I had a partial case head separation using a 1.8oz buffer

[LRRPF52]

Every single one of those cases has case taper moving down to the web. The farthest on the right was not sectioned and cleaned-up the same way the others were too, if you look closely.

Why would someone go to all the trouble to section 2 samples of each case type, clean the Lapua and Starline up, but then leave the Hornady ragged on the cuts?

The answer continues to be "send me your unsafe Lapua brass", which is a misguiding quip; because it indicates to someone with a random-brand Grendel barrel and random bolt, that Lapua is the endorsed brass they should be buying - where I contend - it is not. It is the brass someone with a quality Alexander arms; BFT Team-Monster, or other known good barrel, should be buying. My own philosophy of safety is to buy and endorse components forgiving of other system and operation failures; if there is no detriment to doing so - and in particular to those less experienced. This passion for safety has been the source of my saying of the unpopular; not a drive To Be Right.

Nobody said "send me your unsafe Lapua brass", because we know it’s safe.

A firearm with excess headspace will cause problems with all of the brass run through it over time. Remember how he had failure to fire/failure to activate primer already, with difficulty extracting that cartridge.

I have never had a failure to activate a primer with any 6.5 Grendel I have owned or tested.

Excessive headspace is a problem, regardless who the manufacturer is. It’s not a special condition for a firearm that only more experienced shooters know how to handle and deal with.

The corrective action is the same for anyone, layman or reloaders with decades of experience: The firearm must be repaired or replaced before shooting anymore.

One way to put this to bed is to see what the headspace is on other ammuntion’s fired brass from that bolt/barrel combo.