PPU Ammo - Opinions

B

BigMikey76

New member
In my quest to find some affordable factory ammo for my new 7mm08, I came across some PPU 140 gr at Cabella's for $16.99/box. That is well below everything I have found so far, so I picked up a couple of boxes so I can run a few through and get used to the feel of the rifle without spending a lot of money. According to the box, it is a soft point boat tail bullet. I have two basic questions:

1) In your experience, is this a reasonably accurate ammunition - mind you, I have no ambitions of match shooting. I am practicing to make sure I have reliable skill for deer hunting in November.

2) If the accuracy turns out to be acceptable out of my rifle, is this a reasonable round for hunting? I know there are all kinds of high tech bullets out there that may be "better," but I figure dead is dead, and I just want to get a feel for whether these bullets are reasonable to get the job done.

3) I will be reloading, eventually. Is the brass from these high enough quality to reuse?
 
Last edited:
PPU is good ammo. I have been using this stuff since it first came out. If you are shooting some of the milsurps, PPU is about all you can find. I have been reloading this stuff w/o any problems.
The only issue with PPU factory ammo I can think of is the limited variety of bullets.
 
Good ammo, and good brass. Probably the best brass available for some military calibers, like .303 Brit.
 
Cool. One follow up question - I have seen this brand on a few different websites at awesome prices, but never in 7-08. anyone know a source for that, or should I just be happy with Cabella's price?
 
16.99 isn't bad. Googling it quick, the best I can find is Palmetto State Armory at 13.95 plus shipping, so if you're buying a bunch, you could probably save a little after shipping.
 
Thanks Scimmia. I think I will stick with Cabella's. If I ordered enough to make the shipping worth it, my wife would think I was turning into a zombie apocolypse nut.:eek:
 
Last edited:
Hi, Mikey!

1) In your experience, is this a reasonably accurate ammunition - mind you, I have no ambitions of match shooting. I am practicing to make sure I have reliable skill for deer hunting in November.
Click to expand...

I have used their 7.62x54R in my Mosin ..... it shot well enough- I did not have a bench to shoot off of, so I don't have a pic of an impressive group, but the Chrony said muzzle velocity was consistant and ran around 2,800 f/sec for the 150 gr SP.

2) If the accuracy turns out to be acceptable out of my rifle, is this a reasonable round for hunting? I know there are all kinds of high tech bullets out there that may be "better," but I figure dead is dead, and I just want to get a feel for whether these bullets are reasonable to get the job done.
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure just about any 7mm 140 gr soft point loaded to standard 7mm-08 velocity will work, if you do your part and place it correctly.

I suppose you could test them- shooting into wet phone books or something.....

3) I will be reloading, eventually. Is the brass from these high enough quality to reuse?
Click to expand...

That's my plan for the Mosin.

One thing about practice ammo: You can save enough by watching Midway/Natchez/Shooter's Supply/Hornady/etc. for sales on "blemished"/factory seconds to buy wahatever premium bullet you want to later in the fall ..... I picked up 2 100ct. boxes of 7mm 150 SP "blemished bullets" for like 10 bucks apeice last summer from Midway ..... they shot just fine...... they were a bit tarnished, but they worked.

My suggestion would be to get started reloading as soon as you can..... practice as much and as cheaply as you can, and then build a hunting load this fall- there is some satifaction in taking an animal with a load you developed yourself- at least there was for me. Still is, I guess, because I have not used factory centerfire ammo for hunting, practice or plinking in over a decade......
 
Thanks Jim

I have used their 7.62x54R in my Mosin
Click to expand...

I should have remembered that from when I used it in your Mosin.
I have 60 factory rounds to burn at the range - actually only 44 left after my range trip yesterday (pics coming soon to a thread near you!), and then it will be time to start learning to roll my own... I can feel a new addiction coming on!
 
I can feel a new addiction coming on!
Click to expand...

It's easier to feed than the next one after that: Stir fried venison, bell peppers, and sweet onions .... a little steak sauce..... mehbe a jalapeno for a little heat ....... mmmmmmm .......
 
I shoot a lot of PRVI ammo in .303, 7.62x54r, and .40 SW actually!. I find Graf and Sons prices to be very good, and they offer free shipping with a $flat rate $4.50 handling fee. They sell a lot of RPVI as well.
 
soft 223 brass

I've reloaded a bit of PPU headstamp brass in 223/5.56. If I use the swaging button set to remove the primer crimp the brass is so soft it actually displaces the rim of the case slightly, making the brass hard to get out of the shell holder. Works fine if I hand ream the crimp out of it. YMMV!
 
I JUST went through three boxes of PPU 140's to try-out, but mostly get some brass for- my "new to me" 7-08 Savage.

Honestly, the SP's shot like crap.

I reloaded the brass, went back to the range with them loaded with 150 grain SMK's, and the rifle shot sub-minute.

I was disappointed the minute I took the SP's out of the box. The tips were all smashed up...no way they were going to shoot "well"...

Now, keeping everything in perspective, the SP's are obviously not target ammo- they're for hunting. So in that context, shooting 2 MOA might be adequate for a Whitetail at 100 yards.

My 7-08 is a target stick for long range (I like the ballistics of the caliber) so my use is obviously different than yours.
 
Honestly, the SP's shot like crap.

I reloaded the brass, went back to the range with them loaded with 150 grain SMK's, and the rifle shot sub-minute.

I was disappointed the minute I took the SP's out of the box. The tips were all smashed up...no way they were going to shoot "well"...
Click to expand...

Yeah, damaged bullets aren't going to help, but you can't expect MatchKing performance out of PRVI bullets anyway. Even their HPBTs aren't going to be up to that task. There's a reason for the cost difference
 
There's a reason for the cost difference
Click to expand...

Quite right. I don't expect to win any long range matches with this ammo. I just want to get in some practice time and maybe put some Bambi in my smoker... mmmmmmm :)
 
PPU great stuff

I use PPU spesifically for deer hunting. I practice with mil-surp and use PPU softpoints for hunting. I have shot PPU in my Garand, SVT-40, G-43, K98, 91/30, and K31. The cost of Domestic factory ammo for these would break the bank; so I stocked up on mil-sulp for practice and PPU for hunting. I HAVE taken deer with every one of those caliburs. The soft point seems to give Exellent terminal balistics. I suggested this brand to my brothers and... EVERY deer season since then, all my brothers shoot PPU for deer.

Basicly; shoots same as mil-surp in that calibur, and kills as good as U.S. factory SP. The only one I would replace is the 8mm (about 2100fps). I would switch to Seller&Bellot (2590fps).

PPU - Buy it, Shoot it, Enjoy it.
 
Certainly good in 7.5x55 Swiss. Only PPU I have shot. Not nearly as accurate as the Swiss match GP11 ammo but sufficient for plinking with a K31. Then I load my own with 168 SMKS. Now THAT will shoot. Love me some K31 shooting...
 
Especially if you are shooting a rifle in a "surplus" caliber (like 8MM Mauser) PPU is great. In my mauser it's actually all I use now, I got tired of Remington, I didn't find them to be consistent; and surplus ammo means a good hour or two of cleaning time... so, yeah.

PPU makes good ammo and it sells at a great price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top