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How do you neck up virgin Lapua 6.5-284 brass to straight 284?

Dud

I see that Lee full length sizing dies have long tapered expanding buttons so I'm thinking about buying a 270 WSM sizer and a 284 sizer die. I might swap the expander from the 270 die in to the 284 die for the first step. I'll polish both expander buttons and use lube. I could also put the 284 expander in a 30 WSM die so the outside of the neck never touches the die. I don't know if that is a good idea.

I have a K&M neck turning setup and I'm going to get a 7mm reaming pilot for it.

I also have a friend with a Guirad annealer so that can be a step in the process.

If you neck up Lapua 6.5-284 brass, what do you use and in what order?

After my brass is sized, I want to reload with a set of Hornady bushing dies (I got the match set) but I may change to a different sizer if I'm not happy with the results. The Hornady seater has a sliding section to align the bullet to the case and a micrometer adjustable stem. I think that die will be fine and I'll probably custom epoxy bed a seater stem for Berger 184s so I'm not too worried about seating.
 
First, in my opinion, you need a "standard" mandrel body die. Then you will need or at least it is best to have a 7mm carbide expander mandrel. Then:
1.) VERY lightly lube the carbide mandrel.
2.) Slide a 6.5 x 284 case into the die with the mandrel and lower the press handle, turn the case about 1/4 turn and run the brass up into the mandrel again, >>>> repeat this process about 3-4 times (I call it spinning the case in the shell holder) until you feel the case ease up and down in the mandrel >>>>At this juncture the imperfections in the case neck have been forced to the outside of the case.
3.) Set your cutting mandrel on your neck turner to turn the necks down to whatever desired thickness you need. You will notice a small "bump" or "fold" right at the neck / shoulder junction. This has GOT to come off or it will be on the inside of the case upon firing and the onset of a miserable thing called a doughnut!
4.) Anneal the brass
5.) Run the annealed brass into your Full Length die with the proper bushing.
6.) Go load and enjoy!!
 
I saw that Peterson brass was available but I didn't see a lot of people saying it's better than Lapua. I decided to go for the known quantity of Lapua brass because I don't want anything holding me back.

It's not necessarily the right move but it is a safe move.
 
WillyTP said:
Since you already have K&M neck turner I would stay with their stuff. You’re going to need the expanding die and matching mandrel. Everything you need is on the link below

https://kmshooting.com/case-neck-expanding.html
Click to expand...
Silly me, I saw that stuff before but I was looking for an "expander die", not a mandrel and press adapter.

I had a vision in my head of a wildcatter mixing and matching die parts to get what they need, the terminology was too different and I didn't see any how to videos.

Thanks for the help.
 
Dud said:
Silly me, I saw that stuff before but I was looking for an "expander die", not a mandrel and press adapter.

I had a vision in my head of a wildcatter mixing and matching die parts to get what they need, the terminology was too different and I didn't see any how to videos.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

No problem. Different companies call them different names for whatever reason. If you stick with the same brand for your expanding and turning equipment things will go easier on you, they match their diameters to each piece very closely.
 
You mentioned using Hornady bushing dies. If you already have it, it will neck up the brass with the expander button installed. Set it a little high so that it doesn’t move shoulders, and no bushing installed. Then remove the expander and add the bushing when your ready for case sizing.
 
I'll try with the expander button.

It is pretty short compared to the way the Lee tapered decapping rod and K&M expander mandrel. I didn't think it was good for anything but sizing necks of fired cases.
 
Dud said:
I saw that Peterson brass was available but I didn't see a lot of people saying it's better than Lapua. I decided to go for the known quantity of Lapua brass because I don't want anything holding me back.

It's not necessarily the right move but it is a safe move.
Click to expand...

It's better. Far superior. Very consistent. Length is within .001".
 
What does length matter when I'm going to trim?

I've always heard that Lapua is super consistent, has a harder alloy, primer pockets last longer, all kinds of benefits.

I've heard that Alpha Munitions makes some damn good brass but it's only roughly equal to Lapua. If they made 284 brass, I would consider it.

I have heard good things about Peterson but this is the first time I've read anyone say it's better than Lapua.

It might be, this is just the first time I'm hearing it. If I keep hearing it, I may switch when I start running low.

For now I've got 260 pieces of 6.5-284 Lapua brass, I'm going to expand the necks to 7mm, then trim, neck turn and sort.

I'm going to be shooting Berger bullets in Lapua brass, if I have any accuracy issues, it's my own damn fault.
 
I can't really fire form in a suburban environment and my barrel is 6-8 weeks out.

I do like to buy American but I have respect for the Finns. I have no problem buying from Lapua or Vihtavuori powder (except for the price).

I will avoid buying from Norma after some of their recent shenanigans.

I think they made 284 brass at close to Lapua quality but with shady business practices that delayed some orders of Prime Ammunition I think (I could be messing up the company name). I have no idea what they were thinking because people who aren't getting the Prime Ammo they ordered are not going to turn around and buy Norma instead.

Any way, I've been looking at components for 284 for at least a year and the first I saw of Peterson 284 brass was about a week ago.

I know that in 6.5 Creedmoor, Peterson brass is being used some and the people who use it generally like it but a lot of people jumped on Lapua brass as soon as it became available and before that, there were a few people who even converted Lapua small primer .308 to 6.5 Creedmoor.

What I haven't seen is people throwing out their Lapua brass and replacing it with Peterson brass. I think I have heard of a few going from Lapua to Alpha Munitions but not many.

Maybe in six months or a year, that will change and the recycle bins will be overflowing with discarded Lapua brass but for now I'm going to use the proven high quality product.
 
I'm switching to Peterson in my .308 and already using the .284 brass for Shehane.

Haven't shot it enough to see the life span but overall scores and consistencies are a lot better.

We got 8 or 9 firings out if the Lapua before pockets got loose.

I know of quite a few shooters who are using Peterson for straight .284 and Shehane.
 
I don't miss sizing up Lapua. I've been running Peterson .284 since it came out and love it. Incredibly consistent and wears great so far. Plus they're great guys to works with. I've called and gotten instant help with questions from Ben and it shows they care about their customers.

But to answer the OP question, I always used either a Sinclair expander die with the appropriate mandrel, lightly lubed and turn the necks afterward. Same as other above because there's really only one process for doing it, it's just a matter of who's tools you buy to do it. I did also use gage pins in a bullet puller to neck up and it works well too.
 
Thinking seriously about trying some Peterson brass. What steps and in what order do you prep virgin Peterson brass ? Also what powders and loads do you use for fireforming?
 
I started with peterson brass with a 284 a month or so ago.. in my opinion it needed nothing coming out of the box. Top notch brass if ya ask me.. would pick it over lapua
 
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