How Many 6PPC Shooters Are Switching To Alpha Brass.

[jackieschmidt]

I have spent two mornings of the Holiday doing some serious testing with the Alpha 6PPC Brass.
I am very encouraged.
I do not know how the volume of the Alpha compares to that of cases made from Lapua 220 Russian. But I have found that the upper load widow is at least 4 tenths grain lower.
Doing a back to back test, my Lapua 6PPC gives great accuracy in my LV at 30.3 grains, yielding 3430 fps.
The same load out of the Alpha is too hot. The groups opened up a lot.
When I finally dropped it to 29.9, it came back. And to my surprise, the velocity in the Alpha at 29.9 was the same as the Lapua at 30.3.
All of this is with my own 68 grn boat out of a 21 1/2 inch long 13.5 Krieger.
Visually, there doesn’t seem to be that much difference in the two. But it seems there is enough to change the load window.
Overall, I am impressed with the Alpha 6PPC Brass. But then it seems so are a lot of other shooters.
Of course, there is also the fact that the Alpha actually starts out as a 6PPC, eliminating the initial fire forming just to get the Lapua formed into the 6PPC configuration.
I turn the necks on the Alpha, fire it once, and it’s ready.

 

[David Conder]

I don’t know that I will try it l have enough gold box that I bought enough from
David Tooley years ago but a lot of shooters are use it with good results

 

[Websurfer]

Thanks for the extensive testing and reporting on the Alpha brass, Jackie. It sounds good - I can see why some guys are using it.
Personally, I have too much Peterson and Lapua brass on-hand, both of which are amazing, to try the Alpha.
Still, it’s great to have another quality option for brass for our benchrest rigs.

 

[Tim Singleton]

I have tested it and see the same as Jackie on the velocity
I believe the powder capacity is slightly less than Lapua.

 

[billbonser]

I used Alpha in my last match, Twenty targets with 24 pieces of brass over two days. They shot great. I don't load them that hot. I am annealing them, and using them again.

 

[Dean Slater]

I have spent two mornings of the Holiday doing some serious testing with the Alpha 6PPC Brass.
I am very encouraged.
I do not know how the volume of the Alpha compares to that of cases made from Lapua 220 Russian. But I have found that the upper load widow is at least 4 tenths grain lower.
Doing a back to back test, my Lapua 6PPC gives great accuracy in my LV at 30.3 grains, yielding 3430 fps.
The same load out of the Alpha is too hot. The groups opened up a lot.
When I finally dropped it to 29.9, it came back. And to my surprise, the velocity in the Alpha at 29.9 was the same as the Lapua at 30.3.
All of this is with my own 68 grn boat out of a 21 1/2 inch long 13.5 Krieger.
Visually, there doesn’t seem to be that much difference in the two. But it seems there is enough to change the load window.
Overall, I am impressed with the Alpha 6PPC Brass. But then it seems so are a lot of other shooters.
Of course, there is also the fact that the Alpha actually starts out as a 6PPC, eliminating the initial fire forming just to get the Lapua formed into the 6PPC configuration.
I turn the necks on the Alpha, fire it once, and it’s ready.

Having very good results with the Alpha. Sold all my Lapua and stocked up on Alpha. I see no reason to neck up and fire form anymore.

 

[Bronsin]

I switched to it primarily because I'm using stout loads of LT-32, the lapua brass wouldn't take many firings before clickers showed up. This Alpha brass is tough as nails. It did require some adjustments to my sizing dies to work properly though.

 

[Mulligan]

I am actually drawing up/specking out a new reamer for this brass.
With the overall case length longer than fireformed 220 Russian brass, taking advantage of the extra capacity is the goal. I have more testing to do before I commit to neck diameter.......
The question there is, do I go with a 273/4 no turn or 268 and keep the necks more pliable????
I just turned 20 for a friend to run in his .262 neck chamber to see how they hold up. I personally am done with .008" necks, that ship sailed a long time ago.

CW

 

[Dean Slater]

I am actually drawing up/specking out a new reamer for this brass.
With the overall case length longer than fireformed 220 Russian brass, taking advantage of the extra capacity is the goal. I have more testing to do before I commit to neck diameter.......
The question there is, do I go with a 273/4 no turn or 268 and keep the necks more pliable????
I just turned 20 for a friend to run in his .262 neck chamber to see how they hold up. I personally am done with .008" necks, that ship sailed a long time ago.

CW

I sent a dummy round with Alpha Brass and the bullet I use where I wanted it seated in the neck and sent it to JGS. .269 NK. One light turn . Very happy with it.

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

I started out using Alpha. I'm on my second box,second bbl. I bought some Lapua to try but haven't fire formed them all yet.( Seems like too much work.) But I would use it if I had too. I got a picture down ther of 30 shots. Starting at left side. Was a seating depth test. First group seated as far out as I know the bullet is being pushed in by the Lands. The next group is 5 thousandth shorter and so on..
Reason I posted this is because I moved the bullet 45 thousandth till The group opend up and showed some vertical. Iv just never seen a window this big. I thought it was pretty neat worth showing. I'm shooting berger 65bt Vv133 28.3 2024. Alpha brass

 

[wvlongshot]

Does the neck tension seem to be as even compared to the lapua? My alpha seems inconsistent over 100 pcs.

 

[Mulligan]

I sent a dummy round with Alpha Brass and the bullet I use where I wanted it seated in the neck and sent it to JGS. .269 NK. One light turn . Very happy with it.

Oh cool!

Did you extend the chamber length at all?

CW

 

[Bronsin]

I am actually drawing up/specking out a new reamer for this brass.
With the overall case length longer than fireformed 220 Russian brass, taking advantage of the extra capacity is the goal. I have more testing to do before I commit to neck diameter.......
The question there is, do I go with a 273/4 no turn or 268 and keep the necks more pliable????
I just turned 20 for a friend to run in his .262 neck chamber to see how they hold up. I personally am done with .008" necks, that ship sailed a long time ago.

CW

I was thinking of having a new one made at .272 and a longer trim length.

 

[jackieschmidt]

The Alpha Brass length out of the box fits my chamber perfectly. Maybe better than Lapua, which always comes out about 1.490 to 1.495 in length after fire forming. My reamer has a .050 throat.

Here is what the Alpha looks like in my chamber after about four firings. This case measures .1.510.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I was thinking of having a new one made at .272 and a longer trim length.

The Alpha I have is going between .013 to .014 in wall thickness, as they are varying about .001 as I go around with the ball mic.
My chamber is .269, I turn them to just under .012.

 

[GT Accuracy]

Anyone try turning the Alpha brass in the idod/autodod yet?

 

[Mulligan]

The Alpha Brass length out of the box fits my chamber perfectly. Maybe better than Lapua, which always comes out about 1.490 to 1.495 in length after fire forming. My reamer has a .050 throat.

Here is what the Alpha looks like in my chamber after about four firings. This case measures .1.510.View attachment 1663896

Jackie,
How long is your chamber?

CW

 

[Mulligan]

Does the neck tension seem to be as even compared to the lapua? My alpha seems inconsistent over 100 pcs.

Yes
So far so good

CW

 

[Dean Slater]

Oh cool!

Did you extend the chamber length at all?

CW

My chamber is 1.520

 

[tikkaman308]

I've turned 50 cases of Alpha for a .262 neck and they have 15 firings of n133 at 29.5-30.2 gr. They are just as consistent today as the first firing, In regards to neck tension and primer pockets being tight .I have never had brand new Lapua brass to test,but I am pleased with the Alpha