So I did something stupid and need some advice. I passed some new Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor Brass through the Lee full length sizing die, and the decapping pin opened up the small flash hole to the standard diameter. Is this still safe to use? Or is that unsafe with the small rifle primer? Any advice is appreciated. Cheers!
6.5 Creedmoor Lapua Brass issue
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Actually, if I recall properly, I think the Lee pin on the 6.5CM full length sizing die is somewhat undersized on purpose so it probably didn't actually push out brass when it went through the flash hole. Should be ok to use but I would go through the lot of it with a good primer pocket cleaner and visual inspection to ensure it didn't push out a burr around the flash hole.
Edit - > I just checked and this may not be the case. I know I had 'turned down' the decapping pin on the Lee collet neck die as it wouldn't fit. I chucked it up in my drill press with a piece of 400 grit sandpaper. The decapping pin on my Lee 'universal' decapper, which I didn't sand down, is still for the larger flash holes and won't fit into the Lapua brass flash hole. I don't have a Lee full length sizing die so I can't check but I suspect it will be the same - too big. Could be you have to check out each piece of brass and make sure the flash hole is flush without a burr after all, and if you have any more brass, turn down the Lee decapping pins with sandpaper. If you don't have a press you can use a drill too.
Edit - > I just checked and this may not be the case. I know I had 'turned down' the decapping pin on the Lee collet neck die as it wouldn't fit. I chucked it up in my drill press with a piece of 400 grit sandpaper. The decapping pin on my Lee 'universal' decapper, which I didn't sand down, is still for the larger flash holes and won't fit into the Lapua brass flash hole. I don't have a Lee full length sizing die so I can't check but I suspect it will be the same - too big. Could be you have to check out each piece of brass and make sure the flash hole is flush without a burr after all, and if you have any more brass, turn down the Lee decapping pins with sandpaper. If you don't have a press you can use a drill too.
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Starline makes 6.5CM brass with both large and small primer pockets. They don't say anything about the flash hole in the small primer version being smaller than usual, so I'm going to assume that they are the standard size. The Lapua makes the brass with the small flash hole for accuracy reasons, not for safety reasons. Note that 223rem, 222, etc. all have regular sized flash holes and nobody worries about that
Yes, make sure the primer pocket is clean and any burrs/protrusions around the flash hole are removed with a flat bottom pocket reamer/cleaner. Other than that, the brass should be good to go. It probably won't last quite as long as it would have with the small flash hole but it won't be a significant difference in case life.
