PPU Soft Point - performance on deer

[ChesterP]

Actually, I have found that it matters very much indeed! All but one of my rifles (consisting of Tikka's a CZ and a Ruger), will simply not chamber more than 7 in 10 PPU, sometimes less than this, so in the past (because I wouldn't take them now if they were given free) end up having to pull and re-size the 30% that won't. It's not a matter of having to close the bolt hard on a stubborn round, it's simply not possible without exerting very significant force, to chamber the ruddy things and that's not good practice. Things really came to a head when in the field, I missed the chance of a deer because of a failure to chamber...this could equally as easily been a follow up shot. I find that level of manufacturing sloppiness in ammunition simply unacceptable. I do however use PPU brass as it's cheap, widely available and can be batched for consistency and I get a reasonable number of loads from it, especially in 308. Ammo? No way, not going there again.

 

[DRN]

90gr worked very well for me on roe in .243.

 

[paultap]

I bought a box in 243 calibre for my Sako 85, I struggled to chamber the rounds as the bolt was very stiff to close. They were accurate enough but I gave the remaining half box away. Didn’t actually try them on deer though as I wouldn’t risk taking them on a stalk with the chambering issues I had.

 

[NOTSHARP]

Tikka T3 22-250
Sako 75 6,5x55

PPU was fine. Used mainly on Roe.

 

[User00040]

Actually, I have found that it matters very much indeed! All but one of my rifles (consisting of Tikka's a CZ and a Ruger), will simply not chamber more than 7 in 10 PPU, sometimes less than this, so in the past (because I wouldn't take them now if they were given free) end up having to pull and re-size the 30% that won't. It's not a matter of having to close the bolt hard on a stubborn round, it's simply not possible without exerting very significant force, to chamber the ruddy things and that's not good practice. Things really came to a head when in the field, I missed the chance of a deer because of a failure to chamber...this could equally as easily been a follow up shot. I find that level of manufacturing sloppiness in ammunition simply unacceptable. I do however use PPU brass as it's cheap, widely available and can be batched for consistency and I get a reasonable number of loads from it, especially in 308. Ammo? No way, not going there again.

Your chamber(s) are/is too tight.

 

[ChesterP]

Yes, that may well be so as T3's are known for it but it's happened with most of my rifles, so the only the only real conclusion I can draw on is that

"my chambers may well be tight good sir,
...but factory PPU is really quite sh@te and should chamber much looser"
"one tries to chamber a round and with a mallet doth have to pound;
Tis no good you see and others are better for me"

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Using PPU SP B-132 55 grains in .224 cal I reloaded 5.6x50Rs for my hunting lease owner/neighbours combination gun.
The P-Max computer gives my load a 856 m/s speed using RL-7 & CCI small pistol primers, it grouped well in his gun. The RWS speed for their 50 gr bullet is 1015 m/s.
He shot his first buck with my load last night, it travelled 20M then fell over dead he said the damage was less than the RWS bullets gave him. Happy puppy.

 

[Roebuck]

I find I can get a good group with them and then the next will have inexplained fliers! Powder load is not consistent I believe?

 

[tim@tcs]

Actually, I have found that it matters very much indeed! All but one of my rifles (consisting of Tikka's a CZ and a Ruger), will simply not chamber more than 7 in 10 PPU, sometimes less than this, so in the past (because I wouldn't take them now if they were given free) end up having to pull and re-size the 30% that won't. It's not a matter of having to close the bolt hard on a stubborn round, it's simply not possible without exerting very significant force, to chamber the ruddy things and that's not good practice. Things really came to a head when in the field, I missed the chance of a deer because of a failure to chamber...this could equally as easily been a follow up shot. I find that level of manufacturing sloppiness in ammunition simply unacceptable. I do however use PPU brass as it's cheap, widely available and can be batched for consistency and I get a reasonable number of loads from it, especially in 308. Ammo? No way, not going there again.

It’s been explained that it isn’t sloppiness or poor QC, it’s just that some chambers are cut tight and Privi use the maximum dimensions on the tolerances allowed by CIP.
A Kiwi gunsmith wrote extensively about tight chambers and Sako/Tikka imports! He did quite a study on it and I must look it up as I can’t remember if tight chambers were a result of tool wear or slacker chambers due to new tools or worn ones that may chatter when cutting
My son is a machinist and would know but I will look it up as I think he used to correlate chamber size to serial numbers in production runs.

 

[Smellydog]

It’s been explained that it isn’t sloppiness or poor QC, it’s just that some chambers are cut tight and Privi use the maximum dimensions on the tolerances allowed by CIP.
A Kiwi gunsmith wrote extensively about tight chambers and Sako/Tikka imports! He did quite a study on it and I must look it up as I can’t remember if tight chambers were a result of tool wear or slacker chambers due to new tools or worn ones that may chatter when cutting
My son is a machinist and would know but I will look it up as I think he used to correlate chamber size to serial numbers in production runs.

I experienced the difference in chambers going from an American rifle to a European one of the same calibre.
I always believed tight chambers were associated with accuracy. ??

 

[User00040]

It’s been explained that it isn’t sloppiness or poor QC, it’s just that some chambers are cut tight and Privi use the maximum dimensions on the tolerances allowed by CIP.
A Kiwi gunsmith wrote extensively about tight chambers and Sako/Tikka imports! He did quite a study on it and I must look it up as I can’t remember if tight chambers were a result of tool wear or slacker chambers due to new tools or worn ones that may chatter when cutting
My son is a machinist and would know but I will look it up as I think he used to correlate chamber size to serial numbers in production runs.

Would be interested to see this writeup if you can find it please, thanks!

 

[User00040]

I always believed tight chambers were associated with accuracy. ??

Nope, not at all.

George Gardener mentions that he does not cut chambers to minimum spec on his own rifles, and he knows a thing or two about accuracy...

 

[tim@tcs]

I experienced the difference in chambers going from an American rifle to a European one of the same calibre.
I always believed tight chambers were associated with accuracy. ??

Tight throats we’re a fad for a while

 

[tim@tcs]

Would be interested to see this writeup if you can find it please, thanks!

I’m looking for it

 

[Archer]

it isn’t sloppiness or poor QC, it’s just that some chambers are cut tight and Privi use the maximum dimensions on the tolerances allowed by CIP.
about tight chambers and Sako/Tikka imports!

Agreed because I have personal experience of this

 

[Kjf]

Put cartridge in gun ( whatever cartridge it may be )

Shoot your quarry ,

if its bobbins .....

You have missed / bad shot placement etc etc or are stretching the range ( or you have a crap set up., not set up and tested/ for the ranges you shoot at )

Every factory cartridge I have bought will drop.your quarry if you test it first ( adjust zero to suit )

But it hit the shoulder blah blah blah ,

did it hit the kill zone

Yes

Job done
Kjf

 

[Puds]

PPU 90gr worked well in my .243, and grouped under an inch. I’ve found that their .308 offering, however, patterns like a shotgun.

 

[Acm]

Check your drops out to 200m or better still 300m first.

good advice this, ive found the 180g .30-06 drops like a stone compared to my reloads

 

[Donk1]

PPU bullets are good
Slightly softer and more prone to terminal erosion than some “harder” bonded or “locked” lead core, exposed soft point bullets.

Terminal effect on deer is very good
I have used them extensively in .222 as they shot so well I couldn’t reload for the same cost.

The only observation is that PPU size their brass to the upper limit of the CIP chamber spec.
Consequently if you have a tight chamber cut to the lower spec of the CIP dimensions, you may find pressure when closing the bolt.
In practice this matters not.
The loads are no-where near max and the subsequent shot usually presents no issues and will extract just fine.

We use vIrgin PPU brass in both Fox and Peregrine Factory ammo as it is one of the few brands available in a wide range of Sporting cartridges that can be purchased trade and in volume.
It keeps the price down in what is otherwise a small volume ammunition production

Yes tbf my mate has been using them too great effect, but has just had 2 more boxes different batches that won’t chamber he is gutted as they were supper accurate and he was using them on foxes and deer , I personally didn’t like them on the foxes as I had a couple of runners as the bullet went straight through but my mate was head shooting them and couldn’t fault them

 

[User00040]

Yes tbf my mate has been using them too great effect, but has just had 2 more boxes different batches that won’t chamber he is gutted as they were supper accurate and he was using them on foxes and deer , I personally didn’t like them on the foxes as I had a couple of runners as the bullet went straight through but my mate was head shooting them and couldn’t fault them

Sounds crude but you can run loaded rounds through a full length sizing die (or better still, a 'small base' one) with the expander/decapping plug removed. I believe Redding makes a 'body die' which can be used for this too.

Make small adjustments and check with firing pin removed from bolt.