6 mm ppc loading

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greenguy

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Hi all
I want to know if I am doing things right loading for my 6 ppc
I use rcbs fl die p/n 22601 fullsise every time (some say this is no good )
fired case mesures .480 after fullsise . 477
I use wilson micrometer bullet seater
I can push the bullets in by hand but need littlebit of force
I have 262 neck
loaded round mesures 260,5 ( is 260,0 better ):)
 
It appears to me that you have a couple of typos in the before and after sizing numbers. You might want to check. Evidently you are using a one piece die, and I am guessing that when you get the numbers corrected that the die is sizing the base of the case about .003 which seems to me to be excessive, but I may be mistaken, since I don't seem to have correct numbers to go by. How far are you bumping your shoulders when you FL size? What do your case necks measure after sizing, and over the pressure ring of a custom flat base bullet that is seated in the case? As an alternative, I might suggest that you send a case that has been fired several times, the last time with a fairly hot load To Harrell's Precision, for a die that is a better fit for your chamber.
 
Last edited:
greenguy said:
Hi all
I want to know if I am doing things right loading for my 6 ppc
I use RCBS fl die p/n 22601 full size every time (some say this is no good )
fired case measures .480 after full size .477
I use Wilson micrometer bullet seater
I can push the bullets in by hand but need little bit of force
I have 262 neck
loaded round measures 260,5 ( is 260,0 better ):)
Click to expand...

You're most definitely on the right track. Some things could be improved upon. For instance, if you're using the powder of choice, Vihtavuori N 133, with the more common .262" neck, a .257" bushing is often used because N 133 likes a lot of neck tension. To apply neck tension as part of the tuning process, you're going to need a full length die with a bushing cavity for inserting a variety of bushing until you find the neck tension that your barrel likes best. Here's one that a lot of 6PPC shooters use: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=207&rn=384&action=show_detail

Purchase a copy of Tony Boyer's [the most prolific Benchrest winner of all-time] book, the BOOK OF RIFLE ACCURACY here: http://www.brunoshooterssupply.com/ and you'll learn the secrets of shooting the 6PPC successfully.

The trend today for a loaded round measured at the pressure ring for a .2620" neck chamber is .2600". With a .257" bushing you're not going to be pushing bullets in by hand. Also, pushing shoulders back .0005" to .0015" is more common.
 
Thanks for the help I will reduce the shoulder bump to .001
I can use my wilson neck die with 257 bushing to get correct neck tension
and cut the necks more to get .2600 loaded round
one more question what is the strongest arbor press I can buy
I broke the one I hawe the teeth on the arm
 
greenguy said:
I can use my Wilson neck die with 257 bushing to get correct neck tension and cut the necks more to get .2600 loaded round. One more question what is the strongest arbor press I can buy.
Click to expand...

I strongly recommend you sell the neck die and only use a full length die with a bushing cavity. Using two different dies on the same case injects another variable. Shooting the 6PPC to its foremost capability requires consistency, consistency, and consistency.

Harrell's makes not only a very fine full length bushing die with just the right amount of built in play to size approximately 70% of the neck [the other 30% of the neck/shoulder junction unsized to improve the alignment of the case in the chamber] but also an outstanding arbor press: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=205&rn=382&action=show_detail

K&M also makes a nice arbor press: http://www.kmshooting.com/catalog/arbor-press/arbor-press.html

Note: Carbide bushings eliminate the need to lube case necks and make the job go a lot smoother. One good source is:

Bud Mundy, Director
NBRSA, Mississippi Valley Region
5956 Old Hickory Trail
Hillsboro, MO 63050-3251
Home: 636-797-5786
Cell: 641-425-3397
 
Greenguy, I'm not sure what cartridge you are reloading but certainly NOT a 6 PPC! If your expansion ring is measuring .480, it's even larger than my 30 BR. If you are reloading for a factory chamber, then I prefer to neck size only with a Lee Collet Die. Boyd is correct that you don't want to resize the base by .003 every time you load, in my opinion. Not sure if your necks are turned or not, but a loaded diameter of .2605 indicates they are about .0085 and that's fairly normal. Neck tension opinions vary, like all the others (!), but I like .002 to .003 of tension, meaning sizing the necks to .257 or .258.

None of these measurements are cast in cement and are usually arrived at by trial and error testing.

I second the Harrell's die advice. Send a couple of your fired brass to them and get a proper sizing die and use your .257 bushing in it and you should be all set.

Good luck, enjoy ...
 
I to am shooting 6PPC., but my problem is that I haven't been reloading for 10 years and just got back into shooting.
I have Eight pounds of unopened Thunderbird 32 that I purchased 10 years ago to use ether for the 6ppc or the 7BR.
My question is do you or anyone else out there have a good starting load using T-32 with 55-68gr bullets.
 
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