How to prep 300 new pieces of brass

[BCoates]

I just received 300 new pieces of Lapua 308 Win large primer brass for use in my F-TR gun. I already have loads developed with the first batch of Lapua cases I have been using. I normally just run an expander through the neck on new brass and chamfer the inside and debur the outside of the necks. I don't turn necks. I also load all of my bullets with a jump to the lands.

My question is what should I be doing to match prep the new brass? Is there any value in weight sorting into batches? Should I load bullets to jam into the lands on first firing to get better fireforming?

Thank you for your responses.

 

[jonbearman]

You have it covered. As far as weight sorting lapua brass,you should do it if you are shooting long range. I usually full length size everything new to make sure of roundness. I also cut the radius out of the primer pocket with a primer uniforming tool. I don't take much, just enough so they seat well. Some deburr the flashole,I don't unless there are bad burrs. The trim length on new lapua brass that I have observed is usually pretty decent from the brass that I have bought. I don't think you need to jam either. This lapua is premium brass with little to no defects. I am sure people are going to jump on what I do and disagree but that's what I do. I also anneal brass about every 5th reloading. If the trim length varies a lot , then trim to the shortest case as long as it isn't so short that it goes under sammi spec.

 

[ShootDots]

Here is what I do when I get new brass:

1.) Run them into a mandrel and turn the necks to "clean them up" >> it usually takes about 1K to clean them about 85pct.

2.) Measure the brass and find the smallest piece and trim all to that length;

3.) Then I chamfer the inside and outside;

4.) Then I anneal the brass... YES! I anneal the new brass..

5.) Then once again I run them into the mandrel.. Heat has a tendency to move metal. A mandrel will put it back to as straight as possible.

6.) Load...

I have never found on either Lapua or Norma brass to "true up" the primer pockets or "deburr" the flash hole, to be anything but an effort in futility.. Maybe if you were going to shoot in actual benchrest competition then it MAY be some value>>>But I have not found it yet.

 

[jonbearman]

Since the OP said he chamfers I didn't include it because he was already doing it. Benjamin, I had some 220 Russian where it was hard to seat primers flush and after just kissing the radius they seated much better. I agree that lapua needs fairly little work compared to,say ,Winchester. I was just telling what I do when there is a need for it. You anneal new brass,do you find it to hard? I had some 220 Russian and 6 br that was so soft it wouldn't cut correctly(the necks) and it left brass on a carbide expander before neck turning. Not all lapua is perfect,however Kevin replaced the soft stuff for me with no problem. But I must say that there are reasons when I do what I do. I have never had to clean up flash hole's on lapua or norma as they are drilled instead of being punched.

 

[ShootDots]

Hey Jon... I found that if I do not anneal the new brass, bullet seating is inconsistent.. I was just telling the OP what I do and why I do or don't do some things... Not to criticize any other's procedures. Also, if I am fireforming to a Dasher (moving the shoulder forward or in another case, simply "improving" a case), annealing allows a LOT less brass loss due to neck / shoulder splits..

 

[BCoates]

Thank you for the replies. I just built a homemade annealer, and I'm going to anneal a batch of brass that already has 3 firings. I may shoot a side by side test to see if it might be worthwhile to anneal new brass. I know from previous testing that my SD will decrease with once fired brass vs. new brass. I assume this has something to do with neck tension and the 1x fired brass only gets 0.001-0.002" shoulder bump with a FL sizing die.

I do plan to use this brass for LR shooting, so I may sort it by weight into 100 case groups.

 

[BCoates]

I just found out there is a local F class match on Saturday. It looks like I will be shooting new brass for my match loads.

 

[amlevin]

With brand new brass I just run an expander throught the neck and shoot it at least once before doing anything else. Brass expands when fired and mine seems to do so much more on the first firing than all the rest so why put a lot of time in unfired brass. That's my view.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

With brand new brass I just run an expander throught the neck and shoot it at least once before doing anything else. Brass expands when fired and mine seems to do so much more on the first firing than all the rest so why put a lot of time in unfired brass. That's my view.

+1.

Round out the necks, load and go shoot. Then you can do all your magic incantations and even take your once-fired brass on a date and to bed and so on.

 

[BCoates]

With brand new brass I just run an expander throught the neck and shoot it at least once before doing anything else. Brass expands when fired and mine seems to do so much more on the first firing than all the rest so why put a lot of time in unfired brass. That's my view.

+1.

Round out the necks, load and go shoot. Then you can do all your magic incantations and even take your once-fired brass on a date and to bed and so on.

LOL! Now that funny right there. I don't do much to my brass anyway. I've just never shot new brass in a match. The only thing I plan to do is run an expander through the necks and then load. It probably won't be quite as good as my normal match loads, but I need more experience in match shooting.