6BRA Alpha Brass question

[Kracken McGraw]

not likely...from my experience.

Bummer!

 

[Geronimo Jim]

What would you guy advise to turn the neck to if you are running
a .268 chamber? t

 

[Bill Norris]

My loaded round measures .2655 for my 6PPC with .268 chamber neck. I may take another .0005 off after fire-forming is done.

 

[jvw2008]

11 thousandths has worked well for me

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Thanks

 

[Northridge]

This thread had me very curious. I went out with a friend today and we dropped down seven tenths from the Lapua load and worked up a tenth at a time…. We didn’t make it very far. Six tenths of a grain less gave 2 ejectors marks on 5 cases- Half a grain less dang near locked the bolt down.

We pulled the rest and have 75 pieces for sale if anyone thinks they can use it. Sticking with the blue boxes.

Good thread!

Alpha 6bRA has about a grain less capacity than a formed Lapua piece but velocity will often be similar or a splash less. Likely you started to high with your lowest charges you simply may have been asking to much from the brass.

Shawn Williams

 

[DHuffman]

This thread had me very curious. I went out with a friend today and we dropped down seven tenths from the Lapua load and worked up a tenth at a time…. We didn’t make it very far. Six tenths of a grain less gave 2 ejectors marks on 5 cases- Half a grain less dang near locked the bolt down.

We pulled the rest and have 75 pieces for sale if anyone thinks they can use it. Sticking with the blue boxes.

Good thread!

What's the lot #? I might be interested.

Did you Chrono it to see how fast it was going?

 

[Northridge]

“Things to consider “ Alpha needs to be handled like alpha and other brands need the same care , from a charge weight standpoint the brands are not the same for obvious volume differences Alpha being less, metallurgy etc.. The discussion or issues I have had are not lack of velocity but how a few lots (6BRA) have handled poorly in a given chamber regardless of prep in many different chamber dimensions. Alpha in general has been high quality brass and will continue to be I suspect , this will get ironed out as well. My biggest concern as people read is not clearly understanding the issue discussed and injuring themselves as a result , walk things in slowly by starting low and let platform assist in a safe working ceiling. Document not just velocity but zones the rifle will shape cleanly high and low . Be safe have fun and shoot small .

Shawn Williams

 

[Clancy]

I think I’m going to back out of this thread. I have seen how these my brass is tougher than your brass threads can get. I’d just rather stick with Lapua for BR and BRA, and appreciate the Alpha GT brass I have, because it’s pretty good.

@Northridge I agree on the lot to lot variation. Hopefully, in time, they’ll sort that out.

@DHuffman I’ll see about that lot number for ya tonight.

Thanks y’all

 

[whatwind?]

what i am discovering is that both ADg and Alpha are very hard to size at the base area once they are out there, where as Lapua, RWS, and horn will take to sizing that base once moved to max of chamber

 

[Hrsmn51]

Can any one share you if you are seeing the same issue in 6BR or 22BR. Waiting on my barreled action for the 22BR to arrive. Alpha 6BR necked down in 2 steps I can see a donut but that should not come into play with the freebore I ordered. I can't recall exact dimensions but a no turn neck spec.

 

[Lance21]

Can any one share you if you are seeing the same issue in 6BR or 22BR. Waiting on my barreled action for the 22BR to arrive. Alpha 6BR necked down in 2 steps I can see a donut but that should not come into play with the freebore I ordered. I can't recall exact dimensions but a no turn neck spec.

I tried some Alpha ocd 6 bra brass necked down and turned for 22 bra. Couldn't get it to work at all, heavy lift. Long story short I worked with Tom and we finally decided that the body was too long to the shoulders. He made a run that was .004 shorter and that solved all my problems. I even tried bumping the original brass WAY back and it still wouldn't work. Alpha Munitions was EXCELLENT to work with! They wanted nothing more than to make me happy. They did and now I'm part of their sponsored shooters.

 

[Canuckienns]

I bought some Alfa brass in 6mm Dasher to avoid fire forming Lapua. My loads were not hot. I had to beat the bolt handle with a rubber mallet to extract. I have been loading Dasher for three years and I know how to do it. I just quit and gave the brass to a fellow shooter, who have been loading it with no problems.

 

[mule]

I cannot speak for the six bra but I do have a 6 Dasher and I have known that they do have different reamers for the alpha brass over the Lapua
LLapua .272 reamer

Alpha .274 reamer

That is what my gunsmith has told me so I think you guys are having clearance issues

And for some of you guys who thinks the shoulder is building up brass at the bottom of the neck a simple neck reamer that forced her or Wilson makes would take care of that but I think the bigger problem is the neck clearance from what my gunsmith was telling me when I had issues with my reamer he just reamed it with his and fixed all my problems with my 6 Dasher

 

[Titan]

Can any one share you if you are seeing the same issue in 6BR or 22BR. Waiting on my barreled action for the 22BR to arrive. Alpha 6BR necked down in 2 steps I can see a donut but that should not come into play with the freebore I ordered. I can't recall exact dimensions but a no turn neck spec.

I purchased a box of alpha 6br in November for use in a .22br. Necked it down with a Redding full length sizer in one step, no issues with bolt lift, no turn reamer. Brass is also not turned.

 

[mule]

I purchased a box of alpha 6br in November for use in a .22br. Necked it down with a Redding full length sizer in one step, no issues with bolt lift, no turn reamer. Brass is also not turned.

What is your neck on the reamer

 

[Titan]

What is your neck on the reamer

.255 loaded round with 80.5 FB is .250 ish

 

[ccape0328]

Alpha is thinking that my issues were due to the reamer dimension not being to CIP specifications at the base of the chamber. Basically the OCD brass isn't growing to the chamber and its slamming into the bolt face.

 

[A.Thomas]

Alpha is thinking that my issues were due to the reamer dimension not being to CIP specifications at the base of the chamber. Basically the OCD brass isn't growing to the chamber and its slamming into the bolt face.

Well, I fire formed about (60rnds) of Alpha the other day with 30gr of Varget which was only 2825fps. About (40) of them had a fairly hard bolt lift. After talking with Tom at Alpha I was told the exact same thing. I can say that when measuring the .200 datum line on 1x fired Alpha, the pieces that had a heavy bold lift are .4675 to .468 and the others (easy bolt lift) are .469. I measured some pieces of Lapua from last season and they all measured .469
Alpha is claiming that the reamer used is too big and after firing 2 to 3 times the bodies will swell and all problems will disappear.
1) Alpha should label the brass stating it is only compatible with particular reamers so you don’t waste money buying it
2) If the only othe alternative is to fire the brass 2 to 3 times then why bother. Only have to fire Lapua once and it’s good to go no matter what reamer you have.
Just my $.02

 

[6BRA]

always our fault....