Lapua 6.5/284 brass - what's the current state of play?

johnk · Post by **johnk** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:08 pm

Over the last year or so, there were a number of negative comments about newer Lapua brass being soft & subject to loosening primer pockets. Has that resolved itself or are shooters using other brass brands in their 6½s & 7s?

I plan to use that case for my next project.

Thanks, John

DaveMc · Post by **DaveMc** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 7:24 am

Hi John, last batch of lapua looks good - no
Measurable case head expansion at " normal" 284 loads.. Ask Marty about his last batch of Winchester. - not so pretty

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 9:29 am

The CEO of Lapua in the USA has stated that Lapua will make straight 284W brass, possibly shipping late this year or early next year. It seems lapua has had many requests as the 284W has gained in popularity over the 284x6.5 case. The sooner this happens the better as far as I'm concerned!

Ian

Brad Y · Post by **Brad Y** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:29 pm

Dave I assume normal is running the mid 2800's with 180s?

DaveMc · Post by **DaveMc** » Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:21 am

Yes Brad 2800-2840 fps (51-51.5 gr 2209 or 54.5-55 gr 2213) - and it seems soft case heads are not limited to any one company but maybe just some bad batches. With the 284 in particular this may still be within their specs but even at light pressure loads the 284 puts considerable force on the small case head.

johnk · Post by **johnk** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:47 pm

OK, looks like I got bit in the bum. I picked up some Lapua from the Q store (Lot P00620601) & I can't expand it up to .30 without the shoulder taper turning concave & the case shortening .005-.008".

I've use Ideal wax, anhydrous lanolin & caster oil mix & STP as a lube. I've pushed them out to 7 mm first then on to .30 or straight up to .30 with my K & M 6mm-30 expander & they all turn out the same.

I've spoken to Paul Janszo & Andrew Pearce, both of whom have run .30/284s & neither have had this issue. Stuart Elliott was even kind enough to grab a case or two he had lying about & expanded up in one step using STP & Ideal with no issues.

Do you reckon I have some of the crappy brass ot am I missing something here?

John

DenisA · Post by **DenisA** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:04 pm

John, P00620601 was one of the batch numbers that many of us felt were too soft.

It would be interesting to know Daves and Stuarts batch numbers that seem to be O.K.

Matt P · Post by **Matt P** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:51 pm

John
Why not just go 30-06, less f@#$&^g around, same case capacity and no 284 brass.
Matt P

johnk · Post by **johnk** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 8:08 am

Matt P wrote:John
Why not just go 30-06P

Too long for my action.

KHGS · Post by **KHGS** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:28 pm

Hmm, do you mean that your action is too short because you can't eject a loaded round? The action in use really only needs to be able to eject a fired case.
Keith H.

macguru · Post by **macguru** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:06 pm

Plenty of people have to remove the bolt to extract a loaded round, but you dont have to do that very often . Because I am starting from scratch, my 280AI is being built on a pierce long action single shot ......

johnk · Post by **johnk** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:27 am

Folks,

I'm inclined to reply to gratuitous, "You bought a Holden? Shoulda picked Falcon", comments with flippant replies, but, in this case, because of far more reasons than have been discussed here, I chose this particular calibre. I did consider the 06, in natural & Ackley form but it didn't match the criteria as well as this calibre. I did consider a number of other options rather than use the action I have, but decided not to change.

cheers, John

KHGS · Post by **KHGS** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:46 am

John, I am sorry you saw my post as "gratuitous". I was merely interested as to why your action was not suitable for the longer '06 family of cartridges, so I may be able to offer a useful suggestion. At no time did I suggest you change your action or caliber. However sometimes a change in direction may be required to achieve ones end goal. If you voice a "problem" on a forum, forum contributors will assume you are looking for a solution, not all "solutions" will be helpful.
Keith H.

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 9:52 pm

johnk wrote:Folks,

I'm inclined to reply to gratuitous, "You bought a Holden? Shoulda picked Falcon", comments with flippant replies, but, in this case, because of far more reasons than have been discussed here, I chose this particular calibre. I did consider the 06, in natural & Ackley form but it didn't match the criteria as well as this calibre. I did consider a number of other options rather than use the action I have, but decided not to change.

cheers, John

John, what action are you going to be using the 30-284 in? I have decided to try a 30-06 AI in my Barnard SM over the 30-284 because of the head expansion problems with the Lapua 284W brass. Lapua brass is available for the 30-06 and it doesn't have a rebated head like the 284W. I have not come across reports of head expansion using it.

I have quite a few boxes of 185-200gr hybrids and a couple of heavy palma barrels laying around that would be perfect to use in the 30-06 AI and be competitive out to mid range in F-Open. Dies and reamers are readily available so I'm set to try another blast from the past.

Ian

johnk · Post by **johnk** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 8:50 am

First up, apologies to all for my dummy spit. When you've spent two & a half hundred bucks on brass that should have been recalled, You're inclined to be a bit testy.

I shoot Millenniums & I really did consider the 06 case, but after watching a friend jam 280 Ackleys loading in a far more open action, I figured that the case was a bit problematic. Apart from that, I was able to source Wilson gear immediately for this calibre etc etc.