243 Brass question

[JamesnTN]

Has anyone every made .243 brass from the Lapua 308 Palma Brass.
I know it’ll be work necking down but I’m curious of the difference between the large primer vs the small primer in this case.

 

[DLH_]

This has also crossed my mind. From what I have read, some people sing the praises and other speak of hang fires etc. Most recommend the use of magnum primers even with stick powder.

Josh

 

[243winxb]

Just using 308 brass is a bad idea. IMO. No idea if small primers are better. .

 

[AckleymanII]

James, I have made a lot of 6 XC brass from 308 palma brass using Paul Bike's form die set, and it is work to trim the brass to length and neck turn. Keep the throat length long enough to avoid doughnut problems, you will be ok.

Lapua Palma brass is strong. I had a 31" barrel and there is a node with the 107g Sierra's at 3260 fps using R#17, pockets remained ok, and up to close to 900 rounds on 30 cases. I changed back to H4350 with the node at 3150 due to R#17 starting to fire crack my barrel in 400 rounds. 7 1/2's gave better accuracy than cci 450's with H4350.

I made some hunting brass from new unfired LC and fired Military Chinese 308 brass, accuracy with both are astounding. The Chinese brass lost the primer pockets in two firings, Lake city is going strong.

James, if you have a headspace gauge to use as a guide to neck down, it will put you ahead of the learning curve. You may have to do a final full length size to fit your chamber as the brass may spring back. I back off a touch on the neck down and love the final fit with my full length sizer.

I know that I am preaching to the choir, but neck turning more than once is often a good idea, once before fire forming, fire twice, then neck turn again.

So far, the Palma brass seems indestructable. 450's maybe not needed in the South East...there were loads that loved the BR4 and 7 1/2...IMR 4350, H4350, R#17 in the 6 XC....your 243 Win maybe different.

 

[JaoeyP]

I haven't done it with Lapua brass but have done it with LC Match brass. I tried a few other types (Hornady and Federal) and the Lake City was the only one that would consistently resize without getting ruined. I posted a question this summer about doing this. When you resize 308 to 243 your case will actually end up shorter than the trim to length for 243, so you'll want to be mindful of carbon build up in your chamber. FWIW, the loads I tested in that brass are some of the most accurate loads I've shot to date from that particular rifle.

 

[JamesnTN]

Thanks guys, it’s an idea I’m tossing around and if it’s actually worth the effort and time, vs accuracy and brass life.

 

[dminn1]

Thanks guys, it’s an idea I’m tossing around and if it’s actually worth the effort and time, vs accuracy and brass life.

I made up 50 of the Lapua Palma .308 brass converted to .243 to see if there was anything to be gained over my large primer Winchester brass. I necked these down in one step using a basic Lee .243 full length die that I borrowed, as I use a Redding body die and Lee collet to size my .243 brass. This all went well and I did not lose any cases in the resizing process. Necks had to be turned to give loaded round chamber clearance. I shot for a total clearance of .003 on my first turning attempt but I soon found a bullet would not reenter in a fired case so I ended up turning the necks a second time for a bit more clearance and now all is well. I used CCI 450 primers in these cases and have suffered no hangfires or misfires with the small primer combo. As far as it being worthwhile I would say it is not based on my experience. I am getting very similar es and sd chrono numbers between the Winchester and the Lapua Palma brass. Accuracy is similar when the load is tuned to the brass. I will say the Lapua Palma cases are very durable as through 9 firing cycles the primer pockets are still what I would call new tight. I shoot the Lapua cases with a very stout charge of RL-26 a good bit North of 3200 fps with the Berger 105 Hybrid so they certainly have seen some pressure but are holding up well. My Winchester load with the same bullet is somewhat milder, in the 3100 fps range, and these brass are also on 9 cycles with the pockets starting to loosen a bit on some of the rounds.

 

[Toddmack]

James, I have made a lot of 6 XC brass from 308 palma brass using Paul Bike's form die set, and it is work to trim the brass to length and neck turn. Keep the throat length long enough to avoid doughnut problems, you will be ok.

Lapua Palma brass is strong. I had a 31" barrel and there is a node with the 107g Sierra's at 3260 fps using R#17, pockets remained ok, and up to close to 900 rounds on 30 cases. I changed back to H4350 with the node at 3150 due to R#17 starting to fire crack my barrel in 400 rounds. 7 1/2's gave better accuracy than cci 450's with H4350.

I made some hunting brass from new unfired LC and fired Military Chinese 308 brass, accuracy with both are astounding. The Chinese brass lost the primer pockets in two firings, Lake city is going strong.

James, if you have a headspace gauge to use as a guide to neck down, it will put you ahead of the learning curve. You may have to do a final full length size to fit your chamber as the brass may spring back. I back off a touch on the neck down and love the final fit with my full length sizer.

I know that I am preaching to the choir, but neck turning more than once is often a good idea, once before fire forming, fire twice, then neck turn again.

So far, the Palma brass seems indestructable. 450's maybe not needed in the South East...there were loads that loved the BR4 and 7 1/2...IMR 4350, H4350, R#17 in the 6 XC....your 243 Win maybe different.

Every forum that I look at you seem to be on. Anytime that someone has a question on any caliber/load you can just throw out a recipe for it to shoot well. Not trying to start trouble, troll you or hijkack this thread, too much. I'll start a new thread but I wanted your input.

James, I"m sorry for the semi-hijack

 

[AckleymanII]

James wanted to know if the palma brass was worth the trouble, I gave him an example of how 6 XC brass holds up with Palma brass. James knows full well how to interpret the information that I gave him, and possibly someone else along the line may learn something, especially about the fantastic Paul Bike forming dies.

I am retired, sharted shooting benchrest in 1968, and now have my own rifle range to 300 yards. We shoot and reload out of a heated and AC house, all kinds of weather. I shoot a lot. Past includes Benchrest shooting, varmint hunting, big game, Passion is in calling in Predators.

When people are asking questions, they want answers from people are willing to step up and help that do have actual hands on experience.

 

[Dans40X]

Not Lapua Palma brass-

I run Remington URBR brass in 22-250,6XC,243,6.5-08,260,7mm-08,7.62x51 & 308 chamberings & have for the past 25 years.

 

[JLR]

I wonder if a better way to go would be to start with the small primer Alpha 260?

 

[Eric Leonard]

I didnt get anything from doing it,,I was running 42 grs H4350 from regular 243 brass and getting 3215 fps from the 105 VLD Hunting bullet,,I love the round and ballistics but the 6 Creedmoor with the Lapua 6.5 CM brass would be easier and do about the same thing,,

I did the 243 before Lapua started doing the Creed brass and it is a heck of a round but I dont think the brass life thing is worth the hassle,,I was expecting the small primer pockets to hold enough to hit the next higher node but that didnt happen so I am happy with the regular 243 brass,,but will do a 6 Creed for my next hot 6mm,,

 

[ncboiler]

How about using Alpha 260 small primer brass? Less movement on the neck. Just a thought