What do you all do to new brass. Never bought new brass before. Should I FL size, neck size. Just curious. It’s Lapua brass for 22-250
Instead of using a FL sizing die I use a neck sizing die on new brass to straighten out the necks. I uniform the primer pockets and deburr the flash holes.
Did you measure the case head to datum and compare that with the max length for your rifle where you get bolt contact when chambering the brass? That is how I decide if I need to run new brass through a FL sizing die or not. Generally I find the case head to datum is already considerable shorter than I want, so I don't waste the time to run it through a die (especially so with Lapua brass).Should I FL size, neck size. Just curious.
^^^^^^^ I quit already^^^^^^^
I weened myself off.Cold turkey or did you have to "vape" for a while?![]()
Did you measure the case head to datum and compare that with the max length for your rifle where you get bolt contact when chambering the brass? That is how I decide if I need to run new brass through a FL sizing die or not. Generally I find the case head to datum is already considerable shorter than I want, so I don't waste the time to run it through a die (especially so with Lapua brass).
Next I check the neck OD and neck wall thickness, to see if any modification is necessary. As mentioned, I generally find the Lapua brass has more neck tension than I prefer, so I run an expander of the desired diameter through the case neck so I get the neck tension I want. And while I am doing this, I put a very light coat of Imperial inside the case neck, since there is no carbon present at this point.
Lastly, I will put a light chamfer on the inside of the case neck, so it doesn't put scratches on the bullets when I seat them.
I check trim length, but that is rarely an issue on new brass.
I haven't found much benefit from uniforming the primer pockets on Lapua, as they are normally deeper than my solid carbide primer pocket uniforming tool. And even though the flash hold is punched (not drilled like it "used" to be), I don't really find it necessary to de-burr the flash hole on the inside.
I also will check brass weight and normally will also measure water capacity of the unfired cases, just to compare with my historical records, to make sure the case volume is in the same ballpark.
View attachment 1130588
I’m same as Brett but I was considering drawing a smiley face on the sidesI run a size button through the neck, then clean up mouth of case for bullet seating.
Primer pockets and flash hole on second firing
I'm just a guy trying to get the best from his rifles.What disicipline are you shooting?
I run my new brass into a Sinclair mandrel to straighten, chamfer the outside neck, uniform the primer pocket. I use Lapua brass 95% of the time. Not 22-250 tho. Have alot of brass from factory ammo that I continue to use - mostly Hornady, also W-W, R-P, Federal, Nosler. It's surprising how they all shoot to the same small hole @ 100yds. In 3 different 22-250's -- almost too easy. simple is good.What do you all do to new brass. Never bought new brass before. Should I FL size, neck size. Just curious. It’s Lapua brass for 22-250