Alpha SRP 308 brass evaluationThis is an evaluation of Alpha Small Rifle Primer (SRP) brass that I purchased in April of 2018.
After taking a five year break from the Palma discipline and having sold all the associated gear and components associated with it, I am starting from ground zero so to speak. In the brass department I had nothing suitable for the task at hand, and knowing that there had been advancements in this area, I began researching the different manufacturers that were producing SRP 308 brass. I had heard mention about Alpha Munitions, from a friend and PRS shooter, so I went to their website and it peaked my interest, so I decided to give their product a try.
I need to state up front that this evaluation was un-solicited, nor compensated for in any way and is only the findings of this writer.
I received this brass on 4/5/2018 lot # 01A180313A7
Initial inspection of the packaging exclusive of UPS shipping marks on the outer box is of the highest order. To say that it was well packaged, would be an understatement. The brass came well packaged in a plastic, smoke colored Alpha Munitions 100 ct. box with a foam sheet inside the box and on the top of the brass to protest the case mouths. The box was inserted in a sleeve with the lot number and description of the brass on it. Also included was an Alpha Munitions peel & stick decal and a business card.
I began by taking twenty five (25) pieces of brass at random from the box and numbered them to begin my evaluation.
I compared the brass in the following categories.
1. Overall length (OAL)
2. Neck thickness
3. Run out (concentricity)
4. Case weight
5. H2O weight
1.) The OAL varied from a length of 2.005” for the longest to a measurement of 2.001” for the shortest. This short piece was an exception, as most fell into the 2.003”-2.005” range, as measured with digital Mitutoyo calipers. This is very good in my estimation for un-prepped brass fresh out of box from a manufacturer.
2.) Neck thickness was also quite good varying between .0135 and .0140 as measured with a Mitutoyo .0001 micrometer.
3.) Relative to the consistent neck thickness it was not surprising to find that none of the cases had a run out of over .0015 with most being .001 or less.
4.) The case weight varied from a high of 177.50 gr. To a low of 176.88 gr. as measured on a FX 120i scale. This is a variance of .72 of a grain over the 25 pieces.
The water weight (H2O) was measured using plain tap water that had been drawn, then let settle to reduce any bubbles. The water was introduced to the selected cases that had a spent primer inserted upside down in the brass.
Using a medical pipette placed in the bottom of each piece of brass and filled to a bubble level top. Five (5) pieces of brass falling with in the median of the brass weight range were used. That range was 177.30-177.32 gr. The water weight volume for this group was a high of 236.34 gr. for a high to 235.28 gr. for a low. This gives an average of 235.88 gr. or a variance of 1.06 gr.
A subtraction of the case weight versus the water weight gives an internal water weight of 58.568 gr. of H2O capacity.
This volume will of course change slightly dependent on your actual chamber dimensions after being fired, but is intended to give the reader an accurate approximation of the volume of this particular lot of brass.
Conclusion:
This is only one person’s finding on this particular lot of brass from the manufacturer, but I think it is an honest representation of the kind of quality that a shooter can expect from this company. I plan to do a follow up to this evaluation as soon as I begin shooting it in regards to the longevity of this brass.
If there is anyone that would like a Word Doc. copy of this report, feel free to contact me at my website below.
Respectfully,
Lloyd Smith
Buckeye Bullets & Brass; LLC
bulletbrassprep.com
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