03-06-2016, 05:23 AM
Finally, I ran across something completely unexpected. While testing, I attempted to test factory Alexander Arms loads built with Lapua brass. While they chambered and fired just fine, they would not extract. After repeated examples, using AA loads from the past 5-6 years and including multiple different bullets, I realized it must be the Lapua brass. It appears that the Lapua brass is simply a few thousandths smaller than Hornady brass. It will thus slide very slightly more into the chamber, thus the extractor will not grab the rim for extraction.
I am not 100% sure that this is the cause, but it is the only plausible explanation for the phenomena that I can deduce.
On arrival home and after cleaning the rifle, I very carefully tried multiple different lots of Hornady factory loads, and it all chambered and extracted 100% of the time. I then tried hand loads built with Hornady brass and had 100% success.
At point, I tried Wolf Gold MPT ammo and found that it extracts about 50% of the time. If the rifle is tilted back, the ammo falls out easily.
I then retried each load of Lapua/Alexander Arms factory ammunition I had. Not a single one would extract, but each will fall from the chamber when the rifle is tilted 30-45 degrees.
I have contacted Matt and he is already working on the solution to the problem. I suspect that the only available factory ammunition used for testing has been Hornady and that the rifle was carefully set up to that ammunition. As members of the forum are aware, new Lapua brass tends to run small. I have typically resized my Lapua brass back to factory dimensions as closely as possible. I will now leave it slightly larger, and see if that resolves the issue.
Matt at LSI has been incredibly supportive and helpful, and once this was discovered, he has been in touch with Bill Alexander to discuss what might be the issue.
I will continue to update this as I receive information.
I am not 100% sure that this is the cause, but it is the only plausible explanation for the phenomena that I can deduce.
On arrival home and after cleaning the rifle, I very carefully tried multiple different lots of Hornady factory loads, and it all chambered and extracted 100% of the time. I then tried hand loads built with Hornady brass and had 100% success.
At point, I tried Wolf Gold MPT ammo and found that it extracts about 50% of the time. If the rifle is tilted back, the ammo falls out easily.
I then retried each load of Lapua/Alexander Arms factory ammunition I had. Not a single one would extract, but each will fall from the chamber when the rifle is tilted 30-45 degrees.
I have contacted Matt and he is already working on the solution to the problem. I suspect that the only available factory ammunition used for testing has been Hornady and that the rifle was carefully set up to that ammunition. As members of the forum are aware, new Lapua brass tends to run small. I have typically resized my Lapua brass back to factory dimensions as closely as possible. I will now leave it slightly larger, and see if that resolves the issue.
Matt at LSI has been incredibly supportive and helpful, and once this was discovered, he has been in touch with Bill Alexander to discuss what might be the issue.
I will continue to update this as I receive information.
You seek escape from pain. We seek the achievement of happiness. You exist for the sake of avoiding punishment. We exist for the sake of earning rewards. Threats will not make us function; fear is not our incentive. It is not death that we wish to avoid, but life that we wish to live. - John Galt