6br lapua brass???

[wildchild]

Anyone heard any rumors as far as Lapua goin back to thicker neck or is this a forever deal? If so Im gunna have to order a new reamer couse a . 272 and this new brass loaded at .268 sucks. Thats .04 and if one wants a cleanup on the necks prolly look'n at .05-.06 clearance one would guess this is a little hard on brass necks...not??

 

[KevinThomas]

WildChild,

No, it's a "forever" thing. The difference between the larger stuff put out previously and what's coming out now, is less than .001", and this is where it will have to stay. The problem is one of CIP compliance, and loaded rounds that have to pass their neck gage standard. Some of our previous runs of cases were produced on the top end of the tolerance spectrum, with the inevitable result that some fell outside the gage standards. To bring these back in line, we tightened production tolerances-tightened, not changed-to what we're running now. But, as I said, the difference is less than .001", no where near the dimensions you've apparently been told.

Hope that helps,

 

[FURMAN]

Kevin, the way I understand you are saying the neck thickness is .001 thinner. That makes the loaded cartridge .002 less. I had two 20brs chambered at .236 with loaded rounds measuring .233 which was a little more clearance than I wanted. With the new stuff it will and up at .231 which is even worse. If I would have known this change was coming I would have went with a .233 chamber. Please tell me if I have this correct. I can't find any more cardboard boxed stuff anywhere.

 

[Frankr]

kevin, Thanks for the info, im trying to understand what you are saying.
You are saying the new 6BR brass neck is .012 thick??

 

[fdshuster]

Frank: Just measured my blue box Lapua 6BR with the older cardboard box, using one of my tubing mics. Blue box is .012" minimum to .0125" maximum. Lot number ?00517001. Can't fully read the first alphabet letter, the dark blue label is overtop the letter, could be a "B" or an "R". Older cardboard box measures .013" mimimum to .0135" maximum. Kevin is right on with his difference of .001".

 

[wildchild]

Frank: Just measured my blue box Lapua 6BR with the older cardboard box, using one of my tubing mics. Blue box is .012" minimum to .0125" maximum. Lot number ?00517001. Can't fully read the first alphabet letter, the dark blue label is overtop the letter, could be a "B" or an "R". Older cardboard box measures .013" mimimum to .0135" maximum. Kevin is right on with his difference of .001".

Well I dont know about you felow gun nuts ,but .001 a side making it .002 with a loaded round could mean a lot! So that makes above post quit ACCURATE..not???

 

[Frankr]

Thanks frank, i guess i will have to order a box and mic them to decide on what my
new reamer neck dia will be.
I will be talking to ya..got that big IOR on the BR but just been to cold to shoot it
and get it straight at the range.

 

[fdshuster]

wildchild: That's the main reason I ordered my PT&G reamer with a .270", rather than the usual .272" no-turn. The blue box will be used with the .270 and the older cardboard box with the .272. Will watch how that combination works out and if all goes well, and keeping in mind that Kevin said the thinner necks were a permanent thing, may even send my 272" reamer back for re-grinding to .270". I really have to question how much difference it will make, in anything, but may find out, good or bad.

 

[deadlyswift]

I can't say that I'm right here. I have 2 Broughton barrels and a 6brx reamer ready to go be chambered. My current 6br Broughton has a 272 neck. I went with the 272 neck on the 6br because I had 300 pe of cardborad box brass. So I should be good for the barrels life. This brass works great in my 272 neck. However I will have to order the new blue box brass for my 6brx. I was aware of this before I ordered the reamer. So I as well like fdshuster went with a 270 neck. It should be the same as my old brass in a 272 neck. I'll just have to start calling it a 270 no turn neck, because of the new brass.

 

[wildchild]

wildchild: That's the main reason I ordered my PT&G reamer with a .270", rather than the usual .272" no-turn. The blue box will be used with the .270 and the older cardboard box with the .272. Will watch how that combination works out and if all goes well, and keeping in mind that Kevin said the thinner necks were a permanent thing, may even send my 272" reamer back for re-grinding to .270". I really have to question how much difference it will make, in anything, but may find out, good or bad.

The reason I have this chambering is couse my barrel chamber'n guy had this reamer on hand and used it. Guess I'll use this barrel to fire form brass and rechamber with the new reamer. ordered a .269 neck.

 

[Frankr]

My chamber now is a .269 neck and i love it, but i think a new reamer with a .268 neck dia is in order, if i turn .001-.0015 off and have .011 neck thickness and a loaded round of .265 or .2655 depending on bullet im useing. .0025 to .003 clearance is right where i like to be and can live with .011. now i think im about .0114-.0115
you know it seems hard but its only .001-.0015 differance and if you run that off on a mic that like a hair, but its very important to me that all my case necks are the same and i dont like more that .003 clearance, Thats why a custom rifle and tight neck chamber so i can control the neck clearance and amount of bullet grip,to tune it to what i want it to due.And belive me in my opinion I have had a .262 neck 6BR and a .269 neck 6BR and with the cases set up right i have shot alot of groups in the low to mid .100s at 100YDS but you must have your cases right to do that. I have proved it to myself.You can read about it any where,The case is the most important part and the shoulder and neck is the most important part of the case.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/max357/houston.html

 

[DCRYDER]

So now we have to pay out of our pockets to get our .272" reamers reground or buy new ones because they were ground to lapuas out of spec brass!!! SWEET!!!!

 

[deadlyswift]

Yep! Just the name of the game! Pay to play, and adjust your specs, loading, etc. This change has been good for me! I have learned a lot just from paying attention to someone else changing specs and leaving it up to me to decide how to change my own specs to get the same results! Attention to detail is apart of precision shooting!

 

[fdshuster]

DCRYDER: Until we get some better weather and I'm able to get out & do some serious comparisons, I'm really not sure the new, thinner Lapua brass will make any difference. At this point I'm keeping an open mind. The cost of having an existing reamer reground is $25, so not that big of a deal, especially since I keep my "good" reamers and do multiple chamberings with them. Do I wish they would have kept the brass at the old thickness? Yes. It's still nice to have the option of doing one light clean-up cut on the thicker brass. All that aside, I still prefer the Lapua over any other choices.

 

[wildchild]

@ FJIM..My chamber now is a .269 neck and i love it, but i think a new reamer with a .268 neck dia is in order.

Well that was all it took to change my mind, Ill have to change the order 2marow to a .268.

 

[RonAKA]

I think Wildchild's numbers and concern in the original post are valid. However, behind every dark cloud is a silver lining. I have a factory Savage and based on fired case diameters have a neck in the chamber of about .2715 and with pure luck I got cardboard box brass that measures 0.2690 to 0.2695" loaded. So as a result of this "stacking tolerance" issue that Lapua has identified, my factory combination has given me custom gun, tight no turn, neck tolerances. I'm happy, and scrambled when I found out about it to order more of the "bad out of spec" cardboard box brass from the same lot.

That said, I feel for those that are trying to spec their reamers to get it right, when the target moves...

 

[DCRYDER]

Mr SWIFT, pay to play? To some people reamers are not toys, but work tools. I only have 2 6br reamers myself, both .272", one .030" FB and one .104" FB. What about the fellow that may have several 6mmbr reamers? This could be a very big deal. I haven't been able to find the price for a regrind on their new site, but i thought the old PT&G site said it was $60 each. Not to mention the down time.

 

[deadlyswift]

Mr SWIFT, pay to play? To some people reamers are not toys, but work tools. I only have 2 6br reamers myself, both .272", one .030" FB and one .104" FB. What about the fellow that may have several 6mmbr reamers? This could be a very big deal. I haven't been able to find the price for a regrind on their new site, but i thought the old PT&G site said it was $60 each. Not to mention the down time.

I agree with you! The spending of money sucks! Can't argue that for sure! I don't like it no more than anyone else! I just don't see wasting time gurmbling or graping about this or that, but just make the changes myself to adjust for something else not being what "I think it should be"!!!!!!!! Adjust my specs or loads, brass prep, etc. What ever I have to do to get back on track and keep shooting striaght. Even tho Lapua has change their neck wall thickness. I still think it is the most uniformed brass out of the box avaliable.! I'd say if someone gets that upset with Laupa, over this then spend the time at the loading bench to uniform Win Brass, and save the money! (Many do, and do well) Even with that said I do still agree with you that it cost some serveral $100s if not $1000s!!? (gunsmiths) Fair? No! Like? No! What one has to do to stay on top or shoot competively or cut compeitive chambers Yes!!!! It's just the nature of the beast!! Over come the opticals, and changes and shoot as straight as always! Yes it cost me to do so, but what don't cost in this sport? Sometimes You just have to think outside of the box. Open your mind and explore your options! At times change isn't always a bad thing!
Mark

 

[fdshuster]

I had one of my PT&G 6BR reamers reground from .104" freebore to zero. Cost was $25 and turn-around time was a week to 10 days. And, no, I don't consider them "toys".

 

[DCRYDER]

Thanks for the info fd, i will probably send mine off this week.

I know Lapua is the best brass out there, and i will continue to use it, but that doesn't mean i can't whine and bitch about it though ;D

To benchrest shooters the change is only a small bump in the road, heck they're used to setting back and rechambering their HV barrels that started out at 32". But what about the varmint hunter who is also particular about tolerances and accuracy who just dropped $1500-$2500 on a Remington Varmint contour barrel with their "double radius" contoured breech that was meticulously fitted to the barrel channel? What are his options? Set the barrel back 3/8" and rechamber leaving a hideous gap in front of the breech area? Throw barrel away and get a new one? Goop some bedding compound in barrel channel and paint it?

Just like 1 of my 6brs, it is a Rem Var contour that I finished at 18". I shoot light bullets with fast powder and wanted a stiff barrel that handled well. I am very particular when it comes to clearances. If I had went with 16" I could not set it back if I wanted to because it would then be illegal.

Will a rifle shoot accurately with .004" clearance, sure. But brass life will be decreased, and chances of runout will be increased since necks will be resized from .272" to .266" (passing the .005" that has been discussed here).

I really feel like there is more to the change then what they are saying. How many millions of pieces of brass have they made with the thicker necks in the last 5 years or so? They just now realized the necks are too thick? I think they have probably invested lots of money in new tooling and this is how the brass came out, with thinner necks. To keep from spending a lot more money fixing it and to keep from making people mad, they gave us some pretty blue boxes.

And for anyone wondering.....YES I would like to have a little cheese with my whine :'( :'( ;D