Neck turning Lapua .308

[Joe R]

Hi Guys,
Do you turn the necks on the lapua before the 1st firing?

I have been using .308 Federal brass from FGMM ammo. I have about 1500 cases. The brass has been fired four times and I do turn the necks to 0.014 to get decent performance. Currently I'm using a Savage, but I will soon receive a new .308 rifle from Pierce Engineering with an unmodified chamber. I was considering starting fresh with the Lapua brass since I do have 200 cases of those. But I'm also reluctant to give up on the Federal brass especially now that I've got it working pretty well. I'm using a .335 bushing with Federal.

I did a little 20 round test several months ago, with 3x fired Federal against the virgin Lapua, but I hadn't turned the necks on those, so that may not be a fair comparison. The Federal did perform slightly better.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[Big Mc]

It all comes down to ,how tight is your chamber and what neck tension you want to use. Tommy Mc..

 

[stool]

like what chamber, stock or aftermarket, saami spec chamber, palma chamber ???

 

[stool]

with more info...maybe a cleanup cut...but maybe wait till you chamber cast and see just how big the neck is..

 

[savageshooter86]

I turn my virgin Lapua to 0.014". Shoot a saami spec chamber and turn to get me consistent neck tension

 

[artbosco]

All my chambers are tight neck chambers. I have to turn first or I wouldn't be able to seat a round.

 

[Joe R]

savageshooter86 said: I turn my virgin Lapua to 0.014". Shoot a saami spec chamber and turn to get me consistent neck tension

Andrew,
what size bushing do you use? About the bullet? What kind of results do you get?
Thanks,

Joe

 

[amlevin]

The only thing I do with my "virgin" Lapua brass is to run an expander mandrel through the necks, prime, then load.

After the first firing they get sized and then the necks are turned. On lapua brass I'm only "knocking the bumps off" in order to get a uniform neck thickness. On all the Lapua .308 I've purchased so far the final number has been .014". With 500+ pieces of Lapua brass on hand it'll be a while until I have to turn more 8)

 

[savageshooter86]

Joe I FL size with a 307 expander ball. I am getting sub 2" @500 yards with tight vertical. I shoot the 185 lrbt

I am going to try bushing die in future

 

[Joe R]

Andrew,
stick with what you got. That's very good shooting in my book.

Joe

 

[savageshooter86]

I can tell difference in seating bullets with turned vs non-turned brass. Seating is more consistent with turned cases. So I just turn for that reason. Even though it isn't a tight neck chamber

 

[fdshuster]

I'm also outside neck turning my Lapua 308 brass to .014". Perfect for a complete cleanup without taking off too much. Loaded round neck diameter is .336" for my .339" chamber neck.

 

[DennisH]

Hi Guys,
Do you turn the necks on the lapua before the 1st firing?

I skim them after the first firing.

Currently I'm using a Savage, but I will soon receive a new .308 rifle from Pierce Engineering with an unmodified chamber. I was considering starting fresh with the Lapua brass since I do have 200 cases of those.

My rule and several others: New Barrel, New Brass

FWIW, I sold a barrel to a person who could not get it to shoot and he bent several necks trying to chamber them, Lapua brass. POI was not consistent.

I told him to use "Virgin" brass and lets see. Three weeks later he called to tell me he loved his barrel and didn't have any issues with 200 new rounds. FYI