6 mm PPC

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The 6 mm PPC is a type of centerfire rifle cartridge.

The 6 mm PPC (Palmisano & Pindel Cartridge), or "6PPC" as it is more often called, is widely considered to be the most accurate 300-yard caliber available. It is used almost exclusively by benchrest shooters in 100,200 and 300-yard benchrest shooting competitions. 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). The 6mm PPC is widely considered to be one of the most efficient cartridges available, producing higher velocities for a given powder charge than any other 6mm cartridge.

The parent cartridge for the 6PPC is the .220 Russian, a running boar cartridge 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 much 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.

The bullet diameter is the standard at .243 inches, the same diameter used in the .243 Winchester and 6 mm Remington cartridges. Bullet weights depend on rifling twist being used. 68 grain bullets are typically 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.

SAKO offers factory loaded rounds in 6PPC, but any shooter who wishes to procure world class accuracy with a rifle must handload ammunition that works well with his action-barrel combination.

With precise handloading, a good rifle, and lots of practice, it is possible to shoot world class groups with the 6mm PPC, with 5 or 10-shot groups with center-to-center measures of under 0.200 inch at 200 yards (5mm at 180m)[1]. Being that the bullet diameter is 0.243", a 0.2" pattern will place all 5 bullets in the same hole.