Sako 6.5 Creedmoor Brass - Rim Thickness Issues - Help Needed

[qldreloader]

G'day everyone,

I purchased 200 Sako 6.5 Creed brass the other day as it was available here in Australia when Lapua wasn't and I assumed anything made by Sako should be a fair bet as far as quality goes.

I found that the rim thickness isn't compatible with my Redding shellholders nor my Sinclair priming tool shellholder and about 20% of the cases simply will not slide into the shellholder. I don't have this issue with Hornady brass. I can get around the issue with the Redding shellholders by using an RCBS shellholder but prefer to use my Redding Competition shellholders to manage shoulder bump. Even with the RCBS shellholder some cases need to be 'forced' into the shellholder.

The real problem is trying to prime these cases. I've given up on the Sinclair priming tool with this brass and if I try and prime on the press I'm losing all 'feel' for seating. The primer pockets on the Sako brass are really tight and priming on the press is less than ideal.

I'm considering just dumping the brass and buying some more Hornady which I know fits the shellholders without issue. I can also get Starline locally but I don't know how it compares to Hornady and whether it also has thick rims.

Before I go down the dump and replace route I was hoping someone may be able to offer advice as to the RCBS universal hand priming tool and its compatibility with thicker rimmed cases? Lacking a shellholder I was hoping it may be more appropriate with European brass with thicker rims. If anyone was able to confirm that it would be greatly appreciated. Brass is expensive here in Oz and I really don't want to have to throw it out.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Starline is top notch brass. I prefer it over hornady. I had some PPU brass recently that had the same problem. I'd estimate 30% had over thick rims but all pockets were normal. The primers I use are tight fitting in all brass so I use a Lee ram prime to seat them with no issues. I have the RCBS Universal primer tool and it works fine with the thicker brass

 

[243winxb]

I have Hornady 6.5cm brass fired from their factory ammo. 2 different Hormady loads. Many problems.

Have 100 Starline, good brass, but not match winning brass. Necks need turned.


RCBS ram prime will seat any primer, crush it if needed. MY 38 special SAKO brass from years ago had shallow pockets. Did buy a uniformer later.

I would ask RCBS or Redding about using a different shell holder or Comp Set. LARGER.

Measure brass , do not throw away. Compare to SAAMI standards drawing. Maximums showned.
C.I.P. looks to be almost the same measurements, i think? .001" smaller rim diameter?

 

[209jones]

I've had that sort of issue with WW 218Bee brass, it worked in the Forster jaws, but, some would stick under the jaw, difference between batches of them, some were a little sticky, some needed a pull to come out. No issues with the RCBS shellholders, or Lee's. Forster was aware of it, I had up to .007 difference, and they were at min .002 more clearance than the jaws were actually designed for, just fell in that "hole", hazards of universal stuff.
Seems like couple of things you could do for a priming tool would be a Frankford Arsenal unit, c/w shellholders, uses Lee's, and it is adj for depth. RCBS universal has lots of slop in the jaws as to rim thickness, it'd work too, can shim the plunger if need be.

 

[dryhumor]

I ran into this 2 days ago. I had one box (the stuff shoots really well) that I had shot 17 of 20. Out of the once fired 17, I had one that would not fit the shellholder I was using, an RCBS #11. Using a 20 plus year old RCBS hand priming tool.

Using a Forster CoAx to FL size. Shoulder bumped ok, I have a just snug bolt close in a Tikka chamber. No real measurements on bump, as I was just down and dirty loading for hunting season.

 

[qldreloader]

Starline is top notch brass. I prefer it over hornady. I had some PPU brass recently that had the same problem. I'd estimate 30% had over thick rims but all pockets were normal. The primers I use are tight fitting in all brass so I use a Lee ram prime to seat them with no issues. I have the RCBS Universal primer tool and it works fine with the thicker brass

I'm going to borrow a ram prime from a mate of mine and see if that solves the priming issue. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[qldreloader]

I have Hornady 6.5cm brass fired from their factory ammo. 2 different Hormady loads. Many problems.

Have 100 Starline, good brass, but not match winning brass. Necks need turned.


RCBS ram prime will seat any primer, crush it if needed. MY 38 special SAKO brass from years ago had shallow pockets. Did buy a uniformer later.

I would ask RCBS or Redding about using a different shell holder or Comp Set. LARGER.

Measure brass , do not throw away. Compare to SAAMI standards drawing. Maximums showned.
C.I.P. looks to be almost the same measurements, i think? .001" smaller rim diameter?


View attachment 1570393

Good info. I won't buy any Starline brass.

 

[qldreloader]

I've had that sort of issue with WW 218Bee brass, it worked in the Forster jaws, but, some would stick under the jaw, difference between batches of them, some were a little sticky, some needed a pull to come out. No issues with the RCBS shellholders, or Lee's. Forster was aware of it, I had up to .007 difference, and they were at min .002 more clearance than the jaws were actually designed for, just fell in that "hole", hazards of universal stuff.
Seems like couple of things you could do for a priming tool would be a Frankford Arsenal unit, c/w shellholders, uses Lee's, and it is adj for depth. RCBS universal has lots of slop in the jaws as to rim thickness, it'd work too, can shim the plunger if need be.

Slop in the Universal tool jaws is exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thanks.