BRA brass from Alpha

[Lefty Trigger]

For all you doing the BRA thing, Alpha has BRA brass if you don't want to fool with forming any up. Nobody has in stock but Alpha sells directly and they do have it.

 

[Karndt]

Brownell’s had it in stock a couple of days ago.

 

[JFrank]

For all you doing the BRA thing, Alpha has BRA brass if you don't want to fool with forming any up. Nobody has in stock but Alpha sells directly and they do have it.

Eric,
I wonder if when turning necks would a fella need to change the cutter angle to a 40 degree?

 

[shoot4fun]

Eric,
I wonder if when turning necks would a fella need to change the cutter angle to a 40 degree?

Yes, IMO, the same as one would turn necks on 6 Dasher brass.
Having Lapua brass that had been hydro-formed in play I just wanted to try the Alpha 6 BRA brass. The Alpha Dasher brass has provided very good results in my precision rifle repeater so their 6BRA certainly was able to pull coin from my wallet.
While I've yet to employ any of the Alpha BRA brass I decided to do so with my two latest barrels. In my preparation I found out something I feel I should pass along. Lapua 6BRA comes in mostly at or under 1.550" but Alpha (at least my brass) is falling between 1.559 and 1.565".
This can be an issue as reamer specs vary on chamber length. My first barrel was chambered with a reamer with 1.570" but the latest was done with a max chamber length of 1.560". Some of my new Alpha 6BRA would not allow the bolt to close at all due to being too long.
I have trimmed 100 pieces to 1.555" and loaded 25 for a comparison test. Hope to get out next week and see how it does.

 

[Sumtoc]

Yes, IMO, the same as one would turn necks on 6 Dasher brass.
Having Lapua brass that had been hydro-formed in play I just wanted to try the Alpha 6 BRA brass. The Alpha Dasher brass has provided very good results in my precision rifle repeater so their 6BRA certainly was able to pull coin from my wallet.
While I've yet to employ any of the Alpha BRA brass I decided to do so with my two latest barrels. In my preparation I found out something I feel I should pass along. Lapua 6BRA comes in mostly at or under 1.550" but Alpha (at least my brass) is falling between 1.559 and 1.565".
This can be an issue as reamer specs vary on chamber length. My first barrel was chambered with a reamer with 1.570" but the latest was done with a max chamber length of 1.560". Some of my new Alpha 6BRA would not allow the bolt to close at all due to being too long.
I have trimmed 100 pieces to 1.555" and loaded 25 for a comparison test. Hope to get out next week and see how it does.

My new Wheeler BRA gun would not close on virgin Alpha brass. Length seemed Ok so I asked Alex. He suggested that virgin Alpha BRA brass be bumped back around .002". Worked like a charm.

Not to hijack this thread but I did have a sticky bolt lift for about 75% of all first firings. (Moderate load). Then I consistently get a sticky lift on the first 3-5 rounds in a clean barrel. But after that it clears up, really odd. Any ideas out there?

Thanks

 

[shoot4fun]

My new Wheeler BRA gun would not close on virgin Alpha brass. Length seemed Ok so I asked Alex. He suggested that virgin Alpha BRA brass be bumped back around .002". Worked like a charm.

Not to hijack this thread but I did have a sticky bolt lift for about 75% of all first firings. (Moderate load). Then I consistently get a sticky lift on the first 3-5 rounds in a clean barrel. But after that it clears up, really odd. Any ideas out there?

Thanks

None of mine needed bumped. Once the trimming was done they all go thru smoothly.

 

[ttfreestyle]

My new Wheeler BRA gun would not close on virgin Alpha brass. Length seemed Ok so I asked Alex. He suggested that virgin Alpha BRA brass be bumped back around .002". Worked like a charm.

Not to hijack this thread but I did have a sticky bolt lift for about 75% of all first firings. (Moderate load). Then I consistently get a sticky lift on the first 3-5 rounds in a clean barrel. But after that it clears up, really odd. Any ideas out there?

Thanks

Cleaning solution in the chamber maybe since it’s doing this with a clean barrel?

 

[DaleTN]

Sumtoc,
I’m having almost the exact same trouble. I’m having a very heavy bolt lift with new alpha brass in a variety of powder charges from slow 2800-2950fps. I’ve tried different powders. Brass shows ejector marks and shaving some off when opening bolt.
My situation is a new barrel (less than 50rds).
I’ve tried sizing the brass and trimmed like shoot4fun mentioned.
My next guess and step is to fireform some Lapua cases and see what the results are.

 

[JFrank]

Here's a silly question, why don't you fellas run those through the fl die prior to load & chambering?

 

[shoot4fun]

Here's a silly question, why don't you fellas run those through the fl die prior to load & chambering?

I did try a sample thru the FL die. It made no difference at the case head and the brass was already short of my fired brass by .004. I did use a mandrel on the necks, trimmed, chamfered and deburred.

 

[DaleTN]

I’m right there with you shoot4fun. I’m glad yours was any easy fix with trimming cases. I noticed my alpha cases were longer around 1.556 vs 1.550 Lapua. So I trimmed to 1.550 just to rule that out.

SPJ, I sized 2 groups of 5 cases each with two different bra dies. Still had heavy bolt lift.

Solution in the chamber was mentioned above and I’ve thought about this being an issue. I’ve cleaned a lot during break in. I’m wondering if there is something stubborn in the chamber not cleaning up. Any solution you all recommend for cleaning the chamber? Maybe something lighter at first then more aggressive.
Thanks

 

[Sumtoc]

I also thought there might be something left from the cleanings in the chamber. Dried it out carefully, checked with borescope. Couldn't see anything suspicious.

SPJ, I did run all virgin brass through a FL die (with bushing). After being bumped back .002" they all fit real easy. Fired cases get a .0025 bump and fit great, only the first 3-4 rounds in a clean barrel have the stiff bolt lift. Something weird is going on.

This is a .272 no turn neck and fired cases pass the bullet drop test easily, at least .003-.004 over. Necks have not been turned, just straightened, trimmed (barely) and chamfered. Gonna try this no turn approach first and then lightly turn some necks to see if anything improves. I know there is a running debate on this point but wanted to sort of test it.....

Thanks fellas

 

[shoot4fun]

I’m right there with you shoot4fun. I’m glad yours was any easy fix with trimming cases. I noticed my alpha cases were longer around 1.556 vs 1.550 Lapua. So I trimmed to 1.550 just to rule that out.

SPJ, I sized 2 groups of 5 cases each with two different bra dies. Still had heavy bolt lift.

Solution in the chamber was mentioned above and I’ve thought about this being an issue. I’ve cleaned a lot during break in. I’m wondering if there is something stubborn in the chamber not cleaning up. Any solution you all recommend for cleaning the chamber? Maybe something lighter at first then more aggressive.
Thanks

Dale, I seem to remember one of the PRS shooters at our last match saying something about needing a different FL die for Alpha 6BRA OCD brass. You may be on to the reason why.
If that is the case I'll send some fired Alpha off to Harrell's for one of their FL dies.
Also, not sure what primer, powder and charge you are using. The larger flash hole just made me think the Fed 205 primer may be best. That and understanding the Alpha brass volume differences v. Lapua may require less powder to stay away from over pressure.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I found out on one of my 6br rifles that the brass was sticking to the inside of the chamber after firing causing tight bolt lift. I was able to finally solve the issue after buying a "chamber hone" and sorta clean up the chamber.

 

[DaleTN]

Shoot4fun, you might be on to something there. I’ve about decided the neck walls on this alpha are not for this particular chamber. They probably need turned. A bullet will clear and fall into a fired case but it has the slightest touch when comparing to a case fired in a second barreled action I have.
I might need to add the same brass shot perfect in another action and barrel. I posted some data with this brass and N140 in another thread.

I just put the barrel that was giving me trouble with this brass back on and fireformed two new pieces of Lapua with 30 and 30.5grs of N140 with zero issues. I hope this is my fix. This was in the back yard with no radar. I’ll have more data this week when I go to the range.
If the Lapua continues to work I will be comparing the two in depth to see if I can find out what’s going on.
Ive read folks dropping as much as 1/2 grain of powder to get same speed from alpha as their Lapua but 2800fps and pressure just won’t work for me.

 

[dbduff]

Yes, IMO, the same as one would turn necks on 6 Dasher brass.
Having Lapua brass that had been hydro-formed in play I just wanted to try the Alpha 6 BRA brass. The Alpha Dasher brass has provided very good results in my precision rifle repeater so their 6BRA certainly was able to pull coin from my wallet.
While I've yet to employ any of the Alpha BRA brass I decided to do so with my two latest barrels. In my preparation I found out something I feel I should pass along. Lapua 6BRA comes in mostly at or under 1.550" but Alpha (at least my brass) is falling between 1.559 and 1.565".
This can be an issue as reamer specs vary on chamber length. My first barrel was chambered with a reamer with 1.570" but the latest was done with a max chamber length of 1.560". Some of my new Alpha 6BRA would not allow the bolt to close at all due to being too long.
I have trimmed 100 pieces to 1.555" and loaded 25 for a comparison test. Hope to get out next week and see how it does.

Are your numbers off the reamer print or a chamber cast?

 

[shoot4fun]

Are your numbers off the reamer print or a chamber cast?

Print.

 

[dbduff]

Print.

Thanks. Good to know. Glad it works for you.