The 6x47 experiment begins.

[kevinbear]

After having a good selection of factory and wildcat 6.5's and 7mm's since 1984 I recently got the 6mm bug, considering the economics and other factors I decided that the 6x47 Remington with a fast twist and long throat would be the best option. I sent a 700 in .223 to Douglas barrels on 5/21 and the UPS guy dropped my new 6x47 on the porch on Tuesday....yea!!! I've managed to collect a good selection of bullets for testing in a month and tried a few this morning. The first shots through the chronograph were some 95 gr. MK's, the best load was 27 gr. of BLC-2 averaging 2664, the second round of testing was with the 105gr. Hornady A-Max's, best load from that came with 26.5 gr. BLC-2 at an even 2650 average and an average deviation of 11.1, nice. The Sierra's on average grouped better but with virgin just formed brass I tend to put more weight on chronograph numbers than groups. Can't wait to try the VLD Bergers.
A few pic's.

[Trent]

Very cool Kevin. Post a close up of a loaded round once you reload your cases.

Props to Douglas for such a fast turn around!

[kevinbear]

A couple of 95 grain Sierra groups. I'm pretty excited when I get groups like this from a portable bench and cheap rest, especially when it's the first few shots out of the gun.

[kevinbear]

I shot some 105 grain Berger VLD hunting bullets this afternoon, little 6mm didn't seem to like them, this might be one of those rifles that only groups well with Sierra MK's. I've always suspected that a preference for a particular brand of bullet is a function of the shape or angle of the rifling leade. The Sierra 107's are the next one's up in the testing process, considering how the 95's grouped they should do well.

[Trent]

Kevin, I am seriously considering getting my first 6mm variant. I think if I do though I'll be going with the 6mm Creedmoor. I love both my 6.5 Creedmoors so why not keep it in the family.

Either that or I am building a straight .284 Winchester. I have a really nice R700 action sitting here and I want something new to play with. Problem is... I don't know what it will be for.

[kevinbear]

I love decisions like that!!!! I too have an extra action, I'm thinking another 7-08 with a 26" magnum contour from Douglas, sort of a long range 7-08. That 5 week turnaround at Douglas is dangerous, I might have to buy another gun safe.

[Snake]

Try a 7-08 improved..40 degree and have it throated .025 longer. The try RL15 and 19....its a superb short action long range combo

[Trent]

If I go 7mm it'll be something with a little more nuts behind it. I love my 7-08s but I want a little more difference between my cartridges than what the improved version provides. If I build a 284win it'll be a dedicated 1000yd gun, and if I go with the 6mm Creedmoor it'll be a 600yd gun and a little 1k when conditions are near perfect .

I was going to do a 6 Dasher but I think the 6 Creedmoor is a better fit for me.

[Trent]

Kevin, I'm still waiting for a close up photo of this new cartridge of yours. Put a couple other cartridges next to it for comparison.

[kevinbear]

Kevin, I'm still waiting for a close up photo of this new cartridge of yours. Put a couple other cartridges next to it for comparison.

Try to get the gun + ammo ready for sunday has me in high gear, I'll see what I can do. Get this, last night I shot a load across the chronograph with a 105 at 2784!!!! That was not a load you could ever shoot routinely because the pressure was over the top but still it's amazing from such a small powder charge.
I have a 7mm SAUM, I'm keen on it's performance for hunting but not so much on the recoil and muzzle blast. The idea with the 7-08 is to be able to shoot it in the annual club tournaments at Ben Lomond and maybe even the dynamite shoot.

[Trent]

How many rounds down the barrel of your 7SAUM? I thought about building one. Shot one of the Army Marksmanship Unit's rifles and it was wicked accurate but I wasn't a huge fan of the sharp recoil impulse. Of course, a 22lb rifle might help with some of that!

[kevinbear]

Trent, probably less than 100 rounds, mine shoots 140 ballistic tips 3100 fps just over 1/2@100m. It's very easy to put 4 shots on a 6" plate at turkeys, my only complaint with it is if you shoot a shot to close to the front shoulder it really ruins meat. What really attracted me to the 7mm SAUM is that it very closely mimics the performance of the 264 WM without the short barrel life{I've smoked the barrels on 3 264's}.

[Trent]

I've heard that about you, that you're a barrel smoker.

[kevinbear]

I've heard that about you, that you're a barrel smoker.

You wish hillbilly Bob!!!

[Jerry G]

If you shoot in real hot weather you might want to re-think the RL powders.