New box of Laupa 308 brass: do I have to fireform before loading?

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Richard.Howe

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2003
Messages
887
I just bought a box of Laupa brass for my 308. A local reloading buddy says that I have to fireform this brass to my 308 rifle's chamber to get "good chamber fit" before loading for hunting rounds.

Is this a crock? I nearly called him out, but got to thinking that he might have a point. But is it significant?

Why can't I just full-length resize & trim the new brass to fit my chamber and bang away at my hunting loads?

Rich

P.S. -- This is a new one on me since I've always initially bought a few boxes of factory loads, shot them, and used those cases for future loads.
 
Last edited:
Try both ways

Try some each way then you will know. We can debate the issue and get as many opinions as responders but your rifle will tell you what it likes and what it doesn't better than anyone.
 
If you enjoy spending time at the reloading bench, you might try and see what you get. I doubt you'll see any significant difference unless you are shooting off a machine rest. FWIW, I don't fireform and still get the 1MoA or less that I need for Highpower Rifle Competition on the short line (300yds and less).

I'd FL resize, trim and load them (actually, I'd also uniform the primer pockets and deburr the flashhole, but I consider that unnecessary for hunting accuracy). Heck, I'd probably check 5 cases for length and if they're within 0.003" of each other and under the max length I'd skip the trim operation.

Ty
 
The only cases that I fire form is my .30-30 and that's because my chamber is just a little worn and needs the shoulder moved forward about .030 of an inch to keep primers from backing out. Set back you know.......A different way to solve that problem.
 
that's some seriously expensive hunting brass you got :)

yes, it's a crock, if all you're going to do is hunt with it. it's the equivalent of saying you can't hunt with ammo you bought at walmart because it's not fitted to your specific chamber.
 
Taliv,

Now why would you think that? Expensive? Naw...Just means one more day at the range to fireform the cases then back to the loading bench and full size them with the die set up .030 inch higher then normal. And who doesn't like an extra day at the range? And who doesen't need an extra day of practice? Expensive? Naw...Fun.

As far as these manuals being a rip off...Bull crappy!! Because of liability (especially here in The SSRC) all manuals are safe when using any reasonable component mix/match. That's ONE of the reasons why you are told over and over to start a load 10% below max charge. When I say reasonable component mix/match I mean after you have loaded enough to recognize and understand what you are doing when you use a different primer or bullet manufacturer. You don't load for lead bullets when you are using jacketed and so on. Reloaders have been substuting Magnum primers for standard primers for years. Yes one jacketed bullet may take less or more powder to send it on it's way compared to another (Bearing surface being the biggest factor). But with careful work up you can substitute one bullet for a other LIKE bullet.
Interchanging powder is another story. DON't do it...
 
Bushmaster, I think taliv was poking fun at my gross overkill of using Laupa brass for hunting...but hey, it's great brass!
 
I can live with that...

When I hunt I pick the best brass and components that I have including weighing each case and bullet. So you aren't the only one. My tolerence is +/- one grain. AND I am accused of being too picky for something that doesn't really matter. MY LOADING BENCH...MY COMPONENTS...MY TIME SPENT... The neat thing about reloading you can "have it YOUR way". We reload to attain near, or as close as possible, perfect rounds as economics allows each person.

Besides it's FUN.......
 
Hunting and DEER

Fireforming, weighing your new brass, checking that all the new brass is exactly the same length, truing the flash holes, tumble polishing the brass to a mirror finish, cleaning primer pockets on hunting ammunition.

THE DEER DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

I love bulletcasting and reloading so much that I have loaded a few hundred thousand of them for my friends. Since I can always hit what I aim at then bulletcasting and reloading is more of a challenge and FUN.
 
:D

I know, I know Fitz...but I can't help it, it's in my blood. I'm a *$#%@ engineer.

I'm that guy who alternates his lawn mowing pattern to keep from setting up wear patterns in the grass.

If it can be done better, I will do it better, whether it makes a lick of difference...but with my family growing...well, I'm not finding as much time to be parsnickety about everything.

But I still am neorotic about my reloading!!!!
 
Gee Paul "Fitz" Jones. You sure are a party pooper for your age. Now, come on...Let us young-uns have the same fun like what you had a lot of years ago. I fully realize that it may not make any difference and like you I have not missed a deer yet. Well except that first deer that I got "Buck Fever" with and emptied every one of those .30-30's on the ground and never fired narry a one. I swear...I heard every one and felt the recoil, but not a one had pin mark in them. Yup...I've had that Winchester that long and cut my teeth in the Great Northwest on running shots on Blacktails. Gettin' deep here...Got your galoshes on?? I will still prep my hunting amunition carefully and with great detail. Thank you.....
 
bushmaster, yep, I just thought it was humorous to use Lapua brass for deer. I use Lapua for all my .308 match loads, and do all the fire-forming, etc. and have a lot of fun doing it. (you can get ALMOST the same accuracy out of a 5 cent case vs the 64 cent each lapua)

if I got a wild hair up my bung and decided to go poke a hole in a deer, i'd definitely just use one of my match bullets.

but when someone starts a thread asking if they "have" to do something "for hunting loads", that tells me they'd really rather be doing something else. e.g. load twice as many rounds w/o fire-forming as with, in a given time.

no blood, no foul :)
 
Lapua brass within hunting distances is a waste of money. You have it now, so you might as well use it, but you won't need to fireform it. Just shoot it...chances are, if you are asking the question you are not a good enough shooter to see the difference at any range.


That is not an insult, it is the truth.
 
:)

Dang, on a board where seeming every other poster carries a $3000 1911 and uses his Sako 75 Deluxe w/ Zeiss glass on squirrels, I thought I might not get razzed too bad re: my extravagant preference for $0.60 Laupa cases...

:)

No offense taken Steve, and you're right. Nevertheless -- "what's the best thing to do" is never a silly question, regardless of the user's ability to avail himself of the benefits of doing said best thing. Plato's Ideal and all...

Y'all have a great weekend!
Rich
 
Dang, on a board where seeming every other poster carries a $3000 1911 and uses his Sako 75 Deluxe w/ Zeiss glass on squirrels, I thought I might not get razzed too bad re: my extravagant preference for $0.60 Laupa cases...
Click to expand...
Ain't that the truth. :rolleyes:
 
Lapua brass within hunting distances is a waste of money. You have it now, so you might as well use it, but you won't need to fireform it. Just shoot it...chances are, if you are asking the question you are not a good enough shooter to see the difference at any range.
Click to expand...

You sir have the tact of a bull in a china shop. Not an insult just the truth and being a moderator doesn't give you carte blanche to be rude.
 
O K Boys...Calm down. This was all in fun. Put that hog leg back in its holster and pick up that beer and smile.
Taliv, You still with us?
Cajuncoona, Hunt with what ever eats your shorts and blows your socks off. With my blessing. This is and has been fun.
 
Wahoo!

Back to the issue at hand, today was a great day!

I answered my own questions with regard to the issues posed in my original posting. I tried my rifle's pet load in fire-formed brass, and then in this new stuff. Incidentally -- the Lyman 1200 is heaven-sent.

Bottom line: at 300 yards, there wasn't a cat sneeze worth of difference. Just nice, tight groups of 308 goodness! More details in "308 pet loads" thread.

Take care, and have a great weekend,
Rich
 
Last edited:
Congrats cajuncoona and you too have a good weekend. I might be able to shoot some, but I will be in the saddle on a high ridge one day this weekend.
 
That 1200 is sumpin else aint it...

By the way Cajun, no lie, all I shoot in my 6.5 is Lapua and once my load for the ssg is finalized, its all lapua from then on....

WildtheultimatebrassAlaska
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Fatelvis
  • Locked
Do I need to size Laupa 308 brass B4 loading?
Replies
8
Views
585
Sunray
S
J
  • Locked
Talk to me about fireforming
Replies
12
Views
810
bogie
B
MCMXI
  • Locked
Fireforming .308 cal brass to .375 cal brass
2 3
Replies
62
Views
5K
JimKirk
JimKirk
O
  • Locked
Bolt Action Loading: Is Purpose Of Min Shoulder Bump Accuracy and/or Brass Life?
2
Replies
27
Views
4K
RugerBassMan
R
M
  • Locked
.308 loading for new Bergara HMR Premier Pro
Replies
3
Views
367
Rod47
R
Back
Top