Alpha or Lapua SRP Brass-6.5 Creedmoor

[drummachinejoe]

Looking to upgrade to some new brass with my new barrel. Been shooting a Savage 24” 1:8 6.5 CM that I got started with and always just used once fired Hornady brass. I’ve had great results with this rifle especially for what I paid for it but would like to have a matching SA Origin build like my LA Origin 300 PRC in KRG Bravo chassis.

Would like to know if anyone has used SRP Lapua & Alpha brass for 147-156 gr projectiles? Findings, accuracy, different MAX loads, pressure tolerance? Pretty much decided on SRP.

Planning on shooting:
153.5 gr w/ RL26 (maybe RL23)
147 gr (maybe 144 gr) w/ RL16

Barrel:
Preferred Barrel Blanks
6.5 Creedmoor Chamber (using Alpha SAAMI Reamer 0.199 FB)
1:7 twist
27”

Been researching Lapua vs Alpha brass for at least a week now and haven’t seen any definitive claims that either is clearly superior. I do
Know Alpha SRP has standard flash hole size (0.08”) while Lapua has 0.06”. Seems like Alpha had some initial issues when it was first released and maybe up to first 1-2 yrs. Also, some people claim to not be able to get as high of velocity loads in Alpha brass as they were using in Lapua. However, others say just the opposite and no difference or same amount of reloads/firings.

Any experience/insight on deciding between the 2 would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Islas82]

Am currently using Lapua SRP shooting Berger 144s and Barnes 145s. 15 firings so far with no issues. Have never used alpha but I will once I go through this batch.

 

[Tokay444]

While Lapua is essentially the benchmark, and there shooters out there who won’t shoot a cartridge if Lapua doesn’t make brass for it, Alpha is American made and in my experience, every bit as consistent.
Don’t overlook Peterson also.

 

[st1650]

Lapua is better than Alpha or Peterson in my opinion.

I only use Alpha on niche calibers that I can’t have Lapua brass (7SAW, 6Dasher, etc)

 

[drummachinejoe]

Lapua is better than Alpha or Peterson in my opinion.

I only use Alpha on niche calibers that I can’t have Lapua brass (7SAW, 6Dasher, etc)

Anything that you’ve noticed that makes Lapua better over the other two? More consistency or just ran into issues with Alpha brass that you wouldn’t typically have with Lapua?

I have Lapua brass for my 300 PRC and have not complaints about it. Excellent quality.

 

[kindabitey]

First question should be: Which one is in stock somewhere, or can actually be purchased at a reasonable price?
We can have the "this brass is better than that brass" argument til we're blue in the face, but if it's not available for purchase, it doesn't matter.

 

[drummachinejoe]

First question should be: Which one is in stock somewhere, or can actually be purchased at a reasonable price?
We can have the "this brass is better than that brass" argument til we're blue in the face, but if it's not available for purchase, it doesn't matter.

I have found both in stock multiple places. But up until recently that definitely was a concern. I also don’t have my barrel yet and am not ready to start reloading for it. But north are available currently.

 

[Jack's Dad]

I just got some alpha SRP creedmoor brass. The same powder charge was the same velocity as the Lapua SRP brass

 

[TSULLI]

Would like to know if anyone has used SRP Lapua & Alpha brass for 147-156 gr projectiles.

I cant help with the 147-156 in 6.5 because I have never owned a 6.5 oddly enough. I can chime in on the brass quality though. You wont go wrong either way. They are both high quality. My personal opinion is that one is not any better than the other.

 

[drummachinejoe]

I just got some alpha SRP creedmoor brass. The same powder charge was the same as the Lapua SRP brass

Almost identical velocities between the 2?
No noticeable differences between the 2 quality/performance wise so far?

 

[drummachinejoe]

I cant help with the 147-156 in 6.5 because I have never owned a 6.5 oddly enough. I can chime in on the brass quality though. You wont go wrong either way. They are both high quality. My personal opinion is that one is not any better than the other.

Awesome. Glad to hear. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[drummachinejoe]

I was considering just getting 100 of each to try. See if one gets me to the velocity/accuracy I want with 153.5 Berger’s.

 

[TSULLI]

I was considering just getting 100 of each to try. See if one gets me to the velocity/accuracy I want with 153.5 Berger’s.

What velocity are you shooting for?

You aren't going to see drastic difference between the two. Sure brass thickness and case capacity will be very slightly different due to them being 2 different brands but they will be close enough to each other to the point that you are down to splitting hairs in my opinion. Unless there is an outrageously specific result you are hoping for across the entire board of your load development that ONLY your brass can accomplish, I would just pick one that you find a better deal on load em up. You truly will not go wrong with either choice. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jack's Dad]

Almost identical velocities between the 2?
No noticeable differences between the 2 quality/performance wise so far?

Sorry missed the key word. Yes velocities were essentially identical. Just loaded a few to test that. The alpha will probably be saved for my next barrel as I have several hundred Lapua to get through first

 

[drummachinejoe]

What velocity are you shooting for?

You aren't going to see drastic difference between the two. Sure brass thickness and case capacity will be very slightly different due to them being 2 different brands but they will be close enough to each other to the point that you are down to splitting hairs in my opinion. Unless there is an outrageously specific result you are hoping for across the entire board of your load development that ONLY your brass can accomplish, I would just pick one that you find a better deal on load em up. You truly will not go wrong with either choice. Just my 2 cents.

> 2700 fps (ideally 2775-2875 fps) with 153.5 gr Bergers and RL26, maybe RL23 if can’t secure any RL26.

I would be working up to that carefully though and stopping if any signs of pressure more than flattened primers/slight cratering/faint ejector swipe.

 

[TSULLI]

> 2700 fps (ideally 2775-2875 fps) with 153.5 gr Bergers and RL26, maybe RL23 if can’t secure any RL26.

I would be working up to that carefully though and stopping if any signs of pressure more than flattened primers/slight cratering/faint ejector swipe.

Again, I have no experience in loading for 6.5 CM as it was never a cartridge that I picked up. So take everything I say with a grain of salt.

A quick search on Bergers website shows the 153.5gr factory ammo out of a 26" barrel moving at 2702 out of the muzzle. Berger loads their factory stuff in Lapua brass but with LRP's. Seeing as how factory ammo does not tend to run all that hot, I would assume that you would not have any issues bumping your loads to hit your stated velocity goal out of a 27" barrel before you run into any pressure issues. Work slow to make sure but that is my first thought.

 

[drummachinejoe]

Again, I have no experience in loading for 6.5 CM as it was never a cartridge that I picked up. So take everything I say with a grain of salt.

A quick search on Bergers website shows the 153.5gr factory ammo out of a 26" barrel moving at 2702 out of the muzzle. Berger loads their factory stuff in Lapua brass but with LRP's. Seeing as how factory ammo does not tend to run all that hot, I would assume that you would not have any issues bumping your loads to hit your stated velocity goal out of a 27" barrel before you run into any pressure issues. Work slow to make sure but that is my first thought.

This is just what I’ve gleaned.

 

[drummachinejoe]

Again, I have no experience in loading for 6.5 CM as it was never a cartridge that I picked up. So take everything I say with a grain of salt.

A quick search on Bergers website shows the 153.5gr factory ammo out of a 26" barrel moving at 2702 out of the muzzle. Berger loads their factory stuff in Lapua brass but with LRP's. Seeing as how factory ammo does not tend to run all that hot, I would assume that you would not have any issues bumping your loads to hit your stated velocity goal out of a 27" barrel before you run into any pressure issues. Work slow to make sure but that is my first thought.

This is what I saw from their site on factory loaded. I agree with you. Usually not super hot loads in their factory loaded ammo.

And out of a 20” barrel also.

 

[TSULLI]

This is what I saw from their site on factory loaded. I agree with you. Usually not super hot loads in their factory loaded ammo.

And out of a 20” barrel also.

Even better. That was exactly what I was looking at but I accidently read it wrong as 26". I would say you are good to go. Grab some Lapua now that you have some data that leads you to believe you wont have any issues hitting your stated goal with that brass specifically. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[drummachinejoe]

Even better. That was exactly what I was looking at but I accidently read it wrong as 26". I would say you are good to go. Grab some Lapua now that you have some data that leads you to believe you wont have any issues hitting your stated goal with that brass specifically. Let us know how it turns out.

So you think just go with Lapua over Alpha as long as it’s available.

Thanks!
Oh, the 156 gr EOL they show with a 26”. Even though it’s only 2.5 gr heavier it didn’t get that much higher of velocity even with 6” more barrel
length for some reason. Seems strange

 

[Cynical]

So you think just go with Lapua over Alpha as long as it’s available.

Thanks!
Oh, the 156 gr EOL they show with a 26”. Even though it’s only 2.5 gr heavier it didn’t get that much higher of velocity even with 6” more barrel
length for some reason. Seems strange

I got 2460 with the 156gr factory load from a 20” and my buddy got 2480 from a 22”. This was on 95+ degree days. The stated velocity seems extremely optimistic for performance with a 26” barrel.

 

[TSULLI]

So you think just go with Lapua over Alpha as long as it’s available.

Given that your original concern was which brass between Lapua and Alpha would help you achieve the velocity you were going for and you now have some info showing you most likely wouldn't have any issues, I would.

 

[Cody S]

I can't believe no one here is saying it but
Mt experience is that alpha is significantly softer than lapua.
both are top quality as far as dimensions and stuff but alpha may get you 5 warm loadings out of it and lapua may get you 15
in say, identical 6 creedmoors for instance.
I want to love an American company so damn bad and I have faith I will eventually, but not until they make a product that has as strong as a primer pocket as lapua.
fwiw, I think LRP lapua brass is slightly tougher than SRP alpha.
these findings were as of about 2-3 years ago when the OCD advertising campaign came out.
I really need to try Peterson one of these days when my lapua and barrels wear out

 

[steve101610]

The alpha ocd brass is top shelf and my lapua brass collects dust now.

 

[frame12]

I can't believe no one here is saying it but
Mt experience is that alpha is significantly softer than lapua.
both are top quality as far as dimensions and stuff but alpha may get you 5 warm loadings out of it and lapua may get you 15

I collected 60 lapua 6.5 creed cases from Berger factory ammo and bought 100 SRP alpha. Ran the same loads in both cases through my AR10, plus about another 6 loadings in the Alpha brass. So 3 or 4 loads for the Lapua and 7 or 8 for the Alpha.
Bought a bolt gun a couple weeks ago and loaded up a bunch of ammo today. Half the Lapua brass is likely on its last load. I separated them out after seating primers, because they seated so easily.
No signs of loose primer pockets on the Alpha. I'd guess 3-5 more hot loads and 7 more warm loads.

That was my experience, anyway.

Bases on both are pretty trashed from the gas gun. So I may just buy another batch of brass and let the gas gun finish them off.


Also, I had very noticeable ignition issues with my SRP and StaBall Match. I tried every srp I could find. Superformance seems fine with SRP.

T

 

[Cody S]

staball match in a creedmoor? what grain bullet and what charge? look if you like alpha I'm happy for ya, more lapua brass availability for me.
but you may want to try a known performer, like reloader23 or h4350 or n555 or something good..
when I anneal on my AMP, alpha brass calls for I think 68, my lapua creedmoor brass calls for setting 100.
that should tell you a lot about brass hardness.

 

[Basic user]

First question should be: Which one is in stock somewhere, or can actually be purchased at a reasonable price?
We can have the "this brass is better than that brass" argument til we're blue in the face, but if it's not available for purchase, it doesn't matter.

YUP! Just like primers. "Which primer is better?"
This aint the Trump days this is the Bidenomics build back better era; you shoot what you get.
I shoot both alpha and lapua and see no difference. As far as brass life, I have a strong feeling the people here that experience long brass life utilize a different set of rules to reload their stuff than the others do, such as bushing dies set their preference so it gets bumped/squeezed one time, and only like a thousandths each sizing, they anneal, and keep velocities reasonable.

 

[Cody S]

I see everything I'd want in stock right now, assuming you're cool with necking down or buying factory berger ammo, or just straight from alpha.
either brand is top notch and I have reamers for both in 6 creed actually, just incase. cause biden.

 

[frame12]

staball match in a creedmoor? what grain bullet and what charge? look if you like alpha I'm happy for ya, more lapua brass availability for me.
but you may want to try a known performer, like reloader23 or h4350 or n555 or something good..
when I anneal on my AMP, alpha brass calls for I think 68, my lapua creedmoor brass calls for setting 120.
that should tell you a lot about brass hardness.

IKR. Someone bought me the Match, and there's load data for it.
I did:
38.4 behind 140 SMK's in the SRP Alpha. Got punctures using cci 400's, and dropped the charge down to 38.1
37.5 behind 140 ELDM's (Varget is 36 and change)
39.5 behind Berger 130 OTM's w/ the 400's and got a bunch of punctures. Bailed on that powder for those. Shot a match with the 130's, 41.5g of H4350 and didn't out perform my first match load, which was 46.5 Superformance behind 142 SMK's and 450's.

I have a lot of different powders. StaBall Match was a top performer. I bought a 2nd lb of it to see if I had ruined the first one with moisture or something when the hang fires began last winter. They persisted with the new one. Apparently a lot people have similar issues with ball powder and small primers. I might revisit if LRPs become common place again.

I'm experimenting with n160 now. Same burn rate as n555, $10+ cheaper.

I really just want a rifle that shoots factory 2nds into a single hole w/ a cheap ball powder.

 

[Tokay444]

I would revisit those loads with a 450 primer instead.

 

[frame12]

I would revisit those loads with a 450 primer instead.

You should. Let me know how it goes.

At this point, I'm done with StaBall Match.
Oddly with my new Criterion, I shot a bunch of 140 ELDM's/ StaBall 6.5 at 300 yards last week and had 4 2 shot groups almost touching. Unfortunately the other 16 2 shot groups were 1.25 moa.

It's like the semi-ball powders are taunting me: "Don't you want to buy 8lbs of me and get screwed with lots of random flyers?" "OK I'll group. NO I WON'T, yes I will, NOPE. BWAHAHAHAHAHAH"
Maybe they infuse some kinda Feline pheromone into it.