20 PPC from Ron McDaniel
Here are some notes Ron sent with his rifleI have a 24" 20 PPC barrel from Virgin Valley with a .230 neck. I'm using 220 lapua brass that neck turned to give me .002 clearance. I fire formed the brass by seating the bullet (33 gr V-Max}into the lands and filling the case to the base of the neck with Benchmark. Seemed to form the cases very well. I started to get some early pressure signs the second time around with loads I did not think were hot. It was due to not turning the necks far enough back. Returned them when I went home.The next time out I was increasing the loads and was getting primer flow into the primer hole. I ended up solving that problem by using CCI BR4 primers. I use a Harrel full length die with .225 and .226 bushings. I full length each time try to set shoulder back just enough so I can close action without having to snap it shut seems to be close to .003 set back works good. The die does not seem to size the case down much.
None of the groups were bad the best group was with the Benchmark at 51.5. I have a Tasco 4-16 on the rifle and do not like it. I think with a different scope I will shoot better groups. A bad group would have several together and one out pushing the group to 1". The cci primers did not seem to make as much difference with velocity with H4198 but did so with the Benchmark. I need to use the cci's to get rid of primer flow into the primer hole. This would occur near 4050 with Fed 205m and rem 7 1/2 making the action hard to break open. Even at 4350 the action was easy to open with the cci's and showing no pressure signs.
Note: Ron made this stock himself, his first attempt at stock making. The wood is quilted maple with rosewood accents. He also machined a sleeve pillar and epoxied it into the stock.
NOTE: Ron reports that he is seeing some head separation after 8 reloadings, with mild loads. He believes that this could be reduced to 4 or so loadings, or a dangerous situation could arise, if hot loads are tried. The data below and elsewhere on this site is for informational purposes only. Always use care, start low & work up.
BULLET POWDER CLICKS BRASS PRIMER VELOCITY GROUP COMMENTS Hornady 33 VMAX Benchmark 49.0 220 LAUPA Rem 7 1/2 4025 " " 49.0 " CCI BR 4 4092 " " 50.0 " " 4166 " " 51.0 " " 4208 " " 51.5 " " 4269 " " 52.0 " " 4317 " " 52.5 " " 4352 " H 4198 45.0 " Rem 7 1/2 4100 " " 45.0 " CCI BR 4 4077