Changing directions with rifle build

[MarshallDodge]

This all started in this thread and thanks to taliv and all the folks that responded. This thread is an update to that one.

My gunsmith got bogged down at his real job which gave me some time to reconsider my decisions to go with a 243. My main reason for going that route is that I already had dies and brass for 243 and with the shortage of components in the spring, I thought it may be easier to go that route. After doing more research and speaking with some local long range shooters, and seeing components becoming readily available again, I have decided to switch to a different caliber. My action is the only part that the gunsmith has completed so far and when I called him a couple weeks ago about my thoughts to change to 6.5x47 Lapua, he said no problem. It also helped that he tried to point me in this direction in the first place.

I placed an order for some Lapua brass and it came in on Monday. When I opened the box I was at what I held in my hand. Lapua brass is just plain beautiful.

Now for the wait to get my rifle completed...

 

[USSR]

Lapua brass is just plain beautiful.

Yep! One of the reasons all my match rifles (6.5x55 and .30-06) use them.

Don

 

[taliv]

awesome...


and if you like lapua brass because it LOOKS good, just wait until you weigh it. go weigh 20 pieces of it and 20 pieces of any other brass you have and calculate the max/min and std dev

 

[brian923]

Nice choice. I was going to go that route but ended up choosing 6.5x55 swede. No reason why, but it is a vz-24 build so I figured it would fit quite well. Plus the swede is lapuas cheapest brass I've been contemplating replacing my 308 winchester with either a 6.5x 47 or a 6mm br... only time will tell. Please keep us updated with pics and reports!

 

[pdd614]

I've been shooting the 6.5x47 little lapua since 2009. You are going to love it.

 

[StrawHat]

...My gunsmith got bogged down at his real job...

In my opinion, that is a major red flag!

 

[Sunray]

"...Lapua brass is..." For the money demanded for it, it should glow in the dark and come when it's called. That stuff looks like it missed the factory polishing too. Not that that's a big deal.
Like StrawHat says, a part time smithy would have me concerned. Mind you, full time smithy's are very busy guys. A build can take more than a year.

 

[USSR]

"...Lapua brass is..." For the money demanded for it, it should glow in the dark and come when it's called.

Sunray,

The bullets all seem to go where they are sent. Not much more that you can ask for from brass.

Don

 

[Walkalong]

and come when it's called.

Yours doesn't?


Yep, beautiful cases.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I was thinking pretty hard about either a long action 243 or the 6.5-47 also. I found a 28" 260 barrel blank and went that route. I'm enjoying it so far.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Nice looking gun. Who makes the stock?

 

[brian923]

Looks like a micmillan. But I might be wrong.

 

[dubbleA]

Nice looking gun. Who makes the stock?

It's made by Choate and it's their "tactical" model.

I have had one on a beater savage for several years, it's the one in the middle.

 

[stubbicatt]

Yep. My F Open rig is 6.5x47 Lapua. It is nearing completion.

Yesterday I did the neck turning on 99 cases. Today I will put together about 10 cartridges for pressure testing w/ 136 Scenars and RL17 and another 10 for VV N550. I *may* put up another 8 or so with 120 grain Scenars and RL 15.

It has been a long time coming.

I figure maybe early Spring next year I'll be able to fire the first shot.

OP: I hope we are each one happy with these choices. I have read nothing but good reports about this round. Apparently like the 6BR it is easy to find an outstanding load, and bullets are plentiful, at least as compared to the 223 or 308 offerings. I really like the Whidden dies, and would recommend them to you if you haven't yet purchased dies.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Update:

Lapua brass is still awesome.

With reloading components difficult to come by right now, my powder selection is limited. H4350 and RL15 are supposed to be the powder for this cartridge but since they are almost unobtanium, I have been trying Varget, Benchmark, and Vit N550. Last weekend I was able to get my hands on a pound of RL15 but have not been able to test it as of yet.

Initial 100 yard groups with 123 SMK and Hodgdon Varget:

I put five shots on the left target. First shot was the right hole and then a cease fire was called, next four shots were the group in the middle, and the far right holes were from someone getting carried away with their AR.

After some break-in and trying Benchmark at 100. Top group is cold bore, one below it is the next three shots.

I typically like to shot at least 5-shots to consider a group to be accurate but with limited resources I have been shooting 3-shot groups.

This last weekend I had the opportunity to shoot out to 900 yards. Performance past 700 was decent but velocity is only at 2700 FPS right now. With the correct powder and more testing I should be able to hit 2950 FPS without stressing anything.

Looking out over the long distance range:

The white targets in the distance are quite large, around 4x4', the targets we were shooting are between 10-20"

 

[taliv]

awesome shooting! and what a great place to shoot. is that raton?

 

[MarshallDodge]

Location is at a private range in southern Utah. They occasionally hold long range competitions there but this weekend was mainly for fun.