Sako 6ppc help needed

[Trooper836]

I have a sako 6mm ppc single shot. I think it is a sako 6ppc b. I have had it for some time and my dad had it before that and we had not fired it. I was purchased in very good used condition. I started working up a load for it with new norma brass, cci primer, n133 powder and sierra 55 grain blitzkings. I am currently loading with Lee dies. I have gotten groups in the 2s with one charge giving me a .21. I can not reach the lands with this bullet. I think I went to 29.2 grains of powder on the 2nd firing with the norma brass. My issue is the brass is covered, to the base, with powder residue, even at the highest powder charge. Could I have some suggestions on what to do? I have some 70 grain bullets coming. My thoughts were that I may be able to reach the lands thereby (carefully) increasing pressure? I know this condition probably isn't the end of the world and a critter isn't going to know the difference. I haven't ever ran in to this before. Dirty necks yes, but not the entire case.
Thanks for any knowledge you may be able to impart.

 

[358WCF]

The brass isn't expanding to seal the chamber quickly enough. Were you trying to touch lands? I had similar with PP2000MR in a very used 22-250 Ackley with 40 gr bullets seated way out. It was getting pretty good speed & OK accuracy, but was a damned mess trying to clean the brass. I reshot a few with bullets seated deeper (1 caliber) & the soot problem went away. Never had the problem with 4350 or 2700 at any seating depth. Is N133 a progressive burning powder like the PP series?

 

[457ciSBC]

Sako USA PPC chambers are very liberal in dimensions when compared to most of the competition type PPC chambers. The 55 BK needs zero to little freebore to hit the lands. A larger bearing surface bullet may would help, along with a good crimp on those 55 BK’s.

 

[Trooper836]

This is the first time I have used n133 in anything so I don't have any experience with it and I did not research the powder enough to know if it is a progressive burner.. I hadn't thought about seating the bullets a little deeper or a crimp. That could solve the problem I imagine.

 

[LCazador]

N133 is great powder. It sounds to me you have way too much headspace. After the second fireform your brass should at least be close to your chamber size. So things should change when you shoot the third time. I would go to a 65-70 grain bullet and stay with a flat base to start. You may never reach the rifleing but keep working at it. I had several Sako PPC's in both 22 and 6 PPC and they all shot very good.

 

[LHSmith]

If you can't get a handle on 133, I would try H-322......more forgiving for the novice if stay below maximum charge weights. You may have been OK if you had Sako brass which was softer and the neck OD larger.

 

[Trooper836]

I now have some sako brass but haven't tried it yet. I have been reloading for years, but just started this particular rifle and caliber and haven't seen this before. I have considered trying h322 or 335 but as we all know it isn't so easy to run out and pick up components these days. I am hopeful the third round of firings will improve things some. Several years ago I had shot these same rifles in 22 and 6 ppc and I was quite impressed. Probably the best groups I had ever shot with a unmolested factory built gun with factory ammo. They are great guns.

 

[rafale]

I have had a sako 6PPC and won many factory class 100/200 meters in France . One of my best load
was 28.2 grs of N 133 , féd 205 M , Berger 68 grs and Norma brass . Sako are very high quality rifle .
Do you know how many rounds was fired with your rifle ?

 

[LHSmith]

Your Sako chamber is most likely larger in diameter than what most custom chambers are- so you are basically fireforming the brass more extensively than most. I'd try to determine the proper headspace needed for your chamber and if you start having brass problems- hard to close bolt ( a headspace issue) or difficult extraction (sizing die mis-match) I'd try another re-size die ( different manufacturer). If you try the Sako brass, keep pressures down or it won't last. The only quirk with H-322 is it likes cooler temps accuracy-wise. For me N-133 has a lot of quirks and requires constant adjustment in charge weight based on ambient temps ( in order to shoot small consistently).

 

[cwebster]

I have 4 Sako 6ppc. An "A", "B", and 2 S491 action. The A's and B's are 1-14 twist, the S491's are 1-12. So your B is a 1-14 and 68gr flat base is going to be about the max you can stabilize lengthwise. The Berger 65 columns shoot very good in mine with Benchmark powder and not so much luck with N133. Using any boat tail bullets are not going to leave much if any in the case if you are trying to touch the lands. All of mine shoot the best about .005 off the lands. The "A" I have is from Lcazador and is living a pampered life.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Youre too low on powder with that bullet. Thats about right for a sako with a 65gr. Id recommend using redding 6ppc USA dies and not bumping the shoulders until you feel resistance closing the bolt. Dont crimp and dont worry about hitting the lands

 

[Trooper836]

Thanks for all the information. I have no idea the number of rounds fired prior to dad getting the rifle. I had also considered different dies at some point. The Lee dies were something to get me started and I have had some remarkable luck with some of them in years past for such an inexpensive die. The blitzkings are a flat base bullet. I may try pushing the powder a little more. I was using the sierra manual as a guide in that regard.