lapua 308 brass

[argie1891]

I built a heavy barrel 308 and decided I needed match brass to go along with the match chamber and a rifle that weighs in at over 15lbs. I purchased 100 lapua match cases that use the small rifle primer. now the problem the hole in the primer pocket is so small I cant get the primers out. ok I did make a tool to push them out but rcbs dosent make a prime punch small enough to go through the hole. I called rcbs and they said they don't make a primer pin smaller than what I have. I tried a primer punch from pistol dies and flat am not sure of the best way to address this problem. I could put these cases in my lathe and drill the hole bigger but was wondering if others had this problem and if so what they did to solve the problem. argie1891 aka joe gifford

 

[Steve Blair]

I use Redding dies with my Lapua Palma cases and installed a decapping pin from a 6BR die set. The pins can be ordered separately. The decapping rod socket that holds the pin is a collet and can easily accommodate the smaller pin.

 

[stubbicatt]

The Lee decapper die sports the small pin, and works fine on these cases at my house. That and the 6.5x47 cases, the pin just slips right through the flash hole.

An issue that presents itself to you now is that since you have jammed your decapping pin through those tiny little holes, the flash holes in those cases are no longer the same size, and you will get erratic performance if you throw them in with the rest of them. :-\

 

[amlevin]

Drilling out the flash hole will tend to negate the benefits associated with the smaller primer.

I'd find a de-priming die that will do the job without modifying the case.

 

[argie1891]

thanks for the replies argie1891

 

[khennessy]

Argie,

get yourself a Flash-Hole Uniformer from K+M 0.062
https://www.kmshooting.com/catalog/flash-hole-uniformer-tools/flash-hole-uniformer_professional-ppc_0062.html

this will uniform the flashhole and also the traditional lee universal decapping die will be compatible

 

[spclark]

Argie1891 what you bought are Lapua's Palma cases.

They're 308 alright but use the small primer and have a smaller flash hole than their regular, large rifle primer 308 cases.

How many out of the 100 have you got primed? Lapua's two case types (LR, SR) perform equally well in my rifles though I prefer the Palma (SR) cases having tried them; been using them exclusively since 2011.

You might find somebody willing to swap you; all the LR 308 cases I have have been fired more than once or I'd offer to trade.

Wilson Tool Co. makes real nice punches in sizes to fit the small flash hole.

http://www.lewilson.com/punchbase.html

They're cheap enough & using them with the proper decapping base and a small hammer keeps grit from primer residue away from your press ram. I have several for both large & small primers & bases for the case head sizes I use. Using them also gives good feedback on how case heads might be expanding with use. When a light tap's enough to kick a spent primer out you know that case's life is about over.

 

[wapiti25]

As has been said: Keep the cases that you tried to push large pins Thur separated from the originals. You can get different ignition when the flash holes are different sizes, some re-loaders ream the flash holes so every case is the same and work loads to that flash hole size. You need to be aware that all powder/ primer/ bullet combinations don't work good with the small primer 308 cases. They are offered for loads that the Palma teams use. Cold weather can be one condition when the small primer can cause problems. There are a lot of people that feel you should use the Laupa brass as is and not change the flash holes. Laupa does make very good brass. I do think using the small primer brass is worth trying.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I built a heavy barrel 308 and decided I needed match brass to go along with the match chamber and a rifle that weighs in at over 15lbs. I purchased 100 lapua match cases that use the small rifle primer. now the problem the hole in the primer pocket is so small I cant get the primers out. ok I did make a tool to push them out but rcbs dosent make a prime punch small enough to go through the hole. I called rcbs and they said they don't make a primer pin smaller than what I have. I tried a primer punch from pistol dies and flat am not sure of the best way to address this problem. I could put these cases in my lathe and drill the hole bigger but was wondering if others had this problem and if so what they did to solve the problem. argie1891 aka joe gifford

You might think of getting a match set of dies as well. If RCBS doesn't make it then you are on the right track towards accuracy! ;D

Do not oversize the flash holes, buy a decapping die and it will solve your problem.

 

[watercam]

I polished my Redding pin until I fit the flash hole.

 

[M-61]

Sinclair Decapping Die

* SKU #:05-3600
* Mfr:SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL

Comes with pins for small and large flash holes.

Another option (which I do) is to remove the primers in a separate move with the following:




Wilson Primer punch and base?
« Reply #21 on: 04:58 PM, 03/26/13 »
QuoteModifyRemove
I just called Wilson's. They walked me thru their site and told me, after checking with the machinist(who cuts the punches) that their punches that are marked on the site as .062 are actually .0575 http://www.lewilsondirect.com/decappingpunch.aspx

It says in the choices BR/PPC .062 flash hole....but they are really .0575

Interesting way of listing an item
Modify message

 

[CatShooter]

I built a heavy barrel 308 and decided I needed match brass to go along with the match chamber and a rifle that weighs in at over 15lbs. I purchased 100 lapua match cases that use the small rifle primer. now the problem the hole in the primer pocket is so small I cant get the primers out. ok I did make a tool to push them out but rcbs dosent make a prime punch small enough to go through the hole. I called rcbs and they said they don't make a primer pin smaller than what I have. I tried a primer punch from pistol dies and flat am not sure of the best way to address this problem. I could put these cases in my lathe and drill the hole bigger but was wondering if others had this problem and if so what they did to solve the problem. argie1891 aka joe gifford

Redding makes universal decapping dies:

http://www.redding-reloading.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34%3Auniversal-decapping-dies

There is one that is NOT a catalogue item, and it has a small (0.055") pin made for BR and PPC cases. You need to call them and order it direct - don't drill out your cases.