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Sako 6PPC sporter, repeater - rusted barrel, what to do.

nakneker

Gold $$ Contributor
One of my favorite Sako rifles is their limited offerings in 6PPC and 22PPC, the single shot bull barrels are neat but I really enjoy the sporter barreled repeaters. I bought a 6PPC and a 22PPC a few years ago, my brother kept lusting after them and I gave him one I found on gunbroker as a gift a couple years ago after seeing how much he liked them. The rifle looked pristine but as soon as I ran a cleaning rod 6 inches down the barrel I knew we had problem. When the patch exited the muzzle it was brown, rust brown. A few more patches and strokes and it was apparent it was badly rusted. I reached back out to the seller who was disappointed he didn’t catch it and I offered to keep it if he would give me a 300.00 credit for a new barrel. He was happy with that and even though it doesn’t cover the cost of a new barrel much less the labor, I was happy enough too. I then started working the rust out of the barrel the best I could, worked a week on it between soakings and cleanings. Finally took it out to 100 yards and shot the same load I shoot out of my other 6PPC Sako and got groups that were .75 MOA, not terrible but certainly not good for that rifle. Played around with loads but couldn’t do much better than .75 - My brother has kept it the past couple of years with the idea the company (he works with me) would send it off and get a new barrel, same profile installed but I could tell he was bummed about the whole thing so I’ve been waiting to find another one. Found one yesterday on gunbroker with 24 hours left to bid, ended up buying it this morning, price was right, it is suppose to be unfired or 99.9% at the very least. I called my brother and told him I had another rifle inbound and I would trade him back for the rusty barreled rifle. He was gracious, didn’t really want to accept but he did and I could tell he was happy.


So now I have this extra Sako 6PPC sprorter barreled repeater, I already have a 6PPC and a 22PPC in identical rifles so I’m either going to sell this one at a discount or rebarrel it. I’m thinking about just keeping it and installing a 20PPC barrel, same profile. It will kill all collector value to rebarrel it but that’s shot anyways with the history of the rifle. The action and exposed metal are pristine. I’d love to know the history on how it got like it did, I’m guessing someone used something they shouldn’t have to clean, put it back in the safe and years later it was done.

What would you do? If you suggest a new barrel, what cartridge would you do, keep in mind it’s a PPC so your somewhat limited.

Edit; the other idea that I think would be fun for this rifle is something with the small PPC case and heavier bullets, bigger caliber, surpressed.
 
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I like your .20 idea. Or maybe a 7.62x39... rifle known for accuracy chambered in a cartridge that isn't. Sorta like a sacrilege type build...
 
One of my favorite Sako rifles is their limited offerings in 6PPC and 22PPC, the single shot bull barrels are neat but I really enjoy the sporter barreled repeaters. I bought a 6PPC and a 22PPC a few years ago, my brother kept lusting after them and I gave him one I found on gunbroker as a gift a couple years ago after seeing how much he liked them. The rifle looked pristine but as soon as I ran a cleaning rod 6 inches down the barrel I knew we had problem. When the patch exited the muzzle it was brown, rust brown. A few more patches and strokes and it was apparent it was badly rusted. I reached back out to the seller who was disappointed he didn’t catch it and I offered to keep it if he would give me a 300.00 credit for a new barrel. He was happy with that and even though it doesn’t cover the cost of a new barrel much less the labor, I was happy enough too. I then started working the rust out of the barrel the best I could, worked a week on it between soakings and cleanings. Finally took it out to 100 yards and shot the same load I shoot out of my other 6PPC Sako and got groups that were .75 MOA, not terrible but certainly not good for that rifle. Played around with loads but couldn’t do much better than .75 - My brother has kept it the past couple of years with the idea the company (he works with me) would send it off and get a new barrel, same profile installed but I could tell he was bummed about the whole thing so I’ve been waiting to find another one. Found one yesterday on gunbroker with 24 hours left to bid, ended up buying it this morning, price was right, it is suppose to be unfired or 99.9% at the very least. I called my brother and told him I had another rifle inbound and I would trade him back for the rusty barreled rifle. He was gracious, didn’t really want to accept but he did and I could tell he was happy.


So now I have this extra Sako 6PPC sprorter barreled repeater, I already have a 6PPC and a 22PPC in identical rifles so I’m either going to sell this one at a discount or rebarrel it. I’m thinking about just keeping it and installing a 20PPC barrel, same profile. It will kill all collector value to rebarrel it but that’s shot anyways with the history of the rifle. The action and exposed metal are pristine. I’d love to know the history on how it got like it did, I’m guessing someone used something they shouldn’t have to clean, put it back in the safe and years later it was done.

What would you do? If you suggest a new barrel, what cartridge would you do, keep in mind it’s a PPC so your somewhat limited.

Edit; the other idea that I think would be fun for this rifle is something with the small PPC case and heavier bullets, bigger caliber, surpressed.
I havent seen a sako bolt so could that bolt be opened to 308 case base size?? Then you could make it to a 6br or lots of other cartridges
 
Grendel or siblings?
Grendel would be fun, suppressed, and would work great in that action. Looking for brass it’s pretty apparent Lapua is hard to find, lots of Starline and Nosler. I wouldn’t be pushing the brass shooting surpressed so maybe that’s not a big deal.
I like your .20 idea. Or maybe a 7.62x39... rifle known for accuracy chambered in a cartridge that isn't. Sorta like a sacrilege type build...
The .20 is definitely a fun choice, not sure I could do a 7.62x39 in that rifle, sacrilege is a good work choice - it would be kind of fun though, probably shoot too.
 
I havent seen a sako bolt so could that bolt be opened to 308 case base size?? Then you could make it to a 6br or lots of other cartridges
I have the 6BR variants covered, otherwise I think that would be a good way to go. I’m kind of leaning towards the Grendel, I think it would fun to with surpressor and a guy could get away with a shorter barrel if he went that route.
 
I'd rebarrel it with the same caliber and barrel contour it has now or the 22PPC. We all know the PPC is magic. You have the right bolt and magazine for it. Why change?

Afterward, your brother will want it back.
+1^^^^^ exactly. Get a great gunsmith to rebarrel it to a 22 or 6 PPC . You'll be glad you did at some point. JMHO. WD
 
I'd rebarrel it with the same caliber and barrel contour it has now or the 22PPC. We all know the PPC is magic. You have the right bolt and magazine for it. Why change?

Afterward, your brother will want it back.
If I didn’t already have one I would, now he has one too. I’ll definitely go back with the same contour and something that will feed reliably out of the action.
 
I’d do a 6.5 Grendel. Neat little performer. I bought one of the Howa minis and like it.
I think this where I’m headed. Wish I could get my hands in some Lapua brass but I can make do with starline or something else, not a deal breaker. I know I’m repeating myself but I think it would be a neat rifle, surpressed.

Just listed a WTB Lapua grendel brass, it’s a long shot but if I can find that brass it’ll make the decision easier.
 
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I think this where I’m headed. Wish I could get my hands in some Lapua brass but I can make do with starline or something else, not a deal breaker. I know I’m repeating myself but I think it would be a neat rifle, surpressed.

Just listed a WTB Lapua grendel brass, it’s a long shot but if I can find that brass it’ll make the decision easier.
Let me check my closet…..
 
Ok, I have Hornady loaded up and a new 100 bag of Starline. No Lapua. The Lapua I thought I had is 7.62-39, not 6.5 Grendel.
 
Check the overall length of your planned cartridge- Sako did a number of action sizes and the 243Win was the next larger action and that aligns with a 6BR. Also the bolt is more slender and the lugs are smaller so another reason to not upsize at all.

I like the 20ppc or 22ppc suggestion. I have a rebarreled 6PPC A1 and it’s nice to be able to touch the lands with ease.

David
 

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