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

[nakneker]

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

I know what you’re saying, makes sense. I‘m gonna post what I have along these lines, PPC and BR Sakos, hopefully it makes my train of thought make more sense. I hunt, have fun shooting and prefer lighter rifles. I didn’t mention it but I have a 20PPC that’s built on a Sako, it’s a 1/11 twist, I shoot 39 grain BKs out of it, it has a very heavy barrel. Great Pdog towns but I find myself shooting it less because it’s heavy. I wish I would have bought some Berger 55 grains when Graf’s recently offer them again, it would make a fast twist 20PPC more appealing but if I went that route I’d probably have more fun with a 20BRA, been watching that thread with interest.

 

[nakneker]

Current Sako PPC/BR line up from top to bottom. Might help understand why I’m thinking a Grendel.

Sako 22PPC factory rifle
Sako 6PPC factory rifle
Sako 30BR built on a 75 - 30BR 1/17 twist, loves 125 TGKs
Sako 6BR set up to shoot 65-80 grainers
Sko 22BR set up for 50-60 grainers
Sako 20PPC, 1/11 Meuller set up for 39 BKs

The grendel would be a good addition - if I could get 55 grain Bergers I’d look at a 20PPC too.

 

[Bill Norris]

Current Sako PPC/BR line up from top to bottom. Might help understand why I’m thinking a Grendel.

Sako 22PPC factory rifle
Sako 6PPC factory rifle
Sako 30BR built on a 75 - 30BR 1/17 twist, loves 125 TGKs
Sako 6BR set up to shoot 65-80 grainers
Sko 22BR set up for 50-60 grainers
Sako 20PPC, 1/11 Meuller set up for 39 BKs

The grendel would be a good addition and if I could get 55 grain bergers I’d look at a 20PPC too.

Very nice collection there Bro. Keep building. LOL.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Have the original barrel bored and rifled to 30 Major. ie 7.62 x 308.

 

[nakneker]

Well, I think this one is decided. 6.5 grendel is it this time, the Lapua brass sealed the deal. I didn’t expect to find it and appreciate a couple of forum members helping me out and a couple more for looking. I think it’ll be fun to shoot suppressed, time to look at some 6.5 grendel threads for load data and suppressors. I appreciate the input, always helping when deciding what to build.

 

[17VLD]

Very nice collection there Bro. Keep building. LOL.

The heck with the rifles, I love that table!
Well I kinda would like the 20 ppc...and I guess the rest of ‘em

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Current Sako PPC/BR line up from top to bottom. Might help understand why I’m thinking a Grendel.

Sako 22PPC factory rifle
Sako 6PPC factory rifle
Sako 30BR built on a 75 - 30BR 1/17 twist, loves 125 TGKs
Sako 6BR set up to shoot 65-80 grainers
Sko 22BR set up for 50-60 grainers
Sako 20PPC, 1/11 Meuller set up for 39 BKs

The grendel would be a good addition - if I could get 55 grain Bergers I’d look at a 20PPC too.

great collection. what are the two most accurate?

 

[6.5 forever]

Current Sako PPC/BR line up from top to bottom. Might help understand why I’m thinking a Grendel.

Sako 22PPC factory rifle
Sako 6PPC factory rifle
Sako 30BR built on a 75 - 30BR 1/17 twist, loves 125 TGKs
Sako 6BR set up to shoot 65-80 grainers
Sko 22BR set up for 50-60 grainers
Sako 20PPC, 1/11 Meuller set up for 39 BKs

The grendel would be a good addition - if I could get 55 grain Bergers I’d look at a 20PPC too.

Wow great collection.

 

[nakneker]

great collection. what are the two most accurate?

The four customs are all very accurate but the two PPC factory rifle hold their own, the 6PPC and the 30BR are probably the two that edge the rest out but not by much. Zack with Old Dominion built the 30BR earlier this year. Originally it was a 6BR, then rechambered to a 6 Dasher but it was dud barrel and would never shoot much better than MOA. I gave up on it, got it out earlier this year and Zack breathed new life into that rifle. I’m hoping he will do the same with this Grendel project, every rifle he’s built for me shoots itty bitty. I’m hoping it’ll be fun rifle.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

The four customs are all very accurate but the two PPC factory rifle hold their own, the 6PPC and the 30BR are probably the two that edge the rest out but not by much. Zack with Old Dominion built the 30BR earlier this year. Originally it was a 6BR, then rechambered to a 6 Dasher but it was dud barrel and would never shoot much better than MOA. I gave up on it, got it out earlier this year and Zack breathed new life into that rifle. I’m hoping he will do the same with this Grendel project, every rifle he’s built for me shoots itty bitty. I’m hoping it’ll be fun rifle.

What receiver did Zack build the 30br? i have a mint 6.5x55 Av that i want to change up, but it is too nice to mess with.

 

[nakneker]

What receiver did Zack build the 30br? i have a mint 6.5x55 Av that i want to change up, but it is too nice to mess with.

It was a Sako 75, feeds perfectly, you can work it fast or slow and it smooth as can be. I’ve only tried three bullets in it and they all shot well. 125 TNT, 125 TGK, 115 Berger. Ended loading a 100 of the TGKs. I’ve connected on three coyotes and a few crows, hits them hard, makes a heck of thump on coyotes and crows end up providing quite the show with those TGKs. I’d like to try those TNTs out too.

 

[Murray Brook]

What about the 6mm ARC

 

[nakneker]

What about the 6mm ARC

I already rounded up the brass and choose the path for this rifle. The 6mm ARC would be fun but I don’t think it has the right case head for a PPC bolt.

 

[JLT]

Well, I think this one is decided. 6.5 grendel is it this time, the Lapua brass sealed the deal. I didn’t expect to find it and appreciate a couple of forum members helping me out and a couple more for looking. I think it’ll be fun to shoot suppressed, time to look at some 6.5 grendel threads for load data and suppressors. I appreciate the input, always helping when deciding what to build.

If you have some on hand, 8208-XBR is certainly worth a look. So are the 107 gr. 6.5mm SMKs. Shortest load development experience of my life. First charge (29.0 gr.) of 8208 threw five 107s into a little bitty knot. Another five produced the same result, so I called it done. This was out of a 20" heavy barrel AR, 1:8 twist, an upper that I put together for mid-range AR Tactical class. Out of six 20 shot strings, four cleans and two 199s with good X counts.

 

[Bill Norris]

The four customs are all very accurate but the two PPC factory rifle hold their own, the 6PPC and the 30BR are probably the two that edge the rest out but not by much. Zack with Old Dominion built the 30BR earlier this year. Originally it was a 6BR, then rechambered to a 6 Dasher but it was dud barrel and would never shoot much better than MOA. I gave up on it, got it out earlier this year and Zack breathed new life into that rifle. I’m hoping he will do the same with this Grendel project, every rifle he’s built for me shoots itty bitty. I’m hoping it’ll be fun rifle.

I think "itty bitty" is key for all of Zack's builds.

 

[nakneker]

If you have some on hand, 8208-XBR is certainly worth a look. So are the 107 gr. 6.5mm SMKs. Shortest load development experience of my life. First charge (29.0 gr.) of 8208 threw five 107s into a little bitty knot. Another five produced the same result, so I called it done. This was out of a 20" heavy barrel AR, 1:8 twist, an upper that I put together for mid-range AR Tactical class. Out of six 20 shot strings, four cleans and two 199s with good X counts.

I do have some, thanks for the input! This barrel will probably end up 18-20” thread for a suppressor fast twist.

 

[JLT]

I do have some, thanks for the input! This barrel will probably end up 18-20” thread for a suppressor fast twist.

It's great fun out of a short barrel with light-to-medium weight bullets! Excellent results with powders that are generally available, like H335, AA-2460, AA-2520, N-140 and N-135 as well. AA-2520 will get the 130 grain bullets going pretty well.

 

[nakneker]

It's great fun out of a short barrel with light-to-medium weight bullets! Excellent results with powders that are generally available, like H335, AA-2460, AA-2520, N-140 and N-135 as well.

I’m looking forward to it, i think it’ll be a good fit!

 

[flatlander]

While I'd love to build a few rifles on those Sako PPC actions, I have a tough time just thinking about buying a complete Sako rifle just for the action. So, since I've never heard of Sako selling actions alone, after Howa started making their Mini actions in 6.5 Grendel, I've gone to using them to build rifles in 22 Grinch, 6 RAT, and - just out of curiosity - a 6.5 Grendel with a Bartlein 1-8tw in Rem Mag sporter contour I found on their inventory list. The Grinch & RAT are very good shooters, while the Grendel has been kind of mediocre to this point, though I will admit that I haven't gotten all that fired up over load development with anything other than Sierra 107MKs so far. But your plan to use yours with subsonic ammo & suppressor makes me wonder how much fun that might be. I've been using TBAC Ultra 7s (Gen 1/30cal & Gen 2/6.5), but am currently waiting on getting an Ultra 5/6.5 that I ordered direct from TBAC, but will have to wait on the tax stamp since it's going to my SOT dealer.

One of my friends who shoots PRS-style matches told me I'd be disappointed with the suppression of an Ultra 5, since I'm used to shooting with the Ultra 7s, but for use with subsonic ammo - out of a cartridge as small as the Grendel - I would bet the Ultra 5 will be fine. Looking forward to hearing more about your Sako Grendel once you get it built...

 

[nakneker]

While I'd love to build a few rifles on those Sako PPC actions, I have a tough time just thinking about buying a complete Sako rifle just for the action. So, since I've never heard of Sako selling actions alone, after Howa started making their Mini actions in 6.5 Grendel, I've gone to using them to build rifles in 22 Grinch, 6 RAT, and - just out of curiosity - a 6.5 Grendel with a Bartlein 1-8tw in Rem Mag sporter contour I found on their inventory list. The Grinch & RAT are very good shooters, while the Grendel has been kind of mediocre to this point, though I will admit that I haven't gotten all that fired up over load development with anything other than Sierra 107MKs so far. But your plan to use yours with subsonic ammo & suppressor makes me wonder how much fun that might be. I've been using TBAC Ultra 7s (Gen 1/30cal & Gen 2/6.5), but am currently waiting on getting an Ultra 5/6.5 that I ordered direct from TBAC, but will have to wait on the tax stamp since it's going to my SOT dealer.

One of my friends who shoots PRS-style matches told me I'd be disappointed with the suppression of an Ultra 5, since I'm used to shooting with the Ultra 7s, but for use with subsonic ammo - out of a cartridge as small as the Grendel - I would bet the Ultra 5 will be fine. Looking forward to hearing more about your Sako Grendel once you get it built...

Those little Howa mini actions do a good job, I’m working with one in 222 right now, my niece’s rifle. It’s all stock, shoots great. You have some neat chamberings, hopefully that Grinch rises above mediocre with some load development.

I wish I would have tried suppressors much earlier than I did. That vast majority of my rifles are unsuppressed but I do have a few suppressed and they are a hoot to shoot. We were scouting for deer this past weekend, had a niece in camp who has a trophy tag this year for the Couses deer hunt in December. We would stop during lunch and take time to set up and shoot a few rifles, get her some trigger time. We had her taking shots at 300, 500, 780, 1130 and just for fun we were shooting out at 1390. She shot the two suppressed rifles better than two unsuppressed. I think the reduction in noise really helped her not to mention the reduced recoil. The two surpressed rifles were a 20” Tikka CTR 6.5 creed and a Tikka 6.5 PRC, dead calm, zero wind. Her hit percentage was 80% or so. Targets were grapefruit sized rocks in close and 2 foot rocks at the farthest distance, you could watch her confidence grow with every shot. We’re shooting thunder beasts on most of the bolt rifles. If your wondering if we would have her shoot at deer at those longer distances the answer is no, just having fun.