PPU Brass

[Ben]

I ordered some 6.5X55 Swedish , PPU , brass ( 2 bags of 50 ea. ) from Graf & Sons - - Mexico, MO.
Ordered it on Thursday, it arrived today Saturday.
That's quick enough...........
Looks like some nice brass.

Do you have any experiences with PPU brass that you'd care to share ?

Ben

 

[fiver]

I haven't really heard any complaints about it.
you do have to treat it like a different lot of brass compared to say win or fed. [case weight type thing]
but nobody has complained about it being junk or one and done type stuff that I have heard of.

 

[Ben]

I'm anxious to check neck wall thickness and uniformity on this lot that I've bought.

Ben

 

[JWFilips]

Ben,
My favorite bass to find on the range is PPU and PMC! Seems to last forever as long as you anneal it back every 8 to 10 reloads
Jim

 

[Ben]

Jim,

That sounds real good to me.

Ben

 

[popper]

I convert a lot of it (RPU) to BO, neck turned. Case wall seems to be uniform and I get many reloads from it.

 

[Jeff H]

Sorry for no intro or request to join - this is my first post here. So hard to sit back and shut up when the "Swede" comes up.

Ben, I've used PPU ("peh, peh, oo" - our alphabet/their sound system) in an M38, a 94 Carbine and in an '09 Argentine with a A&B 6.5x55 barrel shooting only 160 grain (jacketed) bullets and it has been excellent brass. I got mine as loaded "surplus-looking" ammo and haven't kept track of the number of times I've loaded it. I load the Swed pretty mildly and counting firings just gets boring.

I had no idea you could just buy it as new brass.

I use mostly Norma for the 'Swede - simply exquisite brass.

I have some Remington as well and no complaints, but the Norma dimensions are more correct and consistent.

The PPU, in my experience, falls between my Remington and Norma in quality - Better (nicer) than the Remington but not quite as nice as the Norma.

I have 200 rounds of Ingram FMJs to shoot up or pull, which looks very nice too, but the flash holes are small and pull the decapping pins out of my LEE dies.

All but the Ingram was acquired 20 to 25 years ago, so quality may have changed, but I'd buy PPU brass again myself in a heartbeat.

By the way, I'm not sure how the new brass is headstamped, but mine uses the Cyrllic alphabet and looks like "nny." If you see it at a gun show or yard sale, grab it.

 

[Ben]

This is sounding better as the clock ticks.

I plan to try out some of this in my Howa 6.5x55MM :

Ben

 

[Ben]

Sorry for no intro or request to join - this is my first post here. So hard to sit back and shut up when the "Swede" comes up.

Very glad to have you here on the forum ! !

 

[Ian]

Ben, more pictures of your rifle please! Me likes.

Oh, and PPU/nny/PMC has been great for me too.

 

[Ben]

OK Ian....You wanted to see more photos of my 6.5X55 Howa.
Here they are :

I'm VERY WELL pleased with everything about this rifle.
Many call these rifles " Japanese Sakos ".

My scope sits in Burris Signature Zee Rings that have the nylon inserts.
I like these rings. Guarantees a scope that is in a no stress , no bind situation.

I glass bedded the recoil lug and about 1.25" of the barrel.

The stock has pillars front and rear from the factory.

Here is the performance after the glass bedding and the Timney trigger installation.

The rifle now has a Timney trigger. Very pricey, but miles ahead of the $2.00 trigger that came with the rifle. My Timney is set to about 1 lb. , clean and crisp

Ben

 

[JSH]

All I have used was the Graf head stamped 7.5x55 Swiss and the 7.62x54. No issues with mine on either.
I got lucky and got some new old stock Hornady Frontier brass for my Swede rifle.
Jeff

 

[waco]

My only first hand experience with PPU brass is a brand new bag of .338 Lapua Magnum. Disappointed is an understatement.
The only reason we gave this brass a try was it was well over $100 cheaper per 100 than Lapua brand brass.

Mid range loads and I could barely open the bolt. Same loads with 5-7gr more powder work like a champ with Lapua brass.
Maybe it's an okay brass in standard calibers?

I'll "Bite the bullet" So to speak and pony up for Lapua in my .338

 

[S Mac]

My only first hand experience with PPU brass is a brand new bag of .338 Lapua Magnum. Disappointed is an understatement.
The only reason we gave this brass a try was it was well over $100 cheaper per 100 than Lapua brand brass.

Mid range loads and I could barely open the bolt. Same loads with 5-7gr more powder work like a champ with Lapua brass.
Maybe it's an okay brass in standard calibers?

I'll "Bite the bullet" So to speak and pony up for Lapua in my .338

Maybe after a few loadings that brass would work harden, and be good to go.

 

[Jeff H]

Very glad to have you here on the forum ! !

Thanks, Ben. I recognize a LOT of folks here.

I LOVE that rifle.

If I didn't have so much blood, sweat 'n tears in my Mauser, I'd go for the Howa. They're excellent rifles.

I'll make note of your load data because I will eventually get around to shooting cast in my 6.5. You always set the bar a bit high with your groups though, so I'm not promising anything spectacular. You do push me such that I can't sit back and accept my mediocre results though.

 

[Ian]

Thanks for the "grand tour", Ben! I know you had pictures already posted but I couldn't remember where..

Is that your green bedding compound, or Howa's?

 

[fiver]

Walter.
doesn't Ben's rifle look similar to something you just got recently?

 

[Hawk]

I've never bought any PPU brass or rounds loaded in PPU brass (actually, haven't bought any loaded ammo in thirty years), but have picked up a lot from the range.
Mostly 9MM and .223.
Converted a lot of the .223 to 7.62x40 WT (500 rounds), running high end loads, with no problems.
It has reloaded and held up well.

 

[Ben]

Is that your green bedding compound, or Howa's?

Mine...........

Ben

 

[RBHarter]

I have some PPU for 30-30 , ×39 and exclusively for the 45-70 .
At the next cycle the 45-70 will need to be annealed . 5th cycle.
The 30-30 is only 1 cycle since new with fly weight loads .
The x39 has gone 4-5 cycles with no issues at full power loads .