PPU vs Hornady cases and a few other reloading questions

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  • 1075 tech
    Warrior
    • Apr 2015
    • 681

    PPU vs Hornady cases and a few other reloading questions

    I am slowly gathering materials to be able to reload for the Grendel. I have Hornady New Dimension dies and shell holder on the way. Just ordered the books from Paul and company.

    I have maybe 100 - 150 1x brass that is a mix of Hornady and PPU from the Wolf Gold. I know that the PPU brass may or may not be in spec and will check that before loading any. I'm also aware that it takes LRP and maybe get 3 loads on it.

    My main question is, how much case difference is there between the Hornady and PPU? Can I work up a hunting load in the Hornady where I can recover my brass at the range and then load it in the PPU where I don't care if I lose one in the woods?

    Brass catcher... I know.

    Also have some 1x and new Lapua that will be reserved for range only.

    Someone here was pulling Wolf steel and loading those. Any luck with that?
  • VASCAR2
    Chieftain
    • Mar 2011
    • 6219

    #2
    I have loaded several PPU brass over the years but never loaded any up to a max charge. My loads are generally at least one grain of powder under max. I just reloaded a couple hundred PPU brass and had to cull 7 cases because of loose primer pockets. I also found the once fired PPU brass I bought last year varied greatly in case length. I had to trim my PPU and I had never seen any 6.5 Grendel cases that long before trimming.

    I use the PPU brass for short range plinking and varmint hunting where I might loose my brass. I have a Caldwell brass catcher which is cheap but a lot of times I throw a blanket on the ground to catch my brass.

    I've never measured the difference in capacity between Lapua, Hornady or PPU brass. If you ever fire form 7.62X39 brass to 6.5 Grendel it will have reduced capacity and needs a lighter powder charge than Lapua/Hornady.

    Comment

    • 1911man
      Warrior
      • May 2015
      • 482

      #3
      I worked up a load with once fired PPU brass last year after having already done so with Hornady brass. My go to load at the time was 28.3 grains of XBR and the 123 Amax which was showing zero signs of pressure in the hornady brass. Without considering the difference in case capacity I put the same load in PPU brass and shot it. It has much harder recoil and was showing flat primers/ejector marks. Also I picked up like 20 fps in the PPU brass. I clearly should have started lower, which I did end up doing. On the second reload of the same brass the primer pockets were lose with the winchester primers I was using but switching to CCIs made it to where primers fit securely. I did not go to a third load on the brass because at that time the recalls started getting issued and I didnt want to risk it. I decided to go back to Hornday brass and haven't looked back.

      Comment

      • VASCAR2
        Chieftain
        • Mar 2011
        • 6219

        #4
        I found Winchester large rifle primers fit the PPU brass loose whereas S & B large rifle primers fits the PPU case more snug. PPU brass is not the best but PPU will not replace used brass. I plan on using my PPU brass with medium charges until it is expended. I bought a 1000 S&B primers and don't have any other rifles which use large rifle primers. I can get good practice at shorter distances with these mild reloads using moderate powder charges and factory second bullets. Another advantage is this makes for cheaper practice ammo. I save my expensive match bullets and Lapua brass for my long range sessions. I also have three 6.5 Grendels so I can shoot a good bit of 6.5 Grendel ammo.

        Comment

        • LRRPF52
          Super Moderator
          • Sep 2014
          • 8569

          #5
          PPU brass is recalled. Very soft and shoulders were way far back on some of the later lots last year for some reason.
          NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO

          CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor

          6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:

          www.AR15buildbox.com

          Comment

          • Texas
            Chieftain
            • Jun 2016
            • 1230

            #6
            I have had trouble with PPU 6.5 Grendel brass primer pockets. The same load in a Hornady has been 20 FPS faster in PPU, but it is not worth the effort.

            Comment

            • 1075 tech
              Warrior
              • Apr 2015
              • 681

              #7
              Originally posted by LRRPF52 View Post
              PPU brass is recalled. Very soft and shoulders were way far back on some of the later lots last year for some reason.
              I am aware of the recall. This is 1x Wolf Gold (I know, still made by PPU) that was purchased almost 2 years ago. It shoots fairly well in both of my Grendel's. Of course, due diligence in checking cases before reloading.

              I just didn't know if a load developed in a Hornady case would be the same/similar in a PPU case.

              I have enough of the steel case I could pull down and experiment with.

              Comment

              • LRRPF52
                Super Moderator
                • Sep 2014
                • 8569

                #8
                Reloading rules:

                Any time you introduce a new component into the process, work the load up with starting loads.

                When I have measured some samples of PPU, Hornady, and Lapua, they were very close in case capacity, but I would still work up since the PPU brass is so much softer.
                NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO

                CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor

                6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:

                www.AR15buildbox.com

                Comment

                • s3silver
                  Warrior
                  • Sep 2014
                  • 277

                  #9
                  I have to agree PPU is much softer than Hornady. When reloading I noticed PPU stretches more and is easier to trim. I used the same load in both brass and surprisingly the PPU grouped tighter, but had more occassional fliers. They also shot hotter too with flat primers. I was hoping to be able to standardize primers since PPU uses LRP. However, since the recall my PPU has just been sitting. Maybe I'll load them down a little bit for plinking.

                  Comment

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