Lapua Palma Brass

[Longshooter70]

Just curious if anyone is using it and whether they are getting better numbers with the small primer brass than the large primer brass. Does it give enough performance to justify using it over the regular Lapua brass? I'm loading for F T/R. Thanks in advance!

John

 

[MrMajestic]

If you want to push the heavy weights real hard the SR primer holds up much better. Laurie has a great article in the GB Target Shooter online magazine. I can't remember which issue, read them all as they are very informative. Maybe he will see this and chime in. I run a scary amount of H414 behind a 208 gr. A-Max w/o enlarging primer pockets with them.

 

[spclark]

What kinda numbers you looking for? Velocity? (speed kills brass!) Low SD's? (primers & propellant choice probably matter more; since small primer 308 brass was last available, advances in propellants and choice for really good small primers have improved things drastically) Number of reloads?

I've been using it since the first production run became available & wouldn't use anything else now if I didn't have several hundred Lapua 308 cases on hand. Even made up some 6XC cases using this stuff just for the small primer & it's worth the effort IMHO.

You try some & don't like it I'll buy what you haven't shot yet.

 

[Longshooter70]

I shoot the 185 Berger LRBT. Currently I'm using LR Lapua brass and my numbers, ES and SD, are pretty good. I'm not a velocity hound as I believe accuracy trumps speed any day. I do like enough speed to be competitive at 1K but don't push my loads to the upper most limits. I was just curious if people shooting the SR Lapua were showing consistently lower ES and SD than the LR.
As far as number of reloads go, I anneal every load cycle. I feel that for me that is the easiest way to maintain consistent neck tension and I do believe it helps prolong the life of the brass.
I appreciate all your replies so far. I will try and look up that article by Laurie. Sounds like it should be a good source of information. Thanks!

John

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Secondary question:

(sorry for redirecting the thread)

What kind of H2O capacities ae you seeing with fired, unsized Lapua Palma brass? I'm currious if it has enough capacity to be worth trying with my heavy loads. I need the numbers to run it through QL before investing $$$.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[Steve Blair]

What kind of H2O capacities ae you seeing with fired, unsized Lapua Palma brass? I'm currious if it has enough capacity to be worth trying with my heavy loads. I need the numbers to run it through QL before investing $$$.

Thanks,
Keith

[br]
Keith, here's what I get.

Lapua .308 Win 55.7
Lapua Palma .308 Win 56.2 [br]
I shoot heavy bullets with Palma brass and see lower ES/SD than with standard Lapua .308 brass. There is a drop of ~40 fps from LR primers but I am planning to test some hotter primers this week and will report results. As far as longevity: the problem is not neck splits or tension (I anneal, too) but primer pockets with heavy loads. I have seen no issue yet after loading eight times with full charges. [br]
Steve's comment is generally correct, but I will not immediately concede that I cannot have it all; accuracy, velocity and low ES/SD. Of the three, velocity is the lowest priority.

 

[BradY]

Here in Western Australia, some of our F class standard (308 win 155gr bullets only) shooters are shooting with the palma brass fantastically. To the point where they are keeping up with F open shooters. Watching some groups shot at 500m on the electronic targets, there is often only one bullet hole vertical spread. Groups are flat just wind movement from side to side. While mine isnt quite that good, the small primer brass is definitely much better performing with less vertical than the large primer brass.

To my knowledge nobody here tests for extreme spread etc. They just load to what ever is accurate. Usually anything above 45.5gr of 2208 (varget) gets our locally made 155gr BJD HBC bullets to 1000yds here out of the 30 inch barrels, so as long as that is maintained they just go for accuracy. 46.2gr seems to be the accuracy load. My best so far is 45.7gr but im running a .298/.3065 barrel. After a few shots the 46.2gr starts showing shiny marks from the ejector plunger on my cases so I backed it off.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Thanks Steve.

I'll have to hunt some up when I get a chance and give them a go.

 

[Longshooter70]

I shoot heavy bullets with Palma brass and see lower ES/SD than with standard Lapua .308 brass. There is a drop of ~40 fps from LR primers but I am planning to test some hotter primers this week and will report results. As far as longevity: the problem is not neck splits or tension (I anneal, too) but primer pockets with heavy loads. I have seen no issue yet after loading eight times with full charges. [br]
Steve's comment is generally correct, but I will not immediately concede that I cannot have it all; accuracy, velocity and low ES/SD. Of the three, velocity is the lowest priority.
[/quote]


What primers are you shooting? I've been doing a little research and if I go this route for my new build, I'm thinking of using the CCI 450's. What are your thoughts on this?

John

 

[Heavies]

Tag on this thread.

I have been using the palma brass with my 185 loads and 8208xbr. These loads are running at ~2800. Brass is holding up very well. However, I have been having problems with misfires. Maybe one in 50 will dud.
Not sure why yet. Using CCI 450s, different lots.

My 155's and 168's haven't has this problem yet.

 

[Steve Blair]

What primers are you shooting? I've been doing a little research and if I go this route for my new build, I'm thinking of using the CCI 450's. What are your thoughts on this?

John

[br]
I've been using both Wolf KVB-556M SRM and CCI BR4. No misfires but both down from the same load in standard brass. I meant to shoot a new series this week but did not make it. I loaded a series each with CCI 450, Rem 7½ and Fed 205M. I hope that one will improve velocity while keeping low ES/SD.