Some help with a new project for a new ppc shooter

[budmen]

I have been reloading and learning simple gunsmithing for awhile now. I have mostly hunting sporter barrel rifles and consider all bullets touching at 100yds as good as I can shoot. I never thought about a 6mm ppc or br until yesterday. While at a local gunstore I was shopping around and the owner turned me on to this model 70 with a custom 6mm ppc barrel and a fat target stock.

Well I now own this "project" I bought it real cheap I think but I know nothing about it.

Here is what I do know:

1. The barrel is stamped kinda crudely 6PPC .264 K.B. that's the only marking no name or serial number
2. The stock is all beat up and poorly inlet filled and sanded accraglass all over around the action
3. It supposedly has a Canjar trigger in it. It is very light with no creep seems like a custom
4. The barrel measures 23" from the recoil lug to the muzzle. The muzzle end measures .979" and receiver end 1.236"
5. The magazine follower has g3339 I think engraved in it

So far I have concluded:

1. Its a 6ppc with a .264 neck?
2. I can fix and fill the stock then dip it
3. By the looks on google images it is a canjar trigger I don't know for sure but its nice enough for my abilities
4. The gun is way too heavy to hunt varmits with


My questions are:

1. Am I anywhere near right on my conclusions?
2. Is this gun worth messing with or should I send the action out to be rebarrelled or reamed?
3. What brass should I start with to form brass to this chamber. What would be my steps to making brass?
4. What kind of dies should I buy to do precision reloading for this gun


I know most of these are opinion based answers but I need some gurus to start to point me into the right directions I live close to the Pine Tree Club where competitive benchrest shooting started so I possibly may go to a competition and give it a try if I can get this gun shooting safely and accurately.

Thanks for your help and time reading my post but I figure Ill give you all I can first

 

[LHSmith]

If you want to shoot it, I would do a chamber cast. .264 probably refers to chamber neck....262 is most common...the K.B. makes me think it may be someones proprietary reamer.
While the 6PPC is arguably the most accurate cartridge out to 200 yards, the Model 70 platform will offer some disadvantages when used in formal competition. Also, the barrel is too heavy for most contested classes.
Based on your statement about possible competition, I would not consider using it for any registered BR. If you are interested in BR, I would buy a used rifle that meets the class requirements.
Also, check for the closest BR shoots, short-range BR ranges in PA are dwindling in number. See IBS and NBRSA websites for active ranges.
If you want to use it as a target /varmint gun, I would contact P1 zombiekiller(?) a member on this site who could provide the proper brass ( verify with a chamber cast first). After you get new brass and fire it at least 1x, send fired cases to Harrells Precision for them select one of their FL dies that is the closest fit. Any make seater die should work.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Bud,

If this is a .264 neck chamber, and you decide to shoot it that way, I actually have brass made right now that will work in it. 6PPC brass turned to .009"

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3832160.0


If you want a chance at 50 pcs of "FREE" brass, consider my Brass giveaway contest I am running right now. Drawing will be at the halftime of the Suberbowl, and this gives you time to figure out what you want to do should you win the brass.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3833432.0

 

[budmen]

I'm sorry I forgot to include my cerrosafe is on order to cast the chamber. I really don't plan on actually competing with this gun just thought it maybe something to do and experience. I really appreciate the advice and help

Thanks for the info on the brass I'll have to cast my chamber to figure out what I need but then I will look into your options thanks again

 

[LHSmith]

I would start looking for H-322 powder and 52 gr. Berger FB bullets in the mean time, a 36x Weaver scope if it didn't come with optics, and buy or make yourself some windflags if you want to be able to cash-in on the PPC's true accuracy potential.

 

[jonbearman]

I never heard of a 52 grain 6mm bullet before.Sure you didnt mean 62 grain?

 

[LHSmith]

Thanks for catching that, I meant 68 grain. Was thinking .222 .....Too many chamberings to keep track of. Powder recommendation was correct.

 

[budmen]

Already looking for a weaver scope have the wind flags on my range and was planning on playing with some hornadys to start since they are already in stock I don't think I am personally capable of shooting as good as the ppc quite yet but it will be a challenge...... Thanks Again
'

 

[LHSmith]

It wouldn't hurt to check the twist on your bbl. 99% chance it's ~ a 14 Twist....but if it was built for LR varmints using heavy bullets, you might want to change bullet choice.

 

[budmen]

Checking the twist is a very good idea I'll give that a try tomorrow morning after 3d archery shoot thanks

 

[82boy]

My questions are:
1. Am I anywhere near right on my conclusions?
2. Is this gun worth messing with or should I send the action out to be rebarrelled or reamed?
3. What brass should I start with to form brass to this chamber. What would be my steps to making brass?
4. What kind of dies should I buy to do precision reloading for this gun

To start, question #1 I would say your conclusions are correct. My guess is it has a .264 neck the KB is maybe the smith, or the reamer owner/designer. As far as the stock the action may be glued in. Be careful on sanding the stock, as the older stocks could be very thin, and you can sand through them. The barrel sounds like a light varmint contour. watch painting and changing things around as the gun is fairly heavy to start, and you want to keep this thing into the weight class where you can still shoot it. The magazine follower may have the serial number of the action. When most people look at buying a used Benchrest gun, they figure that the barrel is shot and needs replaced, and it usually shows up in the cost.

#2 I would say the gun is worth messing with and would be a great start to try shooting Benchrest with. If anything it is a low cost alternative, and can tell you whether or not you want to pursue this any further. Even thought the gun is older I would say it should still be highly competitive. My conclusions follow what many of the tops in the sport agree that as far as a winning gun comes down to who has the best barrel and bullets. The action is just an ignition source as long as it is right it will be fine. (Now further down the road you will want a custom action just because it is easier to drive, and more comfortable.) I would consider re-barreling the action though and give it the best shot of proving its self. The trigger leaves a bit to desirer, but you could live with it. You may want to have a smith cut the chamber off and put a fresh chamber on it, and re-thread and headspace the barrel. As other have mentioned check the twist of the barrel, as some of the older guys used 1 in 15 twist barrels. Still works, but most have gone to 1 in 14 or 1 in 13.5 twist anymore.

#4 most Benchrest shooters use Lapua 220 Russian brass, and they will find a hard jamb, and fire form the brass in the chamber. I have shot a lot of the Norma 6 PPC brass and find it to be just as good as the Lapua, with less work. You want to verify the chamber specks of the rifle, and cut your necks according. I listen to Jack Neary theory "go thin to win." and run about .002 neck clearance in my guns.

I would say try to get some Berger column bullets, or their 68 gr fb match bullets. (I prefer the columns.) H322 is an ok powder, you may want to see if there is any 8208xbr, or LT 32 in your area. If your really lucky and can get some n133 grab it.

#5 on dies, I recommend you get custom full length die that will fit this gun. They don't have to be expensive, the best die for the money I have found is made by Harrell's precision. Send then 2 pieces of brass fired in the gun a couple of times, and in a couple of days they will have a die fit for that chamber. This is another reason I would look at putting a new barrel on the gun, this way you have a longer use life on the die, and if you go back to the same smith with the same reamer your future barrels will fit this die.

Most Benchrest shooter seat bullets with a Wilson hand die on an arbor press. if you look around they can be had cheap. If not a good low cost alternative would be to get a forster micrometer seater that would work in your press.

In closing as other have mentioned get a set of wind flags, or make some . Flags don't have to be an expensive thing, you can make a usable set of flags out of some dowel rods, coat hangers, and some surveyor's tape. sharpen on side of a 1/2 in dowel rod into a point, drill a small hole about the diameter of the coat hanger wire in the other side. Cu the coat hanger into 5 inch long pieces bend at a 90 degree sharpen the end, and put a loop on the other. take the sharpened end and put it in the hole of the dowel rod, and place a length of surveyors tape on the loop, and you have a wind flag, drive the sharpened end of the dowel into the ground enough to hold them up. Now make 5 of them and your in business. When you shoot put them out at 10, 30, 60, and 80 yards for 100 yards or 20,60,85, 130, and 160 yards for 200. If you want to buy a professional set the best bang for the buck is Flying Fish fundamentals.

Last get some reading material. I highly recommend you pick up Glen Newicks book, for the money it is a good read. If you want some more good reads, they will cost a bit more money. Mike Ratigan's and Toney Boyer's books, will steer you in the right direction. All three books talk about equipment, workings of the PPC, match strategies, and so forth. and are a wealth of information. Lst get some good cleaning equipment, one piece rods, bronze brushes, bore guide, patches, jags, JB bore paste, good solvent like Butches, ETC. Well good luck and I hope this help you out.

 

[jonbearman]

Could you post a couple pics of the bedding area under the reciver and of the rifle itself?

 

[LHSmith]

budman- the IBS match schedule was just released ........ and the Pine Tree Rifle Club is back hosting Registered matches........ holding 2 shoots this year, 31 May and hosting the NY States 30, 31 Aug. I urge you to attend....hopefully as a competitor. I would contact someone from the club to see if your rifle would be acceptable to compete with in the HV class in the May match. Contact me by PM if you need anything to get serious about getting that unit to drive tacks. Having a match location near your backyard is a gift.