A new old girl - First Targets

[Ghansen]

Hello to all! I thought I should share my day with you, and maybe also get some target feedback.
Today I ventured out to our nearest and most decent range (Silverdale) to try out my latest acquired 6PPC
I bought the gun from Arizona early last year and only just got it set up. The last thing I had to do was replace old broken scope with a new Weaver 36x. A Leupold 45 was an option, but I am shooting good vintage with this gun, and I just wanted to keep weight without replacing the old Mcmillan stock with a lighter weight.

6PPc Shilen L/V
1997 Panda Action
Haven't sussed the trigger but it is very light and comfortable
McMillan Stock, with tape
Weaver 36x
Dodgy Bros. Front rest
Protektor Bags, front slippery rear cordura bunny ears.

The loads I used are on the targets, and for this reason or that I decided to play with 28.3 and 29grains of 133.
I varied the seating depth for the Berger columns, and apart from noticing a lot of vertical with some loads, I am generally a happy puppy with the results.

I really didn't try too hard to gauge the wind, and there were only cursory flags set about the range that I was glancing at. Fairly stable breeze with a few stronger shifts, but mostly I would think not more than 1/4" this way or that at worst.

There are a few 5 shot groups on the targets, and the rest are 3.

I haven't shot a bench gun since '77, so the PPC is actually new to me but some things don't change.

Believe me, I have been up and down everything here to get a handle on stuff, and I think I am confident that I know J.S. - but, when the flag drops, all else stops! Yep, I had a good time.

 

[Ghansen]

2nd Target. With these loads I have a fair bit of vertical.

 

[artbosco]

What's your neck chamber size? What's your loaded round's Outside Diameter [OD] at the pressure ring? What bushing are you using? N133 likes a lot of neck tension. More often than not increased neck tension with the 6PPC tightens up groups. Seating depth is part of the fine tuning process too.

 

[Ghansen]

Hi Outdoorsman

The neck size is .262
Bushing I am using is a .257, though I also have a .258
Loaded rounds measure .260 at the neck
Berger Column 64grn Projectile
The primer used is Fed 205M
Priming tool is just my partner press at the moment

A lot of Lapua brass came with the rifle, and mostly was turned but not fire formed, only about 30 cases had been actually been formed. I have a Redding Small base Body die, shoulder bump die (bump off 1 thou) and a Wilson micrometer seater. Trim length was 1.495.

lol Where is the pressure ring?

I loaded the 28.3grn charges with seating depths between -15 thou to + 15 in 5 thou increments lots of 3. I had some loads at 29 and 28.7 grains seated at 0, +5 and +10 thou. and used a few in sighters and the 5 shot groups.

Any vertical in the groups happens within the first 3 shots, maybe too much heat in the day (afternoon) or wrong seating depth for that load, or any combination of factors, but I see some real promise in a few of the 3 shot groups.


I did have a false start last week when I went to a closer range but I had real troubles with my setup, needed a spacer for my rear bag, and interesting eye relief problems when the scope moved forward every shot, ending up with the front mount 1" off the rails. Anyway, I will revisit 29.2 and 29.5. But I did fire form an extra 25 rounds and prepped them for yesterdays effort.

Geoff

 

[artbosco]

Highly recommend a Harrell's Full Length Bushing Die: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/full-length-die [you only need ONE die], call first, AND some of Bart Sauter's 68 grain Ultras: http://www.bartsbullets.com/products/barts.html

The .257" bushing will serve you well. You might want to give a .256" a try too. The .258" you can store in a drawer somewhere. N133 in the 6PPC likes a lot of tension.

Try 29.0, 29.2, 29.4 and 29.6 grains of N133. Fine tune .1 on both sides of your best. If 29.2 is your initial best, try 29.1 and 29.3 too.

The pressure ring is at the base of the bullet if they're made with one. Bart's are.

If you're going to shoot the 6PPC do it correctly. For the BEST advice and info from the World's Best 6PPC driver purchase a copy of Tony Boyer's book The Book of Rifle Accuracy http://www.rifleaccuracybook.com/ It's the bible on the 6PPC.

Watch all of Jack Neary's [NBRSA Hall of Fame Inductee] videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SZWvn68bRU You'll be getting a million dollars worth of 6PPC advice for free. Good shooting.

 

[Ghansen]

Thanks Outdoorsman

I just watched the Jack Neary videos the other day (again) and have the shortcut in my browser. I am impressed by the amount of information provided and I will try to vie for that niche with patience and practice to become competitive. 1 die makes sense, I use the Harrell's No.2 at the moment.

I did check the primers after shooting, and those in the 29grn + area show cratering. The temps we have here at this time of year along with humidity are making me cautious of going over the top, so That is why I am looking at pursuing the lighter load if I can prove it accurate. I am not sure if Barts are available around here, but there are some recommended custom makers around.

Looking forward to refining my bench setup and hopefully post some consistent results with more confidence and comfort. I think with everything at this level discipline is paramount to eliminate human error, and I will work to refine that. Thanks for your support and advice! I will throw up the 29grn spread in 3 shot and see how it fairs, and also will invest in Mr Boyer's book.

Cheers, Geoff

 

[artbosco]

Going over the top with the 6PPC would be loading beyond 29.8 to 30 grains. I prefer the next [but lower] node around the low 29 point something grains. Right now my barrel likes 29.1. My previous barrel 29.4. Somewhere between 29 and 30 you'll find what your barrel likes. These numbers relate to the use of custom made barrels and Lapua brass. Just out of curiosity, do you reside in G'day mate! or Koala bear land?

 

[Ghansen]

Hahahahaha, The Wizard of Oz, G'day Mate!

For all the bush around here I have only ever seen a wild Koala up at Noosa when I was at a wedding reception. It was virtually looking in the windows from the upper branches of a Gum tree 3 floors up......Cheeky sod stole a bit of limelight from the bride.

Am loaded for some fun this afternoon, if the weather isn't too difficult. My local range is on top of a thin ridge with deep valleys running east and west, so if it blows a bit I might be wanting for more than a 6mm. Might be selfish, but I want to know if they will naturally go into 1 hole before I start trying to make them. My next nearest range is where I actually cut my teeth in the '70s, but it still isn't covered or have stable benches. Very tight on the firing line too. So Silverdale is 2 hours tucked away in the bush behind Sydney but offers Tournament quality facility with 100 and 200yd ranges. (2013 World Championships were held there)

I have already run 29.0, so 29.2 and 29.4 are loaded for a short ladder test. 5 thou jump seemed a thing on the first targets so I'll let a few loose and look for more than 1 hole. All cases trimmed to 1.490, and the necks were turned to 0082 so it says on the bag.

The cases had just been 1st time loaded after fire forming, and watching Jack Neary again he infers that they might like a lighter load because of generally reduced capacity in the first few firings. Maybe that's why the 28.3 seemed to perform.

I'll post up any wildlife if appear in the trees. (Drop Bears)

Regards, Geoff