Lapua Brass - 260 Remington

[afate45]

I always run factory brass through a Lee collet die or Redding neck die just to make sure the neck is round and ready to load. I picked up two boxes (200 pieces) of new 260 rem Lapua brass and the necks are insanely tight out of the box. My once-fired Lapua brass (from SW Ammunition factory loads) that I sized with my collet die measures .292 at the neck...that's perfect neck tension. The new Lapua brass is .287, some even slightly less. This is so insanely tight that I'm having problems even getting the brass over the mandrel in the sizing die (mandrel has been polished). I completely understand that factory brass is going to be undersized, it was the same way with my 308 Lapua brass. However, this stuff is so damn tight that I can barely even seat a bullet with it...I have to put MORE pressure when seating a bullet than I do when sizing with a collet die...which just seems wrong. I've even tried using powdered mica and it barely helps.

Has anyone here had a similar experience with factory Lapua brass in 260? Are the necks supposed to be THAT tight? If you've had a similar experience, what did you do? I've even tried lubing the case necks before running it over the mandrel and they're still tighter than a stunt man's you-know-what. The cases I managed to slip over the mandrel are coming out at .2905 - .291, which is fine. Bullets are still slightly tougher to seat than I would prefer, but at least acceptable in comparison to the factory dimensions.

 

[bdubb]

I can't speak to your specific question, but most the new lapua 260 brass I got in has dinged up necks and will require a mandrel to get them straightening out anyways when the time comes to prep the cases. I can measure some necks this weekend and see if it might help determine if it is a lot difference with yours or something along those lines.

 

[BoilerUP]

Yes, exact same issue with virgin Lapua 260brass.

FL sizing solved the problem.

 

[afate45]

Yes, exact same issue with virgin Lapua 260brass.

FL sizing solved the problem.

Just curious...which FL sizing die did you use?

 

[mdmp5]

From my personal experience with 4 calibers of lapua brass, the necks and mouths are always fucked up. They are usually not ready to load. Great brass, but they need some neck/mouth work before doing so. Just run them through a neck sizer with the button in, then take out the button and size them with a stepped down size bushing for the desired neck diameter

 

[BoilerUP]

Just curious...which FL sizing die did you use?

Some Lee, some Forester, both worked very well.

 

[afate45]

Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Yes, same problem.

Sinclair's Gen 2 expander die was worth every penny. Buy the oversized mandrel for whatever caliber you need. It will bring neck ID to a uniform .263", regular turning mandrel will make it .262". Simple, inexpensive and won't induce runout like shoving an expander ball from a FL die through an undersized neck.

Just a suggestion.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I make my .260 brass from Winchester .243 and 7-08 brass. I run them through the Hornady New Dimension F/L die with the elliptical expander, and it just goes slicker 'n horse snot. All fears about donuts and such appear to have been baseless.

Remington brass works fine too, so long as the loads are kept reasonable.

Say, wasn't Lapua supposed to be the best/easiest brass?

Not so much anymore, eh?

Greg

 

[afate45]

Say, wasn't Lapua supposed to be the best/easiest brass?

Not so much anymore, eh?

Greg

Exactly my thought after buying $190 worth of Lapua 260 brass. My experiences with 308 Lapua brass was great...it lived up to all the hype. 260 is a totally different story. I'll take a look at the Hornady New Dimension F/L die. My Redding F/L die and Lee Collet die aren't making life any easier right now. If my memory serves me, I think the Lee F/L dies have a well designed expander that will expand the case mouth much easier than something like the Redding. I wonder how those compare to the Hornady...

Sinclair's Gen 2 expander die was worth every penny. Buy the oversized mandrel for whatever caliber you need. It will bring neck ID to a uniform .263", regular turning mandrel will make it .262".

Thanks for the advice RyeDaddy. I'm going to check out the Sinclair expander as well.

 

[jagged77]

Yep same problem with new Lapua .260 brass. Brand new it has very tight ID on the necks. I just opened up with an expander ball and then the Lee Collet Mandrel, still the Forster seater die was putting a ring on the ogive as it was still on the tight side. Once its been fired its all good with nice consistent neck tension on resizing, you just have to get through the first firing.