PSA - Hornady 6.5CM reloading brass primer pockets

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

I recently reloaded 75 rounds from once fired HOrnday reloading brass (i.e. it wasn't factory loaded ammo first) and I noticed several pieces had large primer pockets where the primers seated with no effort at all and two where the primers were lose. They all went in the bin but for you progressive reloaders, watch out. I'm lucky I only use a Co-Ax or else I might have missed them.

Good luck.

 

[GreenBlood10]

Thanks. Just bought 2 boxes of Hornady 6.5CM brass to reload. I'll keep an eye on the primer pockets on the next reload.

 

[Supersubes]

Im confused, sorry. You bought it as virgin, and on the second loading you noticed the big pockets? Or you aquired once fired. If you loaded them virgin, post your load specs, velocity, and barrel length. Hornady isn't known for being very robust in the area of the primer pocket.

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

42.5gr. H4350. 22" barrel. 140gr amax. Load given to me via the barrel node method. Don't have the mv I'm afraid.

 

[canezach]

While Hornady isn't exactly Lapua or Alpha, 42.5 grains isn't what I'd consider an atomic load that would blow out primer pockets in one firing or even two. I'd guess your MV would be in the mid 2700s with your barrel length. How was the resistance the first time you seated primers?

 

[BRU15]

While Hornady isn't exactly Lapua or Alpha, 42.5 grains isn't what I'd consider an atomic load that would blow out primer pockets in one firing or even two. I'd guess your MV would be in the mid 2700s with your barrel length. How was the resistance the first time you seated primers?

42.5gr H4350 w/ 140gr AMAX is a pretty hot load, maybe not on the ragged edge but it is 1.6gr over Hornady's published max, I've had 5 6.5 Creedmoor barrels at this point and by 42.5gr primers are starting to flatten and ejector marks are showing up. Obviously all barrels are different but if I were the OP I would look for a lower accuracy node and see if I have the same issue.

I've found that Hornady brass can not stand up to loads on the upper end of the spectrum for more than a couple firings. Which is part of the reason why I started making 6.5 brass out of LC LR 308 in hopes that it will hold up better.

 

[Kadams1563]

What primers are you using?

I am using WLR and on the second firing of Hornady brass I had two primers just fall out in my loading box.

First time I thought it was just a fluke but it happened with a different piece of brass the next time out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[canezach]

42.5gr H4350 w/ 140gr AMAX is a pretty hot load, maybe not on the ragged edge but it is 1.6gr over Hornady's published max, I've had 5 6.5 Creedmoor barrels at this point and by 42.5gr primers are starting to flatten and ejector marks are showing up. Obviously all barrels are different but if I were the OP I would look for a lower accuracy node and see if I have the same issue.

I've found that Hornady brass can not stand up to loads on the upper end of the spectrum for more than a couple firings. Which is part of the reason why I started making 6.5 brass out of LC LR 308 in hopes that it will hold up better.

I realize it's over book max and yes, all barrels are different, but he's in a very well documented node, which is why I asked about his resistance when originally seating. Even over book max AND with Hornady brass, it's not like he's using a nuclear load and I'm hoping OP would've noticed any signs of pressure on his first loading and mentioned it here. If he had pressure signs on the first load and either failed to look for them, notice them, or mention them, that's one thing. It would be disturbing and unsafe, but it would at least explain how 2 firings could possibly compromise a primer pocket in a node that offers most people 5, 6, or more firings

Edit: On a load that showed no previous pressure signs, I'd be hard pressed to say it was over pressure to the point that a pocket would fail in 2 firings, unless there was something wrong with the brass beforehand. Possible bad batch?

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

I'm using CCI large rifle. I've never had pockets this bad before. I've had diffetent levels resistance but not complete give out like this. I've used Hornady brass and this primer combo for a number of years.

 

[Supersubes]

Time to give the Lapua brass a try. The pockets are indestructable.

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

Do you have a view on Norma brass? I use Norma 7.5x55 for my K31 and they're fantastic. Very long life with no annealing and FL sizing for each reload.

 

[Supersubes]

The lapua is still cheaper than norma generally. The small primer and small flash hole(and lapuas alloy), just put it in another league with regard to strength, just like the 6.5x47.

 

[canezach]

Do you have a view on Norma brass? I use Norma 7.5x55 for my K31 and they're fantastic. Very long life with no annealing and FL sizing for each reload.

I've never used Norma stamped brass, but I have reloaded Prime, which is made by RUAG, which makes Norma, so the brass should be comparable. Prime brass is fairly stout. I have several hundred pieces of Prime brass that are on their third or fourth firing and the primer pockets are still tight. You can also find 1x fired brass for about $0.50 to $0.60 a piece. It has a slightly lower case capacity, so you'll need to back off your Hornady load, but I would highly recommend you give it a try.

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

The lapua is still cheaper than norma generally. The small primer and small flash hole(and lapuas alloy), just put it in another league with regard to strength, just like the 6.5x47.

Do I understand this correctly? Norma and Lapua use only small rifle primer?

UPDATE: spoke to the Sierra reloading hotline folks and they said Norma uses large rifle primers and Lapua uses Small rifle primers. I ain't got no small rifle, but I have TONS of large rifle...

 

[canezach]

Lapua is the only producer of brass, aside from homemade converted brass, that uses a small rifle primer. Prime, Hornady, Alpha, Norma, etc are all large rifle

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

I"m wondering if it's worth making the switch to Lapua.

What's the market for trading large primers for small? Worthwhile?

I'd assume a .5gr reduction in the load to 42gn of H4350 given the thicker case capacity. In a 22" barrel what do you think the change in MV would be? Right now, I get to 1K with 9.7MILS of elevation where I am.

 

[Kyskeet]

My previous 6.5 creed.
With Hornady brass Load was 42.3g H4350, 142g SMK, win large rifle primer and getting 2750fps
new load with Lapua is 42.1g H4350, 142g SMK, CCI BR4 small rifle primer and still 2750fps

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

My previous 6.5 creed.
With Hornady brass Load was 42.3g H4350, 142g SMK, win large rifle primer and getting 2750fps
new load with Lapua is 42.1g H4350, 142g SMK, CCI BR4 small rifle primer and still 2750fps

Thanks!

 

[MtnCreek]

What's the market for trading large primers for small? Worthwhile?

Due to buying what was available during the shortages, I have a few thousand small rifle primers that I don't care to use in 223 autoloaders, but would be great primers for a bolt rifle. I'm probably not the only one. I bet it's worth asking around at your range or gun shop.

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

Due to buying what was available during the shortages, I have a few thousand small rifle primers that I don't care to use in 223 autoloaders, but would be great primers for a bolt rifle. I'm probably not the only one. I bet it's worth asking around at your range or gun shop.

Thanks Mtn. Ferreting around in the reloading room I came across 5K of small rifle primers. I too panic bought when there was drought on primers. I'm going to get a batch of papua's and see how they do. I've a little over 400 cases of Hornady left so in case the Lapua experiment fails I've got those to fall back on.

Now to find the node for the Lapua brass.

Anyone know the internal capacity of the Lapua 6.5CM brass? It's all on backorder so I can't get my hands on any...

 

[Darkside-Six]

I don't think that 42.5 is necessarily too hot of a load. my load was 42.3 H4250 with 140 Hybrids and I was only pushing 2775. Hornady's published max load is always very low and conservative. I've loaded up to 43.2 before I started getting pressure signs.

OP when you say that 42.5 was the node given to you.......did you buy this gun and the owner gave you load data or did someone just tell you to run with 42.5 because you have a 22" barrel?
if the brass was given to you, are you sure that it was once fired? Hornady brass is good brass and I used it for years without too many issues. from my experience loading my load of 43.3 grains, I could get through 4-5 firings before I would get the occasional loose primer pockets.

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

The node was calculated by Josh at PVA and he built the rifle for me (with me as i got to cut some threads as well). The accuracy confirmed the node.

I bought the brass new myself. Like you, I'm a long-time user of Hornady and usually on the 5th reload the necks lose their tension (i used to just neck size as i have one 6.5CM). This is first time I've seen a failure rate on once fired brass in pockets. I wish i had the brass boxes to see if there was some lot numbers to determine some implicstions of a bad lot.

 

[digrazir]

I use Lapua brass for everything but the 6.5 Creedmoor, which I use Nosler brass. I don't feel as if I am loosing anything using the Nosler brass. Ray

 

[Darkside-Six]

The node was calculated by Josh at PVA and he built the rifle for me (with me as i got to cut some threads as well). The accuracy confirmed the node.

I bought the brass new myself. Like you, I'm a long-time user of Hornady and usually on the 5th reload the necks lose their tension (i used to just neck size as i have one 6.5CM). This is first time I've seen a failure rate on once fired brass in pockets. I wish i had the brass boxes to see if there was some lot numbers to determine some implicstions of a bad lot.

Ive been hearing from other people that some of the newer Hornady brass has been inconsistent and maybe a little weeker. not sure if they're just loosening their QC to meet demand or what.

 

[Supersubes]

I"m wondering if it's worth making the switch to Lapua.

What's the market for trading large primers for small? Worthwhile?

I'd assume a .5gr reduction in the load to 42gn of H4350 given the thicker case capacity. In a 22" barrel what do you think the change in MV would be? Right now, I get to 1K with 9.7MILS of elevation where I am.

Primers are cheap, i wouldnt worry about that.

Search for lapua 6.5cm threads. Myself and a few others contributed to one in particular that has all dimensional/capacity/load data. Lapua has slightly smaller capacity, but it's also vastly stronger. You could back it off .5 grain which would put you essentially right where you are with the hornady. Or you could stick with it and you'll be going a bit faster. Probably best to take Joshes calculated node, and load up a small ocw test to confirm it in your gun.

My issue with the hornady is the neck wall thickness variations. It shoots good, amazingly. The batches ive had frankly had the worst neck runout ive ever seen in any brass ive used, regardless of cartridge. No matter, the lapua is in another league.

 

[APintOfGuinnessPlease!]

Thank you gents. I'm glad to have given a heads up on the primer pockets even if already known to some and gotten a lot of info in return. Many thanks!

 

[BallisticSam]

I just finished loading some "6.5Creedmoor" with New Hornady brass using Fed. 210 primers for 20 rounds on my LNL AP and noticed the primers were hard to seat and didn't seat all the way...some did...some didn't. Then I went to CCI 200 and the other 80 rounds had no problems seating. But I did have one round end up in the tray that didn't have a primer....but also didn't find one in the tray either so I don't know what happened. 140gr Hrdy BTHP with 43.0gr. of Superformance. NO i haven't shot them yet....need a scope. I will be trying other brass.