Norma brass rules in my rifle

[Ironworker]

Last post was how my rifle (6x284) hates Lupua brass. Just fired some new Norma brass today. Extraction was perfect. Why does my rifle like Norma over Lupua ? Both measure the same ?

 

[fdshuster]

Ironworker: I'm not bashing Norma brass, so let me say that up front. Several years ago I took 20 new Norma and 20 new Lapua 6BR cases, loaded them identically, fired out of the same rifle, etc., keeping everything unchanged. At 6 loadings, I began to get some serious hard bolt lift after firing, and lose primer pockets with the Norma, while the Lapua continued trouble-free. I had to stop using the Norma after the sixth loading, while the Lapua continued on, trouble-free, the same 20 cases now have been loaded 37 times, and while nearing the "end", they are still usable. Maybe that small sampling of Norma was defective--- I don't know, but at their cost ( 1/3 more than Lapua) I'm not about to experiment with them, when Lapua has a many years history of reliablity with me. I have been told that Norma can be softer than Lapua, I can't argue that: way above my pay grade.

 

[WyleWD]

I sold a 6-284 about 3 years ago that had the same thing you describe. Loved Norma brass and wouldn't shoot Lapua worth a hoot. I'm not a big fan of Lapua brass anyway so it didn't hurt my feelings any. WD

 

[Ironworker]

So there must be a metallurgical difference between the two brands. If that's the case then annealing the brass won't help. Maybe the 6x284 is really hard on the cases ? Any how I'll no longer try and get every last FPS out of it. 52.5 grs of Re#17 and the 90gr Nosler BT is producing 3400 FPS and blowing up rabbits.

 

[cmillard]

i found the same with norma in my 6BR--lapua is the way to go

 

[RDavies]

I love Lapua 6BR and 6x47 brass, but not so much its 6.5x284. I heard somewhere that some Lapua brass is contracted out to other manufacturers to make, is that right?
A freind has been using Norma 300WSM brass and has found it quite soft compared to Win Brass.

 

[jonbearman]

I used 300 used no less of norma cases in a 6-284 and had primo results.The gun shot more accurately than using hornady and lapua cases.The average I shot out of it with a hart barrel #7 contour was a ragged hole at a 125 meter target.It was until then the most accurate gun I ever built for someone(friend) and we were shooting 87 grain hornady bthp's out of it. It amazes me that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt.My cases started out as 6.5x284 and all I had to do was size then in the 6-284 die,trim to square and go.I got them from the army marksmenship unit from a member getting out of the 6.5x284.I was thrilled to get them and they are still being used some 8 years later.

 

[Ironworker]

I wonder how WW brass would work ? Compared to Norma ? What do I need to size 284 down to 6 x284 ? Do I need to buy a 6.5 die ?