6BRA Alpha Brass question

[Dave Zander]

https://www.bluecollarreloading.com/products/lapua-6mm-br-norma-brass-4ph6046
Post this here and maybe miss the vultures.

Thanks

 

[Mauser06]

https://www.bluecollarreloading.com/products/lapua-6mm-br-norma-brass-4ph6046
Post this here and maybe miss the vultures.

You're the man! I looked and looked and was striking out so I thought my test was null and void for the time being. My buddy has me covered. I'll clean up the Alpha and hopefully someone can use them.

 

[Dave Zander]

Load Alpha today once fired brass 28.7 - to 29.9 grains of H4895 and with 105 VLD’s. Had swipes on every case , velocities from 2750 to 2870, heavy bolt lift from 29.3 on up to 29.9g.
Bra with 28” barrel , .272” neck .
I think I’m done , unfortunately I bought 300 Alpha cases . Just bought 300 Lapua thanks to Kracken McGraw.

 

[LRPV]

Load Alpha today once fired brass 28.7 - to 29.9 grains of H4895 and with 105 VLD’s. Had swipes on every case , velocities from 2750 to 2870, heavy bolt lift from 29.3 on up to 29.9g.
Bra with 28” barrel , .272” neck .
I think I’m done , unfortunately I bought 300 Alpha cases . Just bought 300 Lapua thanks to Kracken McGraw.

272 may not provide enough clearance with unturned Alpha brass. I know it’s tight in a dasher.

 

[Dave Zander]

You're the man! I looked and looked and was striking out so I thought my test was null and void for the time being. My buddy has me covered. I'll clean up the Alpha and hopefully someone can use them.

272 may not provide enough clearance with unturned Alpha brass. I know it’s tight in a dasher.

Loaded rounds measured .2692” .
.0028” .

 

[Mauser06]

Loaded rounds measured .2692” .
.0028” .

Maybe my problem? Don't know my reamer specs but fired necks are 272. I have a few pieces that have been turned. I'll load em up and try them out of curiosity

 

[Ccrider]

272 may not provide enough clearance with unturned Alpha brass. I know it’s tight in a dasher.

I went with a .2735 reamer.

 

[Dave Zander]

So the thousand dollar question :
Has anyone of you guys talked to Alpha and if so what are they saying about the 6 BRA brass??

 

[Kracken McGraw]

https://shop.otmtactical.com/lapua-6br-brass.html
OTM is showing the brass today.

 

[Ccrider]

So the thousand dollar question :
Has anyone of you guys talked to Alpha and if so what are they saying about the 6 BRA brass??

I have. They were responsive. I just have not had time to chase this.

 

[savageshooter86]

So the thousand dollar question :
Has anyone of you guys talked to Alpha and if so what are they saying about the 6 BRA brass??

Earlier post my buddy posted what Alpha told him. So yes he has been in contact. Said the reamer isn’t right for the brass. See post #60

 

[A.Thomas]

Well I finally got to the range today. I did a ladder with some fire formed Alpha and another ladder with fire formed Lapua. The bolt lift was as easy all the way through the test and no swipes, marks, clicks, nothing! When I got home I de-primed both sets and took measurements. The base and shoulders measured exactly the same on the Alpha and Lapua. Apparently the hard undersized base of the Alpha causing bolt thrust on the first firing is accurate.

 

[savageshooter86]

Well I finally got to the range today. I did a ladder with some fire formed Alpha and another ladder with fire formed Lapua. The bolt lift was as easy all the way through the test and no swipes, marks, clicks, nothing! When I got home I de-primed both sets and took measurements. The base and shoulders measured exactly the same on the Alpha and Lapua. Apparently the hard undersized base of the Alpha causing bolt thrust on the first firing is accurate.

I’m on 3x fired. And same issues

 

[A.Thomas]

I’m on 3x fired. And same issues

Have you measured the base of your sizing die? I have a Harrell’s and a LE Wilson and the Harrell’s has a smaller base by far so I used the Wilson to size. Just curious

 

[Mauser06]

I have a Wilson and a Harrels...and I ran 5 pieces through a 308 Small Base die set to cam over to make sure it sized as far down as I could.

No dice. I'm going to try a few pieces of neck turned. After that I'm out of ideas and will just assume my chamber doesn't like Alpha for whatever reason and hopefully sell it to someone that can use it.

 

[Ccrider]

try a few pieces of neck turned

Been there. Done that. No go.

 

[Mauser06]

Been there. Done that. No go.

I won't waste my time or 5 more bullets abd primers then....lol. I have enough Lapua coming.

I'll process the Alpha and someone will be able to get a pretty good deal on them.

 

[Dave Zander]

I won't waste my time or 5 more bullets abd primers then....lol. I have enough Lapua coming.

I'll process the Alpha and someone will be able to get a pretty good deal on them.

I concur. Couldn’t agree more.
I think there’s more to this than just chamber size like the brass alloy makeup, hardness , etc.

 

[6BRA]

Anyone else notice that Virgin Alpha shoulders are pushed back around .008 to .009 more than Virgin Lapua 6BR? Seems like alot...measuring in Wilson micrometer case guage.

 

[A.Thomas]

Anyone else notice that Virgin Alpha shoulders are pushed back around .008 to .009 more than Virgin Lapua 6BR? Seems like alot...measuring in Wilson micrometer case guage.

Yeah, same here. Very strange considering people posted that they had to bump the shoulders back during the initial testing of Alpha 6BRA brass and now it’s excessively short. I’m baffled by why you would have such rave reviews about a product then change everything you could to make it horrible.