Lapua brass in 223 and 6.5 creedmoor ?
- Thread starter rebs
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47WillysGuy
Gold $$ Contributor
First time out with new unfired Lapua brass in 6.5 CM, I cleaned the relay. I’ve got 8 loads out of the lot and still tight pockets. Weight difference between cases of my lot at most is 2 grains. And I usually get a 101 cases in a new box. Can’t beat that.
No experience with .223.
No experience with .223.
I have no complaints with the Lapua .223
It exhibits the same quality and consistency as their other brass
It exhibits the same quality and consistency as their other brass
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
Lots of experience with 223 and 6mm CM.
Pros: I have never found a defective case from Lapua like I do from the other manufacturers. Case weight will be much more consistent than most others (Peterson is as good as Lapua from what I have seen on the 6 CM). The case necks will be thicker and much more uniform in thickness. Will take less case prep than other cases.
Cons: Only con I can think of is when I reform 223 into 20 Practical brass. The case neck "almost" needs turning in a .233" neck 20P. Just a function of a thicker case neck getting thicker when you size it down.
Lots of folks rave about longer case life. I can't say that I have experienced that, yet. But I have gotten 35 loadings out of the LC 223 brass. So I'm not someone that loads hot. I do use the LR primers in my 6 CM hunting brass. Probably don't need to, but I do.
Is it worth the money? I think so. 223 brass can be had for 50 something, and 1 box of my 6 CM brass can outlast my barrel.
Both are very good indeed. With 6.5mm Creedmoor note that Lapua only makes it in small primer / small dia. (1.5mm = 0.059") flash-hole form. Most makes use large primer and the standard 2mm / 0.079" flash-hole and a few such as Peterson offer a choice.
There are pros and cons to the small primer in a cartridge of this size, ............ so as long as you are aware of what you're buying. In any event, you must have the smaller diameter pin for your decapper or sizer die - the standard size will stick in the flash-hole.
There are pros and cons to the small primer in a cartridge of this size, ............ so as long as you are aware of what you're buying. In any event, you must have the smaller diameter pin for your decapper or sizer die - the standard size will stick in the flash-hole.
The .223 brass has served me well , No experience with the 6.5 . I also use new LC 556 and to be honest I have had great luck with it...for much less money . I prep it just like the Lapua and in a blind test can't really tell the difference , only shooting 200 yards though . Maybe at distance it would show ?
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
It is probably the best brass available. It will take some work to get it "perfect" - just as with other brass. Once you weight sort and turn the necks on just about any brass - you will be hard pressed to notice a big difference in accuracy when comparing it to Lapua. If you don't weight sort, turn necks, true flash holes, level primer pockets, etc. - just want to size and load - that is a main advantage along with what will usually prove to be longer brass life, as the Lapua is more consistent in these areas than most (if not all) other brass.
I use Lapua 223 brass a bunch through my Remington 700 5R.... Good Stuff!!! I don't have a 6.5 Creed, But, I use 6.5x47 Lapua formed brass in my 6x47 L, built on a Remmy 700 action!!!!! Like others have stated, a little more initial cost, but, I believe, worth it in the long-run.... Idaho-45
I run Lapua for 223 Rem and 6 Dasher (6 BR parent), and Peterson for 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Win. I also have Lapua in bot 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Win but stopped running it - nothing wrong with it, just bought Peterson in larger batches as I started shooting more.
I don't have a preference between them and kind of consider them equal except for the primer pocket. Peterson will need to be uniformed for depth, where Lapua is too deep for most uniformers. If you like cleaning your pockets with a uniformer, it won't work with Lapua.
When I started getting serious about things I tried Hornady, Norma, and Nosler as that is what is sold locally. None can compare to Lapua or Peterson.
As @Rset mentioned, don't bother if one/both is a gas gun.
I don't have a preference between them and kind of consider them equal except for the primer pocket. Peterson will need to be uniformed for depth, where Lapua is too deep for most uniformers. If you like cleaning your pockets with a uniformer, it won't work with Lapua.
When I started getting serious about things I tried Hornady, Norma, and Nosler as that is what is sold locally. None can compare to Lapua or Peterson.
As @Rset mentioned, don't bother if one/both is a gas gun.
Bill Norris
Back in the Day
Agree with Rset. Bolt guns yes I'd much rather have the Lapua but for the AR types nope. The brass simply gets beat up alot. Just my 2 cents.
And...... 90% of cartridges loaded in Lapua brass have less than .001" runout (with SMK 142's and ELD-M 140's, both in Creedmoor.) The real proof is in the accuracy at all distances; better than the Hornady brass I WAS using.
Depending on use, generally a lot less case prep necessary with Lapua in 223. HOWEVER, I recently had a barrel chambered with a match reamer, intending to use Lapua brass. But when I crunched the numbers on neck wall thickness it was going to be tighter than what I am comfortable with in a field gun, so it's Hornady brass in that one.
Lapua does indeed make it in either small or large primer configurations. We have both in stock; they're the same price - $400/500 or $775/1000! Be advised-all Berger, Lapua, VihtaVuori will all have an increase in price next week!
steve@mcgeestocks.com
mcgeestocks.com
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