What prep should i do to my new .223 Lapua Brass??

[jam1e]

Hi folks,

I've gone ahead and bought a box of new .223 Lapua Match Brass. Not cheap at £68, but it was local so no postage...

Anyhow, I'm used to buying new Rem or Win brass, then prepping it. As in uniforming the primer pockets, flash hole deburring, slight outside neck turning of the high spots, then all get a full length sizing, before trimming to length.

However, I'm told to forget all that with Lapua brass, and just full length size and trim. Is that a fair statement?

Just to add that the brass will be used to make rounds for general vermin control, and also, as and when possible, some long range target shooting, (out to 700 ish yards) using my bog standard Tikka T3 and Sightron.

Some constructive advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Jamie

 

[Bewsher500]

new brass often takes a ding on the case lip

I run them all through a collet neck sizer to make sure they are round and sized

 

primer pocket unifmorming and flash hole deburring is overkill unless you are shooting F class and expecting to return 0.1MOA's at 700yds

 

if you want to prove a point prep half of the brass pockets/holes and see if you see any "noticeable" difference in accuracy on your loads

[rem708]

agree with Bewsher500.

 

Personally I would cycle each through the rifle to see if they fit, check the case AOL and only trim if above max. If they don't bind I would load and fire the first time. After the first fire-forming I would then check for inconsistencies/defects and act accordingly.

[Dougy]

From experience if you put them through a FL resizer there wont be much resistance, but it will ensure the necks are all straight and true.

What i do is use tat for lamping and keep Lapua for days on the Crows and daytime Foxing, at nearly £1 a case in 22.250 i shed a tear if i loose one, but my older Rem,nosler cases are now on there last firing.

[Amazed]

If your using a close tolerance fl sizer watch for cases getting stuck the web can be thicker on the older stock.

[Underdog]

Initial case prep should involve a comfy chair and some single malt sitting with the Mrs int' front o' telly with a hand press

[henry931]

I run a K&M expander through the neck to get out any dents and ease the neck tension,

 

try a few cases in the gun to make sure they chamber easily,

 

then prime and load.

[deershooter]

I do nothing but use it in my .308 no prep just load it it shoots one hole groups @100 yards

 

Deershooter

[jam1e]

Cheers for the replies folks, much appreciated!

Jamie

[kent]

In a factory gun, for that use check for damage then load and shoot it. Mark any piece were you get an unexpected poor result to see if it re-occurs

[John_R]

I bought a box of old stock/old packaging Lapua .223 brass and discovered that the flash holes are way below standard size. I cannot deprime them in the press. A universal decapper is much too big and my Redding sizing dies struggle as the decap pin is more or less an interference fit.

 

I suspect I will have to turn down my own pin to decap them and then drill them out a tad. I told the dealer and he looked at his one remaining old box and agreed they are undersize.

 

Somehow I doubt you will see this problem but if the box is old style gold packing you might be wise to check.

[1066]

I bought a box of old stock/old packaging Lapua .223 brass and discovered that the flash holes are way below standard size. I cannot deprime them in the press. A universal decapper is much too big and my Redding sizing dies struggle as the decap pin is more or less an interference fit.

 

I suspect I will have to turn down my own pin to decap them and then drill them out a tad. I told the dealer and he looked at his one remaining old box and agreed they are undersize.

 

Somehow I doubt you will see this problem but if the box is old style gold packing you might be wise to check.

You have some premium cases there.

Standard flash hole size for most manufacturers is .082" however many of the target/benchrest type cases such as the 6ppc, 6br and some .223 Rem have flash holes of .062.

 

If you have the odd one then I would bin it. If you have a quantity then you could turn a decapping pin to fit or drill each one out to standard size. They all need to be the same or pressures will vary.

 

Interesting article here:

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/primers-large-vs-small-flash-hole-test.html

[jam1e]

Initial case prep should involve a comfy chair and some single malt sitting with the Mrs int' front o' telly with a hand press

Can't argue with that U!

[jam1e]

I bought a box of old stock/old packaging Lapua .223 brass and discovered that the flash holes are way below standard size. I cannot deprime them in the press. A universal decapper is much too big and my Redding sizing dies struggle as the decap pin is more or less an interference fit.

 

I suspect I will have to turn down my own pin to decap them and then drill them out a tad. I told the dealer and he looked at his one remaining old box and agreed they are undersize.

 

Somehow I doubt you will see this problem but if the box is old style gold packing you might be wise to check.

That's concerning John, what did the old boxes look like?

Mine in mid blue plastic, as per below. Is that an old style box??

Edited June 14, 2014 by jam1e

[jam1e]

You have some premium cases there.

Standard flash hole size for most manufacturers is .082" however many of the target/benchrest type cases such as the 6ppc, 6br and some .223 Rem have flash holes of .062.

 

If you have the odd one then I would bin it. If you have a quantity then you could turn a decapping pin to fit or drill each one out to standard size. They all need to be the same or pressures will vary.

 

Interesting article here:

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/primers-large-vs-small-flash-hole-test.html

Interesting read Allan,

Looks like I need to inspect every flash hole!

Jamie

[Amazed]

That's new stock Jamie. The old boxes were made of card and gold.

[reggiegun]

That's new stock Jamie. The old boxes were made of card and gold.

Gold sniper, bet they were expensive. How you doing mate?

[Amazed]

Gold sniper, bet they were expensive. How you doing mate?

Not too bad half price am doing ok stuck at work today :(

 

You still sore I nicked your 350 yard clay pigeon ?

[reggiegun]

Not too bad half price am doing ok stuck at work today :(

 

You still sore I nicked your 350 yard clay pigeon ?

Yea you bitch

[jam1e]

That's new stock Jamie. The old boxes were made of card and gold.

Cheers Amazed

[Amazed]

Yea you bitch

And then your onion ? : P ha ha

[John_R]

Thanks for the input regards my odd cases. I have 100 of them so I will make a decap pin and then drill them out. I note the comment about pressure change so will try a small number of reloads after I have dealt with this.

[Dougy]

And then your onion ? : P ha ha

Could you get out 400 ;-)

[reggiegun]

Could you get out 400 ;-)

No he could not mate

[Amazed]

No he could not mate

No mate it seems to exit the ballistic window at about 375 yards still not bad for a 222 with a 16 inch barrel that resembles Swiss cheese