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6mm PPC

JohnK

Only just aquired a 40x 6mm PPC and already have dumb questions. First, what is the difference between the 6mm PPC Sako and the 6mm PPC USA. Second, I know what a compressed load is and even though I am far from trying one I non the less have no idea how one goes about "compressing".
Thanks for your patience and cheer up, I'll more Q's as I move through this.
John
 
there isn't a difference in the cartridge itself. what varies is the neck diameter. and depending on the reamer used to chamber that barrel. you really need to check that before shooting. it should be stamped on barrel somewhere. something like (.262) or (.268), etc. I have owned several different neck diameters. according to the Nosler 5th edition, p.115 "When Sako and Norma began to produce ready to load brass, the necks were of a larger diameter and the USA designation, at Dr. Palmisano's insistance, was added." if the neck diameter isn't marked on the barrel somewhere, you should check it before shooting. everyone says it will spike chamber pressures if you shoot a standard "no turn" case in a tight neck gun. I have yet to be able to chamber one that way. one way to check is to see how easily a factory Sako round will chamber in the gun. if it closes easily, then more than likely you have a factory chamber. if it cartridge won't feed all the way, like 1/8" to 3/16" from allowing the bolt from being closed, you have a tight neck chamber, which will require you to turn necks. really sorry about that later if that is the case. it is a pain, so just find some new, already turned necks. hope this helps.
 
John: It's really no big deal to outside neck turn your own brass. I turned mine to the required .0085" neck wall thickness for the past 12 yrs. The good news is if you take care of your cases and do not set the shoulders back, and keep away from the max (and over) loads, the brass will last a very long time, so outside neck turning can be a one time "thing". Recently had my barrel set-back (after 2410 rds. fired) and had the new chamber cut with my Pacific reamer, with a .272" neck, so although still requiring neck turning, it's only one light clean-up cut to .013". A compressed load is nothing more than one that has had the powder column "smashed" down when the bullet was seated, something I do not believe in. My standard load, that has served me well for over 12 yrs. is 27.5 grs. of N133 with the 68 gr. Berger #24411 bullet. Base of the bullet is just touching the top of the powder column. Take an accurate throat depth measurement and seat the bullet(s) accordingly. Most ppc's prefer to have the bullet just touching the lands. In the meantime, explore the possibilities of doing you own outside neck turning. There are any number of excellent tools out there. Enjoy your 6ppc. :)
 
neck turning really isn't that bad, just time consuming. make sure you get the best neck turning stuff you can afford, it will make it much easier. I tried the attachment to the rcbs trimmer. it sucks, don't bother. get a case holder like k&n, and a turner from sinclair or something along those lines. it is also easier to do it in 2 or 3 passes, and on the last pass, only take .001 to .002 off. i don't think you will ever wear out ppc brass if you use some common sense reloading. i haven't lost one yet, except for the ones i messed up turning.
 
I actually wore out the barrel before the brass. Used 80 Lapua cases exclusively for the .262" chamber, and they were each loaded an average of 30 times. The barrel was set-back & rechambered at a documented 2410 rounds. I did begin to get the bolt click at the top of the bolt lift with a few. Primer pockets remained tight. I've never annealed a case in my life, and do not intend to start now, although I realize doing it may be an advantage. Figuring the life of the brass, then the higher cost of new, unturned brass is not really much (if any) more expensive than any other brass. FryeGuy: In the beginning, against the advice of others, I tried the outside neck turning attachment for my Forster case trimmer--- same experience you had with your RCBS. Recently bought the new Sinclair NT-4000: Wow! :)
 
If you wore out the barrel before the brass then I, as a lazy and frugal man, wonder why not buy brass every once in a while and forgett about the delicate art of neck turning.
I want to thank all responders, you are very helpful.
John
 
I use a K&M neck turning tool. One advantage of that tool over the others is that they sell a neck turning pilot that also includes an inside neck reamer tip. This removes the donut that normally forms at the neck shoulder junction every time you neck turn. I have also used the Forrster neck turner without the reamer and I have trouble pushing the brass all the way down on the neck turner because the neck hits the donut before the brass goes all the way down.on the pilot.
 
JohnK said:
Only just aquired a 40x 6mm PPC and already have dumb questions. First, what is the difference between the 6mm PPC Sako and the 6mm PPC USA. Second, I know what a compressed load is and even though I am far from trying one I non the less have no idea how one goes about "compressing".
Thanks for your patience and cheer up, I'll more Q's as I move through this.
John
Click to expand...
I shot a SAKO Vixen in 6mm PPC-Usa for several years and loved every trigger pull. I started with SAKO ammunition which carried a 70gr bullet and also reloaded with bullets from 65gr up. Very efficient cartridge and very easy on the brass. You're going to have to see if your 40X has a standard neck size before shooting anything As long as your rifle has a standard neck size, Sako, Lapua, or Norma cartridges will interchange and your first shot will fire-form the cartridge to your chamber.
 
COLT45SA said:
I shot a SAKO Vixen in 6mm PPC-Usa for several years and loved every trigger pull. I started with SAKO ammunition which carried a 70gr bullet and also reloaded with bullets from 65gr up. Very efficient cartridge and very easy on the brass. You're going to have to see if your 40X has a standard neck size before shooting anything As long as your rifle has a standard neck size, Sako, Lapua, or Norma cartridges will interchange and your first shot will fire-form the cartridge to your chamber.
Click to expand...
What kind of "out of the box" accuracy did you get with the Vixen. TKS
 
JohnK said:
If you wore out the barrel before the brass then I, as a lazy and frugal man, wonder why not buy brass every once in a while and forgett about the delicate art of neck turning.
I want to thank all responders, you are very helpful.
John
Click to expand...
If all you shoot is the PPC, that is a good point. If you shoot multiple calibers, once you get into neck turning - you might find yourself wanting to do it to a lot of your other brass. Also - a lot of people skim turn their brass midway through the life of it to "re-true" it. If you ever find yourself wanting to neck down brass - you will want the turning tool. If you think you really will be in this sport for a long time - I'd buy the turning tool now and get it over with. You will, someday, not want to rely on others to do your prep. A decent tool can be had for the cost of turning a few hundred pieces of brass when including shipping and your time spent dealing with that. The "skilled art" of neck turning can be mastered much faster than the uninitiated might think. Once you get your tool dialed in - one can figure roughly an hour to turn 100 pieces +/-, depending on whether you do it in one pass or two.
 
Anyone have a line on some of the old Sako brass? I just bought one of the Sako 6mm PPC USAs and really want to get it up and shooting. I have some Lapua 220 on the way, but I'm not as confident in that process as I've never fireformed or neckturned before.
 
epeet said:
Anyone have a line on some of the old Sako brass? I just bought one of the Sako 6mm PPC USAs and really want to get it up and shooting. I have some Lapua 220 on the way, but I'm not as confident in that process as I've never fireformed or neckturned before.
Click to expand...
I'd do a search or post that you need some in the ad forum. There is a fair amount of the Sako brass floating around out there, though it might be easier to get hands on the Norma - which shoots equally well for me.
 
Look for Norma or old Sako ...I recall Grizzly imported a bunch a few years ago for the 22 PPC and maybe the 6 as well. I see it every now and then on the ads here.
 
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