Anybody using Lapua 260 brass for the 7-08 ?

[VaniB]

Anybody used Lapua 260 brass to make 7-08 brass?


Lapua 308 brass would be the cheapast Lapua brass case to use and the easiest to use via sizing down the neck down, but it is too short in length. The Lapua 260 is the same length as the 7-08 and can be sized up. I considered Lapua 243 brass which is also the same length as the 7-08 case and costs less then the 260 brass, but it woud have to be stretched exactly twice as much as the 260 brass.

So, it would seem that 260 brass is the best candidate.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

No, but I have a 260 Rem and I took some Remington brass and ran a 7mm expander through it and gave the brass to a friend to use in his 7mm-08. He's still using this brass a couple of years later. Regards JCS

 

[Rustystud]

Why not use Lapua 308 brass. The .260 has to be expaned then full length sized, then trimmed. The .308 brass can be just full length sized and trimmed. Either way I would anneal after full length sizing. A four part process vs a three part process. Alos expanding up requires a mandrel die to do a good job without any stretched case necks and donuts. The 308 brass is more common and I would suspect due to volume manafacture it would be less expensive.
.284-.264=.020 .308-.284=.024

Nat Lambeth

 

[Elkbane]

I've used 308 Lapua brass for 7mm-08 and 260, but be advised you are going to have pretty short necks. 7mm-08 and 260 have a nominal length of 2.035". Most of the 308 Lapua brass I used was 2.012" out of the box and about 2.018" after sizing, fireforming and trimming. If that doesn't matter to you, go for it - it's easy to do.

I finally settled on Norma 7mm-08 brass - it's as uniform and skips alot of prep work.
Elkbane

 

[alf]

I always use 308 Lapua necked down for either of my 260's or 7-08's.

With the trim to length of a 7-08 being .010" under 2.035", you're within 10 thou or so from that measurement by necking down 308's. A couple of firings and sizings, and you're there anyway.

I'd put your worries elsewhere........

 

[VaniB]

I've used 308 Lapua brass for 7mm-08 and 260, but be advised you are going to have pretty short necks. 7mm-08 and 260 have a nominal length of 2.035". Most of the 308 Lapua brass I used was 2.012" out of the box and about 2.018" after sizing, fireforming and trimming. If that doesn't matter to you, go for it - it's easy to do.

I finally settled on Norma 7mm-08 brass - it's as uniform and skips alot of prep work.
Elkbane

Lapua 308 case length being so short is exactly my concern that I mentioned in my opening post.
Would you agree that if I I have to buy new brass from the start, I might as well start with 260 brass that is the same exact length as a 7-08? I'm not real experienced in case forming but I was hoping that it's a simple process of running a Lapua 260 case through the expander button of a 7-08 die and bumping the new 260 case shoulder back a few thousandths with the same die. (??)

MY MAIN CONCERN is choosing a case good enough to base a reamer on it. Am I starting with a case neck that is stretched a little too thin from .260 to 284? I also prefer a tight chamber that will require neck turning. So that will make the neck a bit thinner. (??)






Elkbane,
The Norma brass costs more then the Lapua (Lapua at $97) That's OK if I'm not throwing my money out. I don't hunt, and I just want to use whichever case will provide sub .5" MOA target accuracy. How many reloads have you had with the Norma..... have the primer pockets held up for you?
Alf,
You're right I need to "put my worries elsewhere". But I need to choose a cartridege sample to send to pacific for the chamber reamer. I have a feeling that the Lapua 308 being priced at $68 VS Lapua 260 at $98 is a deciding factor for many guys. I'm trying to compare which brass best suits my needs for a target rifle regardless of brass price.

 

[jo191145]

If your going to have a reamer custom cut to match your brass then overall case length means nothing.
Go with the 308. You should have less donut issues and thicker necks to trim to your desire.

 

[VaniB]

If your going to have a reamer custom cut to match your brass then overall case length means nothing.
Go with the 308. You should have less donut issues and thicker necks to trim to your desire.

I assume you are saying that I should just have the reamer made for the same length as the Lapua 308 brass. (??) I thought of doing that, but I didn't want to start making all the dimesnsions so different from a standard 7-08 chamber that in case I died nobody would have a clue what kind of cartridge fits in there. LOL

Yes, I suppose that's another solution........or just buy Norma brass and make a tight neck chamber for it.

 

[XTR]

What is your accuracy goal? What do you think Lapua gets for you?

Yes, Lapua is manufactured to a higher standard than W-W, it should be obvious to anyone who has ever compared new brass from the two side by side but in my experience with 308s the higher standard buys you exactly nothing in accuracy. Yes, it can save a little time in a 308 with less prep if you are willing to load w/o running a uniformer into the primer pockets and deburring the flash hole, but if you are going to size, trim, turn, etc... then what have you really gained?

Danny Biggs told me he was usig R-P (Remington) brass when he shot the F-Open 1000 yard record 2x in one weekend with a 7RSAUM, and I have no reason do doubt it since I think they are the only manufacturer for 7RSAUM, or at least they were.

If you are planning to load hot then you're going to start getting loose primer pockets after about 8 or 10 reloads with Lapua or WW, and if you are planning to do tactical comps you're going to find out that you don't have time to police brass on a lot of stages, so you are leaving your expensive Lapua brass on the ground.

There is a guy who shoots at my club who has shot several BR records, he uses WW.

Personally I choose W-W, yea out of 500 cases I toss a dozen for various reasons when I do my initial prep, but I've got a couple of hundred $$ left for powder and bullets.

 

[Teufelhunden]

...MY MAIN CONCERN is choosing a case good enough to base a reamer on it. Am I starting with a case neck that is stretched a little too thin from .260 to 284? I also prefer a tight chamber that will require neck turning. So that will make the neck a bit thinner. (??)...

I reload for the .260 using both Lapua .260 brass, and necked down Win 7-08 brass. After reducing the Win necks to accept .264 the Lapua necks are still thicker by .002+". I think it would have to be a largish cut .260 chamber neck to take the Lapua without any neck turning.

Hope that helps.

 

[dennisinaz]

I wouldn't use it as my first choice as it is expensive and has thick necks. I would use 308 brass before 260 brass.

I bought a 1000 pieces from Brunos and it is good brass but not great brass.