Priming new Alpha 6PPC Brass?

[HTSmith]

I’m having to push awful hard to even get fed205’s flush with the case head. Is this normal? Am i missing something? I’ve never messed with Lapua primer pockets. Thanks

 

[Straightshooter1]

I’m having to push awful hard to even get fed205’s flush with the case head. Is this normal? Am i missing something? I’ve never messed with Lapua primer pockets. Thanks

The Alpha brass primer pockets are definitely smaller in diameter than Lapua's. There's ~.0015 -.002 difference. I don't have pin gauges to measure them, but my RCBS pocket uniformer measures .1725 and just doesn't fit in. My 21 Century uniformed that measures .171 does fit in, somewhat tightly.

In addition to that, I think the corners at the base of the Alpha brass is a little rounded, which tends to add to the issue of getting the primers seating to where one would expect. I always uniform the primer pockets, so that takes care of this issue on my Alpha brass.

 

[Bill Norris]

I’m having to push awful hard to even get fed205’s flush with the case head. Is this normal? Am i missing something? I’ve never messed with Lapua primer pockets. Thanks

May be well to uniform the primer pocket depth. Use caution with the Fed primers as the cups tend to be soft and will show signs of indentions on the primer face with heavy pressure. Remember Lee does not want Fed primers to be used with their priming tools due to the softness of the cup.

 

[HTSmith]

Looks like they put a "step" in the primer pocket. Reason? Thanks for all the input.

 

[Bill Norris]

Looks like they put a "step" in the primer pocket. Reason? Thanks for all the input.

Don't know but I saw that with the 260 Alpha brass I tried to use in my 260AI sometime back. Did not like it as it pressured out long before my Lapua brass did.

 

[TRSR8]

Don't know but I saw that with the 260 Alpha brass I tried to use in my 260AI sometime back. Did not like it as it pressured out long before my Lapua brass did.

As far as PPC that is not an issue, some guys have run over 31 gr of 133 without issue.
As far as primer pockets, the latest brass seats 205’s without issue and Pat from PMA says….do not cut them, primers seat nicely below flush with proper tool( I use Sinclair), we have several guys @ our club using them, couple pushing 66’s over 3500 fps.
my base load with the Alpha is within 15 fps of Lapua over the Garmin. 30 grains +- of 2021 N133

 

[Shooter13]

I use the 21st Century primer and just did 200 cases with no problem, did I miss something? .003 below the case head.

 

[skeetlee]

The lot of Alpha 6ppc brass I have has the same issue. I cannot crush the primer enough to even get to flush of the case head. I'm going to have to grind a pocket uniformer i guess.

 

[Rich S]

I haven’t used their PPC brass but know the Dasher and BRA brass has tight primer pockets. I run a Sinclair uniformer in mine after the initial fire forming. A case holder is very handy for this. I made mine by running a chamber reamer in a barrel stub. I have quite a few firings on some of the brass with no sign of the primer pockets getting looser.

 

[HTSmith]

The lot of Alpha 6ppc brass I have has the same issue. I cannot crush the primer enough to even get to flush of the case head. I'm going to have to grind a pocket uniformer i guess.

The folks at Alpha recommend not modifying the primer pocket. The folks at PMA say yes https://www.pmatool.com/products/pm...-uniformer-solid-1-2-carbide-cutter-only.html.

 

[Jay Harrison]

PMA Tool has an Alpha specific primer pocket uniform tool. I have one and like it. https://www.pmatool.com/products/pm...rmer-complete-w-handle-and-power-adapter.html You can purchase it without the handle also.

 

[Jay Harrison]

The folks at Alpha recommend not modifying the primer pocket. The folks at PMA say yes https://www.pmatool.com/products/pm...-uniformer-solid-1-2-carbide-cutter-only.html.

I have this tool and I like it.

 

[Ackman]

Alpha has a smal radius at the bottome of primer pockets. The guy at Alpha explained why they did it this way, but I don't remember exactly. Something about the primer front lip. You could email them and ask, they're very good people to deal with.

 

[BoydAllen]

I called Alpha and spoke to someone abut this. He told me that the better quality, more precisely made hand priming tools make the first priming easier. My friend changed his PPC over to Alpha, and after the first firing, the problem went away. I got a hold of one new case and primed it with one of my tools, more effort, but not really a problem. I forget which one it was but I think any of my three options (Sinclair, 21st Century, or PMA) would be fine for this. I mentioned this to my friend and offered to loan him one of mine and he did not want to give up his Lees, even though they gave him problems. Oh well...