09-23-2022, 10:57 PM
Stone,
I have seen flatter primers from hotter loads, yet those primers look normal. Maybe a bit flat, but not seamless to the case or cratered.
The blow-out hole is right at the thickest part of the case/web. Not forward where it thins out so it's either a manufacturer fault, or it was almost in battery - supported everywhere else except the base.
I'll say it again, I've never heard (until now, from one person) of any concerns with Lapua cases. Lapua is universally believed to be the best brass available in the world for civilian competition. I have used it for years and so have my fellow competitors.
As for prepping any brass including Lapua for first firing: I throw a few into a rifle gauge to check headspace, then size them all so the bullet will be held by the same tension. I also put a slight bevel on the mouth with a hand reamer. But that is it, no baby loads to start, and nor should this be necessary - unless you have a out of spec chamber. SAAMI permits brass to be as short as 1.213" (base to datum line on shoulder), and chambers to be as long as 1.2301". That means SAAMI is comfortable with up to 0.0171" case stretch for at least one shot. No doubt there's a bit of safety margin built into that figure as well.
I would measure a few non-split spent cases with those loaded/unfired rounds to see what the stretch is in your chamber. How do they compare against SAAMI's 0.0171" max? Lapua brass ought to take this 0.0171 stretch, and a little more for safety.
I have seen flatter primers from hotter loads, yet those primers look normal. Maybe a bit flat, but not seamless to the case or cratered.
The blow-out hole is right at the thickest part of the case/web. Not forward where it thins out so it's either a manufacturer fault, or it was almost in battery - supported everywhere else except the base.
I'll say it again, I've never heard (until now, from one person) of any concerns with Lapua cases. Lapua is universally believed to be the best brass available in the world for civilian competition. I have used it for years and so have my fellow competitors.
As for prepping any brass including Lapua for first firing: I throw a few into a rifle gauge to check headspace, then size them all so the bullet will be held by the same tension. I also put a slight bevel on the mouth with a hand reamer. But that is it, no baby loads to start, and nor should this be necessary - unless you have a out of spec chamber. SAAMI permits brass to be as short as 1.213" (base to datum line on shoulder), and chambers to be as long as 1.2301". That means SAAMI is comfortable with up to 0.0171" case stretch for at least one shot. No doubt there's a bit of safety margin built into that figure as well.
I would measure a few non-split spent cases with those loaded/unfired rounds to see what the stretch is in your chamber. How do they compare against SAAMI's 0.0171" max? Lapua brass ought to take this 0.0171 stretch, and a little more for safety.