Thread: Primers?

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Another thing to consider Jan is which components to invest in for reloading the Creedmoor longer term.

Hornady factory brass is very soft compared to the Lapua small primer brass, and all the reports from around the world are that the factory brass will probably not make it past three or four or five reloads depending on how hot they are. A potential mistake some have made is to go and buy additional Hornady brass because of the cheaper price point, in order to make up a nice round number, when in the end it is a false economy because they end up having to bin it after a few reloads. It's a good idea to use what you've got for the time being but maybe consider buying something else when the brass starts to show signs of wear and tear.

If you are going down the reloading track and want to make the best of it I strongly recommend you look at stumping up the cash for some small primer brass, Lapua or Peterson. It is a lot stronger and there are some very informative test videos on YouTube that show just how much of a hammering it can take compared to large primer brass. 6.5 Guys test in particular, where they shot it 20 times in succession, with a hot load, with absolutely no change to the brass whatsoever.

I'm on my fifth reload of the Lapua now and the case head dimensions have not budged a fraction of a millimetre. After fireforming with the first use of the brass, I neck sized only for the next four reloads until I've got slightly stiff bolts on chambering, and then full length resized the whole batch. I have not yet annealed the brass and I do question in my mind whether it is going to be necessary. There has been no change to case length, so no trimming required.

Every batch delivers stonking downrange sub-MOA and tumbling goats and the odd red deer, with ease. 143gr ELD-X.

I am well aware that the small primer brass masks pressure signs but if you keep a close eye on the case heads you will notice ejector swipes and stamps just like any other brass which is telling you you're getting close, my experience is you don't get the stiff bolt quite as early as you do with softer large primer brass.

Thanks Dave,

Makes sense, smaller primer so the case should be structurally stronger.

I’ve got 100 pieces of brass that came from factory ammo I tried out. I ordered 140 ELD-M’s and Federal LR Match primers. I almost ordered some extra Hornady brass but did not in the end.

Once I have worked out a load with these once shot Hornady brass and then want to try Lapua brass and small primers, do I redo the whole process to work out a load with the new brass, or just back it down a grain or so and work it up in small increments from there?


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