6.5x47 L brass quality????

[65BR]

Frank,

Thanks for the comments, MY issue is this, I have 6BR brass, bought years ago of very good known quality, second I don't turn brass nor want to, as I don't compete, lastly, I don't care to sort cases that are this expensive and that price is due to the reputation Lapua has, I have emailed them my thoughts and others experience awaiting a reply.

I was initially planning on building a dual role paper/varmint and occasionaly deer rifle in 6.5x47, but do to the consistent reports, of inconsistent brass, I am going to just do another 6BR at this time. I like the cartridge, but if I can do as well for less $$$ with a 260, or just go with a 6.5 Creemoor, why should I worry with the hassle of turning brass and sorting cases? My initial thoughts were that the 47 is a nice design and offered great "OUT THE BOX" brass, to be used, as is.

Chatted w/a gentlemen who had built 2 6.5/250 improved rifles who said he just loads and goes, and get .2's and .3's.....and brass is cheaper. Hard to justify a 47 for my needs if I have to worry w/brass quality.

 

[johara1]

I hope this is the lot# 4PH6010 for 6.5 x 47 Lapua, I'm turning necks now the new tube gun. First I find case heads with no markings that are shaped like rivet on the case head and the necks are dented and the necks run from.0118 to .0138. the weight goes from 159.3 to 161.9.......so much for Lapua QC...........jim

 

[billmo]

I would contact Lapua. I think they will make it right. It's worth a try anyway. Bill

 

[rstreich]

I hope this is the lot# 4PH6010....

That's the part number. The lot number is next to it on newer boxes or stamped under the flap on the older boxes.

 

[johara1]

I guess the lot # is 3174606,this the number next to the part # 4PH6010......jim

 

[PopCharlie]

Reading theses old post is interesting. I've been shooting a 6.5x47 Lapua since 2016. The original 300 pcs of Lapua brass I bought has been reduced to less than 120 pcs of useable brass. I don't weigh cases, but I do measure runout and case wall thickness variance. The cases have gotten progressively worse after each firing. By this I mean neck wall variance creeping up to over .002 and neck runout creeping up to over .002 as well. During case prep, I set these a side. After annealing, I will turn these necks to 12 thousands. If the variance after turning is .0005 or less, and the runout is less than .0015, I will shoot them again. If not, I cull them out. I have 200 pcs of new brass i bought in 2019 and have not shot them yet. I have checked them all for neck wall variance and runout. Of these 200, I have already separated out 15 pcs that have a variance of over .0015 and runout of over .002. I will fire all of these to see if they get any better. BTW: I anneal after each firing using an Amp annealer.
Also, my 6 br and . 223 Match Lapua brass has been great. I have very consistent neck wall variance. Usually between .0005 and .001. Runout is always less that .0015.
For the sake of comparison, I bought 50 pcs of Peterson 6.5x47 brass. All 50 were .0005 or less neck wall thickness variance and less than .001 runout. I have loaded 25 of these and will fire them soon. The seated runout, measured on the ogive of a seated bullet, for these 25 was .001 or less.
So this is my experience with the 6.5x47 Lapua brass. It seems to take a lot more work to prep. After a couple of firings, it starts to have issues.

 

[Boatschool02]

Thanks for the update.
Care to post some initial measurements on the new Peterson brass?
(0.200 line, neck thickness?)

 

[PopCharlie]

Thanks for the update.
Care to post some initial measurements on the new Peterson brass?
(0.200 line, neck thickness?)

All 50 pcs of the unfired Peterson measured .0005 or less variance in neckwall thickness. Runout was less than .001 for all 50. I loaded up 25 with 120 gr Berger match BT bullets. Seated them to .002 off the lands. I had 16 loaded rounds the measured less than .001 runout. 9 that measured between. 001 and .0015. Measured at the ogive.

 

[PopCharlie]

All 50 pcs of the unfired Peterson measured .0005 or less variance in neckwall thickness. Runout was less than .001 for all 50. I loaded up 25 with 120 gr Berger match BT bullets. Seated them to .002 off the lands. I had 16 loaded rounds the measured less than .001 runout. 9 that measured between. 001 and .0015. Measured at the ogive.

Actual neck thickness was .013 to .0135.

 

[PopCharlie]

Another update....I bought a 6.5x47 Lapua Whidden F/L, click adjustable, non-bushing sizing die and a 6.5 expander ball kit. After setting up the die per the instructions and adjusting the shoulder bump, I selected the .262 expander ball, chucked it and polished it with JB bore paste. Nice and smooth now. I annealed and then started sizing some old Lapua 6.5x47 brass. I picked brass that I had set aside due to exsessive runout on the necks. (.002 or more). I was able to reduce the runout to .0005 on 26 of 33 pcs. The other 7 were between .0005 and .001. I'm pretty happy with this die. I would like to run more cases thru it, 33 is a small sample.
Previously, I had been using both Redding and Whidden bushing style F/L sizing dies.
I

 

[Boatschool02]

Thanks for the update.
Any idea on sizing at the base, shoulder, and neck without expander?

 

[PopCharlie]

Thanks for the update.
Any idea on sizing at the base, shoulder, and neck without expander?

Fired unprepe'd brass:
Neck .2930
Shoulder .4585
Base .4695

F/L sized w/ .262 expander ball:
Neck: .2860
Shoulder: .4575
Base: .4695

I was not happy with a .286 neck, so I switched to a .264 expander ball.
F/L sized w/ .264 expander ball.
Neck: .2880 (In the past, I used a .288 bushing in my bushing F/L sizer)
Shoulder: .4575
Base: .4695
Head space measured on datum with a comparator:
Fired: 1.4560
I bump it to 1.4540 as necessary.

 

[PopCharlie]

Fired unprepe'd brass:
Neck .2930
Shoulder .4585
Base .4695

F/L sized w/ .262 expander ball:
Neck: .2860
Shoulder: .4575
Base: .4695

I was not happy with a .286 neck, so I switched to a .264 expander ball.
F/L sized w/ .264 expander ball.
Neck: .2880 (In the past, I used a .288 bushing in my bushing F/L sizer)
Shoulder: .4575
Base: .4695
Head space measured on datum with a comparator:
Fired: 1.4560
I bump it to 1.4540 as necessary.

Neck w/o expander ball was .2850

 

[Boatschool02]

Many thanks.