Brass prep with Lapua-

[Shibumi]

Or is that an oxymoron??

Seriously, I just got some Lapua 6.5x55 Swede brass to reload for looooonnggggg range shooting, those who have used it for such before what prep is needed for it? It will be shot in a bolt gun...

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

can't say for the Swede but the Russki X39 brass is good stuff. I neck size it then load.

 

[Sunray]

If it's virgin brass, it needs to be sized, checked for length(you want them to be all the same length), trimmed if necessary and chamfered and deburred. It'll need chamfering(inside the case mouth) and deburring(outside the case mouth) even if it doesn't need trimming. All new brass needs this.

 

[Howard Roark]

I sort mine by weight as well.

 

[steve4102]

If it's virgin brass, it needs to be sized, checked for length(you want them to be all the same length), trimmed if necessary and chamfered and deburred. It'll need chamfering(inside the case mouth) and deburring(outside the case mouth) even if it doesn't need trimming. All new brass needs this.

+1 Ditto

 

[USSR]

Brass prep with Lapua-
Or is that an oxymoron??

Oxymoron. I have been using Lapua 6.5x55 brass in 1,000 yard F Class competition for 4 years now, and the only thing that really needs to be done with virgin brass is to chamfer the inside of the neck before seating your bullet. Virgin Lapua brass does come with tight necks, so if you have a mandrel or just want to run an expander ball thru it, it will lighten your initial neck tension. The idea that you need to FL size virgin brass is ludicrous. Virgin brass is actually sized smaller than what a standard FL sizing produces, so all you are doing when you FL size virgin brass is work the neck.

Don

 

[Shibumi]

"Oxymoron. I have been using Lapua 6.5x55 brass in 1,000 yard F Class competition for 4 years now, and the only thing that really needs to be done with virgin brass is to chamfer the inside of the neck before seating your bullet. Virgin Lapua brass does come with tight necks, so if you have a mandrel or just want to run an expander ball thru it, it will lighten your initial neck tension. The idea that you need to FL size virgin brass is ludicrous. Virgin brass is actually sized smaller than what a standard FL sizing produces, so all you are doing when you FL size virgin brass is work the neck.

Don"

Cool- obviously it will fit in the chamber, I didn't think resizing would be necessary.

Don, any recommendations for bullets, or dies to use for this endeavor? I need some Obi-Wan here...



I HATE learning from my OWN mistakes...


Besides the inherent frustration, it's EXPENSIVE...

 

[USSR]

Shibumi,

All my dies are Redding Competition die sets, which includes a body die (very handy die). I use a .296" TiN bushing with the 6.5x55 Lapua brass, which gives me about .002" neck tension. I have used the 142gr SMK, the 139gr Lapua Scenar, and recently tested/evaluated for Berger a prototype 140gr non-VLD bullet. They all flew fine. Powders used were RL22, N160, and H4350. Settled on N160 simply because I had more of it. Primer used is the Russian KV-7. Hope that helps.

Don