Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

[Aimsmall55]

I recently bought 2 boxes of the same lot of .308 lapua brass. I have several load configurations, some hot, some "normal". But on everyone of these pieces I have shot one time and full length resized come out to be 2.619 to 2.616". I have bought many boxes of lapua brass (been a while) but never recall this amount of stretch on the case. It's frustrating bc trimming 200 pieces sucks. Could it be lapua over annealed? Could it be hornady oneshot lube? My .300 win mag brass is sized using oneshot but it never stretches more than .002". Confused and frustrated. Opinions on what's up PLEASE

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

Meant to say 2.016 to 2.019". .300 mag threw me off

 

[19Scout77]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

How long are they before you run them through the sizing die? Have you used a headspace gauge to determine how far you are pushing back the shoulder?

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

No head space guage. I usually don't worry about bc it's a GA Precision. It's just that this particular lot has stretched way too far from what I'm used too

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

My dies are set to where they have always been.

 

[oldfatguy]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

Lapua brass is typically a little thicker then WW or Remmy. Might be that the expander is being drawn through a smaller hole than with thinner walled brass. Hence more pull is causing the stretch you are seeing.

OFG

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

That makes sense.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

Ismh, lapua brass is all I have ever shot

 

[fw707]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aimsmall55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No head space guage. I usually don't worry about bc it's a GA Precision. </div></div>

??

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

I don't worry about brass growth until after the second firing. First firing can move a lot of metal.

Once "fire formed" I then only neck size and use a separate expander die. I've had to trim a lot off my lapua brass that after first firing also measured in the 2.017 range. I only cut it back to 2.010". Subsequent firing and sizing operations usually only result in small amounts of case lengthening.

Different metal from different lots, even if the production lot numbers are the same can give variations.

 

[gau17]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fw707</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aimsmall55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No head space guage. I usually don't worry about bc it's a GA Precision. </div></div>

?? </div></div>

You still need one to see how much you are pushing the shoulders back. this could be contributing to the growth you're experiencing.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

I will mic some this afternoon. All I meant about head space is that it has never been an issue with other lots of lapua brass. I have mic'd a few after shot and they are about 2.016" bf sizing. Should I just bump the shoulder a bit?? How ever I think this lot was a little over annealed

 

[19Scout77]

Re: Resizing lapua once shot brass problem?? Or normal

If you do not already own one, you should think about picking up the kit pictured below. Used properly, you can use the information gained through its use to set your dies up to bump the shoulder back the minimum amount possible and reduce trimming and the amount your brass is "worked" each time you size.

If you are only loading for one rifle, you should bump the shoulder back as little as possible. The more you bump it back, the more it "grows" each time you fire it (as it expands to fill your chamber).