brass life for .284 Shehane?

[Jay Christopherson]

What are people getting on brass life out of .284 Shehane? I assume you are shooting a Shehane to hit the higher-than-2950 node, but I'm wondering if that comes at a high cost. 6.5x284 Lapua brass ain't cheap. I've heard a few horror stories around about 2 - 3 reloads before the brass (primer pockets) are toast, but mostly hearsay, no info on what the velocities were that were being achieved to stretch the case out that much.

 

[Terry]

Shot 200pcs last year. Worked them hard 5-6 shots each. Testing several combinations.
My new brass will last longer. Settled on 53 gr. Of H4350 with 180HB.

 

[Ecomeat]

There are a LOT of reports of "softer" Lapua brass being sold here in Australia in 6.5 x 284 .Many reports of primer pockets ruined between 2-5/6 shots.
Lapua have been contacted, samples sent etc, but they are claiming that everything is "normal" ..........end of story !
Reality is that very experienced F Class shooters here who easily got 10 + reloads out of necked up Lapua 6.5 x 284 brass are now commonly reporting 5 or less , before primer pockets are too loose.
Our 2209 powder ( your 4350) seems to cause more issues than our 2213sc (your 4831) but basically everyone shooting 284 Win or 284 Shehane is having the same problems. Brass life has basically been halved, and Lapua say "it is not so" !
I guess that given the option of getting off their butts and producing genuine Lapua factory straight 284 brass..........or leaving all 284 users to neck up 6.5 x 284 brass that is then given a useful life of less than half what it used to be, they seem to have taken the easiest option .......just keep doing what they are currently doing.

 

[Steve Blair]

My barrels tune between 2940 and 2965. The current barrel is running at 2965. I just loaded some rounds after six full pressure firings (not counting initial fire forming) and some pockets were on the loose side. So, it is likely that this lot is mostly done at seven firings.

 

[nhm16]

Were people getting 10 firings from 6.5x284 brass shot as 6.5x284 and not necked up to straight 284? I remember readings something about how the rebated rim and the higher pressures people were running in straight 284 led to more bolt thrust and thus shorter primer pocket life.

Edit: this is the thread I remember: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3751754.25

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Were people getting 10 firings from 6.5x284 brass shot as 6.5x284 and not necked up to straight 284? I remember readings something about how the rebated rim and the higher pressures people were running in straight 284 led to more bolt thrust and thus shorter primer pocket life.

Edit: this is the thread I remember: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3751754.25

That is a very interesting thread, thanks for the link.

 

[holstil]

I'm on my 3rd barrel with some of the same brass. Some that did not get hit hard during load development have over 20 firings. I shoot them at 2800 to 2850 with 180's.

The pockets would get loose on the 5th firing in my 6.5, I pushed it harder though.

Jim