Alpha Brass Prep Compared to Lapua or Peterson?

[SD guy]

Looking to compare notes & or approach to brass prep with higher quality brass. Do you proceed with your initial brass prep the same with all brass or are you able to skip some steps with Lapua vs Peterson or Alpha for example.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Looking to compare notes & or approach to brass prep with higher quality brass. Do you proceed with your initial brass prep the same with all brass or are you able to skip some steps with Lapua vs Peterson or Alpha for example.

My initial brass prep is not the same as after they've been fired once. For my Alpha brass the main thing was to just chamfer and deburr the case mouths as there was a distinct burr on both inside and outside of the mouths (no sizing or mandrelling). I also like to get rid of any burrs on the interior side of the flash holes of new brass. I use a 21st Century flash hole deburring tool that's really good for only removing a burr. My Alpha brass only had some flash holes with burrs, as indicated by some brass removed. Other than this, there was nothing more to do on the virgin Alpha brass as everything else was nice and consistent.

When Lapua brass is packed as loose bulk in their plastic boxes, running a mandrel through the necks was important to iron out those that developed dented mouths during shipping and handling.

Other than these kinds of things, it's about getting the cases fire formed to the chamber and then keeping everything uniform and consistent as possible.

 

[Mark611]

I also have asked similar questions about the Alpha brass, with little response, this IMO is supposed to be top notch brass, I like others do not want to F'up this brass, I don't know if this brass should be treated or processed any different than LAPUA or other brass in this caliber, I have not fired 1 case yet until I figure out what needs to be done to ensure these cases are properly prepped to ensure long case life? I don't have Thousands of dollars to waist on brass, or make mistakes on my prep, but I agree the basics on deburring flash holes and working the case mouths is a must to start, what about turning the necks {ETC}

 

[Lance21]

I also have asked similar questions about the Alpha brass, with little response, this IMO is supposed to be top notch brass, I like others do not want to F'up this brass, I don't know if this brass should be treated or processed any different than LAPUA or other brass in this caliber, I have not fired 1 case yet until I figure out what needs to be done to ensure these cases are properly prepped to ensure long case life? I don't have Thousands of dollars to waist on brass, or make mistakes on my prep, but I agree the basics on deburring flash holes and working the case mouths is a must to start, what about turning the necks {ETC}

Load Alpha brass. Shoot Alpha brass. Repeat for each piece til you lose count of the firings. It will be a lot!

 

[Bill Norris]

Looking to compare notes & or approach to brass prep with higher quality brass. Do you proceed with your initial brass prep the same with all brass or are you able to skip some steps with Lapua vs Peterson or Alpha for example.

I normally run an expander in the mouth of all cases to eliminate too much neck tension on initial F/F'ing. Unless I'm turning the necks I do nothing else to the case before F/F'ing except chamfer and deburr off course..

 

[J.D.Erwin]

Looking to compare notes & or approach to brass prep with higher quality brass. Do you proceed with your initial brass prep the same with all brass or are you able to skip some steps with Lapua vs Peterson or Alpha for example.

I prep all brass the same way the chamber is the qualifier basic steps are necessary for all brass but preping it for the chamber is what makes it good brass JMO.

 

[FeMan]

At a minimum I debur the Alpha. I have loaded a few thousand and they all have had pronounced lips on the case mouth. In some instances I run a mandrel to lighten the neck tension. I have found their primer pockets are too tight to accept my uniformer but I am not complaining about that!

 

[Straightshooter1]

I also have asked similar questions about the Alpha brass, with little response, this IMO is supposed to be top notch brass, I like others do not want to F'up this brass, I don't know if this brass should be treated or processed any different than LAPUA or other brass in this caliber, I have not fired 1 case yet until I figure out what needs to be done to ensure these cases are properly prepped to ensure long case life? I don't have Thousands of dollars to waist on brass, or make mistakes on my prep, but I agree the basics on deburring flash holes and working the case mouths is a must to start, what about turning the necks {ETC}

When I measure the neck thickness's on my Alpha brass, it was the most consistent I've seen or heard of. . . at .015 -.0154 (compare that to my Lapua's .0146 - .0156 or Peterson's .0146 - .0154). Even so, I always turn the necks not only to get a uniform thickness but to make them a little thinner where they seem to perform better for me (that is, a little bit lower SD's). And I don't turn them until they've fire formed, since I use no-turn chambers.

 

[SD guy]

6mm ARC brass in this case. My first experience w Alpha.

I Opted to chamfer inside & out. 000 Steel wool bur off inside & out. Sort for OAL (.004" total diff, 1.476 - 1.480) Ill sort again after fire forming. Sort for weight, brass seems more consistent than my Hornady scale.
Looks like an alternate scale may be in my future.

Just using up some 58 gr v-max, H4198 & CCI 450 to fire form on the initial firing w 10 pcs of brass, as I start to get to know the brass.

Let the fun begin.

Thanks for the input all.

 

[SD guy]

In this group I would expect most will choose to anneal necks between each firing?

 

[Lance21]

In this group I would expect most will choose to anneal necks between each firing?

I do. Makes me feel better about stuff.

 

[Gray420]

In this group I would expect most will choose to anneal necks between each firing?

Yes, I personally aneal after every firing, but that is just me. A big yes on the chamfer, debur as well as debur the flash hole on first prep only. You should not have touch the flash hole after that. After about second or third reload, chamfer and debur should be very light unless case is trimmed. I am impressed with my alpha brass, I am slowly adding a box here and there for other cartridges I load for, quality vs quantity.
Like others have said, prep the case mouth and get out and shoot it.

 

[neckturner]

what about turning the necks {ETC}

My experience with neck turning here: https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...-brass-in-6mm-gt.4112681/page-2#post-38866450

If someone doesn't care for neck turning, don't. If you do, then the Alpha brass I have shows significant a) taper from case mouth to shoulder and b) variation from one case to the next and c) unevenness from one side of the neck to the next.

With all the glowing praise for Alpha brass, I either got a less than perfect batch or others have lower standards.

 

[Mark611]

Thanks for the link, I use the Brownell's turning tools, same basic set up, I don't shoot chambers that need turned down to fit Brass, I turn my necks just to uniform them,

 

[Rat Rifle]

My experience with neck turning here: https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...-brass-in-6mm-gt.4112681/page-2#post-38866450

If someone doesn't care for neck turning, don't. If you do, then the Alpha brass I have shows significant a) taper from case mouth to shoulder and b) variation from one case to the next and c) unevenness from one side of the neck to the next.

With all the glowing praise for Alpha brass, I either got a less than perfect batch or others have lower standards.

My experience exactly, with 6mmBRA

 

[D-4297]

I do all new brass the same way , regardless of who makes it . Deburr the necks , inside & out . Run a expander to make necks unform , or at least hopefully so . Load & shoot . Don't anneal till they have two or sometimes three reloads on them . No turn chamber , so that isn't a issue for me , either .

 

[RabbitSlayer]

My experience with neck turning here: https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...-brass-in-6mm-gt.4112681/page-2#post-38866450

If someone doesn't care for neck turning, don't. If you do, then the Alpha brass I have shows significant a) taper from case mouth to shoulder and b) variation from one case to the next and c) unevenness from one side of the neck to the next.

With all the glowing praise for Alpha brass, I either got a less than perfect batch or others have lower standards.

How long ago was that? I am pretty sure I read somewhere they made some changes to production at some point, and the newer stuff is better than older stuff.

 

[Retired shooter]

Alpha brass will have to be extremely good , and reload many many times more than Starline, as alpha is roughly twice the price of Starline. Is it really that much better. If so in what way. Referring to 6 mm.

Just wondering!

 

[Retired shooter]

Did not find anything about 6 ARC brass on Peterson website.

 

[neckturner]

How long ago was that? I am pretty sure I read somewhere they made some changes to production at some point, and the newer stuff is better than older stuff.

Late last year. So fairly recent.