6ppc range and drop question....

[gdaddy]

I have an opportunity to do some ground hog harvesting in a few weeks and I wanted to use my 6ppc. ,Don't have any other suitable rifle.)

I have loaded up some Sierra Varmint rounds and have them dead on at 100yds. My range does not have anything longer than 200yds. Most of the 'hogs' we will be shooting will be near 250yds. What is the maximum effective range of the 6ppc from your experience. And what should I estimate bullet drop to be at, say 300yds if I sight in at 200yds?

Shooting 60gr Sierra varmints pushed with 25 gr IMR3031 is what I have for the varmint loads. ,by the way I shoot Berger 65's and H322, but that is for 100yd target work.......

Any help is appreciated.....

 

[fdshuster]

gdaddy: Funny you should ask: Just last week shot my 6ppc at 300 yd. for the first time. Sighted-in at 200 yd. w/ 28.5 grs VV133, Berger 68 Match. Came up 3 moa and was right-on at 300. 5 shot groups held 1 1/8' average, but I had the feeling the 'little' 6ppc was reaching its limits. Also from SW PA.

 

[Chuckhunter]

According to Quick Load, that 25 Grain charge of 3031 is only giving you slightly over 2800fps. If you take those same bullets and load them up with your 28.5 gr H-322 load, you should easily get 3300+ fps, and with a 200yard zero you'll be 8 inches low at 300yds, opposed to 12 inches. With the 25Gr, 3031 load, you'll have to come up 2.4inches or 10 clicks,assuming your scope has 1/4min clicks) to be on at 200yds. If sighted in at 200yds, bullet drop at 300yds. would be approx.12 inches.

 

[Cheechako]

. . .I had the feeling the 'little' 6ppc was reaching its limits. . .

Frank

I shoot a 6PPC at 600 yard Benchrest and it does pretty good. I've won a few fake-wood trophies with it. I also have a 6PPC live Varmint rifle that I shoot regularly at 400 yards +.

The 6PPC is just warming up at 300 yards.

Ray

 

[TominSWNY]

Just put together a 6ppc as a critter gun with a used Hart 14 twist 25 inch 8 fluted barrel and an old 40X action. The reamer is a .274 no turn no trim long neck chamber from Dave Kiff for using 6.5 Grendel brass sized in a small base 6 PPC Redding die. I haven’t done any load development for this rifle but with the use of components on hand the first two groups at 100 yards are, .381 using 29.5 Gr. AA 2015 powder and 55 Gr. B-Tips for a velocity of 3527 and an equal amount of 322 gave 3521 and a 3 shot group of .227 with 55 Gr. B-tips.

 

[FrankintheLaurelMts]

I agree, the little PPC will shoot well past 300 yards without much of a problem, the problem occurs with cross winds and those little 68 grain bullets... but it's still a groundhog killer well past the limits placed on most .22 cal rigs...A worn accordings to benchrest standards barrel will shoot a ton of groundhogs for many years to come..a .24 cal hole in a real groundhog will usually anchor him on the spot compared to lots of .22 holes that sometimes see them crawl back into their holes..so, use it as a hunting cartridge, it's more than enough..

 

[gdaddy]

Thanks for the insight gentlemen. I understand that the farm where they need some varmint control is scheduled to be mowed next week. Therefore a few of us will be called upon to harvest the hogs...

So I will get some loads together and give it a go. The ranges will probably be approx 200-400 yds.....should be fun!!