Resize NIB Lapua Brass?
- Thread starter Longboat
- Start date
My new 308 Lapua brass headspace clocks in at 1.627-1.628’’.
My rifle has a 1.630’’ headspace chamber, so no need to resize body or bump shoulders for me.
Still gives me a 2-3 thou clearance.
I resize all necks as some are dinged,
Give them a neck turn to 12.5 thou,
And also need no trimming.
My rifle has a 1.630’’ headspace chamber, so no need to resize body or bump shoulders for me.
Still gives me a 2-3 thou clearance.
I resize all necks as some are dinged,
Give them a neck turn to 12.5 thou,
And also need no trimming.
I treat new Lapua the same as I treat my new PPU/PRVI. Load and shoot. Lee collet neck size only until three reloads. Then it is time to full length size with proper 1 thou neck bump, Lee collet neck size, expand to turning mandrel size, trim to length, chamfer, neck turn, bushing neck size, reload, shoot, Forster neck bushing shoulder bump with 1 thou bump maximum, reload, shoot, Forster, reload, shoot, Forster, reload, shoot, if it starts getting sticky or bolt handle is hard to open or close, full length size, otherwise continue with Forster, shoot, etc . . .
Fastestmanalive
Regular
- Location
- Quebec City
Do you have a match chamber ? Most Lapua 308win lots (I measured hundreds) had an average neck thickness of 0,0145-0,0147 with nothing under 0,0140. I turn to uniform them at 0,0143. I have a factory chamber.
I have a heavy IBI barrel I had custom made for me.
While it does feed with unturned neck, I found it has a little less resistance feeding with necks turned.
It is tight. If I wouldn't do this and necks got over 15 thou thickness after a few firings (as brass flows forward), then it gets in a tight spot.
On the plus side, I am then good for 5 firings without retouching neck, and turned necks seems to neck resize too after firing.
I'm a cheap bastard and have never bought Lapua brass, but I still full length resize all new cases.
I do this because a full length die will support the case body and shoulder and insure the neck will be aligned with the case body.
A standard neck sizing die does not contact the case body and shoulder, and in my testing you end up with more neck runout.
I prefer Forster full length dies "BUT" any full length die if you remove the the expander will make your cases as concentric as the ever will be. And if you use a expander die it also produces less neck runout and does not "pull" on the neck.
Subliminal suggestion, Hornady One Shot is a dry film case lube and does not need to be removed after sizing and also lubes the inside of the case neck.
I do this because a full length die will support the case body and shoulder and insure the neck will be aligned with the case body.
A standard neck sizing die does not contact the case body and shoulder, and in my testing you end up with more neck runout.
I prefer Forster full length dies "BUT" any full length die if you remove the the expander will make your cases as concentric as the ever will be. And if you use a expander die it also produces less neck runout and does not "pull" on the neck.
Subliminal suggestion, Hornady One Shot is a dry film case lube and does not need to be removed after sizing and also lubes the inside of the case neck.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
Subliminal suggestion, Hornady One Shot is a dry film case lube and does not need to be removed after sizing and also lubes the inside of the case neck.
That is good to know!
I always used lanolin based Dillon case lube and is a pain inside new brass necks.
Ganderite, is that yours?
Judging from all the protective headgear in the your photos that press must be a real head banger to use.
I bought a bag of Norma brass a few months back for my 300 WSM. Decided to size it because the intrawebs said so. After the first few cases the die clearly wasn't touching the brass, so from there on I just reloaded and called it a day. I expect Lapua, Nosler and Norma to all pretty much be to that same standard.
Winchester and Remington on the other hand. I'm pretty sure they stomp on those bags before they send them out.
Winchester and Remington on the other hand. I'm pretty sure they stomp on those bags before they send them out.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
Fastestmanalive
Regular
- Location
- Quebec City
Ok, now I get it.
I'm a cheap bastard and have never bought Lapua brass, but I still full length resize all new cases.
I do this because a full length die will support the case body and shoulder and insure the neck will be aligned with the case body.
A standard neck sizing die does not contact the case body and shoulder, and in my testing you end up with more neck runout.
I prefer Forster full length dies "BUT" any full length die if you remove the the expander will make your cases as concentric as the ever will be. And if you use a expander die it also produces less neck runout and does not "pull" on the neck.
Subliminal suggestion, Hornady One Shot is a dry film case lube and does not need to be removed after sizing and also lubes the inside of the case neck.
I get right around .001" runout give or take with a neck only die. It does not support the body but the decapping pin seems to keep it lined up perfectly still. For me at least.
One of the biggest causes of neck runout is when the expander is locked down off center. If you are only getting .001 neck runout that's fantastic and your expander is well centered.
This is why I like the Forster full length benchrest dies with the high mounted floating expander. The expander enters the case neck while it is still held and centered in the neck of the die.
Case Preparation
http://www.beyondthecrosshair.com/2014/09/case-preparation/
http://www.beyondthecrosshair.com/2014/09/case-preparation/
