Peterson 6mm ARC brass vs Alpha?
- Thread starter SD guy
- Start date
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
Really ?? Sources?
Following this thread. WD
Note: when placing an order they offer a generic across the board indication that a 6 to 8 week delay on delivery may be the norm for them. Not sure what I think about that. My 1st time doing business with them.Suppose ill have a better understanding of there delivery responce in time.
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Peterson 6mm ARC brass arrived today early enough that I was able to do a rather quick evaluation. Visually the brass is superb with rather sharp edges where you want a good sharp edge & radius on the base of the case & going into the primer pockets. Only sampled 5 cases at random as I wanted to do a bit of test firing B4 dark.
Of the 5 cases brass weighed 115 grains +/- .24 grains on the A&D 120 i. The weight compares to the Hornady that varies considerably more & seems to average closer to 110.25 grains.
Loaded 5 rounds of the virgin Peterson 6mm ARC brass w 28.6 GR of CFE 223 & 3 rounds with the same charge in the Hornady 2xfired brass. This pushing a 90 gr Hornady CX. In this small sample velocity was surprisingly similar w 2745 FPS Average velocity from each from my 22" 5 groove Pacnor barrel on the CZ 527 bolt action rifle.
The test firing of these rounds was done with a temperature of 31 deg F.
After firing the brass the case capacity of the Hornady brass is running roughly 34.5 gr of CFE 223 in the Peterson brass VS 35.96 gr of the CFE223 in the Hornady brass.
Of the 5 cases brass weighed 115 grains +/- .24 grains on the A&D 120 i. The weight compares to the Hornady that varies considerably more & seems to average closer to 110.25 grains.
Loaded 5 rounds of the virgin Peterson 6mm ARC brass w 28.6 GR of CFE 223 & 3 rounds with the same charge in the Hornady 2xfired brass. This pushing a 90 gr Hornady CX. In this small sample velocity was surprisingly similar w 2745 FPS Average velocity from each from my 22" 5 groove Pacnor barrel on the CZ 527 bolt action rifle.
The test firing of these rounds was done with a temperature of 31 deg F.
After firing the brass the case capacity of the Hornady brass is running roughly 34.5 gr of CFE 223 in the Peterson brass VS 35.96 gr of the CFE223 in the Hornady brass.
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I'm suggesting that build quality is vastly more important than brass manufacture. My best load in my Colt A2 does not care what brass. Winchester, Federal Lake City at 300 yards if the wind likes me it's 3 1/2" to 4" with 69 grain Hornady.
I can't really offer any firsthand info on either but everything I have heard about the Alpha brass for the 22 and 6.5 Grendel has been like the ppc brass...that it's top notch. The 6 Arc is a tad shorter but essentially the same as the 22 and 6.5 Grendel, but a 6mm. Can't say a thing about the Peterson but everything has been positive about the others in that family of cartridges from Alpha. I'll be trying some soon. I've got enough Lapua to last a lifetime but I do like to see if the reports are true or not, so I'll be testing some Alpha 22 Arc brass soon, in a bolt br rifle. I know what the Lapua does...so there's that. My standards are high. I'm a Lapua snob, I guess ya could say. But I'm open to American made anything, if it performs. If Alpha indeed holds up to my pressures, it'll be the FIRST viable alternative to Lapua. Frankly, at upper end loads/pressures, Lapua has proven the be the best and the cheapest brass out there. So I'm hopeful the Alpha is as good as everyone says.
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Retired shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
All I'm going to say publicly is I purchased 200 rounds of Peterson. 6 ARC Not happy with brass. Have not fired any of it.
Purchased 100 rounds of Alpha 6 ARC . Have sized it & debured flash hole. Have not loaded or fired any of it. However I'm much happier with what I've seen with the Alpha so far.
To all a good night.
Purchased 100 rounds of Alpha 6 ARC . Have sized it & debured flash hole. Have not loaded or fired any of it. However I'm much happier with what I've seen with the Alpha so far.
To all a good night.
fatelvis
Silver $$ Contributor
You haven’t fired any of either brand yet? What makes you like or dislike the two brands?
My activity with this brass has dropped off considerably due to personal life events. But what little I've worked with the two I think they're both great. But if you are one to step on the gas, a bit heavy in the context of bolt action loads I do believe that the Alpha brass will stand up for you better. Sorry I don't have more information, but that was my experience shortly after introduction of each, what the future batches look like may or may not change that picture I don't know.
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
+1^^^. Agree.
My experience with them through a couple of bolt guns:
It's difficult to give someone advise on "which is better" due to shooter preference, bias, and practices. I shot both Alpha and Peterson in SRBR (14tw, 65-68gr bullets) last year and have prep'd another 200 of the Alpha for this year. I shoot mostly the Alpha brass and I have no complaints on it at all. I've been bringing the Peterson along more slowly and have less experience with it, but on more than a few occasions I've used it as sighters or barrel warmers and it and the Alpha have shot pretty much into the same POA with the same loads as the Alpha. On the Alpha I'd strongly advise to NOT use a primer pocket uniformer on them..... that advise was given me by the manufacturer and after you use it a few times you'll see why. The pockets are a little tighter on the Alpha, but tight is a good thing.IME.
So in the end, I'd suggest you spring for a box of each and see which one fits your regimen best. I think they're both pretty darned good. Good luck and I hope they work out well for ya. WD
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Retired shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
PM sent.
Why should you not use a primer pocket uniformer on the Alpha brass?
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
As was in the post...... On the Alpha I'd strongly advise to NOT use a primer pocket uniformer on them..... that advise was given me by the manufacturer.
They are plenty tight straight out of the box and seem to be engineered/manufactured to hold the primers in place. WD
Did they say what the consequences were if you did uniform the pockets? I can’t imagine uniforming the depth would affect how tight they are. Just curious as to why they said that.
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