I'm still umming and aahing over whether to build a 6x47. The idea was to have a lighter rifle that was quieter and had less recoil to be used on small deer with 80/90gr bullets but also on fallow in the rain with 100gr RN. UK law being what it is it has to be capable of 1700ftlbs with some weight bullet.

The quick load data shows 2990fps for a 90gr ballistic tip at 58,000psi and COL 2.7"

My questions are:-

Is quickload generaly about on the money?

Is 58kpsi a pleasant place to be?

What is the normal redline for 222rem mag and 223?

Is a 58kpsi 90gr load using 28gr of powder going to be much quieter than a low pressure 6.5x55 load 100gr ballistic tip using 40gr of powder?

Is a 22gr load of IMR 4227 going to be much quieter than a 28gr load of IMR 3031 (both max loads in 6x47)?

Am I going to notice much difference in recoil with a 6x47 weighing a pound less than my 6.5x55 but shooting a bullet weighing 10gr less with half the powder (22 vs 40) but at more or less the same speeds?

Am I going mad or is this the onset of ballisticus obbsessionalicus?

I do not want to build this rifle unless it recoils appreciably less and is appreciably quieter than my 6.5x55.

I suspect that a 6 x 47 or 6 x 45 will be a little quieter and recoil a little less than your 6.5 x 55. Appreciably? You'll have to be the judge.

The difference in case capacity is what will make the most difference in these two factors. As for 4227 vs. 3031, yes, maybe a little quieter, but not much. The amount of powder burned and the amount of gas exiting the muzzle is what makes muzzle blast, and the advantage certainly goes to the smaller case.

58,000 psi is above standards for commercial loadings in the .222 family, but in my experience, will give you no trouble.

I had a .25 Copperhead (?) which was the standard .222 mag case necked up to .257" in a Sako Vixen 25 years ago. Chronographs were still expensive at the time and none of my rifle nut friends even had one that I could borrow. So I have no idea what kind of velocity it gave me.

I shot nothing but 75 grain hornady's out of it with either IMR4198 or IMR 3031 if I remeber correctly. It surely was hell on coyotes and rockchucks too. Never shot any deer or antelope with it as I traded it off. Recoil with the 75's was very mild, barely enought to take the scope off of the target at the shot. It was not exactly quiet though, about as noisy as a .250 Savage or a .30-30........ IMHO anyway. I remember wearing a headset when I shot it, so it couldn't have been all that quiet.
My old Speer #10 manual shows the 6x47 shooting 75 grain bullets at 2900-3000 fps and 90's at 2500-2700 fps. Should certainly be enough to take smallish deer and antelope.
I occasionally see .222 Rem mag cases and I understand they are still being produced. I would give a 6x47 a try, sounds like an interesting project to me.

Frank N.

I find that in some cartridges the Quickload program seems to be very close, and in some not quite as close, but usually in the ballpark. You will find that QL does allow for some higher than Sammi specs for the parent cartridge with some of the wildcats.

For a light deer rifle I went with the 6x45 (6mm-223) and the 75 gr. Barnes X...It will normally shoot through a Mule deer lenth wise. Kills exceptionally well, but like all of the ones mentioned does not always leave a good blood trail, this includes the 243 and 244 Rem......any 22 or 6MM.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com