Mild 7mm verses the hot 6's

[Brad Y]

I never chronographed it but with 130 bergers and 37.5gr of 2208 I reckon it must have been around 2900fps. When the 308's at our queens were shooting 900yds they had 10 minutes of wind on. While I didnt have a known no wind zero I believe I had 5.5-6 minutes of wind on.

[AlanF]

I'm told the 6.5x47 can be run faster than 2800fps with 140gn Hybrids - these have the same G7 BC as the 168gn VLDs. An important advantage of the 6.5x47 is the small primer pocket - it means you can run them at higher pressures before the head expands.

Alan

[Brad Y]

Yes I think with RL17 it can run up around the 3000fps mark if you can master the temperature sensitivity of that powder. That puts it in 6.5x284 territory.

Trouble is not many people have much luck with RL17 and those that do seem to be from USA. Must be a different climate to here.

Best sticking to domestic powders and using 2208 or 2209 for that calibre I reckon. I didnt play much with 2209 but the one load I tried was a 59.4 that was half a minute better in elevation than 37.5, but just didnt have the X count nor was it as flat. With some tuning, possibly it could have been better.

[AlanF]

Brad,

It was 2208, 2900fps (Oehler) and accurate. Probably a fast barrel, but it shows what is achievable.

Alan

[Brad Y]

Definitely. So long as you are getting the advantage in drift its worth it since we shoot known ranges. I have a box of 140 VLD's and 140 hybrids here for the 260 wildcat when its ready. Shame i didnt have any to try in the mates 6.5x47L at the time. The hybrids are an awesome looking pill.