Well I have heard that this round can be as accurate as any and better than many,so I picked up a Sako S491 last week and have brass and dies and a bunch of 6mm bullets. I have heard that the Vmax 75gr bullet should work very nicely.
Any of you fellow ever load 6mm PPC before?
Thanks FS

A friend I shot prairie dogs with used one.....it didn't take long and he was using a 6mm Remington.

Then he built a .243 Superrockchucker and eventually went back to the 6mm Remington.

Start by going here. http://www.6mmbr.com/6PPC.html You should have asked me in the first place.

I have shot it in competition for over 20 years.
It is the most accurate [100-200yd] cartridge known at this time. You better check the twist rate. I had a factory 6PPC Sako about 15 years ago and it had 14 twist. 66-68 grain bullets were the largest that it would shoot.
Butch

i've been using one for a few years now. usually shoot 70 gr for bullets with h335 for powder. really makes quite a nice rig. not only for accuracy but it give plenty of velocity for red misting PD's and no where near the blast of the bigger 6mm's. makes it much easier on the ears etc.

Depending on the twist; 6PPC to 300 yds, 6BR for 300 and more. That is based on hundreds of scores over a long period of time at short and long range. I doubt one individual can shoot the two and discern any practical diffeence in field accuracy. 6PPC uses a less common bolt face, if that has any bearing on your quest.

Can't help you on the 6ppc, but I shoot a lot of PDs with the 22 PPC and it is very accurate. I have three Sakos and one Ruger #1 in the 22 PPC.

Watch out if you want to use necked-up and fireformed Lapua .220 Russian brass (the standard benchrest fodder) in that Sako chamber. It is likely you'll have to neck turn that brass for the Sako chamber - in contrast to Norma 6PPC brass, say.

Other than that, the Sako 6mm PPCs normally shoot great! I shoot 70 grs Sierra HPBT Match King in mine. If I was going to shoot prairie dogs, I think I would look hard at something like the the Hornady 65 grs VMax. The Sakos have 1:14" twist barrels, so there is a limit to how high in weight you can expect to go.

As far as propellant is concerned, VV N133 is what a lot (most?) benchresters use. N130 also works well - I believe this is what Sako used to load in their (now discontinued) factory ammo.

I built my first one on a Browning 78 action with a Dan Lilja barrel and it shoots like----oh Well!! I like it but it is heavy so I built one on a push feed Winchester [223] with a Shilen 1-14 twist buggy whip and it also shoots like there is no tomorrow only I never get it hot. It is a GREAT coyote rifle as it weighs only 6.0 or there abouts. It really need more scope than an old Leupold 2.5-8 though. I shoot the 65 gr bullets and it is always in the 3/8-5/8" range if I can do my part. Guess I`ll sell the old Browning.LOL
Aloha, Mark

mho

I have 200 plus PPC brass most of which is Sako brass. The previous owner had shot the 75gr Vmax loads in it to decent accuracy for varminting.But I will look fo r some 65gr Vmax just in case they shoot better. FS

Sounds like you are all set to go!

- mike

There are many excellent bullets, and the H335 is one of the best powders for this cartridge as a varmint round.

quote:

Originally posted by 308Sako:
There are many excellent bullets, and the H335 is one of the best powders for this cartridge as a varmint round.

Great
I have lots of 335.

I think most bench rest shooters still uses 62-68gr flat base bullets and N133 powder in 6PPC. I started useing N133 in my 6TCU,94% the vol. of 6PPC, and am getting almost the same speed as H335 with half the extream spead. It dose not seem to be as OAL sensitive. It also dosen't give me pressures spiks (things going from good to real bad in a 1/2gr increase)in the 6TCU as 4198 and H335 do.

Fat Albert is correct on the 62-68 grain bullets. V133 is used in the 29-30.5 grains. You may have primer piercing problems unless your bolt has a .062 firing pin or you bush your bolt face to that size.
Butch

Thanks again fellows. N133 is tough to find in Canada. FS

Well I did get some 133 powder and I have some 62gr Bergers to test and some 58gr Vmax bullets to try as well. Anyone know if I can use 133 with the 58gr Vmax bullets? FS

Here's my SAKO A1 repeater in a Mcmillian Hunter stock. I use Sierra 70gr hpts & benchmark

quote:

Originally posted by Fasteel:
Well I did get some 133 powder and I have some 62gr Bergers to test and some 58gr Vmax bullets to try as well. Anyone know if I can use 133 with the 58gr Vmax bullets? FS

I have never loaded bullets as light as 58 grs, so I can't help you directly.

The VV manual lists loads for 68 grs bullets and heavier.

Try the link listed above: http://www.6mmbr.com/6PPC.html

or if that does not provide data, try asking on the forum page over on www.benchrest.com. Be aware that the benchresters tend to load some pretty hotrod loads....

- mike

Most BR shooters using V133 with 68 grn. bullets start at about 29 grns to about 30.4 grns. I'm personally around 29.2 with 66 grn bullets. It is a little difficult to get more than 29.5 into the cases. You need a long drop tube and operate your powder measure handle slowly.

Well I ended up loading by the Hornady manual for a few loads then up to 25gr of 133. They all shot OK for my purposes but nothing as nice as the 335 loads with 75gr Vmax bullets. I have loaded up some more to try 25.3,25.6 & 25.9 with the 58gr Vmax and a similar load with 70gr ballistic tips. I'm just shooting this rifle for fun, not ever thinking of trying any matches. FS

You better put some powder in it to make it shoot.

+1 Butch. Do not hitch a racehorse to a manure spreader.

Hey there. I joined just so I could post in this thread. I too just picked up an S491 in 6ppc usa. I'm going through some growing pains with it. I'm going through some growing pains with it caused by the nonuniformity of the cartridge and equipment. Once I get fireforming done, I'm gonna try 75 grain Speer and Sierra HPFB and Berger 80 grain hpfb. They seem to be a good fit for the chamber and twist. BTW, the S491s are a 12 twist; the manual states this and I confirmed it in my rifle. What brass are you using?

quote:

Originally posted by Quickbeam:
Hey there. I joined just so I could post in this thread. I too just picked up an S491 in 6ppc usa. I'm going through some growing pains with it. I'm going through some growing pains with it caused by the nonuniformity of the cartridge and equipment. Once I get fireforming done, I'm gonna try 75 grain Speer and Sierra HPFB and Berger 80 grain hpfb. They seem to be a good fit for the chamber and twist. BTW, the S491s are a 12 twist; the manual states this and I confirmed it in my rifle. What brass are you using?

My brass is all Sako. I met another fellow on line that has our rifle and he shoots 58 and 65gr Vmax bullets in his rifle and gets exceptional groups. The fellow I bought mine from liked to shoot 75gr Vamx bullets. This 75gr bullet was the first one I tried with data from the Lyman manual and my first ever group was a ragged one holer. Since then I have tried a variety of other bullets and other powders like 8208, V133, H322, Win 748. No groups as nice as the 335 yet. FS

The new Western LT-32 powder. Check the test targets and results:

http://www.facebook.com/media/...&type=3&l=1adda528ad

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
You better put some powder in it to make it shoot.

So BL, what you are saying is there is no point to try and run 133 at a lesser speed?

Heck of a nice shooting center that you went to, how long a drive is this from where you live?

Regards greg

I don't think you will find any BR shooter that runs their PPC slower than about 3250. BR shooters are not speed demons Per Se, it is where they shoot most accurately and consistently. You can shoot slower and produce some billfold groups, but not as consistent as the faster speed.
I'm speaking of the PPC with 66-68 grain bullets. The larger bullets are not used in the PPC in competition. That being said, one of our better local shooters uses 112 grain 30 cal. bullets in his 30PPC at 2960FPS. He is a very good shooter and has found how to make it work.

I like the .30 PPC and have two rifles specially set up for cast bullet benchrest competition in that chambering.


The cartridge moves 210 grain MX4-ARD Eagan bullets at over 2,000 fps to shoot 0.3" 100-yard groups...not yet as accurate with that bullet as my .30-BR barrels are, but good enough to win local/regional matches with. Even with those heavy cast .30 bullets, I still use N-133 for powder...46 "Jones" clicks of it...I have no idea what that is in grains; never weighed it.

I think the 6PPC is plenty accurate for varminting with the 60 gr. 6/mm varmint bullets available from various makers.

I was on Benchrest Central and they had information on the new powder that BL mention.

I bought my 6MM-PPC Sako Vixen L461 with aout 300 Sako cartridges. I completely massaged the 60 once-fired cartridges while reading everything I could find on the internet about the 6. I went with Rem 7-1/2 primers, H-322, and 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. A couple of ladders later with a bedding job in the middle, and this 72 year old is shootong clover-leafs. Gonna try some N-133 and V-Maxes after I get my .223 dialed in. Fun stuff!!!!!!!!!

Never heard or seen a Vixen in larger than 223 or 222. I thought they were discontinued well before the PPC was introduced? FS

Try 65 Berger
27 gr AA 2015
CCI br primer
Sako 6 PPC USA brass

The throats on 6 PPC USA chambers are very long .
You will be jumping the bullet.
There was a difference of .101 from the F.Pindell chamber on my Br rifle.

But jumping that much Keith shot .221 at 100 for five rounds.

Those Sako rifles shoot VERY well for a factory gun usually under .250 @ 100.

Glenn

quote:

Never heard or seen a Vixen in larger than 223 or 222. I thought they were discontinued well before the PPC was introduced? FS

You might be ‘sort-of’ correct. I have a small action Sako in 6PPC, the heavy barreled, single shot model, made in the late 1980s. This rifle, and a few other Sakos from this era chambered for PPC cartridges that I have seen, have a model designation of AI. I can’t remember the details now – it was a long time ago when I researched the matter – but the differences between the AI models and the preceding L461 Vixen are very minor.

I bought my Sako 6PPC second hand, in the late 1990s, along with a quantity of Sako brass, and some (then) new Norma brass. I don’t have the exact figures to hand, but the Sako cases, empty and de-primed, weigh around 20grs more than the Norma, and hold about 2grs LESS fine-grained powder. From memory, re-formed Lapua 220 Russian cases weigh only a few grains more than the Norma, and have about the same capacity.

This difference in capacity is clearly reflected in my loads. With the Norma cases, I need to increase the charge 2.0grs to equal the velocity obtained with the Sako cases. The consequences of putting a maximum load developed for Norma or Lapua cases into Sako cases could be horrific …

A Vixen Sako rifle says " Vixen " on the barrel on any of the ones I have seen. FS

Mine says "Vixen" and A1. I happens to be a 6MM PPC repeater. Once I found the load, it shoots a tight cloverleaf at 100 yards. Gonna see if N-133 shoots any better.

Fasteel,
The photos and shooting were done at the Whittington Center outside of Raton,New mexico.

I used IMR's 8208XBR at the Arkansas State matches last weekend as 2 of my Texas Buddies did also. Both of them were big winners. I did fine at 100yds, but couldn't hit a bear in the ass with a bass fiddle at 200yds.
We all used 30.3 grains of it and 65-66 grain BR bullets.

Butch thanks for giving that heads up on the IMR 8208. It has been doing exceptional things for me with the .223. Might as well try it in the 6 PPC.

I used my Sako L-461 Benchrest single shot in 6mm PPC USA for varmint. It was disappointing from the get go. Barrel twist is too slow at 1:14" to stabilize longer bullets, especially lead free required after 2007 in California's Condor area. In fact they wouldn't even hit the target at 100 yards, when one finally did hit, it was fully sideways. Even with lead core bullets that shot down in the .2's and .3's at 100 yards, it ran out of steam on longer shots, so I put it back in the safe.

Along came Savage's Precision Target Actions, and I built several into single shot varmint rifles. Decided to try a 6mm PPC 1:10" twist Shilen Select Match barrel for the 62 grain Varmint Grenade. Problem was that that long bullet (.975"+/-) took up too much case capacity to drive it fast enough. So I recut the throat to seat the bullet to the base of the neck, plus enough for seating off the lands .020". Now it could hold a maximum charge of powder, accuracy was acceptable, but it still wasn't quite what I wanted. So, I searched through the manuals, and ordered a larger version of the short and fat style case: The .243 WSSM. In a Brux Savage Varmint Contour 26" 1:8" twist barrel. That little cartridge drove the Barnes 6mm Varmint Grenade between 3,570 and 3,800 fps, loved Hunter powder and vaporized ground squirrels. Groups ran between .24" and .33" for 10 shots at 100 yards. This rifle made fantastic, should I say spectacular, kills out to a measured .330 yards (that's the limit of the terrain I shoot on).

So the 6mm PPC is a fantastic little cartridge, good for shooting targets and varmints with lighter bullets at moderate ranges. When you hanker for a 6mm, and it comes to longer ranges, heavier or longer bullets, and the desire to completely obliterate ground squirrels or sage rats, then a bigger case and faster twist will fill the bill. In a single shot bolt action,the .243 WSSM is ideal, although it burns nearly 50 grains of powder per shot. It really doesn't offer any PRACTICAL advantages over the .204 Ruger, .223 Remington or .22-250 Remington for the majority of varmint hunting.