6.5CM Lapua virgin brass Small Primer Lee primer issue

[Zatoichi66]

Hi all & thanks in advance for the help.
i have several hundred virgin 6.5CM small rifle cases I’m trying to prime with CCI400 and the proper size no.2 6.5CM/.308 Lee Auto Prime tool—and the brass simply doesn’t fit! I used this Lee auto prime to prime Norma, Nosler & Starline brass, but Lapua doesn’t fit the No.2 shellholder.

if it matters, I’ve been reloading for 20+ years & have loaded 5.7x28, 5.56, .308 Win, .270 Win, 9mm, .45ACP, .44mag, 7.62x39, & .357 magnum for probably 10,000+ rounds total & never had a case NOT fit the appropriate Lee auto prime shell holder.

Any ideas what gives?

ETA: Lapua brass doesn’t fit my Dillon 550B “M” plate either—the other brass does. I tried to seat SRP/CCI400 on my 550B & the brass doesn’t fit!

 

[spife7980]

What’s the rim thickness measure compared to the gap in the shell holder?

 

[Zatoichi66]

Will measure & post tomorrow, but I only have calipers, so the precise measurement may be tough, given the odd shape re: rim & shell holder. I used the 550B plate for .308. I may have screwed up my notes, and the “M” plate isn’t correct for 550B, but the No.2 shell holder is what Lee says to use, and it does for every other brand.

ETA, from Dillon:
6.5 Creedmoor - # 62246
#M Shellplate - # 13230
#6.5 Grendel Powder Funnel - # 18947 #1 Locator Button - # 13930

 

[Zatoichi66]

Three random cases:
Lapua diameter (primer face OD) is 0.4695” / 0.4690“ / 0.4691”
rim thickness: 0.0510” / 0.0525” / 0.0510”

Three random Nosler cases:
OD at rim: 0.4681” / 0.4675” / 0.4690”
rim thickness: 0.0525” / 0.0515” / 0.0490”
is seems the Lapua, at least in a couple cases, is a few thou bigger. These measurements are with Mitutoya digital calipers.

i would add more measurements, but seriously need my Java!

 

[Zatoichi66]

ETA:

Lee shell holder No.2 measures roughly 0.4792” with the same calipers, but the tips barely make it in given the configuration of the jaws.

 

[47guy]

odd that dillon lists a different shell plate for the 65creed compared to the 308...id call them and tell them the problem...i run a #1 shell plate for everything 308 based with no issues.

 

[Zatoichi66]

No offense meant, but waiting on hold for an hour is what I’m hearing from fellow Dillonators, so I found a work-around & I’ll take it and run rather than call them. I’m pretty sure the M plate fit the other brands. I wonder if the groove angle in the case head is different, but other than “eyeballing,” cannot precisely measure.

first time I ever used my 550B as a priming tool, but my Rock Chucker & Redding micrometer dies are where I reload 6.5CM after individually weighing each charge.

i guess I’m the only nut using Lee auto prime with Lapua brass. The Redding case holder works well, but I removed the RCBS primer arm years ago & cannot locate it. they’re back-ordered everywhere.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Max rim thickness is .054 so your brass is within specifications.

 

[47guy]

No offense meant, but waiting on hold for an hour is what I’m hearing from fellow Dillonators, so I found a work-around & I’ll take it and run rather than call them. I’m pretty sure the M plate fit the other brands. I wonder if the groove angle in the case head is different, but other than “eyeballing,” cannot precisely measure.

first time I ever used my 550B as a priming tool, but my Rock Chucker & Redding micrometer dies are where I reload 6.5CM after individually weighing each charge.

i guess I’m the only nut using Lee auto prime with Lapua brass. The Redding case holder works well, but I removed the RCBS primer arm years ago & cannot locate it. they’re back-ordered everywhere.

dillon has or had a call back request tab on the bottom left of their web page...i personally have used this option several times and have been called back within an hour....its just odd that the lapua brass does not fit but the other brass you have used did.

 

[CNC-Dude]

I have some new Lapua brass for my 6.5CM that the neck collapsed and crushed down when trying to neck size them. I just set the whole box aside and have not tried to go any further with them. Out of 10 that I tried to size, 3 collapsed so i just stopped. Don't know if I'll ever try to use the rest of them or not.

 

[Supersubes]

I have some new Lapua brass for my 6.5CM that the neck collapsed and crushed down when trying to neck size them. I just set the whole box aside and have not tried to go any further with them. Out of 10 that I tried to size, 3 collapsed so i just stopped. Don't know if I'll ever try to use the rest of them or not.

Probably not the brass.

 

[iashooter]

Dillon lists the M shell plate for 6.5cm on their conversion charts, but I just received a new 550 conversion kit from them for 6.5cm and the shell plate in the kit is a #1.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

The "M" plate with #1 pins is what Dillon specified for my '90s-vintage RL-550B. I too have had occasional issues with cases not fitting into the plate - mostly with older RUAG-Prime brass. Not all the cases, just some.

It's not the rim thickness per se where I see the occasional issue - it's the diameter of the narrowest part of the case between the web and the rim itself (I'll call it "groove" for lack of better terminology).

I have no experience with Lapua brass, but I just went back and measured the groove on several cases:
- Hornady: .397"
- RUAG/Prime: .400
- Peterson: .400
- Starline: .400

SAAMI spec shows the groove at 0.389-0.409 inches. I have held out a "no-go" Prime case whose grove measured .406" - technically in spec.

So, what this tells me is that Dillon is machining the "M" plate at the smaller end of the groove's diameter range.

 

[CNC-Dude]

Probably not the brass.

Well I can say that it's not the sizing die or the operator!

 

[Zatoichi66]

I mushed a neck, too. I blame my not paying attention to the die set up.

i also had 1 Lapua case mouth that was mangled. Since they gave me 101 pie in both boxes, I call it even.

 

[CNC-Dude]

Those cases are so soft you can squeeze the neck closed with your fingers. I can any way. Hornady and other cases are a lot harder unless you annealed them.

 

[Supersubes]

Well I can say that it's not the sizing die or the operator!

The fact you havent been able to figure it out tells me youre wrong.

 

[CNC-Dude]

I have figured it out, the brass is soft as hell and can be easily squeezed between my fingers and Hornady brass and other brands I use is a lot harder. Just need to be a little easier with the Lapua brass, that's all.

 

[Supersubes]

I have figured it out, the brass is soft as hell and can be easily squeezed between my fingers and Hornady brass and other brands I use is a lot harder. Just need to be a little easier with the Lapua brass, that's all.

Uh huh....

 

[dzander]

For what it's worth I have a new box of Lapua 6.5 small primer brass. They fit in my #2 lee auto prime and my #1 dillon shell plates , no issue. My groove diameter measures .4055" on this brass. Have not loaded any of these yet.

 

[Zatoichi66]

I hate you! thanks for the info, Dave. That’s a kidding “internet hate” and envy for having Lee No.2 shell holder that works, of course, not real hate. But I suspect the Dillon 550B primer seater is creative, if I do say so myself—and I do!

i ordered another No. 2 shell holder. My No.2 shell holder is almost 30 years old, so it may be that Lee changed the spec to work with Creedmoor, et al.. Once I got the brass primed on my 550B, I started loading, so I’m off—like a herd of turtles!

 

[Zatoichi66]

UPDATE 02/27/21

A new #2 Lee Auto Primer cartridge holder arrived today—the virgin Lapua 6.5CM brass fits perfectly! My guess is the 30+ year old No.2 apparently has a different spec.

Or, “Millennial No.2 Auto Prime shell holder” causes Boomer reloader problems.

That’s a joke, for anyone offended....

Back to your regularly scheduled programming. Thank you to all who tried to help.