6.5x284 lapua brass in 6.5x284 win chamber

[chw]

My understanding is that lapua brass is made to be chambered in 6.5x284 norma which meets SAMMI standards and the win is a wildcat. my problem is that i recently had a 6.5x284 reamed for win. i was told i could run into problems because the norma necks are thicker (.004) than win and it may stick and can be hard to eject.

if i run into problems can i re-ream to norma or does it not work that way??
its very confusing because stores like sinclair and midway show no difference in the two when purchasing dies, brass, and such.
also the norma throat is longer which allows for longer COAL. i can live with the shorter COAL the win allows for i just dont want dangerous pressure issues and sticking and can this effect accuracy if this set-up works?

 

[rscott5028]

You could get the reamer print or make a chamber cast.

But, it's easy enough to just try it.

Worst case IMHO...

Get a set of the proper FL dies and size the Lapua brass.

If the neck is tight, you can easily neck turn which could be a plus.

-- richard

 

[chw]

Thanks for the reply. I will for sure try turning the necks if it's tight. Would you turn the inside or outside?

 

[grit]

Always turn the outside.

That said, I believe the difference is at the base of the cartridge. One or the other is a little larger diameter. I don't recall which is which. You could stick with the win brass, get a chamber print, cast the chamber, or get a piece of each brass and try them.

 

[Jumpalot]

Hmmm.... I thought the only difference was the Norma was longer in the throat area and OAL. The Winchester was made for short actions and the Norma was intended to be used in a long action.

 

[grit]

Funny stuff. Why would anybody be confused?

 

[JeffVN]

It is also my understanding that the lapua brass and Norma chamber is approximately 0.001 wider at the web/base, so you might find that chamber a bit tight and need to get a small base body die.

My brother did the converse and used Winchester 6.5x284 brass in a 6.5x284 Norma chamber. two firings and the primers pockets didn't hold a primer (with nominal pressure and velocity loads). He talked to the smith and they told him to step up to the Lapua brass, since it was designed to use in the Norma chamber.

Jeffvn

 

[rscott5028]

Funny stuff. Why would anybody be confused?

Exactly!

That's the problem with wildcats. It's easy to assume certain dimensions. But, depending on who made the reamer for whom and when, there could be other subtle differences.

Hence, the need for standardized cartridges.

The smith that built this one should've advised the use of a current standardized reamer unless there was a specific reason for choosing the old wildcat.

Nonetheless, FL sizing, turning, and trimming will produce nice brass.

-- richard

 

[cornstalker]

Based on the last batch of Lapua brass I got, you will need to neck turn anyways. The neck wall thickness variance was pretty bad.

 

[shortgrass]

Funny stuff. Why would anybody be confused?

Cast the chamber,,,,,and mic it. Mic the brass (w/ a bullet seated). Compair the measurements. No More confusion. I do not see the 6.5x.284 Norma listed in any of the SAAMI specs/info on their web site, which makes me question, is there a SAAMI spec? (if there is, please direct me to it in print) My reamer is marked "6.5x.284 Win." Never had a problem using Norma (or Win., Hornaday) 6.5x.284 brass. I'll be trying some Lapua soon. BTW,,, had zero problems necking down Lapua (or Nosler, or Hornaday, or Winchester) to 6mm for the 6mm x.284.

 

[rscott5028]

Cast the chamber,,,,,and mic it. Mic the brass (w/ a bullet seated). Compair the measurements. No More confusion. I do not see the 6.5x.284 Norma listed in any of the SAAMI specs/info on their web site, which makes me question, is there a SAAMI spec? (if there is, please direct me to it in print) My reamer is marked "6.5x.284 Win." Never had a problem using Norma (or Win., Hornaday) 6.5x.284 brass. I'll be trying some Lapua soon. BTW,,, had zero problems necking down Lapua (or Nosler, or Hornaday, or Winchester) to 6mm for the 6mm x.284.

There is no SAMMI spec.

Norma standardized the cartridge with CIP, the European counterpart to SAMMI.

-- richard

 

[Hired Gun]

deleted

 

[Jim in Cali]

retracted

 

[Jerry M]

Hmmm.... I thought the only difference was the Norma was longer in the throat area and OAL. The Winchester was made for short actions and the Norma was intended to be used in a long action.

What he said.