Lapua 6.5x55 troubles

[riddleofsteel]

Greetings,
I have a fairly new Tikka T3 in 6.5x55. I also bought two boxes (100) of Lapua brass. I fired 50 rounds working up loads one time.
Here is the problem. Once a round of the Lapua brass is fired, and either resizedand or reloaded or freshly fired if you put it back in the rifle the extractor will not pick it up.
Any other brand of brass or unfired Lapua brass picks up and extracts ok. I just discovered that if I chamber once fired and resize brass it will extract if I pulled the trigger while its chambered.
I had some once fired Lapua that I resized and primed. I chambered it and it fired the primer and extracted normally. Put it back in the rifle and it doesnt pick it up unless you pull the trigger after chambering.

All other brand of fired and or reloaded brass are functioning normally. Do I just sell or shelve the Lapua and move on?

Pull in my hair on this problem.

 

[Speedo66]

Considering both rifle and ammunition are both Finnish products, and Finland itself has a long history with the 6.5x55 cartridge, something is definitely not right.

If ever there should have been a perfect match…

Have you measured the Lapua cases after firing as compared to others?

 

[riddleofsteel]

All the Lapua brass in question was from lot# lpt02180. None of it will extract normally after being fired unless you pull the trigger first.

I had a second batch lit # lpt03357. I just loaded some of it with full power loads 48 grs of H4831sc with a 127 grain Barnes LRX BT and a Ruag LR primers.
After firing the brass ejected normally. I put it back in the rifle, normal ejections. Resized it, normal function.

lot # lpt02180 has some problem I can not identify. Probably too thick a rim on the case web. I have seen up to .015 variations in this dimension from Lapua.

Needless to say I am pissed. An entire wasted day and part of a night trying to figure this out. The bad lot will still work for target but will not go hunting with me.

 

[AJC1]

Om all the Lapua brass in question was from lot# lpt02180. None of it will extract normally after being fired unless you pull the trigger first.

I had a second batch lit # lpt03357. I just loaded some of it with full power loads 48 yrs of H4831sc with a 127 grain Barnes LRX BT and a Ruag LR primers.
After firing the brass ejected normally. I put it back in the rifle, normal ejections. Resized it, normal function.

lot # lpt02180 has some problem I can not identify. Probably too thick a rim on the case web. I have seen up to .015 variations in this dimension from Lapua.

Needless to say I am passed. An entire wasted day and part of a night trying to figure this out. The bad lot will still work for target but will not go hunting with me.

Well I'd contact them with exactly the details you gave and ask what needs to be done... they areca top tier company...

 

[riddleofsteel]

Already looking for the phone number.

Thanks

 

[riddleofsteel]

Considering both rifle and ammunition are both Finnish products, and Finland itself has a long history with the 6.5x55 cartridge, something is definitely not right.

If ever there should have been a perfect match…

Have you measured the Lapua cases after firing as compared to others?

Yes but I could not find a significant difference. One thing that confused me.

 

[db_tanker]

Not sure if this would work or even tell you anything...but maybe take a black marker and cover two pieces of brass - one Laupua that has the issues and one that you don't have issue with. Chamber them up and see what/where the contact patterns are?

You mentioned the possible issue - the case rim on the Laupua brass may be too thick...OR your rifle bolt may have some debris in the ejector plunger pocket? Might be pushing the case up just enough where the extractor claw can't grab?

D

 

[riddleofsteel]

Brand new rifle butt I did look for burrs and metal filings in that area and the chamber.

Also it extracts unfired bass in that lot

 

[usaral63]

Sounds like a rifle rather than brass issue.

 

[riddleofsteel]

So far they only brass it will not extract is the once fired Lapua in that one lot number. Can not help thinking its that one lot of brass, not the rifle.