New Lapua brass

E

Eastman

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
62   0   0
Location
New Brunswick
Hi everyone,
Just a quick one..... I have some new Lapua brass for my 30.06, and was wondering if I need to F/L size it before loading any? I intend to Neck size after the first use, with the occasional F/L sizing thereafter. These Lapua are approximately 6 years old ( New in box ) and I am amazed at the quality! Exceptional uniformity in length & weight....the best I have ever come accross!
Thanks,
Eastman
 
Cycle them and then you will know.

Lapua brass requires the least amount of prep and has the best life.Learn to anneal and keep loads moderate and they will last a VERY long time.

I neck size only my brass and have no issues.

addition - I actually just received some more Lapua brass today and am looking very closely at them, the case mouth even looks prepped and ready to go.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the info Kelly,
Yeah, The brass I have is a grey colour at the neck & and a little of the shoulder, which I guess is from annealing. There seems to be a shamfer on the case mouth, and they look ready to go for sure. Just wasn't sure about the need/or not to F/L size before the first loading. I cycled a few with no problems.
 
Then it looks like you are off to the races! Have fun.

Eastman said:
Thanks for the info Kelly,
Yeah, The brass I have is a grey colour at the neck & and a little of the shoulder, which I guess is from annealing. There seems to be a shamfer on the case mouth, and they look ready to go for sure. Just wasn't sure about the need/or not to F/L size before the first loading. I cycled a few with no problems.
Click to expand...
 
Sometimes new brass has dented case necks, you can iron these out by inserting part way into your sizing die and back out again.

As far as fully sizing new case many people say you need to but these already new cases are the same ones factory ammo including match ammo are made of. Also every new case I have tried to size in a Lee or RCBS full length die did not require lube and had zero resistance other than the neck being sized smaller and re expanded by the expander on the decapping rod. The neck will be sized smaller than the rod, then back out to the expander size (usually .001-.002" smaller than actual bullet used) every time you run it into the die.

The body of a new case does not touch the die because it is at the smallest spec it ever will be, once fired it will be bigger and even after full length sizing it will never be as small as when it was brand new again. For argument sake a new case of a certain calibre is .400" around, after firing it is .420" and after FL sizing it will be .407" but still not as small as new.

I partially sized dented cases, but do not bother to attempt FL sizing all new unfired cases before first loading.
 
I only correct the dings on the neck with the resizing button.
Running the new brass through the full length die could even accelerate the case rupturing at the base depending on the difference between the chamber and the die. Depends also what do you mean by F/L sizing; you don't need to screw the die until it touches the shellholder; just enough to chamber the round. (If you don't have a gauge that measures the shoulder depth of fired cases).
 
Thanks everyone for the good advice & info. I said that these Lapua cases were the very best I had ever seen, and they don't even have a single dent in the whole box!! (100) I find that remarkable. I had heard a few mumblings about the latest one's being "not as good as they used to be" So I guess I was lucky in obtaining 2x100 boxes of 6 years old brass! I certainly can't find any fault or flow in a single case. Look froward to trying out my loads when winter has passed here in New Brunswick.
Thanks again,
Eastman
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom