Lapua 222 Brass Question

K

kchw7gsv

Guest
I am confused? I just received an order of Lapua 222 Remington Brass. This brass has a slightly smaller neck wall diameter than what I have been using for the last few years. The “new” brass mikes around .0111 to .0115. I neck-turn to .0114. Also, this “new” brass does not have the blue colored annealing marking?
Any enlightenment would be appreciated.
Kurt
 
you can email lapua direct and get answers in english.

mike in co
 
lapua 222 neck walls

Hi Kurt,
I spoke maybe a year or so ago with some people AT LAPUA & they're no longer producing & marketing it for ship to USA.
I forget how I got there, it was from info on this forum I'm sure.
Maybe things have changed since that time?
I am curious where you got it? & IF it's (new)old stock or new manufactured?
I've bought almost all I can get in the last year, until I feel I don't need to buy more; purchased from various ads on this board, old stock mostly, and I'm assuming it's all around .013" necks as is the current lot I've been using.
Good luck, I hope more posts come on here to help us both,
Steve Long.
 
Lapua 222 brass

I have been having trouble getting the gentlemen on the phone who sold me the Lapua brass. I have no complaints on the quality of the brass- it's just not going to work in my rifle. If I can't exchange it I will probably put it in the classified ads. (300 pieces)

I could not find an e-mail address for Lapua.

Kurt
 
the Lapua website has a "contact us" Tab. From that point you are e-mailing the company.

Wow!!! I just went to their site and that area is now under reconstruction?

Good Luck

Paul
 
Last edited:
222 Brass

Kurt, Did you order your brass from RPS? I ordered some on ~Aug 27th and still haven't got it yet. I've tried calling/e-mailing but no luck. I think someone responded that he was outta town.
Possum
 
Folks, I am back in the shop. I was out of town on what was supposed to be a one week trip which grew to 21 days... My apologies and I'll get back to everyone asap.
 
Kurt,

I have three full boxes(100each) and 29 pieces in another box.

Two boxes are unopened, however ALL pieces that I have seen appear to be annealed as usual.

All of my brass is OLDER stuff.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks Edwin D

Edwin D said:
Kurt,

I have three full boxes(100each) and 29 pieces in another box.

Two boxes are unopened, however ALL pieces that I have seen appear to be annealed as usual.

All of my brass is OLDER stuff.
Click to expand...

but I am presently sitting okay with .222 brass. Actually I am thinking of selling the brass that I have on hand.

Kurt
 
Lapua 222 Brass question

Kurt,
Several years ago Lapua modified the production lots of 223 Rem brass,by making thinner necks,and case walls to increase the volume size of the case. This "New" production of 223 Rem. brass has the word "Match" on the case head,along with Lapua 223 Rem.
Older lots of 223Rem. Lapua brass lacks the word "Match" on the case head,and has a smaller powder volume.
In the new match brass I can run 25.9 grs of V.V. N133 & 52gr. HP Barts Bullet,with Federal 205M primer. The velocity is 3480 FPS in a 24" Broughton barrel ( Standard rifling,with 1X14 twist)
However the older lots of 223 rem. Lapua brass has a maximum load of 25.3grs. of N133 & Barts 52 gr. HP.
The 25.9 gr N 133 load in older brass makes the bolt very sticky and unsafe.
This may be the case with the "New Thinner " 222. Rem Lapua brass that you have,in that it has a larger case volume. If you have a load that comes close to filling the older case,check it in the "New" brass, and see if the new brass has a larger capacity,or fills the case less.
If the new brass has a larger volume,you may be able to load it a little hotter,for a little more velocity.
The smaller diameter neck shouldn`t affect accuracy,as long as you have a smaller button to provide the same neck tension.
I know most folks try for an optimum .002" neck clearance in their chambers,but my 223 Rem. chamber is a "No Turn Neck" and I can`t tell the difference in accuracy between the thinner /"Match" brass, and the older thicker brass,as long as I use a smaller neck sizer button,to provide the same tension.
However the Higher velocities with the New match brass is better in our 200yd. "Club" matches. I also use V.V. N 133 in my 2 Heavy Varmint rifles chambered in 222 Rem & Barts 52gr HP bullets. I know it`s blasphemy to use N133 in the "Duece" :eek: instead of H4198,but I get better velocities,and better standard Deviations as well, using it.
Check the volume,and see if the powder comes up in the case neck as far, in the new brass.You may be able to get a little higher velocities,if the volume is greater. Please work up slowly to the loads I`ve listed above for the 223 Rem.,as they are safe ONLY in my rifle,and may not be in someone elses. Email me privately if you want more info on N133 & the 222 Rem. loads.
Mike Kerwood/Kodiak Alaska :D
 
Thanks Michael

michael kerwood said:
Kurt,
Several years ago Lapua modified the production lots of 223 Rem brass,by making thinner necks,and case walls to increase the volume size of the case. This "New" production of 223 Rem. brass has the word "Match" on the case head,along with Lapua 223 Rem.
Older lots of 223Rem. Lapua brass lacks the word "Match" on the case head,and has a smaller powder volume.
In the new match brass I can run 25.9 grs of V.V. N133 & 52gr. HP Barts Bullet,with Federal 205M primer. The velocity is 3480 FPS in a 24" Broughton barrel ( Standard rifling,with 1X14 twist)
However the older lots of 223 rem. Lapua brass has a maximum load of 25.3grs. of N133 & Barts 52 gr. HP.
The 25.9 gr N 133 load in older brass makes the bolt very sticky and unsafe.
This may be the case with the "New Thinner " 222. Rem Lapua brass that you have,in that it has a larger case volume. If you have a load that comes close to filling the older case,check it in the "New" brass, and see if the new brass has a larger capacity,or fills the case less.
If the new brass has a larger volume,you may be able to load it a little hotter,for a little more velocity.
The smaller diameter neck shouldn`t affect accuracy,as long as you have a smaller button to provide the same neck tension.
I know most folks try for an optimum .002" neck clearance in their chambers,but my 223 Rem. chamber is a "No Turn Neck" and I can`t tell the difference in accuracy between the thinner /"Match" brass, and the older thicker brass,as long as I use a smaller neck sizer button,to provide the same tension.
However the Higher velocities with the New match brass is better in our 200yd. "Club" matches. I also use V.V. N 133 in my 2 Heavy Varmint rifles chambered in 222 Rem & Barts 52gr HP bullets. I know it`s blasphemy to use N133 in the "Duece" :eek: instead of H4198,but I get better velocities,and better standard Deviations as well, using it.
Check the volume,and see if the powder comes up in the case neck as far, in the new brass.You may be able to get a little higher velocities,if the volume is greater. Please work up slowly to the loads I`ve listed above for the 223 Rem.,as they are safe ONLY in my rifle,and may not be in someone elses. Email me privately if you want more info on N133 & the 222 Rem. loads.
Mike Kerwood/Kodiak Alaska :D
Click to expand...

I will check my 222 Lapua brass and see if it is indeed the larger volume case.

I shoot the "old" thicker Lapua brass in my 223. I have used n-133 in the 222 & 223. I will get back to you.

Later

Kurt
 
Lapua 222 Brass question

Kurt,
One thing I forgot to mention when checking case volume. You`ll have to compare "Unfired" or "Fired" brass,when doing the comparison. If you use an Unfired case it will of course have less volume,until it`s fired a few times,and fits your chamber completely. I don`t know if you have any of the older 222 Rem. Lapua brass that`s "Unfired",to compare against the "New lot "of brass from RPS unfired. That would the best to use for the comparison. I simply re-prime the unfired brass with a used primer,especially if your going to use water as a medium,and then weigh the difference between the two lots. When fireforming new brass I always seem to have to back off the load slightly,especially if I`m running a near maximum load. Once fireformed,the case is stretched out to fit the chamber,and the volume has been increased. Then I can run my maximum loads for that cartridge. You could fire the new brass from RPS,say a five shot group,and also compare the accuracy using the smaller neck sizing button, for the thinner necks, for same neck tension.
I know you probably aware of this:cool:,but thought I should mention it,for an accurate comparison. Thanks, Mike Kerwood :D
 
222

All this jibber jabber about the 222 has gotten me thinking... Just how hard is it to get a 222 shooting well. I've had one for a number of years and I've never even touched it.

Adrian
 
Adrian,
It`s about as hard to make accurate as a 6 PPC. The beauty of it, is that you don`t have to make brass out of 220 Russian cases. The only reason it lost it`s popularity is the 200 yard stage of making it group as well in the wind. It takes more wind reading skill to keep the 52gr. bullets in the same hole,at 200 yards,and further. I`ve never found a "Duece" that I didn`t like,and I own 2 Heavy Varmint rifles chambered in it. Try the following loads,in Lapua brass,and 52gr Barts or Sierra Bullets,and Federal 205M primers: 20.5 grs H4198 for 3229 FPS, 24.2grs H335 for 3238 FPS,25.3grs. BLC-2 for 3206 FPS ,and lastly 22.5 grs V.V. N133 for 3200 FPS. I`ve gone up higher with N133,but the 22.5 grs is a great starting point. Please work up to these load in your rifle,as they were safe only in my 2 guns. None of these loads are really hot,but I`ve got to give you the standard warning ;) The world record of .009" group size at 100 yards still stands in Benchrest History as the smallest group shot in a record match. It was done with a 222 rem.,although controversial,it still stands as the record group. The 22 PPC & 22 PPC short have inherit accuracy,but they are running around 3,500 FPS. They also take more time to form the brass. Have Fun,Mike Kerwood, Kodiak Alaska
 
Lapua 222 Brass question

Hi Folks,
Just got an e-mail from Joe Ponto at RPS International. He informs me that Lapua says all the 222 Rem. brass he has in in fact annealed. It`s from older production runs,as Lapua hasn`t made any recenlty. However Lapua is going to be making 222 Rem again. It may have a thinner neck,but if your going to turn necks, like I do, then it shouldn`t be a problem. My rifles have .245" & .246" chambers. Joe`s back in the shop and answering e-mails promptly,or go to www.rpsinterntional.com or call him at (780) 962-3395.
Also my earlier post about the 223 Rem. "Match" on the case head,applies only to 223 Rem. Brass, with thinner necks. The word "Match" has only been found on that caliber only,not 222 Rem. Mike Kerwood, Kodiak Alaska
 
Some weeks ago ....

.....there was a post about that.009 record. Something tells me it may not have been a.222 but a modified version.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top