Analysis: 6.5x47 and 6x47 Lapua - Inside MDT

Unless you're a competitor or well-versed in precision rifle cartridges, the Lapua X47 family might be unknown to you. To understand it properly, we should start from its inception.

In 2007 Finnish ammunition manufacturer Lapua (most notably known for the .338 Lapua Magnum, shout out to Chris Kyle) set out to design a competition-focused cartridge. They enlisted the help of Swiss rifle manufacturer Grünig + Elmiger AG. They designed a 6.5mm case with dimensions optimized for long target bullets to shoot distances from 300 to 1000 yards. This cartridge would be called the 6.5mm x 47 Lapua, more commonly known as 6.5x47.

6.5 x47 OFFSPRING

Soon after, like all good 6.5mm cartridges, shooters began necking it down to 6mm. This would originally be known as the 6-6.5x47 Lapua to avoid confusion with the 6x47 Swiss Match. It would be known by a few different unofficial names, but currently most commonly as the 6x47 Lapua and 6x47. This wildcat would have some early issues due to neck tension, leading to end-users having to turn their necks down. Reamer designers, namely PTG's Dave Kiff, would eventually remedy this.

.223 AI, 6x47, 6.5x47, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308.

Another wildcat of the wildcat is the 6-6.5x47 Lapua Improved, also known as the 6x47 Long Dasher. This takes the 30° shoulder and pushes it forward to 40°, making it look like a stretched-out 6mm Dasher, hence the moniker. A few wild men decided to make a 7x47, but that's less prevalent. 6GT also originally used 6.5x47 as a parent case. Forming your own GT brass requires resizing, neck-turning, and trimming. Fortunately, the GT has become such a mainstay that it's now a SAAMI-approved cartridge, and brass is readily available. If you want my thoughts on 6GT, you can read about it here.

6MM GT RESOURCES FROM MDT

• Building a 6mm GT for Competition
• Loading 6GT with Hodgdon H4350
• Ultimate Reloader 6GT Precision: From Reloading to 1000 Yards

THE WHY?

You might ask, "What makes this more special than the Creedmoor class?" Well, a few physical design features lead to some intangibles. First off, there is a longer neck. This means there's more bearing surface for those longer target bullets. Next, the small primer pockets and reduced primer vent hole lead to higher case pressures. Higher pressures lead to faster velocities and flatter trajectories with less powder. Less powder burning means more barrel life and less recoil.

These design features make the 6.5mm and 6mm variants insanely easy to load. Take a good 120-140 grain or 105-110 grain bullets for 6.5mm and 6mm, respectively, and throw it in front of some Varget or H4350 in there, and you'll be shooting tight groups.

6.5 CREEDMOOR VS 6.5 PRC VS 6.5x47 LAPUA

One might wonder how this stacks up against other popular 6.5mm cartridges: 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC. This will play out like a Venn diagram. 6.5x47 and 6.5 PRC play the two circles as the competition and hunting specialty rounds, respectively. The Creedmoor finds itself as the overlap. 6.5 Creedmoor seems like the "jack of all trades, master of none." Can you compete with it? Sure. Does it shoot small groups? Sure. Is it easy to load? Sure. However, the x47 outperforms it in nearly every aspect and offers more barrel life. Likewise, the PRC is a magnum case that will shoot a heavier projectile faster. That means more energy and stopping power, outperforming the Creedmoor in medium to big game applications.

6.5x47 Lapua. MDT ACC Elite Chassis System.

6.5x47 LAPUA CONSIDERATIONS

With all these 'pros,' are there any 'cons'? If you aren't a handloader, yes. Lapua is the only ammunition manufacturer producing factory loads for the 6.5x47. If you're going that route, expect to be shelling (pun intended) out roughly $4.50 each time you squeeze the trigger.

Naturally, the 6x47 being a wildcat means you must load your own. Typically speaking, you'd have to neck down 6.5x47 brass as well. Peterson produces 6x47 brass offerings, but it's made in small batches and is rarely in stock.

Where it all started. My first 6.5x47 Lapua rifle. MDT ESS Chassis Systems.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

The 6.5x47 and 6x47 Lapua are nostalgic for me. A whopping three years ago, these cartridges were my introduction to semi-custom competition rifles; it's what I began to compete with. My first competition was with a 6.5x47 before I had a 6x47 built to finish my first PRS season. It's also where I began to hone my handloading process.

I eventually moved onto 6GT because it was the new hotness at the time, and still is. However, while waiting for a 6mm barrel for my new competition build this past winter, I decided to play around with 6.5x47 again. After being inspired by Bryan Litz and RelaodingAllDay, I did a ton of load development and dispersion testing. It was very eye-opening, but that's a rabbit hole for another day.

Moreover, I recently picked up a couple of pounds of Reloder (not a spelling error, that's how Alliant spells it) TS 15.5. It's a new temperature-stable powder with a burn rate that falls right in Varget and H4350. That seemed very convenient for the x47 class. This week I decided to take my original 6x47 barrel, adjust the tennon and chamber to fit my Curtis Custom Valor PRS build and do some preliminary testing.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only; all load data is for my rifle specifically. Before loading your ammo, reference published load data from bullet and powder manufacturers.

There isn't any published load data for TS 15.5 and 6x47, so I decided to take a charge right between the Varget and H4350 load data and load up 30 rounds using 105-grain Lapua Scenar-L. This test was twofold: break in the chamber and see if this was worth exploring more. Here are the results:

Note: I forgot a rear bag and used a balled-up hoodie as rear support that day. I would not recommend it.Either way, the results blew me away. I will be doing a full load development and reporting back.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Both offerings have a ton to offer. Whether you're a tinkering handloader who likes shooting small groups or a high-level competitor, this cartridge deserves a look. If you're a TL;DR (too long, didn't read) type of reader, They're inherently precise, light-recoiling cartridges that are insanely easy to load for. They aren't barrel burners, and they shoot flat. You will just need to handload. Thanks for reading; get out there and shoot. Until next time.

CALIBER RESOURCES FROM MDT

• Is the 308 Winchester Still Relevant?
• Analysis: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Why All The Hate For The 30-06
• Loading 6MM ARC And .223 REMINGTON with A Dillon Progressive Press
• Hornady 6MM ARC For Competition
• Analysis: 6MM BR NORMA
• Fire Forming and Loading 223 AI
• Loading 6GT with Hodgdon H4350
• 270 Winchester and Colorado Elk
• 6mm GT Load Development
• Capable And Versatile: A Close look at the 6.5X55 Swedish

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Maxwell served in the United States Army. After returning from his first deployment in 2015, he started building firearms and focused heavily on pistol and carbine training. In 2018 he fell into the rabbit hole of precision rifle shooting. He spends his free time competing, reloading, editing digital content, and writing. He can be reached via Instagram @maddmaxxguns.