6 or 6.5x47?

[Hunter2678]

Let me just say that I dont normally do one of these threads because 99% of the time I do alot of background & research work off the grid before I decide on something like this. But in this case Id like to hear from those of you who actually own and shoot one of these cartridges for varmints.

So onto the quick and dirty. Got me a rem 700 SA that Im going to make into a short to midrange varminter (500 and in). Dont want a hot rod cartridge and am thinking of going the 6x47 or 6.5x47 route. Dies should be easy to come by along with top end brass. I dont want a .243 due to the short neck/tapered shoulder,powder usage, dont want a 243ai either. 6SLR is nice but not sure about dies,reamer etc. Id like to keep it under 40gns of powder and I toyed with doing another 22-250 but it was too finicky in the wind for me. I really like 6mms and want something that will still feed great but have more punch, less wind drift, more inherent accuracy while keeping minimal recoil. I did a preliminary search on here but didnt really find much extensive info to help me on finding a good 6.5mm bullet selection compared to the 6mms. Another 6br is my backup plan but Id really like to run this gun as a true repeater (not a single shot) from the factory mag without modding it. Does it sound like Ive already made up my mind? This is a tuffy.

 

[Jud96]

Got a rem 700 SA that Im going to make into a short to midrange varminter (500 and in). Dont want a hot rod cartridge and am thinking of going the 6x47 or 6.5x47 route. I dont want a .243 due to the short neck/tapered shoulder, dont want a 243ai either. 6SLR is nice but not sure about dies,reamer etc. Id like to keep it under 40gns of powder and I toyed with doing another 22-250 but it was too finicky in the wind for me. I really like 6mms and want something that will still feed great but have more punch, less wind drift, more inherent accuracy while keeping minimal recoil. Dies should be easy to come by along with top end brass. I did a preliminary search on here but didnt really find much extensive info to help me on a good 6.5mm bullet selection. Does it sound like Ive already made up my mind?

I too thought of eventually building a short range 6mm to shoot 75gr V-MAXs in. I like the 6mm Remington BR, 6x47, or 6mm-250. The .243 diameter is my favorite for varmints and predators. For my long range shots I use my .243 Winchester, I really like this cartridge and may make it an Ackley one day.

 

[Hunter2678]

Well I think the lack of bullet selection in the 6.5mm compared to the 6mm's have settled me on the 6x47 lapua...it feeds good, has strong brass, I can load it down for shorter range stuff or load it up for longer distance..burns less powder than a 243, uses small rifle primers (I have 7k of those lil fellas, a ton of 6 mm bullets and a good amount of varget, H4350 and RL15) all I need are brass and dies. Anything else I'm forgetting?

 

[Jud96]

Well I think the lack of bullet selection in the 6.5mm compared to the 6mm's have settled me on the 6x47 lapua...it feeds good, has strong brass, I can load it down for shorter range stuff or load it up for longer distance..burns less powder than a 243, uses small rifle primers (I have 7k of those lil fellas, a ton of 6 mm bullets and a good amount of varget, H4350 and RL15) all I need are brass and dies. Anything else I'm forgetting?

Sounds like you've got everything. If you,really wanna conserve powder, look at the 6x45, its a .223 Remington necked up. I believe your choice is a great. Good luck!

 

[RMulhern]

With the 6.5x47Lapua you only need possibly TWO BULLETS; the Sierra 123 gr. or the Berger 130 gr. VLD! Using 39.0 grs. Varget and a BR4 primer this is the most accurate cartridge I've ever fired in 60 years of shooting.....and that's all the way out to 1200 yards! And you don't have to do anything as far as brass prep using Lapua brass; just load and shoot...no neck turning necessary!!

 

[Russ Hatch]

+1
The 6.5 x47 is a great cartridge out to 1200 yds and will have less wind drift than the 6 mms.

 

[flyin lizard]

I have a 6.5 x 47 L in an MOA maximum pistol and love it, woodchucks to 500 yds no problem. This one was 387 with a 95 gr v max.

 

[captacademy]

What is the barrel life like between the 6x47, 6.5x47 and 243. Also, how hard is it to neck down to a 6x47? Do the necks need to be turned?

 

[jghoghunter]

What is the barrel life like between the 6x47, 6.5x47 and 243. Also, how hard is it to neck down to a 6x47? Do the necks need to be turned?

I use a 243 in a bench gun and it lasted for br accuracy 1650 rnds shooting 115 bergers. Rebarreled that rifle to 243 again. I also have a 6x47 shooting 107 smk's but I only have about 500 rnds on it. All you have to do is run them thru a 6x47 sizer die and I had to turn mine because of a tite neck and you are ready to go. As far as bbl life goes I can't believe there will be much difference between the 6x47 and 243 I'm only shooting about 2.5 grains less in the 6 over the 243. I would think the 6.5 should last slightly longer. But I have no experience with 6.5's.