6 mm PPC

The 6 mm PPC (Palmisano & Pindel Cartridge), or 6 PPC as it is more often called, is a centerfire rifle cartridge used almost exclusively for benchrest shooting. It is one of the most accurate 300-yard cartridges available. This cartridge's accuracy is produced by a combination of its stout posture [the body of the case is only 1.23 inches (31 mm) long] and aggressive neck angle (30 degrees compared to a 30-06's 17 degrees).

Background
The bullet diameter is standard for 6 mm caliber cartridges at .243 inches, the same diameter used in the .243 Winchester and 6 mm Remington cartridges. Bullet weights depend on rifling twist being used. Typically, 68 grain bullets are used in barrels with twist rates of 13:1 (one twist for every 13" in the barrel), while 15:1 barrels can accommodate lighter 58 or 60 grain bullets accurately. Factory ammunition for the 6 PPC is available from SAKO.

Handloading
The parent cartridge for the 6PPC is the .220 Russian, which in turn derives from the 7.62 x 39 mm. Brass can either be purchased, or formed from .220 Russian brass (7.62 x 39 mm can also be used, but .220 Russian brass is usually higher quality). The .223 inch (5.56 mm) neck of the .220 Russian is expanded to .243 inches (6 mm) by running the case through a full length sizing die for 6 mm PPC. Next the case is trimmed, loaded, and "fire formed" by loading and firing the round through a 6 mm PPC rifle. Recently, Lapua, Norma and SAKO have begun making 6mm PPC brass.

As with other cartridges used in competition, precise handloading, a good rifle, and lots of practice make it possible to shoot very small consistent groups, with 5 or 10-shot groups with center-to-center measures of under 0.200 inch at 200 yards (5mm at 180m).

Categories
Cartridge:rifles