Looking For Some Help eith 6PPC

rkittine

Member
Looking For Some Help With 6PPC

I have been very lucky thoughout my many years on this planet, to have mentors in just about every extra curricular activity I have gotten involved in. A couple of year ago that included Long Range (1,000 Yard) bench rest shooting and now someone has taken me under their wing (I hope he isn't doing this with too many people as with the amount of time that he has spent with me, if he does it with a few others, he will have no life for himself) with my journey into Short Range Benchrest, but he is 3,000 miles away.

This has been a lot of "First" for me. My latest rifle is the first precision rifle that I have purchased used. A call to the builder, a reputable Bench Rest Gunsmith, who will remain unnamed, did not turn out well. I was trying to see if I could BUY a reamer print for this rifle, but I was basically told, "Why would I help someone regarding a rifle that they did not buy from me". I was going to see about him supplying and chambering a 30BR Change Barrel for this rifle, but that will not happen.

So what I do know is that it is a 1:13.5 Twist Barrel with a .262 Neck. Beyond that, I know very little.

Next, it is my first PPC, my first foray into Neck Turning, My First Foray into Fire-forming as well as the first time I have been told to thrown powder by how much it fills up the case rather than really weighing it. Then after going to the Seminar of Bob White's Bench Rest school, I am a little uneasy trying to fire-form cases on my own. My new mentor has even sent me a couple of different neck turning tools so I can practice on some old .22-250 cases that I have, before deciding which one(s) to purchase. I have ordered a Carbide Expander as well as an expander body die, so I can ruin some old junk brass while getting a feel for necking up, measuring and turning down.

I have, powder, projectiles, cases turned to .262 by the guy in Missouri, a variety of appropriate primers and powder and pretty much all the high end precision reloading equipment that I could ever use, with the exception of Custom Dies for the 6PPC (I have Wilson Neck Sizing and Bullet Seating Dies) and a High End Volumetric Powder Thrower. I do have a $1K Scale, a Scott Parker, Balance scale and an Omega trickler for long range.

So, what I am looking for is someone within driving distance, that might be willing to meet me at a range and work with me to check my headspace (which I will see if Bob White can do for me as I purchased the rifle from him) Fire Form some cases, again load and shoot at least three cases three times so that I can send them to a custom die maker for a set of custom dies, or at least a custom full length sizing dies and give me some face to face pointers. I am happy to pay for this instruction. I have easy access to a private range in East Hampton, New York as well as at least the range at Brookhaven on Long Island, am a member at Cherry Ridge in Highland Lakes, New Jersey, spend a lot of time in Orange Country, New York and am an easy drive from my apartment in New York City to Eastern PA, Southern New Jersey etc.

I have read Tony Boyer's book at least twice and read through the 6PPC write up on AccurateShooter, including the three types of rifer forming, but have yet to shoot out a barrel :cool: to turn into a fire-forming barrel, since I have not pulled the trigger behind any 6PC yet.

Anyone interested?

Cheers, Bob

rkittine@aol.com
 
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I don't live anywhere near there but am glad to help. Like a lot of folks, you seem to have too much to worry about....and I can help with that. You don't actually need somebody close.

PM me your phone number and I'll call. You can try my phone but I probably won't answer.

423-443-9449
 
Bob,
Just a suggestion, load up the case you bought already neck turned and fire form them twice, then take 3 of them and send them to Harrell's Precision and for $75.00 they will make you a custom full length sizing/shoulder bump die. You will have it in 7-10 days, and that will resolve your resizing die. I would think there would be someone local to help you out, especially where your located, bunch of good shooters in your region. One thing you might want to consider is there is a match called the Hog Roast in PA May 6th it would do you well to go to that match and you would learn a lot.
 
There are no headspace issues per se. If you follow the advice about the dies then make sure to get a couple of their brass shoulder fittings. You simply set it on the shoulder so you can measure fired shoulder then sized shoulder which you should set the die for about .001"-.0015" ideally. It's pretty straight forward.
As far as forming, you cannot put enough powder in an unformed PPC case to hurt. Just remember to seat bullets long so they're hard into the lands and the case will form up perfectly. You're not gonna burn up a barrel forming up 20-25 cases. Don't do more till you get a little trigger time.

As far as the smith being a dick, there are only a couple reamer options, generally. Call JGA ,for instance, and see if they have a print for "Bob Smith's" current reamer. That may get you there....reamers are not real expensive.
 
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How does Harrel's make the dies to match a given case I wonder? They must have quite an array of reamers, or they cut the dies on a lathe?
 
Thanks Guys and Tim I had never looked at the dimensions of the .220 Russian compared to the 6PPC and incorrectly assumed that it was mostly just necking up that made the difference until Boyd set me straight on the difference in case capacity once the case is fireformed. Now I understand how it is pretty difficult if not impossible to over charge a Necked up only .220 Russion with any of the normal 6PPC Powders.

I guess if I do not get shooting, I will never wear out a barrel that I can turn into a FireForming barrel! :)

Bob
 
Thanks Guys and Tim I had never looked at the dimensions of the .220 Russian compared to the 6PPC and incorrectly assumed that it was mostly just necking up that made the difference until Boyd set me straight on the difference in case capacity once the case is fireformed. Now I understand how it is pretty difficult if not impossible to over charge a Necked up only .220 Russion with any of the normal 6PPC Powders.

I guess if I do not get shooting, I will never wear out a barrel that I can turn into a FireForming barrel! :)

Bob

For what it's worth,until you get to the point of regular shooting, buy fully prepped brass or what I've done, buy formed, unturned brass. Saves a pantload of time, does'nt cost a bunch. Simply turn it and shoot.
 
Who sells preformed Lapua brass for the 6PPC? I am pretty sure that what I bought where just neck turned. I will be shooting with Bob White tomorrow and will ask him.

Bob
 
Isn't Ron's Brass just expanded and turned to your neck requirements, or does he offer it, FireFormed as well. I did get my expansion mandrel and forming die from Bob White today at the short range bench rest clinic.

Bob
 
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