6.5 Creedmoor, small primer, large primer, Brands, Etc

[Bluetip]

Tax money on its way, want to get some new brass. First thought was Lapua. Well, this is small primer. Not sure if I need to sleeve firing pin, or get smaller pin. Haven't shot brass, that primer size is a option, so feel a little green in this department. Can standard pin, be used in small primers? If not, who has decent Large primer brass?
I know Peterson is putting out brass, but I think it's small primer too. Nosler, brass should be good, if not, is that large?
Rifle is a remmy 700, TACTICAL, 24 inch barrel, 8 twist.
Thanks in advance

 

[nakneker]

I was using Lapua until I tried a 100 rounds of Peterson small primer, they make both large and small by the way.

It was the most uniform brass I have tried. It also came packed very nicely, in 50 round boxes with a foam insert that protected the case mouth. It’s also cheaper than Lapua, although I’m not sure how long that will last when more people try Peterson.

There are people with a lot more experience than me but I do my fair share of shooting and will be going Peterson on any cartridge they make. I have seven firings on mine with a load a grain under max and the brass shows no signs that it will give up the ghost anytime soon.

I had my firing pin bushed on my 6.5x47, 6x47 and 6.5x5 Creedmoor. I didn’t try the firing pin before bushing it.

 

[Bluetip]

Nak, are you saying that Peterson mskes both options, small, and Large? If so, problem solved.
Do you have to shoot small firing pin, with sp? If so, I'm not going to go through all that mess. I know brass life is better, with sp, but I think it also may other trade offs.

 

[nakneker]

Hey Blue. Yes they have both small and large primer Creedmoor brass. I always have my firing pin bushed when shooting small rifle primers if it needs it.

Why? Simply because I read thats what do to avoid problems and to do it right. Did I ever try it without bushing the firing pin? No, I would imagine on some rifles there’s no problems and on others there are.

There some good gunsmiths who bush firing pins and they would be better qualified to answer the “why”. Gre-Tan, Wheeler Accuracy are a couple tha5 come to mind. I imagine somebody will chime in pretty quick and give you some good info.

Like you said though, you can buy the Large primer stuff and be on your way. If your hunting and banging steel I don’t think it matters much. I like it because of being able to get a little more out of your brass.

 

[Bluetip]

Nak, yes, I agree with the brass life, as I know it definitely does. I have friends that shoot Palma brass, and they swear by it, although, their guns were guns were specifically set up that way, and for that purpose. If I get my bolt bushed, and a smaller pin, can you then shoot large rifle brass? If that's the case, pardon the pun, I'm told I can get it bushed for like $55 bucks, then the cost of another pin! Does that sound right? I would go that way, if I could shoot both, cause the so brass, allows you to work closer to the high end of the pressure curve, without looking brass so quick. Al this coming from someone that used to shoot rounds that only gave 4-5 loads from, then the brass is junk. I like this game, and it don't kick as much either. Always wanted to play the 6.5 game, and am very pleased with this round, and the availability of components, guns, and marketing.

 

[rckendall]

I shoot 6.5 CM with Peterson small primer brass out of a stock Ruger Precision Rifle with no problems. I use Remington 7 1/2 primers though, as they have a thicker cup than some. I think any bench rest primer will be fine.

Richard

 

[22BRGUY]

FWIW I shoot 260AI and with fireformed Lapua brass, the small primer pocket Palma brass has a smaller powder capacity than the large primer pocket brass. In my particular experience with the powder I'm using, the small primer pocket brass reaches it's best pressure/accuracy potential with 47.7 grains of powder compared to the large primer pocket brass with all of the same components reaches that same performance level with 48.2 grains of the same powder. Just saying that if you switch between the 2, the powder charge might produce need to be less with the small primer pocket stuff so be careful not to over pressure because the interior brass case dimensions might not be the same whatever you choose to do.

 

[JBT47]

Bluetip, yes you can shoot large rifle primers after bushing the firing pin hole. No problem.

 

[Bluetip]

Now, let me get this straight, or maybe somebody can do that for me. When you bush the pin, do they also install a smaller pin, for the smaller primer?
If that is the case, can you shoot both large and small primers with the smaller pin? That's where I'm a little confused. I'm leaning towards the Lapua brass, as I've used it before, with amazing results. Although, also have heard great things on the Peterson brass, both large and small. I feel like a student in high school, learning the ropes all over again. In the end, after I get educated on the pros and cons, it'll be worth it, I'm sure. Thanks to all in advance.
B

 

[JBT47]

Again, yes the small diameter firing pin used with a bushed firing pin hole works great with large and small primers.

 

[nakneker]

Nak, yes, I agree with the brass life, as I know it definitely does. I have friends that shoot Palma brass, and they swear by it, although, their guns were guns were specifically set up that way, and for that purpose. If I get my bolt bushed, and a smaller pin, can you then shoot large rifle brass? If that's the case, pardon the pun, I'm told I can get it bushed for like $55 bucks, then the cost of another pin! Does that sound right? I would go that way, if I could shoot both, cause the so brass, allows you to work closer to the high end of the pressure curve, without looking brass so quick. Al this coming from someone that used to shoot rounds that only gave 4-5 loads from, then the brass is junk. I like this game, and it don't kick as much either. Always wanted to play the 6.5 game, and am very pleased with this round, and the availability of components, guns, and marketing.

Hey Blue,

I’m just seeing this. Sorry the late response. GreTan gets 80.00 and he does first rate service. I’ll post a link for you. You can shoot both large and small primers. He bushes the bolt and turns the pin. With SPPeterson brass You should get many firings, much more than 4-5 unless your running them hot. Here’s the link, it has a short description of what he does too.

https://www.gretanrifles.com/product-page/bush-firing-pin-hole-turn-pin

 

[Bluetip]

Again, yes the small diameter firing pin used with a bushed firing pin hole works great with large and small primers.

Thanks man, apparently, I didn't see that, when I asked that again. I thought that was the case, but wasnt sure. Appreciate the feedback.
B

 

[Bluetip]

To nakneker, and JBT, Thanks.
I think I'm up to speed with it now. Nak, thanks for the link too.

 

[Travis Roberts]

For all you Peterson brass fans, what size bushings are you running in your sizer die?

 

[FURMAN]

I am in the middle of testing Peterson small and large primer, Lapua, and ADG. The brass I have the Peterson SRP brass is the least consistent in weight and capacity 1.5x the next worse. Lapua is best, then Peterson LRP, then ADG, then Peterson SRP. I am working through testing how long the primer pockets hold.

 

[Laurie]

I am working through testing how long the primer pockets hold.

Remember that when you load both LR and SR brass, you need to load to a common MV to get same level pressures. (That also applies to different makes of a single primer type too thanks to different make case capacities = different pressures / velocities, but change is usually relatively modest here.)

I can't comment on the Creedmoor, but standard 308 Lapua v same make 'Palma' SR brass can see the charge in the latter having to be increased by anything between 0.5 and 1.4gn to produce the same velocity IME depending on the powder grade. So, simply loading your SR Creedmoor cases up with the same charge as the LR examples will favour SR case-life due to the reduced pressures.

In 308, there is a huge benefit from Palma SRP in life expectancy even when hotter, higher pressure / velocity loads have been developed.

A general point to all those likely to use both types in whichever cartridge where the option exists (and it seems to be growing by the month with topics on the forum mentioning Peterson SR 243 Win and 260 Rem brass options) - treat the loads for each type separately and work the load up again on switching, especially when moving from SR to LR versions. A warm but quite manageable SR brass load may well prove to be over-pressure in LR primed cases.

 

[FURMAN]

Remember that when you load both LR and SR brass, you need to load to a common MV to get same level pressures. (That also applies to different makes of a single primer type too thanks to different make case capacities = different pressures / velocities, but change is usually relatively modest here.)

I can't comment on the Creedmoor, but standard 308 Lapua v same make 'Palma' SR brass can see the charge in the latter having to be increased by anything between 0.5 and 1.4gn to produce the same velocity IME depending on the powder grade. So, simply loading your SR Creedmoor cases up with the same charge as the LR examples will favour SR case-life due to the reduced pressures.

In 308, there is a huge benefit from Palma SRP in life expectancy even when hotter, higher pressure / velocity loads have been developed.

A general point to all those likely to use both types in whichever cartridge where the option exists (and it seems to be growing by the month with topics on the forum mentioning Peterson SR 243 Win and 260 Rem brass options) - treat the loads for each type separately and work the load up again on switching, especially when moving from SR to LR versions. A warm but quite manageable SR brass load may well prove to be over-pressure in LR primed cases.

I do not disagree with anything you said but I am strictly concerned with how fast I can safely push my loads. I know this may not be the information others may be interested in but it is what I am concerned with. I should have been more clear on my post. Although I do not want to trash brass in a few reloading I'm more concerned with better performance. I will be finding each brand of brass' max safe load and testing until the pockets will fit a no go gauge. I am completely aware that this is not an apples to apples test of the pocket strength. I have already seen around 100 fps velocity difference between brass due to the small capacity difference.

 

[Bluetip]

It seems like no matter where you may read it, everyone is really liking the Peterson brass, sp, or lp. I'm impressed, and its American made.
Even better.
No brainer!

 

[JBT47]

Now if only Peterson will be able to match production with demand.