New to this.....need .22 PPC reloading advice

B

Bull_Palmieri

Guest
Hello everyone,
1) Background: My name is Bull (nickname). I just purchased a used Ruger M77 Mark II chambered in .22 PPC. The only markings on the factory barrel are ".22 PPC". Although I am not new to shooting, or reloading, I have limited knowledge of the .22 PPC and have never neck-turned brass. I have a RCBS press, good powder systems, and a mix of RCBS and Redding dies (for other calibers). Of the dies that I have, my favorites are my Redding bushing neck sizing dies.

2) My short-term goals for the rifle: I do not think that I will be competing in a match anytime soon. Although I love friendly competition, I am both too busy and broke to invest what is needed to go that route. Instead, I just want to have fun. I want to play and learn as I go. I am looking for reasonable accuracy (1/2 m.o.a.) out to 300 yards for shooting anything from paper to groundhogs. I am wanting to reload with factory bullets versus buying factory ammo.

3) The help I need from y'all: ? #1: What dies are needed? (sizing, body, neck) ? #2 What brand dies do you recommend? ? #3 Do I need to turn the necks if I am only looking for so-so accuracy? ? #4: If I should neck-turn, what turning equipment do you recommend?

4) I really appreciate your help. Oh yea.....I am crappy at this computer stuff so please bear with me. Also, if I am not "Johnny on the spot" reading and replying to the comments/additional questions.....it is not because I am ungrateful for the help, it is because I am a Dad of 3 and a Scoutmaster of 50.

Thank you,
Bull
 
Regarding 3) above:

#1 - You like Redding bushing neck sizing dies; thus, assuming Redding has such a die for .22 PPC I'd try that -- or go with a Harrell's FL die.

#2 - See above

#3 - No

#4 - Why fool with that if you don't have to?
 
Bull_Palmieri said:
Hello everyone,
1) Background: My name is Bull (nickname). I just purchased a used Ruger M77 Mark II chambered in .22 PPC. The only markings on the factory barrel are ".22 PPC". Although I am not new to shooting, or reloading, I have limited knowledge of the .22 PPC and have never neck-turned brass. I have a RCBS press, good powder systems, and a mix of RCBS and Redding dies (for other calibers). Of the dies that I have, my favorites are my Redding bushing neck sizing dies.

2) My short-term goals for the rifle: I do not think that I will be competing in a match anytime soon. Although I love friendly competition, I am both too busy and broke to invest what is needed to go that route. Instead, I just want to have fun. I want to play and learn as I go. I am looking for reasonable accuracy (1/2 m.o.a.) out to 300 yards for shooting anything from paper to groundhogs. I am wanting to reload with factory bullets versus buying factory ammo.

3) The help I need from y'all: ? #1: What dies are needed? (sizing, body, neck) ? #2 What brand dies do you recommend? ? #3 Do I need to turn the necks if I am only looking for so-so accuracy? ? #4: If I should neck-turn, what turning equipment do you recommend?

4) I really appreciate your help. Oh yea.....I am crappy at this computer stuff so please bear with me. Also, if I am not "Johnny on the spot" reading and replying to the comments/additional questions.....it is not because I am ungrateful for the help, it is because I am a Dad of 3 and a Scoutmaster of 50.

Thank you,
Bull
Click to expand...


#1-Redding or Harrell dies
#2-With your rig forget about reliable 1/2"moa groups to 300yds
#3-Check #1. Turning necks in a factory chamber is useless
#4-You may not have enough time
 
The following is outdated advice:

Your 22 PPC may very well be accurate enough to shoot 1/2 MOA but at 300 yards the wind will toss it around quite a bit. Get it to shoot as well as you can at 100 yards and assume that it's shooting that well at further distances.

Make darn sure of the neck clearance...darn sure you have a little bit of clearance with a loaded round. If you need to turn the necks to have some clearance then do that...but don't do it if you have clearance.

Most Benchrest shooters use V133 powder but others are good as well. I've got 3 or 4 partial jugs of H322 that served me well but when I got beat, I got beat by V133. Don't think I ever realized just how much V133 to pour into the case.

Get a good full length die and bullet seater. Rather than the run of the mill bullets try some hand swaged bullets just in case your rifle likes 'em better. What twist rate does your barrel have?

The following is not outdated:

I'll add this snide sounding remark just in case you are unaware. You'll be last place at every registered Benchrest match you attend with this rifle but a groundhog that just had himself scattered over 15 feet of dirt and dust won't know the difference. What I'm actually saying here is that your 22 PPC is a factory rifle and while you can get it to shoot pretty good...it's just like your other rifles and should be treated similarly.
 
22 ppc

I have a Remington 40xbr in 22 ppc and here is a few loads that worked for me;
Barts 52 gr. 28.0 gr. of benchmark

Barts 52 gr 27.5 gr. 8208

Just in case, you may want to start low by a grain or two and work up to these loads.

Berger also has good .22 caliber bullets for the 22 ppc.

I have never lost with this rifle in any competition, but it may be worth noting that I haven't actually competed with it either!
 
As long as it is a factory barrel chambered in 22PPC from Ruger, you can use 22PPC USA brass without neck turning. Load using similar process as any 222, 22-250 that you want to shoot groundhogs with and enjoy it. You should be able to get 1/2 inch from it, but do not expect it to shoot like a BR gun, though a BR case. It is a factory gun and as such will still be a fun shooter. i use a 22 PPC for groundhogs and like it very much. i run 50 grain vmax, standard primers, won't name powder or amount, but load data is available in manuals. Fine shooter.

I use Redding dies and bushings
 
Your Ruger 22PPC

I owned one of those about 10 years ago. Currently I know of at least 2 others that compete in "Factory" class competition in varmint and similar type shoots. The one I owned was (is) extremely accurate. As far as how accurate it might be at 300yds+ will depend largely upon you and what magnification the scope has and how good the scope is.

For brass, check with Huntington's http://www.huntingtons.com/store/home.php?cat=271 and just buy the Norma 22ppc brass. You'll need to trim it to length and champher the case mouths. From there on out just load and shoot. The Nosler reloading manual that I have has several pages of specs and loads for it. As I recall N135, 4895, and N335 were powders that it did well with. I'd imagine that 8208 would be an excellent candidate as well, and that's probably what I'd try first if you can find some reliable data on it.

I did just skim-turn the necks on them, resized them with a body die, then deprimed and neck sized them with a redding bushing die as best I remember. If your rifle shoots as well as the ones I know of and the one I had, sub quarter inch groups at 100yds with 50-52gr bullets should be a very attainable. JME. WD
 
Thank You!!

All,
I wanted to send a thank you for all of the help and advice. Having been in the shooting community for quite a while, I knew that y'all would be helpful. Old shooters help new shooters....it is an unwritten rule within the community. Too bad everyone that I see during my daily walk doesn't adhere to this philosophy.
I am sure to be a repeat "customer" to this forum. I am the type of person that enjoys learning new things and I know that there is a wealth of knowledge within the minds of the members here.
Thank you,
Bull
 
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