy cartridges. MISSED and I did one using a Forster FLS die and it worked ok, but the shoulder was lightly crinkled (technical term) all the way around. I might try annealing the case first.

Bec - keep us informed on your load development in the Savage.

Cheers, Jason.

[SnipeWench]

From all the comments above, it looks like I need to get some 2209!

[JasonF]

I don't want to sidetrack this too much, but....

What kind of velocities are expected from a 24in barreled 6x47 Lap with 107/108gn bullets?

I ask because a certain 6mmBR I am familiar with gets 3050fps with a 22in barrel and 30.5gn AR2208.

That BR is doing well to get those velocities. Here is an interesting article comparing the BR, BRX and 6x47L using successive chambering of the same barrels: http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek073.html

[MISSED]

Bec give yourself a surprise by trying some 67grn Copperheads or 75 grn v-max`s with your 2208 may not be the condidered best BC for long range but for anything up to 600m they work very well.

Jason I read that article a while back a very good read I thought.

[juzz338]

JasonF have never fired one off but whilst waiting for brass i did size some 22/250 brass up. it would have held together well enough to fire once to make a modified case out of. Can not remember if i had to trim it or not and where i read the idea from but it was easy enough. Bec as has been said no fireforming required, size with fl die load the damn thing up and shoot it.

[dg]

during 2009,as an experiment with the 6x47 lapua, to try and remove unpredictable vertical at 1000yds, i wasted about 2 weeks of time reforming 250 savage cases and also machining the primer pockets and some flash holes out to LR size on the standard 6x47 lap cases.

then, spent another few weeks trying 2209/2213 in the new case configurations.(also a waste of time)

the conclusion reached, was that the fault lay with the barrel and not the cases/ 2209/2213 loads/flash holes or primer pockets

a few samples of the modified and standard cases are shown below



however i still have faith and hope in the 6x47 lapua calibre and intend to try out a new kreiger asap.

cheers
dave g

[Ned Kelly]

G'day all,
I've had 2 6x47 lapua barrels, 1st on a Hall S action was an ex 6ppc 1:8T re-chambered Maddco, shot very, very well, 2nd is a Krieger on a Stolle panda shoots brilliantly, was it the barrel? I dont know, I do know I do prefer new barrels over re-chambers, however I've seen enough Kriegers shoot exceptionaly well in SR BR and LR to put them at the top of my wish list.

I've also had a few great maddcos and 1 great Shilen in 6ppc. As hard as it might seem, if the barrel is NOT shooting as you expect it should, get another barrel before you waste 2-3000 rounds; it is far better to off load it for a tack hole varminter after 2-300rds than try to make a silk purse out of a sows ear................

To just keep trying and waste powder, primers and match (sometimes hand made) bullets is criminal in load developemnt or competition; lets face it, you are not going to be very happy, confidence drops as you perservere and you go nowhere fast. The barrel might not be good enough for competition but remember if you sell it to fund another barrel, some very lucky varmint shooter will thank you for the rest of his "new" barrels life for boring regularity in wacking pests!

Unfortunately, competition standards today are forcing shooters to think this way, if the gear is not up to scratch, they ruthlessly need to identify the cause and correct it fast if they want to ensure they have the very best chance of reaching their very best performance that their shooting ability can achieve...............

hope this helps,

Cheerio Ned