6PPC OR 223REM

[jotrot]

I was wondering if the 6ppc has as good of a barrel life as the 223 ? not worried about brass cost mainly a fun gun for local matches 200,300 yards and ground squirels, p-dogs, It would have a 26in. barrel to keep muzzle jump down, I cant stand muzzle brakes.

Thanks for your time

 

[tn6br]

How many rounds are you getting out of a .223?

 

[Sniper338]

id take a 6ppc over a 223 hands down everyday for anything. More accurate, and its different. I hate calibers everyone has.

 

[dgeesaman]

Well with .223 you have a number magazine fed options and semiautos. With 6PPC there are magazine fed repeaters and mostly single shots.

If you can live with that and the higher cost of the cartridge generally, I'd say PPC.

 

[1lnbrdg]

While not exactly a barrel burner, I've never been overly impressed with the barrel life on .223's either. ~3,000 and be looking to start swapping.

 

[Grimstod]

Barrel life is about the same. You can magazine feed both really. You will have a lot more fun with a PPC it will also make you a better shooter. Anny PPC will shoot twice as good as a 223 it seams.

 

[grovey]

I vote ppc as well. I have a ppc repeater on a 700 action that feeds well. It's a sporter bbl'd gun built to be a walking varmint gun. It has a Sako ext, and a modified bdl mag box and follower. Very accurate rifle.

 

[NorCalMikie]

.223 ammo you can get just about anywhere. And it can be damn accurate.
Where you getting your 6PPC??

 

[Greyfox]

PPC. You will get better accuracy if you drop to 22-23". Opt for a Heavy varmint contour and go for a total weight with scope of 13.5 lbs or more if you aren't penalized. You won't have any muzzle jump and you will be astounded by the accuracy. Comparison with a 223 isn't even in the same zip code. You might also consider a 220 Beggs, no fireforming, more velocity, comparable accuracy, cheaper match bullets, less powder, less recoil. What's not to like?

Rick

 

[LHSmith]

PPC. You will get better accuracy if you drop to 22-23". Opt for a Heavy varmint contour and go for a total weight with scope of 13.5 lbs or more if you aren't penalized. You won't have any muzzle jump and you will be astounded by the accuracy. Comparison with a 223 isn't even in the same zip code. You might also consider a 220 Beggs, no fireforming, more velocity, comparable accuracy, cheaper match bullets, less powder, less recoil. What's not to like?

Rick

This ^ or 6 mm Beggs...... simply a 220 Russian necked up.

 

[jotrot]

Thank you Guys,
To respond to NorcalMike, I was going to have my smith put one together for me off a rem 700 and I prefer to load my own.
Thank you

Joel

 

[swadiver]

well, it ain't a 6PPC but not bad for a .223. SEB bipod, Bartlein barrel, Savage Target action. in an XLR Industries chassis. 80.5 Bergers with H4895 and N135. all 5 @ 100 yds.

 

[powderbrake]

Given your choices, I'd suggest the 223. The 6PPC is a very accurate, but I suggest it is a pain in the rear cartridge with a different bolt face. I like it fine on my benchrest gun, but for great accuracy and ease of loading I recommend a 6BR with a no turn neck. On my 6BR, I polish the brass, then completely reload on a Dillon, and it can shoot in the 1s and 2s when I am careful.

 

[dgeesaman]

Given your choices, I'd suggest the 223. The 6PPC is a very accurate, but I suggest it is a pain in the rear cartridge with a different bolt face. I like it fine on my benchrest gun, but for great accuracy and ease of loading I recommend a 6BR with a no turn neck. On my 6BR, I polish the brass, then completely reload on a Dillon, and it can shoot in the 1s and 2s when I am careful.

How would a 6PPC with no turn neck be a different experience than 6BR with no turn neck? Do you find it to be more finicky than a 6BR given the same reloading process?

David

 

[powderbrake]

How would a 6PPC with no turn neck be a different experience than 6BR with no turn neck? Do you find it to be more finicky than a 6BR given the same reloading process?

David

I was thinking of the 6PPC as starting from 220 Russian with all the brass rework and neck turning. You are correct, if you buy 6PPC cases, it probably would not be any different. The 6BR is less finiky than the 6PPC in my estimation.

On the 6PPC I go through all the rituals of resizing and primer pocket cleaning, priming and seating all on manual precision tools, and may have to change powder charge when the temperature changes to keep the min group size.

On my 6BR, I tumble clean, then process on a Dillon with Redding Competition die set, don't clean primer pockets, don't trim, and it shoots almost as good as my benchrest gun. The OP wanted a "fun gun" for local matches and varmints. The 6BR has been the easiest gun to get to shoot well of any caliber that I have ever owned.

 

[LHSmith]

The 6BR is less finiky than the 6PPC in my estimation.

The OP wanted a "fun gun" for local matches and varmints. The 6BR has been the easiest gun to get to shoot well of any caliber that I have ever owned.

This has been my 6PPC experience ( 16 years worth). Those one hole groups are far from automatic.....you have to constantly pay attention to the smallest of reloading details and monitor and adjust to conditions in real time (= load at the range , or use a tuner, or get really really lucky your pet load will be in tune the whole match).

 

[SS427]

You owe it to yourself to own both at some point.

Considering you said fun gun, which I take to mean you don't have to win these matches to enjoy them, and if you factor in the high volume sport of ground squirrels and p-dogs, I would start with the .223. You will appreciate the reduced recoil at the end of the day. Get 100 rounds of Lapua brass for targets, and 500 cases of cheaper brass for the hunting. I hate losing expensive brass in the fields and even more so if it costs a buck a case.

If built to the same quality as the PPC, while it will never out shoot it, a .223 is going to really shoot small. I have a BAT custom 20 VT that shoots tiny groups and on some days when the tune isn't right with the PPC, it shoots almost as small. I'm sure a similar gun in .223 could do the same.

Big advocate of the no turn 6mmBR too. Since the recoil is close to the PPC, I would want the extra powder capacity and a slower twist barrel, and go for the extreme range ground squirrel targets. Doubt you will see your hits though, but I would say you wouldn't see many with the PPC either. Much better chance to see hits with the .223, if that was part of your goal.

 

[searcher]

I think SS427 is on the money. Since you don't like brakes, I'd do as HEAVY a .223 as the weight restrictions (if any) allow in your club. If you plan on a PPC, you might want to consider a .22PPC. You can shoot some lighter bullets, minimizing recoil, see the hits better and have that killer accuracy. I have noticed a huge difference is being able to maintain a good view of hits when switching between 50 and 70 grain bullets. With the PPC, the cases are optimized for 68-70 grain bullets. I use a discontinued 62 Berger - but is is seated waaay out. The 6ppc would be better if you are score shooting as opposed to group in your club - but that would be the only drawback in my mind as to the .22ppc. The farther out your quarry is - the higher you are going to turn up your scope magnification. High magnification, narrow field of view and recoil rocking your sight picture sucks. I think the .22ppc could work as your "all around" if accuracy is paramount - but the .223 can be "real close" for sure.

 

[nakneker]

One of the most enjoyable guns I have is a Sako factory 6ppc. Mine is the sporter p version but gunbroker has listings for the heavy barrel version all the time. You can typically pick the heavy barrel single shots up for 1100-1500. It’s a lot of rifle for the money and they are fun. Plus what has already been said, it’s just a little bit different. I have a couple of 223 bolt actions too, they are nice rifles but they have a layer of dust on them from just grabbing other rifles when I head out. Kinda of boring to me.

 

[searcher]

I have one of the factory heavy barrelled Sako 6ppc's and, while VERY accurate for a factory gun, you would be very disappointed in the absence of a brake in not seeing your hits due to the recoil - as even with the heavier barrel, the recoil is still enough to rock you off your sight picture when popping squirrels and the like. Probably not a whole lot more than a .223 with a stiff load and a heavier bullet though. Mine was "retired" very early on as the 1-14" factory twist will not stabilize lead-free bullets - which is all I can shoot at squirrels where i live.