New Lapua Brass - load and go or prep first?

[Suther]

I bought a box of 7mm-08 Lapua brass, and wondered what prep work (if any) you guys do before loading your new lapua brass. I tried looking online and opinions are all over the place - one guy has a 12 step process which includes annealing, but that seems excessive, while the next does absolutely nothing. I'm worried that doing nothing might give me issues working up a load though?

This is a hunting rifle not a match rifle, so while I'm striving for accuracy I don't need to squeeze every last tiny little bit out of it.

So what is your process with new Lapua brass?

 

[silverfoxdj]

I would not worry much about the prep they usually make very accurate brass IMHO

 

[45C]

I think lapua is already annealed from the factory.

 

[bcsteve]

I just run the expander ball in the neck to iron out dings.

 

[laker415]

I usually just load and go with Lapua. Maybe even out the necks with an expander mandrel if they are beat up.

 

[riversrest]

Did you measure the brass cases? If in spec as is, you will not have to prep em much. Load and go!

 

[cbh560]

Neck size to round out any small dents and load them up. Lapua tends to be way more consistent than other brands

 

[remington jim]

YUP ! Neck size or partial resize to make the necks Nice and then Load and Shoot ! RJ

 

[Alpheus]

Ditto for neck size or using a mandrel. Irons out any imperfections, and you start with the same (or damn near) neck tension as you will be using afterwards.

 

[MartyK2500]

What I do...

Run a brass bore bush inside the neck to rough it up just a little,
Dip the neck in graphite dry neck lube,
Run expander mandrel
Neck turn when required for tight neck barrels

Then just prime, powder, and seat a bullet.


Since doing this vs just loading without any prep at all, I can get real accurate loads out of my zero fired brass.

 

[9.3mauser]

Load & shoot. Neck size any with dinged case mouths if it makes you feel better.

 

[Munkey1973]

I use my expanders for my neck lathes and stretch open the necks.
Every time I get new Lapua brass (223 & 308) its seems they are really tight at the necks.

I also measure primer pocket depths on sample of 5%.
Find the deepest measurement then add 0.0005 to 0.001... then uniform all pockets to that depth.

I use 21st Century caliber specific flash hole deburring tools as well.
They index off of the web/floor like a K&M.

I skim turn the necks 0.0005 - 0.0015 after 1st fireform & bump size.
Sort by weight at this point too.

Lapua generally has pretty consistent dimensions.
Some might say that I am overly type A with the primer pockets & flash holes, but its a one-time investment of time -to take something is already great and make it just a bit more awesome.

 

[joehunt]

I find the necks on lapua to be tight as well.
If they are for my f class rifle I expand and turn the necks.
Anything else expand and shoot.
Joe

 

[Janeau]

Load and shoot.

 

[Slimbo]

I like to prep my lapua brass by first inserting a primer. Then I carefully weigh a powder charge and pour it in. Then I seat a bullet about .010 off the lands and shoot the prick.

 

[coyoteking]

I think lapua is already annealed from the factory.

All brass cases from every manufacturer are annealed at the factory.

 

[45C]

All brass cases from every manufacturer are annealed at the factory.

Ok,didnt know that.
I guess it's just more noticable on the Lapua,because of the discoloration, on the neck and shoulder

 

[Munkey1973]

Ok,didnt know that.
I guess it's just more noticable on the Lapua,because of the discoloration, on the neck and shoulder

Most manufactures probably polish or tumble before packaging.
Lake City and Hornady Frontier are the only others that come to my mind that have that discoloured look to them from the factory.

 

[remington jim]

I like to prep my lapua brass by first inserting a primer. Then I carefully weigh a powder charge and pour it in. Then I seat a bullet about .010 off the lands and shoot the prick.

RJ

 

[mbogo3]

Chamfer the necks inside and out FL size load and shoot.