Primer flash hole size in Sako 22 PPC cases.

V

Velocette

Guest
I have recently bought an as new secondhand Sako single shot 22 PPC and the Sako cases that came with it have a smaller primer flash hole than any calibre I have ever loaded for.
Is the small size of the flash hole an aid to accuracy or just the way Sako makes them?
Any reason not to open them up with the Sinclair flash hole unifier I use for my other calibres or should I buy a special one for this case?
Regards, Roly.
 
YES.
Don't mess with the flash hole. It's .057". Check your decapping rods to make sure they are ..057".
Call Sinclair. They have the tools, to keep up, the brass. Ask for Bob.
Too bad that the seller did not give you the tools/dies..........
 
Thanks for your reply.
The rifle came from a deceased estate. The widow held onto to her husbands rifles for around fifteen years before selling them through the shooting club I belong to and I knew him as a club member.
The rifle came with new and fired Sako cases and a Lee full lenght sizer and seater, as well as a Lee Collet die and seater.
I always use a Lee hand punch for taking out fired primers and cleaning the cases before sizing and the de-capping pin on this comes out at .061 as do the de-capping pins on the Lee sizing dies.
Just measured the pins on my other Lee sizing dies and they all come out at .059 and the RCBS sizing die for my 218 Bee came out at .069
I use Lee Dies where I can because I like their Collet dies.
The only competition I sometimes do is F class out to two hundred metres which is the limit of the club I belong to.
Regards, Roly.
 
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zippy06 said:
YES.
Don't mess with the flash hole. It's .057". Check your decapping rods to make sure they are ..057".
Call Sinclair. They have the tools, to keep up, the brass. Ask for Bob.
Too bad that the seller did not give you the tools/dies..........
Click to expand...


Lapua PPC cases now have 0.063" flash holes, they originally were 1.5 MM (0.059"). Common USA brass has 0.080". Many dies use 1/16" (0.062") decapping pins.

Many target shooters feel the smaller hole in the PPC case is more accurate. If you drill the holes out to the (0.080") diameter you will get different results.

Wally Hart and some other benchrest suppliers offer a flash hole reaming tool that is (0.063") diameter. Reaming your flash holes to (0.063") will solve your problem if your decapping pin is 0.062".


.
 
All the Lee de-priming pins fit these Sako cases ok but I don't have any means to measure these Sako flash holes.
Had a look online and Sinclair does not look like they do a smaller primer unifier tool.
I will open up a few of these flash holes with the Sinclair hand tool I have and see how they shoot compared with the original flash hole size.
As this is not a bench rest rifle as you guys know them I don't expect to see much difference.
Thanks for the two replies.
 
JerrySharrett said:
Lapua PPC cases now have 0.063" flash holes, they originally were 1.5 MM (0.059"). Common USA brass has 0.080". Many dies use 1/16" (0.062") decapping pins.

Many target shooters feel the smaller hole in the PPC case is more accurate. If you drill the holes out to the (0.080") diameter you will get different results.

Wally Hart and some other benchrest suppliers offer a flash hole reaming tool that is (0.063") diameter. Reaming your flash holes to (0.063") will solve your problem if your decapping pin is 0.062".


.
Click to expand...

Guess, I was wrong. Sorry about that.
Looks like I need a new set of calipers. And toss this box of unopened brass. My lee dies measured .062" My JLC die pin measured .054"
 
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I doubt that any - -

meaningful study has been done that proves primer pocket holes make much, of any difference. When one considers that one of the originators of the PPC had experimented with perforated tubes in PPC cases to try to get more spark in the case, ya gotta wonder why folks think less is more.

Pete
 
Thanks for the Sinclair part number.
Although I don't shoot bench rest I do like to try and make each case the same and I have found it surprising sometimes the difference in the size of flash holes and the amount of brass that comes off when you chamfer the flash hole to get rid of the ragged edge inside the case.
I also use a Sinclair primer pocket cleaner to ensure the depth is the same on each case as this again can vary. One lot of unfired ADI brass in 223 I recently bought the, the primer pocket cleaning tool doesn't reach the bottom.
 
Pete Wass said:
meaningful study has been done that proves primer pocket holes make much, of any difference. When one considers that one of the originators of the PPC had experimented with perforated tubes in PPC cases to try to get more spark in the case, ya gotta wonder why folks think less is more.

Pete
Click to expand...

Hi Pete.
From what I have read. P. P. and C. did their own study and the smaller flash hole was the key. Conclusion was smaller flash hole concetrated the flame.....
Mike Ratigans book or Tony's, or Jame's Calhoon. I think, Germán A. Salazar did a study.

By the way. My groups got smaller when I stopped using the Sinclair flash hole tool.
 
Velocette said:
http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadi...sinclair-flashhole-reamer-0625-prod36020.aspx

Hi Dusty, the link you gave me to the Sinclair primer flash hole unifier is ok and looks to be well made as all Sinclair tools are but it doesn't get rid of the Burrs inside the case which I have found to be quite considerable in some instances. Regards.
Click to expand...

Sinclair and others offer a tool specifically made to deburr flash holes. Most BR shooters use the deburring tool in their initial brass prep even on brass that has not had the flash holes reamed because most all good quality brass has flash holes that are drilled instead of being punched and there is a burr present.



.
 
I guess I stand corrected

zippy06 said:
Hi Pete.
From what I have read. P. P. and C. did their own study and the smaller flash hole was the key. Conclusion was smaller flash hole concetrated the flame.....
Mike Ratigans book or Tony's, or Jame's Calhoon. I think, Germán A. Salazar did a study.

By the way. My groups got smaller when I stopped using the Sinclair flash hole tool.
Click to expand...



The opposite has been my experience, that is to say, I could never see any difference but then I have shot 30 Cal rifles all these years. I have a tough time believing that few thousands makes any difference but then, I have never shot .22 Russian.

Pete
 
I really don't think they are drilled unless they use a step drill. Look down in with a bore scope and you will see two different diameters. The .063 diameters is on the small side, they are all over the place. I just checked a lot of 6BR. cases…….. jim
 
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