Lapua brass - quality control (or lack of it!!!)

[geordiesniper]

I recently purchased some Lapua brass in 6.5 x 284 in the new plastic boxes to be neck expanded up for my 284 Shehane as my old brass is now well used. Before I expand any case I check each one for problems and noticed that 3 cases out of the 100 were damaged by having a 'ding' in the shoulder plus a split up the neck. Have attached a photo. Has anyone else come across this problem as in using Lapua brass for the past 15 or more years, this is the first time I have come to question Lapuas quality control. This damage is not caused by transit damage. I looked upon Lapua.com to find out a contact email to forward the photo to notify them of this problem, but no details were available which was disappointing.
Thanks.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I'm certain that once you contact them, they will replace your brass for you. I'm also certain you will let us know when that happens.

 

[jonbearman]

Contact Kevin Thomas on this site. That is his handle.

 

[geordiesniper]

Just found their contact details on the side of the plastic box, so have just whizzed an email plus photo to them, so will wait for their response.
Thanks

 

[kyreloader]

Lapua does know of this problem.

I had the same problem with some brass this past summer and Kevin Thomas sent me replacement brass. The customer service associated with this problem was awesome. I sent him an address and a couple days later I had new brass.

Like you, I had 3-4 cases out of the 100 that had the same defect.

Kevin will take care of this for you.

 

[cncmill]

I too, had the same thing. 4 cases in one box of 100 and 5 in another box of 100. There was a ding in the shoulder of mine but they were not split. Thanks for the post, I thought I was alone in this matter.

 

[Hombre0321]

I must say I agree with most of the post's here, and especialy dmoran. I also have experianced a couple of splits in the shoulder extending up into the neck on probably 4 or 5 cases of 6mmbr brass. That is 4 or 5 cases out of 2,000 pieces of 6MMbr brass that I have bought. I believe that once you make Lapua aware of this problem they will address it quickly for you.

But if these few cases ( in my case ) are the price of getting brass the "Quality" of Lapua I will gladly pay that price.

Roland

 

[bozo699]

As already stated contact Kevin Thomas on this site, he is a great guy to deal with, very knowledgeable and easy to work with if you just give him a chance, give him a p.m and you will probably have replacement brass in a week or so.
Wayne.

 

[geordiesniper]

I must say I agree with most of the post's here, and especialy dmoran. I also have experianced a couple of splits in the shoulder extending up into the neck on probably 4 or 5 cases of 6mmbr brass. That is 4 or 5 cases out of 2,000 pieces of 6MMbr brass that I have bought. I believe that once you make Lapua aware of this problem they will address it quickly for you.

But if these few cases ( in my case ) are the price of getting brass the "Quality" of Lapua I will gladly pay that price.

Roland

Hi Roland, yes I agree, it is not the end of the world just because there are a few cases damaged and I have only used Lapua brass ever since I started shooting in 1982 and will always buy Lapua no matter what.
And am not bitchin at all honest!!
Good shooting all.
Les

 

[geordiesniper]

As already stated contact Kevin Thomas on this site, he is a great guy to deal with, very knowledgeable and easy to work with if you just give him a chance, give him a p.m and you will probably have replacement brass in a week or so.
Wayne.

Hi Wayne,
As I live in England I do not think that Kevin could assist, but thanks for the info.
Just waiting for any response from Lapua.
Les

 

[bozo699]

As already stated contact Kevin Thomas on this site, he is a great guy to deal with, very knowledgeable and easy to work with if you just give him a chance, give him a p.m and you will probably have replacement brass in a week or so.
Wayne.

Hi Wayne,
As I live in England I do not think that Kevin could assist, but thanks for the info.
Just waiting for any response from Lapua.
Les

Hello Brother from across the big pond, yes he is a representative for Lapua, I think if at all possible he will make calls or whatever to try and make it right for you, Lapua cares about there customers and or Kevin Thomas at least does, Give him a p.m Les and give him a chance it may just all work out for you, 30 years is a long and Loyal customer I think they will see that or at least I hope they will cheers.
Wayne.

 

[Cigarcop]

I had my first three casualties with split necks while fireforming 6BR to 6BRX with a light load, but I never saw any marks on them when I neck turned, these were from Blue Box also...I'm not stressing over it

 

[KevinThomas]

Hey Guys,

first I have to say thanks for the votes of confidence, but Geordiesniper has it correct; I can't really be of any direct assistance to him due to his living in England. I'm forwarding this thread to the folks in Finland, so I'm sure the rep responsible for that area will get back with him ASAP.

You guys have already answered the pertainant questions here for one and all. Yes, we're aware of this, and it's just a fact of life when working with sharp shoulders and extensive necking. We try to cull these out so they never make it into the boxes, but they do occasionally slip through. We understand that, and replacing them isn't a big deal; you paid for a full box and you should get a full box, simple as that. You guys are always fre to PM me, anytime, on issues like this. Even if I can't do anything about it myself, I'll make sure it goes to the right folks in Finland.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[bozo699]

Hey Guys,

first I have to say thanks for the votes of confidence, but Geordiesniper has it correct; I can't really be of any direct assistance to him due to his living in England. I'm forwarding this thread to the folks in Finland, so I'm sure the rep responsible for that area will get back with him ASAP.

You guys have already answered the pertainant questions here for one and all. Yes, we're aware of this, and it's just a fact of life when working with sharp shoulders and extensive necking. We try to cull these out so they never make it into the boxes, but they do occasionally slip through. We understand that, and replacing them isn't a big deal; you paid for a full box and you should get a full box, simple as that. You guys are always fre to PM me, anytime, on issues like this. Even if I can't do anything about it myself, I'll make sure it goes to the right folks in Finland.

Thanks,

Kevin

That's exactly what I said, if you couldn't help direct you would at least try to make the right calls, So far knock on wood I have only had a small quantity of brass maybe a half dozen out of hundreds and hundreds that I lost due to factory defects, not enough for me to warrant asking for replacements but it is nice to know we as customers have someone like you in our corner Kevin,...Thank you very much.
Wayne.

P.S were all still anxiously awaiting for you to start producing .300wm and .300wsm ;D

 

[Will]

With the exception of my LC LR & earlier WCC brass all my other brass is Lapua. I give qll my Fed & Rem and other stuff away or stash it back. Even Norma gets "gifted" ... I still have 3-5 boxes of Lapua in cardboard & I seem to recall that out of the last 500 of Lapua I loaded maybe, just maybe, 3 cases were unacceptable. I'll take that. Just thought I'd toss out my vote of confidence.
IF I had any Q? for Kevin Thomas ... Where can I buy BULK 185 (5K plus) D46 ?

Regards,
Will

 

[KevinThomas]

Hey Will,

Easy enough. Give Graf & Sons or Kaltron Pettibone a call. They're our two primary importers and should be able to hook you up. Don't think they have these on hand right now, but they may. The stock number for the bulk packaging is the 4HL7019. That's the bulk packed D46 185 grain FMJBT.

 

[geordiesniper]

Hey Guys,

first I have to say thanks for the votes of confidence, but Geordiesniper has it correct; I can't really be of any direct assistance to him due to his living in England. I'm forwarding this thread to the folks in Finland, so I'm sure the rep responsible for that area will get back with him ASAP.

Even if I can't do anything about it myself, I'll make sure it goes to the right folks in Finland.

Thanks,

Kevin

Hi Kevin, thanks for the comments and forwarding any info to Finland.
I guess that producing millions of cases, by the law of averages some will always slip through the net, no matter who is the manufacturer. Not after replacements as have damaged more cases due to 'operator error and finger trouble'.
Good shooting to all.
Les

 

[bozo699]

Les,
Not speaking for Kevin but I work for a cartridge company and we have state of the art equipment just like Lapua does and we have good employees for the most part as I am sure Lapua does, I would imagine Lapuas wire is a much higher quality wire then ours is but with all the best wire and equipment the people give final inspection of all cases and bullets that go out of the plant, each and every case and bullet!! but like all humans at the end of a shift, just before lunch or holiday they loose there attention for detail, in short they just quit caring for a moment or two and that's when we get the occasional bad case, bullet, or cartridge, it doesn't happen all the time but it does happen unfortunately.
Wayne.

 

[expiper]

Kevin took care of me too....I had 5 or 6 bad ones and all it took was a pic and e-mail.....thanks agin ..Roger
PS,,,,and dont forget to make some 300 H&H brass...wink......(or 300 wby...or 375 H&H)

 

[bozo699]

Wayne (bozo699) -

Here I thought you were a Rancher/Electrician, but read you work for a cartridge company as well...Cool !!!

Can ask who the cartridge company is you work for? And what is your position their?

Happy Shooting
Donovan Moran

Donovan,
I spent 20 years as a Millwright/Electrician in a local sawmill, it closed in July of 2009 and I went to work at ATK (CCI/SPEER) in July of 2009 in Lewiston Idaho as there weekend swing Electrician/Technician The weekends work good for the ranch as I keep a eye on the cattle and what not on the week days and my son and wife watches it on the weekend, the weekend sure get in the way of shooting though ??? I live in the S.E corner of the state of Washington right where Idaho and Oregon meet, I have about 300 acres in Oregon and the main ranch is in Washington, I don't have any property left in Idaho but if this state gets any more Liberal I may change that
Wayne.

Les,
I am sorry I should have sent donovan a p.m