308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

[Unknown]

I'm wondering which brass would be the better to go for. The Lapua brass I have purchased in the past only needed the flash holes uniformed as they all weren't the same size. It is a simple operation using a drill bit.

If I uniformed the Lapua flash holes, or performed the following on once fired LCmatch cases:

Full length size cases
trim to length
de-burr inside necks with a VLD de-burrer
deburr outside case necks
de-burr and uniform flash holes
uniform primer pockets

which brass would give better performance, and longevity, or is it a toss up?

I'm discussing 7.62x51/308 cases

 

[Paladin2147]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

Buy the Lapua and stop wasting your time. It generally needs nothing done to it. This is not benchrest, this is Tactical.

 

[Unknown]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

I have plenty of time though, and have a line on lots and lots of the LC brass for free. I just don't know if it is worth all the work. I don't mind doing the work if it will have an end payoff. However, performance is my ultimate goal.

Both groups of cases require some work, the LC requires more work, but the initial brass acquisition is free...all I have to do is to all the prep work.

I ask because I am hoping someone has tested both groups of brass. If the Lapua cases, and the prepped LC cases perform the same, I will do the work on the LC cases. But if the Lapua cases outperform the LC cases by a significant degree, they would be the better deal.

 

[bcrich]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

Only your test can tell you what you want to know! I have had good luck with LCLR brass in my AR 308 all I've done was deburr the flash holes.

 

[Paladin2147]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

There is no comparison between LC and Lapua. You can work a case of LC till you think it is perfect and it will not be as good as Lapua out of the box. However, don't waste Lapua in a gas gun.

 

[aloreman]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

lake city is great brass. weight sort the cases if your that fussy. I bought some lapua brass and was not blown away by it. I still had to uniform the primer pockets although not as much material was removed as with say winchester or remington. However it takes just as long to remove alittle as it does to remove alot. Neck thickness was alot more consistant with the lapua brass but only .003 variation however I use bushing dies and turn my necks anyways. Again takes just as much time to do if they are alittle or alot out. Couldnt see it as worth the extra money. If you wanted the best brass to just load go with the lapua. If your guna do any case prep to them at all and the lake city is free or cheap then there you go.

 

[turbo54]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

Well, Lapua brass is really, really nice...but completely unnecessary in nearly any situation. No flames, please - I have LOTS of Lapua brass!

That said, I think most of us really overthink our brass. I was given a 5-gallon pail of mixed NATO 7.62 brass, so I "processed" it to use. My processing included a FLS, and primer pocket swage. This is as before I had my Giraud trimmer, so I measured the OAL of about 20 cases and found none longer than 2.025", and I knew my chamber was 2.035", so I didn't bother to trim. As I recall, the IVI headstamp stuff had gnarly off-centered flash holes in some cases. I ignored that.

When I loaded them up with my standard load, they shot lights out, just the same as that barrel always did (RIP OEM Savage barrel - you're missed!) with most ammo.

 

[waste_knot]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

You might try FLS and then measure the water volume of each by weight. Go with the larger volume brass. My LC brass has less vol than the Lapua and the Winchester.

 

[Unknown]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

A buddy of mine cleaned out his garage and found a three cases (420 rounds each) of 7.62x51 ball ammo that he couldn't use, so he gave that to me along with about 1000 once fired cases. I cleaned and sorted through all the brass. There were about 400 pieces of various years of LC match cases in small lots, and about 600 of the LC 66 match cases. I kept the large lot of LC66 match and paid the other brass forward to another fellow who needed some.

I use Lapua cases for my Grendels, and generally, all I have to do is uniform the flash holes as there is quite a bit of variance in the size of the flash holes. After 5 loadings or so then I turn the case necks. I didn't know if I should sell of the LC66 match cases and buy Lapua, or just do the work on the LC66 and shoot it...hence my question.

I have both a gas gun, and a bolt gun in 7.62x51/308, so the brass gets used in both rifles.

Currently, I'm running some military cases that I did all the match prep on, and they weigh the same as FC match cases. Loads in both the military cases and the FC match cases show that I got really lucky because they both shoot the same charge of powder to the same point of impact at both 100 and 500 yards.

My experience doing detailed prep work on ball ammo cases, then sorting by weight gives really good performance in both accuracy, and longevity. And the cases last a very long time. The primer pockets seem to stay tight for many, MANY loadings.

I was trying to find out which way would be most cost effective. LC match cases just don't seem to bring all that much money, and I think I would still end up having to put out another 50 cents per case to buy the Lapua cases after selling the LC match cases.

My guess is that it will be most cost effective to do the work on the LC cases, rather than selling them, just to buy the Lapua cases. I like Lapua cases, I just don't know if that would be the most cost effective way to go in view of the above..

 

[bronco_buster]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

Don't waste your time on the LC. If you don't shoot the Lapua you'll be losing at least several tenths of MOA by shooting the LC. You deserve better than that inferior brass.

Better to give me that free LC brass and dont look back.

 

[CaptRob]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

If you decide to sell the LC LR send me a PM I would definitely be interested in it.

 

[BCP]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

LC brass is good stuff but generally not as uniform as win or lapua brass. Still plenty capable of making accurate ammunition though.

If you have a bunch of it laying around...and it's similar years...I vote that you use it.

 

[BCP]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Unknown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The primer pockets seem to stay tight for many, MANY loadings.
</div></div>

That is why I use LC brass in my semi 308. I think I had 8 loadings on one batch and the necks got brittle before the primer pockets went. Win brass went 4-5 loadings at the most and FC...maybe 3?

 

[leadbullet]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

Lc for practice and semi auto's, loosing a case or two is no big deal there, save the lapua for bolt action.
hope this helps.
Ultimately, buy some winchester brass and use it for everything.

 

[Skg_Mre_Lght]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

Meh.

I use prepped Winchester for everything. I can buy more, and it lasts just as long as Lapua. Reloading is my hobby, and it is not time wasted.

 

[bcrich]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skg_Mre_Lght</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Reloading is my hobby, and it is not time wasted. </div></div>
That's the way I see it too!

 

[mkollman74]

Re: 308 Lapua, or match prepped LC match brass

I use LC LR brass with little to no prep for my OBR and it holds 0.4-0.6 MOA out to 800 yds so far. All I do is trim to length and ID/OD debur the mouth. I never noticed any appreciable difference in futzing with the flash holes.

While I don't see time reloading as time wasted, I'd much rather spend my free time shooting. I do as little as possible with my reloading to get the accuracy I am after. I am able to do very little with the much cheaper LC brass and accuracy is fine. I'd go with the LC brass myself.