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6BRA Alpha Brass question

savageshooter86

So I have Alpha 6BRA brass along with Wheeler #1 .272 neck. Ever since day one I have had moderate bolt lift and swipes on the case head. Can’t reach velocity others get without pressure. I sent 3x fired brass to Harrels for their die and got it back. And didn’t solve issue. I don’t have any other brand brass to try. My buddy just got Alpha brass and having similar things happen. What are we missing? Both chambered by very competent smiths(different smiths did each barrel)

He actually has Lapua brass that is formed into BRA and it extracts like butter and no issues.

Seen a lot of posts about Alpha brass and BRA and that this reamer is great for Alpha brass

Thanks for any input or things to try

**My loaded rounds measure 2685. Fired neck 271.
 
Last edited:
Alex Wheeler said:
We had some very good Alpha brass, it held a lot of pressure. But unfortunately we have had to go back to Lapua because of what you’re seeing.
Click to expand...
I’m at 2910 and bolt lift feels like it’s a hot load. And running 29.4 H4895 Berger 105 VLD. And swipes on brass case head.

Guess I’ll shoot this load until I run out of bullets and powder for it and try to switch to Lapua. The load shoots great but not fun fighting the rifle to smoothly eject a round
 
DJSBRS said:
The main issue is the the brass is flowing to the neck shoulder junction and stopping. Therefore, there must be more clearance at that point, by turning what I call an outside donut off after several firings. Also, firing that brass at at a higher node causes the brass to flow faster to that junction.
I have many customers reverting back to my Lapua hydroformed BRA brass to alleviate the problem.

Just my .02¢

DJ
DJ's Brass Service
Click to expand...
So Lapua brass doesn’t flow to that junction? I’m asking because we are trying to understand and learn. We don’t see a donut on the outside or feel one on the inside of the brass either. Would a larger dimension on the reamer print at that spot help or make it go away?
 
savageshooter86 said:
So I have Alpha 6BRA brass along with Wheeler #1 .272 neck. Ever since day one I have had moderate bolt lift and swipes on the case head. Can’t reach velocity others get without pressure. I sent 3x fired brass to Harrels for their die and got it back. And didn’t solve issue. I don’t have any other brand brass to try. My buddy just got Alpha brass and having similar things happen. What are we missing? Both chambered by very competent smiths(different smiths did each barrel)

He actually has Lapua brass that is formed into BRA and it extracts like butter and no issues.

Seen a lot of posts about Alpha brass and BRA and that this reamer is great for Alpha brass

Thanks for any input or things to try

**My loaded rounds measure 2685. Fired neck 271.
Click to expand...
Are you using ocd brass or the prior non-ocd stuff…or maybe bra brass only came out as ocd?
 
I’m using Alpha OCD. Reamer was Wheeler #1 which I was under impression was good for Alpha brass. And I’ve never used or shot Lapua brass so I don’t know any different other than the bolt lift on this disturbs the rifle. I know Alpha was less capacity than Lapua from my research.

Thought I did it right and sent brass to die maker to get custom die for it

Thanks
 
Alex Wheeler said:
Im not sure.
Click to expand...
What is the freebore specs of your barrels ? , I Have 2 6BRA's both .272 No turn neck, 1 with.104 freebore,1 with .124, the .104 barrel, I get hard bolt lift with Lapua brass anything over 29 gr. H 4895 w/105 gr bullets,the velocity 2920 fps,the .124 freebore I just got, shot 30.6 H4895, velocity was 3017 fps, No Swipes or hard bolt lift, can go higher. fired cases measure the same out of both chambers
 
varget204 said:
What is the freebore specs of your barrels ? , I Have 2 6BRA's both .272 No turn neck, 1 with.104 freebore,1 with .124, the .104 barrel, I get hard bolt lift with Lapua brass anything over 29 gr. H 4895 w/105 gr bullets,the velocity 2920 fps,the .124 freebore I just got, shot 30.6 H4895, velocity was 3017 fps, No Swipes or hard bolt lift, can go higher. fired cases measure the same out of both chambers
Click to expand...
104 freebore
 
varget204 said:
What is the freebore specs of your barrels ? , I Have 2 6BRA's both .272 No turn neck, 1 with.104 freebore,1 with .124, the .104 barrel, I get hard bolt lift with Lapua brass anything over 29 gr. H 4895 w/105 gr bullets,the velocity 2920 fps,the .124 freebore I just got, shot 30.6 H4895, velocity was 3017 fps, No Swipes or hard bolt lift, can go higher. fired cases measure the same out of both chambers
Click to expand...
.020 of freebore wont make any noticable difference in pressure. You just got a faster barrel. Groove diameter makes a huge difference. I have reamers from 104 to 180.
 
I too was having hard bolt lift with the first firing of Alpha 6 bra brass. I started using a 25 cal. expander and then adjusted the sizing die so the bolt closed with slight resistance and had easy bolt lift with the charges i run in my Lapua brass.
 
Ranger188 said:
Never had a problem with my Alpha 6BRA brass and I run them warm.
I also turn my necks and use a Harrells sizer.
Click to expand...
I'm going to be running alpha 6bra brass in a new barrel this year are you turning it for a no turn chamber as well? I hope this brass works out because I've already bought it. If all else fails I do have Lapua brass but was hoping the alpha would work being it's already formed.
 
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