20 VarTarg Brass

[Reloading Bum]

Hi All,

Proud owner of a new Cooper Firearms M21 Varminter Phoenix 20 VT and I'm looking at the brass options, the Lapua .221 Fireball seems to make sense. Aside from running the brass through a FL Die is there anything more required?

According to this article 20VT it's a matter of running the Lapua .221 Fireball brass through a FL sizing die, but my gut tells me there's something more.

I also read this (From 2006)and it seems like there's some additional work required?

I ordered some of the Lapua brass but would like to hear from others that have gone this route.

Thanks,

Reloading Bum

 

[chuckshooter]

it's as easy as the article says, you might tweak the process based on what dies you have available to use. I happen to be loading today for two of my 5 vartargs. 20 grains of 2200, 32 vmax . 20.3 in the other. absolutely my favorite cartridge for squirrels.

 

[snert]

Where are you finding Lapua. Word has it they stopped making it

 

[457ciSBC]

Where are you finding Lapua. Word has it they stopped making it

In the last few months, I have gotten it from both Grafs and Midway. From MW on 4/9 I paid 76.99 and caught it on sale back in early March for just over $72, it’s 96.99 now......crazy.

 

[snert]

thanks

 

[22vartarg]

I use Nosler 221 Fireball brass for both of my 20VT’s. So far they have held up very well.

 

[nr123]

Just one pass thru the die, load and shoot. At least that's what I do to load for my Cooper. I had the best load using RL-7 and a 32 gr bullet. I've had good luck with Lapua brass and Remington too.

 

[GAnderson]

You might need to turn the necks on the Lapua brass...if memory serves me the Coopers are a .232 chamber neck and loaded lapua brass necked down measures right at .232 so neck turning is probably going to have to be done.

Gene

 

[Reloading Bum]

Midway is where I have seen it, it's not cheap.

 

[Rick300]

I thought the Lapua brass was bigger at the .200 line. Have you guys found that to be true? I’m needing some new Vartarg brass and want to make sure it fits. Standard .232 chamber

 

[GAnderson]

I thought the Lapua brass was bigger at the .200 line. Have you guys found that to be true? I’m needing some new Vartarg brass and want to make sure it fits. Standard .232 chamber

Yes, I have heard the same thing about the .200 line being about .002 bigger...it might be wise to give Cooper a call and see what they say about their chamber at the .200 line. I do know that the .232 neck is pretty tight with Lapua brass, so neck turning is needed.
I had a reamer made for Lapua brass with a .235 neck...this gives me .003 clearance.

Gene

 

[L.Sherm]

As Gene said my bet unless Cooper changed there rifles were chambered with .232 necks.
Lots of reports of clickers with Lapua brass if you dont have chambers bigger at the .200 line.

 

[Rick300]

I should have made myself more clear. I left out that I don’t have a Cooper rifle, not yet anyway - but I’m looking. I was just wondering on a criterion prefit, but I think I have to stay away from Lapua for the Vartarg. Such a shame that the brass isn’t more standardized.

 

[22vartarg]

Rick….. Lapua brass out of the blue box and run thru my Redding 20VT standard die did not fit my Cooper rifle. Too tight and bolt would not close. That is why I switched to Nosler.

 

[Rick300]

Thank you. I will keep a lookout for Nosler.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I do know that the .232 neck is pretty tight with Lapua brass, so neck turning is needed.

That's why I went with a .234 neck on my reamer. I could load and shoot anything without the need to turn necks.

 

[GAnderson]

I should have made myself more clear. I left out that I don’t have a Cooper rifle, not yet anyway - but I’m looking. I was just wondering on a criterion prefit, but I think I have to stay away from Lapua for the Vartarg. Such a shame that the brass isn’t more standardized.

Check with Criterion and see what their chamber dimensions are...they might have a couple of different chamber offerings and one might be for Lapua brass.

 

[457ciSBC]

I should have made myself more clear. I left out that I don’t have a Cooper rifle, not yet anyway - but I’m looking. I was just wondering on a criterion prefit, but I think I have to stay away from Lapua for the Vartarg. Such a shame that the brass isn’t more standardized.

The brass is standardized, the Lapua is just closer to SAMMI max at the .200 point. There’s a reason Lapua brass is stronger in the case head area, more mass around the primer pocket.For the .222 case head family, it’s generally .3759 max for the cartridge @ .200, .3769 for the chamber @.200. When you have reamers that are ground closer the specs of older brass from years past that was traditionally undersized, you will run into problems. My 20FB reamer is ground to SAAMI max @ .200.

 

[Reloading Bum]

it's as easy as the article says, you might tweak the process based on what dies you have available to use. I happen to be loading today for two of my 5 vartargs. 20 grains of 2200, 32 vmax . 20.3 in the other. absolutely my favorite cartridge for squirrels.

Thank you for replying, appreciate it. Which dies are you using? I have the REDDING 80636 .

 

[Reloading Bum]

You might need to turn the necks on the Lapua brass...if memory serves me the Coopers are a .232 chamber neck and loaded lapua brass necked down measures right at .232 so neck turning is probably going to have to be done.

Gene