Anyone shooting a 6PPC?
- Thread starter Smokin250
- Start date
CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: Smokin250Just curious what you guys think of a 6 PPC. I am in process of building a new AR, and guy i know has a brand new 6 ppc upper with shilen barrel on it he said he would make me heck of deal on. Just wondering what opinions people have of them...good or bad
Good in a heavy bench or small varmint rifle (crow and woodchuck)... bad in an AR... you'll be throwing $1 each cases all over the country side.
In a volume rifle, it is prohibitively expensive to shoot. Shot a 6x223 instead - cases are almost free - Lapua 6mm PPC is very pricey.
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Good in a heavy bench or small varmint rifle (crow and woodchuck)... bad in an AR... you'll be throwing $1 each cases all over the country side.
In a volume rifle, it is prohibitively expensive to shoot. Shot a 6x223 instead - cases are almost free - Lapua 6mm PPC is very pricey.
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Nothing to do with AR's or volume, but my one big disappointment with my beautiful little Sako Vixen PPC is that no bonded bullet or partition is available to hunt deer with. The gun certainly has the accuracy, but no suitable deer hunting bullet in the proper weight exists. Yet Nosler makes a 60 grain .22 caliber Partition for those who hunt deer with their 223's!
Hmmmph!
Hmmmph!
Smokin250
New member
The one issue i was worried about the most was going to be cost of ammunition...or components i should say.
Catshooter, i was thinking about going with a 6x45 for past few years but never pulled trigger on it. My question is can i use just standard 223 brass? and just resize them for the 6mm bullet? I have bunch of 223 brass at home, so that would be awesome. I really have no need for anything other then a 223 but i want something different and a 6mm bullet has caught my eye.
Catshooter, i was thinking about going with a 6x45 for past few years but never pulled trigger on it. My question is can i use just standard 223 brass? and just resize them for the 6mm bullet? I have bunch of 223 brass at home, so that would be awesome. I really have no need for anything other then a 223 but i want something different and a 6mm bullet has caught my eye.
coleridge
Active member
Yep, 6x45 uses standard run of the mill 223Rem brass (or brass labeled 5.56x45 if it's stamped that way). Just run the 223 brass into a 6x45 full lenth sizer & you got brass now. The 6x45 is VERY close ballistics to the 6ppc with WAY cheaper brass. Most people that own one (me included) like the 6x45 VERY much.
Other than the brass, cost will be the same (very close case capacity). The 223 case will likely feed better also.
Other than the brass, cost will be the same (very close case capacity). The 223 case will likely feed better also.
CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: Smokin250The one issue i was worried about the most was going to be cost of ammunition...or components i should say.
Catshooter, i was thinking about going with a 6x45 for past few years but never pulled trigger on it. My question is can i use just standard 223 brass? and just resize them for the 6mm bullet? I have bunch of 223 brass at home, so that would be awesome. I really have no need for anything other then a 223 but i want something different and a 6mm bullet has caught my eye.
Yup... it doesn't get any easier than that. Every thing works - magazines, etc. No changes.
Catshooter, i was thinking about going with a 6x45 for past few years but never pulled trigger on it. My question is can i use just standard 223 brass? and just resize them for the 6mm bullet? I have bunch of 223 brass at home, so that would be awesome. I really have no need for anything other then a 223 but i want something different and a 6mm bullet has caught my eye.
Yup... it doesn't get any easier than that. Every thing works - magazines, etc. No changes.
CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: Smokin250Are you gaining stability over longer distances with the heavier bullet over the 223?
Are you addressing that question to me??? (It seems to be addressed to yourself
)
If so,what do you mean by "Stability"?
Are you addressing that question to me??? (It seems to be addressed to yourself
If so,what do you mean by "Stability"?
coleridge
Active member
I'm sure cat will make a reply but it will help to know if you are building in a Bolt gun or AR.
The problem with the 6x45 in an AR frame is the 2.26" magazine restriction. High BC bullets have such a long "nose" that the bearing surface is all the way in the case by the time you hit the max lenth (nothing holding the bullet). Not to mention by then you have used up your case capacity "hiding" the bullet.
The 6x45 really kinda tops out at ~80-85gr bullets (unless very blunt) in the AR platform. With a bolt gun there is room in the mag to seat long (hi BC) bullets.
In my opinion if you want a true long range gun to utilize the 6mm heavies you need more case than the 223 capacity anyway. The 6x45 "niche" is with 65-75 grain bullets. You can push them ~100 fps faster than their like weight .224" counterparts, aerodynamics are similar (until you get in the big .224") but the larger cross section of the 6mm bullet also hits critters harder. Plus these weight bullets (60-80's) will get you to typical hunting ranges with room to grow!
What type gun are you building? A heavy LR gun or a lightweight carry hunting gun?
EDIT: Just re-read your post... I see you are doing a AR now.
The problem with the 6x45 in an AR frame is the 2.26" magazine restriction. High BC bullets have such a long "nose" that the bearing surface is all the way in the case by the time you hit the max lenth (nothing holding the bullet). Not to mention by then you have used up your case capacity "hiding" the bullet.
The 6x45 really kinda tops out at ~80-85gr bullets (unless very blunt) in the AR platform. With a bolt gun there is room in the mag to seat long (hi BC) bullets.
In my opinion if you want a true long range gun to utilize the 6mm heavies you need more case than the 223 capacity anyway. The 6x45 "niche" is with 65-75 grain bullets. You can push them ~100 fps faster than their like weight .224" counterparts, aerodynamics are similar (until you get in the big .224") but the larger cross section of the 6mm bullet also hits critters harder. Plus these weight bullets (60-80's) will get you to typical hunting ranges with room to grow!
What type gun are you building? A heavy LR gun or a lightweight carry hunting gun?
EDIT: Just re-read your post... I see you are doing a AR now.
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CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: Smokin250Ha, yes. I was wondering what would I be gaining be going with the 6x45. Basically i am trying to figure out what caliber i want to go with, and why...if that makes sense.
What Coleridge said pretty much covers it - I don't know you and where you are in your progression of gun development is...
Most of us go through a stage where we want wildcats or improved or anything that other guys don't have - it's mostly the "kewl" factor.
Then we grow up
There doesn't seem to be a reason for this 6mmx223 in your life. In an AR, you will have to use light bullets, so there is no advantage there.
If you are going to go through the trouble of a wildcat, make sure it's one that you will love, cuz if you don't love it, you will come to hate it.
Remember that you can toss 223 brass all over the country and buy LC for pennies, but when you have labored over it to make it 6mmx223, now it's YOUR baby, and you aren't OK with it flying all over the country side.
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What Coleridge said pretty much covers it - I don't know you and where you are in your progression of gun development is...
Most of us go through a stage where we want wildcats or improved or anything that other guys don't have - it's mostly the "kewl" factor.
Then we grow up
There doesn't seem to be a reason for this 6mmx223 in your life. In an AR, you will have to use light bullets, so there is no advantage there.
If you are going to go through the trouble of a wildcat, make sure it's one that you will love, cuz if you don't love it, you will come to hate it.
Remember that you can toss 223 brass all over the country and buy LC for pennies, but when you have labored over it to make it 6mmx223, now it's YOUR baby, and you aren't OK with it flying all over the country side.
.
coleridge
Active member
Originally Posted By: CatShooterRemember that you can toss 223 brass all over the country and buy LC for pennies, but when you have labored over it to make it 6mmx223, now it's YOUR baby, and you aren't OK with it flying all over the country side.
I know what you mean. I bought 1300+ fired LC brass for $10 (then shipping was $15 but still a deal at that). With less than .02 cent each I still pick up what I can everytime I shoot. That's what's good about the guy selling the 6x45 brass $75 for 500 shipped. I still look for it but don't spend much time, much less "attached" somehow. For some reason I shot lapua brass at one time out of my Dtech & got tired of "hunting" more for brass than coyotes.
I would say the 6x45 has an advantage over the 223Rem but it's small. I know there is a big following here & there is a reason for it. On top of that, it's just a neat cartridge. My next will be in a bolt gun though.
I know what you mean. I bought 1300+ fired LC brass for $10 (then shipping was $15 but still a deal at that). With less than .02 cent each I still pick up what I can everytime I shoot. That's what's good about the guy selling the 6x45 brass $75 for 500 shipped. I still look for it but don't spend much time, much less "attached" somehow. For some reason I shot lapua brass at one time out of my Dtech & got tired of "hunting" more for brass than coyotes.
I would say the 6x45 has an advantage over the 223Rem but it's small. I know there is a big following here & there is a reason for it. On top of that, it's just a neat cartridge. My next will be in a bolt gun though.
If I were not reloading anyway, I'd stick with 223. The thing I like about 6x45 is it's such an easy case to make. No fireforming, trimming, donut removal or neck turning. All you do is size, load, and shoot. I do the same things with new and once fired brass in std cartridges so there are no extra steps involved in loading 6x45 v 5.56. To be sure, I don't like losing brass, but that's a personal problem.
As to bullets, the best shooting mag length load I've found so far is the 85gr. Sierra Game King right at 2.260. It's a traditional shape, loads to mag length, and shoots very well in my gun. I love the 87 V-max, but it wants a coal (approx 2.35) that won't fit in the mag so I only use it on the bobsled.
As to bullets, the best shooting mag length load I've found so far is the 85gr. Sierra Game King right at 2.260. It's a traditional shape, loads to mag length, and shoots very well in my gun. I love the 87 V-max, but it wants a coal (approx 2.35) that won't fit in the mag so I only use it on the bobsled.