6.5 CM Hornady Brass Vs. 6.5 CM Lapua Small Rifle Primer Brass

[kriswithak]

So I wanted to see if anyone has had a chance to try the new Lapua 6.5 CM Brass yet. I'll be doing so tomorrow with my DT SRS A1 with a new 6.5 CM barrel from SAC.

I haven't used VV before but got some N550 and am going to do some development with this as well as Varget. My old "go-to" load was 37.5 Varget with a 136 scenar l .005 from the lands and it was a laser.

This brass isn't fire-formed yet, so after I fire these 100 and get a good load node I will then play with seating depth. Then I plan to do a comparison of Hornady original large rifle primer brass vs Lapua Small Rifle Primer brass.

I've never been able to change a cartridges primer size....so very curious at what I will find...or not find...?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[GhengisAhn175]

The BR guys requested it for the 308 Palma years ago. There's been no concrete proof that it helped with velocity consistency. I would consider it more of a feel good.

 

[Darkside-Six]

@nilescoyote has done a quick test between the two. He posted a couple pictures and the details I the actual 6.5 Lapua brass thread but I believe he seen close to a 100fps increase in muzzle velocity with the Lapua on the same charge weight.


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[Laseredge]

I thought the small primer was more about better primer pocket life with hotter loads.

 

[Darkside-Six]

I thought the small primer was more about better primer pocket life with hotter loads.

It is. I think where the thoughts about increased velocity come from was the fact that you can run them hotter and get more primer pocket life. Hence people think they increase MV.


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[kriswithak]

Thank you, I was under the impression that ignition for this cartridge is better/smoother with a SRP... am going to look at @nilescoyotes thread now.

 

[Sendit6.5]

Just started playing with it and I'm getting increased velocity with the same load. Also, published velocities about 1.5-2 grains less than published loads. My understanding is that the Lapua setup provides a more controlled ignition than large primers and bigger flash holes. Supposed to make it even more efficient which means (theoretically) more accuracy. Even my very initial load development is producing better groups than what I've had with other brass. So far, I really like it.


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[Supersubes]

Niles and I posted a bunch of infomion in the original thread. He saw 25 fps gain, mine was similar, another shooter saw 50. I attribute that to smaller internal volume. There are water weights for each in that thread as well.

Lapua does the small primers for more consistent ignition. It does make the case head very stout as well. You'll find that these cases are much stronger than hornady. More importantly though, the neck wall thickness is far more uniform than hornady.

P.s. No need to fireform, just load your OCW go to town.

 

[kriswithak]

Thanks!

Im not good at navigating the site with my phone. Am going to look for the posts though.

Better SD AND ES?

what primers did you like best. I'm trying br-4's only off the fact that my other rifles like them.

sorry if this is all in your post, can't navigate well on phone. Thanks again

 

[Supersubes]

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-s-hide-reloading/6252857-lapua-6-5-creedmoor

 

[Clownbuster]

After 20,000+ casings of converted Lapua brass sold and 3000+ personal firings, feedback from clients are mixed regarding large primer vs. small primer. Myself and guys I run with were using my small primer "Palma" brass, for the purpose of building higher pressure loads, up to considered "nuclear" velocity hunting and accuracy loads. All variables being equal, I did not find one more inheritantly "accurate" than the other.

Depending on what your intended purposes for the brass and your rifle (assuming a bolt-action), here's what we learned from Lapua "Palma" small primer brass:

Pros:
-More firings before primers pockets start to loosen up for guys developing high pressure and "Nuclear" loads (if that's an intended purpose).
-Cases holistically hold up better to the abuse reaching for the higher velocity accuracy nodes
-Reports of smaller ES/SD (again, all variables being equal). However, this has been disproven from my experience.

Cons:
-A few recorded ignition issues in extreme cold weather (Not personally verified). Appropriate powder choice is critical in this environment.

Neutral:
-Does not require a bushed firing pin assembly.

Guys were buying both the standard brass for their normal precision loading so they get the life out of their brass (over 30 loadings), and would buy small primer "Palma" brass for their super high pressure, precision hunting loads. These loads are hard on brass so development will chew into your lifespan.

 

[Supersubes]

After 20,000+ casings of converted Lapua brass sold and 3000+ personal firings, feedback from clients are mixed regarding large primer vs. small primer. Myself and guys I run with were using my small primer "Palma" brass, for the purpose of building higher pressure loads, up to considered "nuclear" velocity hunting and accuracy loads. All variables being equal, I did not find one more inheritantly "accurate" than the other.

Depending on what your intended purposes for the brass and your rifle (assuming a bolt-action), here's what we learned from Lapua "Palma" small primer brass:

Pros:
-More firings before primers pockets start to loosen up for guys developing high pressure and "Nuclear" loads (if that's an intended purpose).
-Cases holistically hold up better to the abuse reaching for the higher velocity accuracy nodes
-Reports of smaller ES/SD (again, all variables being equal). However, this has been disproven from my experience.

Cons:
-A few recorded ignition issues in extreme cold weather (Not personally verified). Appropriate powder choice is critical in this environment.

Neutral:
-Does not require a bushed firing pin assembly.

Guys were buying both the standard brass for their normal precision loading so they get the life out of their brass (over 30 loadings), and would buy small primer "Palma" brass for their super high pressure, precision hunting loads. These loads are hard on brass so development will chew into your lifespan.[/QUOTE

Id agree with all of that. I never had an issue running .260's with various sources of brass. Never converted lapua anything to .260, but never struggled with velocity spreads either. The small primer/large primer debate is largley a theoretical argument with "inherent" accuracy, which is something I just dont buy into given the tactical precision game we participate in(not benchrest). The small primer does give a quantifiable strength increase though, as you said. For me, that just means I can run the cases a good long time in the realm of where a creedmoor should be run. Hotrodding it to be something it isn't, and gaining a click or two of elevation at 1000 while sacrificing a 1000 rounds of barrel life just doesnt make any sense. The animals dont die any quicker and the hits dont come any easier. The lapua brass allows one to run exactly as they did before with more uniform cases and much greater brass life.

 

[Clownbuster]

Well said Supersubes.

 

[kriswithak]

Thanks guys. Just went through the post and extremely helpful. I shot this new brass today and was very happy with it. I also shot box 120,140, and 147, and that shot better than I've ever experienced. This was all through a new barrel. Next week I will load up some original hornady 6.5 brass, but I'm sold on the Lapua now!

 

[Clownbuster]

Next week I will load up some original hornady 6.5 brass...

Kris, if you want some kick-ass large primer Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor brass, let me know, I'm still selling alot of it to guys. Not everyone wants the small primer Creedmoor brass and the large primer brass is, surprisingly, still selling strong.

 

[kriswithak]

Thanks Clownbuster. I'm going to see how it shoots with a developed load and will definitely get back to you if I cannot get better results than the large primer brass I was using.