Lapua Brass Lots...

[planalpha]

Hey, experts.
I used to use Winchester brass when shooting 308 and noticed quite a bit of difference from different lots of brass. I just moved to a new rifle in 260 and bought 300 Lapua cases and looking to pick up more, but wondering if I need to keep the first lot of cases separate from the new ones. Have you guys found Lapua brass to be more consistant from lot to lot? And what is the best way to measure? put a spent primer in a unfired case from both lots and see if the volume is the same? Or is that not enough?

Thanks for the info!

 

[waste_knot]

That, and measure neck wall thickness/variation

 

[Sniper260]

Lapua brass is about the best... I weigh them out too. Id get more but keep it separate and go through your first lot first... I get 15-20 reloads outta my lapua brass

 

[Sniper260]

Ive found a ton of inconsistancies in winchester brass

 

[planalpha]

Thanks for the info! One last question, if I'm going to measure case volume, is it better to use fired or unfired brass?

Thanks again!

 

[P7id10t]

Measure case volume after you have FL sized it or bumped the shoulder on a fire-formed case.

 

[chefcam864]

Lapua isn't perfect... They are among the best, but I have seen many with .002" variance from one side of the neck to the other. It's best to check them when they come in.

 

[Graham]

OP, it's interesting that everyone here is answering your question without knowing what kind of shooting you are doing and whether/if so how much the measurements would even matter.

Benchrest: Measure everything all the time.

Precision rifle: Is it something that will make a difference? If so, why?

 

[waste_knot]

Good point Graham. I'm assuming he is at least doing precision rifle with a bolt gun. If not, then he is wasting time and money with Lapua brass anyway.

 

[AZ.noob]

I just received my first Lapua 308 brass. I've previously used/liked Winchester, even with the inconsistencies (I sort them by weight, etc). I finally bit the bullet (bad pun) and ponied up for the good stuff.

I don't know why the hell I waited so long. I weighed and measured a bunch of them... waste of time. The Lapua stuff is incredibly consistent in weight, case neck thickness, sizing, length, everything. Very few of them had (very minor) dings on the case mouths, nothing that a quick pass with an expander ball couldn't round out. I didn't need to size any of them.

On the neck wall thickness... I mic'd a bunch at random. Only one had a variance of over .001, and it wasn't by much. I loaded up 20, only one had runout of over .003 at the meplat, the rest were either dead-nuts straight or in the .001-.003 range.

Amazing quality and consistency. Maybe I got lucky and scored a 'good' lot/batch, but I'm sold. Like I said earlier, I wish I'd bought Lapua years ago.

 

[planalpha]

OP, it's interesting that everyone here is answering your question without knowing what kind of shooting you are doing and whether/if so how much the measurements would even matter.

Benchrest: Measure everything all the time.

Precision rifle: Is it something that will make a difference? If so, why?

Sorry guys, I didn't realize the extra info would be helpful. No benchrest, just LRP shooting, typically LRP/tactical matches which have 1000+ yards targets. And sorry, I don't know if it's something that'll make a difference, that is really what I was trying to find out.

Thanks again everyone for all of the great info! Very much appreciated.