Lapua brass mystery doe 6.5-284

[Wizard]

I used new Lapua brass to set my new barrel onto my action. I bought some "once fired" brass for my 6.5-284. It will not load into my action. I trimmed it and ran it through my new Redding dies. I ran the new brass through the dies as well. Any ideas as to why the used brass will not chamber?? The new Lapua brass fits just fine.

 

[Kevin Thomas]

Wizard,

It's a common misunderstanding that resizing in a full-length die returns fired brass to its original, unfired dimensions; it doesn't. Small base dies will take these down to closer to the original dimensions, and might be worth a try here. Once the brass chambers easily and has been fired in your chamber, it should react well to the conventional full length sizing (or even neck sizing, if you chose to go that route). This is more than likely a case of brass that was fired in a somewhat more "generous" chamber the first time around, yours being a somewhat tighter chamber, or a combination of both.

Fairly common situation if you insist on using brass fired in other chambers, which might make a small base die a worthwhile investment for you.

 

[Wizard]

Thanks Kevin. Since Lapua brass is so expensive, I thought that I would grab the chance to get a good deal on some once fired brass. This is my first time at using Lapua brass. The used brass was way too long and so probably not just "once fired". I normally only buy new brass, now that I got into the longer shots at small targets. I do not know if it is worth buying yet another die. I paid over $200 for the competition Redding dies. I have always been able to resize brass to fit into a bolt action rifle by full length resizing. I do have a tight fit, no turn chamber. I will chalk this up to another lesson for long range shooting. That is why I have been lurking around this site, I need all the help I can at this 1,000 yard project. It is nice to know that someone from Lapua is here as well. It is always nice to hear from the horse's mouth on fine products.

 

[Mikecr]

I used new Lapua brass to set my new barrel onto my action.

Assuming this is a Savage, you set headspace off NEW brass(tight), and your USED brass has not been bumped to match the new piece of brass(that you used for HS setting).

You could FL size the used brass with your die & reset the Savage headspace to that.
This way you could use both new/used brass.

 

[Wizard]

I did full length resize the used brass in my dies and it would not fit. I don't think that I want to use the brass from a different chamber that is over sized. Sounds like I need a small based resizing die to use the older brass.

 

[Kiwi Greg]

If you have a body die try using that.

I had issues with my Edge & Lapua mag Imp, with brass that I had fired several times being hard to chamber after using Redding bushing FL dies.

The brass was tight to chamber & extract even if not fired, bumped the shoulder more etc etc, still did it.

I even got a tactical type bolt handle put on to help with the issue.

Then I discovered the body die with the Improved set, used it & the problem instantly disappeared lightbulb

The cases were very slightly too big in diameter infront of the head/web area.

I made one for the Edge from a Hornady FL die & the Edge was fixed

 

[Mikecr]

But the obvious solution is to stop using someone else's brass.
You got that

 

[dirtball]

The problem is the rifle has been headspaced using a piece of NEW unfired brass which is ALWAYS smaller than almost any Full Length Sizing die. This is why it is ALWAYS a good idea to spend the $28.00 and buy a "GO" gage to set your headspace. What you might also find is that NEW brass of another manufacturer may not fit in your "Short" chamber.
JMHO
Dave

PTG Headspace Go Gage 6.5mm-284 Winchester, 284 Winchester - MidwayUSA

 

[Coyboy]

The problem is the rifle has been headspaced using a piece of NEW unfired brass which is ALWAYS smaller than almost any Full Length Sizing die. This is why it is ALWAYS a good idea to spend the $28.00 and buy a "GO" gage to set your headspace. What you might also find is that NEW brass of another manufacturer may not fit in your "Short" chamber.
JMHO
Dave

PTG Headspace Go Gage 6.5mm-284 Winchester, 284 Winchester - MidwayUSA

+1

You could have HS up to .005" under sammi spec.

 

[Wizard]

I have put on other Savage barrels using new brass that has been prepped in my dies. This puts everything in place with my equipment. I was surprised to find out that I still need to prep new Lapua brass. I thought that it would not need that at almost 3 times the price of Winchester brass. Primer pocket and flash holes need to be worked over.

 

[Mikecr]

You're changing subjects.
First, do you understand how YOU caused the original issue?
What are you going to do about it?

 

[Wizard]

You're changing subjects.
First, do you understand how YOU caused the original issue?
What are you going to do about it?

Kind of snippy on this site. My original question was why brass that was fully resized would not fit into my rifle. I am using Redding competition s type bushing dies and thought that they would resize to original size new case dimensions. I only reload for bolt action rifles and have not needed small base dies that some semi-auto rifles require for smooth operation. This is the first time using Lapua brass and I guess I was expecting more from them since they are almost 3 times more expensive than other brass. Using new brass for a go gauge when installing a Savage barrel is a common practice. I am not concerned with SAMMI, only what will work the best for my rifle. My lesson is to only buy new brass which is what I normally do, except when I was competing in pistol shooting or buy a small base die for used brass preparation. I guess "I" caused this by buying high end dies, brass and barrel for my target action and expected more than off the shelf, cheaper products.

 

[Coyboy]

The problem is not the guy being snippy, YOU continue to blame someone else for a problem YOU created.

You obviously need to reread all the post to understand what the problem is, it dosen't matter how many "other" people did it the way you describe, YOU still did it wrong based on what SAAMI says is correct and proper. Every thing in the industry is based on SAAMI specs for cartriges, You obviously are having a hard time grasping this.

 

[dirtball]

What I predict will happen is that you will be able to get 3 to 4 firings on your NEW brass, because your Full Length Sizing die is only going to be Neck Sizing the brass because of the short headspace. There will come a point when the brass has stretched enough that it will no longer rechamber and your sizing die will not size small enough to fit YOUR chamber, and then it will be the because of "the CRAPPY Lapua Brass".
At that point I suggest that you take the die out to the garage and take a little bit off the bottom of the die with a grinder and that will allow the brass to go further up into the die and it should fit YOUR rifle.

Dave