Lapua. 308 Palma Brass

[DannyS]

Mmm, so if thats the case, should users of. 220 Russian/PPCs, BRs and 6.5x47mm Lapua also open up the size of the flash holes?

[Barry Davies]

Care needed when opening up flash holes as this will increase load on primer cup and could cause cratering or flow of primer cup.
My mistake in post above I thought flash holes were same diameter for small and large primers-- they are not.
Barry

[Matt P]

I would suggest leaving the flash holes as they are, they are like that for a reason and it's not to open them up !!! Theroy has it that the small flash hole causes the "flame" from the primer to be funnelled into the powder column to create a more complete, consistant burn, I have tried the Palma brass using several types of primers and have gone back to LR brass as the results just weren't there for me. I think John may have good results due to using 2206.

Matt P
PS John got any 2206 you want to sell ????

[OuttaAmmo]

Mmm, so if thats the case, should users of. 220 Russian/PPCs, BRs and 6.5x47mm Lapua also open up the size of the flash holes?

I was under the impression that's what they all do, and that's why BRT sell the k&m tool.
I use a 6.5x47. It only comes with SR primer pocket and small flash hole.

Given the option,(308), you can only try the two different types of brass and see where you end up.

[DannyS]

As you say Matt, there is a reason why the flash holes are the size they are, and I'm not about going to change them. My 6br cases come with the small flash hole and my Wilson 6br dies have the small decapper, therefore they are obviously meant to be that way.

I can only presume that the. 308 Palma cases are designed in the same manner.

[DannyS]

Hi Barry, Large Rifle primers have a 2mm (0.080) flash hole as do Small Rifle primers normally ie such as the. 223.

Palma brass has a 1.5mm (0.059) flash hole in common with the 6mm PPC, 6mm BR and its derivatives and the 6.5x47 Lapua.

I think Matt has explained the reason pretty well.

Cheers
Danny

[DannyS]

G'Day OutttaAmmo,

Re flash hole reaming, I did a check of Sinclair flash hole reamers. They come in 2 sizes (I don't know about K&M) 1 will do small flash holes will enlarge to. 0625 and the other for large flash holes will do to. 081.

I don't think they are necessarily designed to enlarge small flash holes to large ones, however, I could well be out of my depth here and treading water. Hopefully there are no crocs about.

I'm happy to be corrected.

Cheers

[Barry Davies]

My logic says that considering the 308 = large primer , large flash hole and the 223 has small primer ,large flash hole, then why cannot anything inbetween that has a small flash hole be opened up to large flash hole?
Barry

[OuttaAmmo]

Hi Danny,
Yeah the flash hole tools are just taking a minimal amount to make them uniform and mostly are for demurring the inside of the flash hole.

I don't think you are supposed to make the small flash hole into a large one.
Apologies if anyone thought this was what I meant.

Barry, I'm thinking that flash hole sizes have to be relative ( correct ratio to an extent) to primer size. Otherwise bad things might happen.

Cheers
Casey

[DannyS]

Barry, your logic is probably right and I don't see anything unsafe in doing it. My point was more, if the palma case belongs to a family of similar cases all with small flash holes and those other cases are recognised as very accurate calibres, then there is a reason for the small flash hole and we probably shouldn't change it.

[trxdick]

I was interested in this topic and did a google search and found this info from the Lapua website:

"To achieve their ultimate in accuracy potential, Lapua’s .308 Winchester Palma cases utilize the same small diameter flash hole found in our .220 Russian and 6mm BR match cases. For proper depriming, the decapping pins in many makes of reloading dies should be replaced with the smaller diameter pins intended for the .220 Russian/PPC or Lapua 6mm BR cases. Failure to do so may result in sticking the decapping pins or damaging the flash holes."

This is from the last paragraph from the brochure re' .308W palma case found at:
http://www.lapua.com/upload/downloads/b ... se2010.pdf

Cheers,
trxdick

[DaveMc]

In our experience (and many others) with some other calibers the small primer, small flashole works really well with fast powders e.g. 2208 and up. As you get into 2209 and slower a bit more power is required and the large primer or magnum small rifle and/or opening up flashole helps with ignition and velocity variation. 2208 seems to work well with both LR and SR.

This seems to hold true for 6PPC, 6BR, 6-6.5x47 especially in cold climates.

Considering the "PALMA" brass was designed for long range 155 class bullets I would suggest Lapua are aiming at low velocity spread with the faster powders too! and perhaps with a few of the faster Vihtavouri powders they observed better velocity spread?? Velocity spread is probably not as big a concern for 6PPC shooters as 1000 yard PALMA shooters though!

[Quick]

Does the Palma brass has any difference in case capacity then the normal Lapua 308 brass?

Do many people find they have to rework their loads?

[DannyS]

Hi Quick, case capacity is the same, however, some re-working of the load is apparently necessary

[Tman]

I will be using the Lapua brass shortly, but the 308 Winchester, instead of the 308 Palma, the 308 Winchester suited to the CCi BR2 primer.

Looking to load HBC 155s, Lapua 308 winchester brass, CCI BR2 and 46grs of 2208. I will let you know how I go.