Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Lapua 260 brass is thicker than my necked down 308 brass

Just didn't see that coming.

Neck thickness wise

Lapua = .014-.0145

Resized Winchester brass = .0125-.0135

Yes, for whatever reason the Lapua 260 brass necks are ridiculously thick. GA Precision is using a special reamer for those planning on running Lapua brass without turning the necks. I don't think there's any explanation, just strange.

Heck I was worried about high pressures from my necked down 308 brass,
But not so much any more.

Thats why there are stories going around about certain 260 data being hot or blowing primers. People are using different primers or brass from what was tested with the loads and then they get problems and blame it on the data.

For starting out with the .260, which brass do you recommend? The Remington stuff is pretty cheap but the Lapua and Nosler I've looked at are $1 or more per case. This will be for hunting and practice, not competition. I use Winchester brass for .30-06 but apparently they don't make .260. Thanks.

I have done fine in the past with Remington 260 cases, I bought some Lapua for the new 260 coming so will see how it compares.

I necked down .260 Lapua for my Souper and had to neck-turn them to fit in a .289 neck. I can neck down 7-08 RP brass and it only comes out to .286 on a loaded round. A primed Lapua case weighs 179 gr, vs. 164 for a primed RP, and 161 for a WW. They're thick.

I like win brass and happened to have a lot of 308 brass so I used it.

I'm a fan of running the Lapua brass in my factory-chambered rifles to help take up some of the "slop"

Won't work in my GAP rifles.

I like necking down due to the excess neck space, but I try to keep a eye on it anyway.

I use both Lapua and Remington, as well as LC Match necked down and turned. My MGM 17" Encore barrel shows a distinct dislike of the LCM compared to the Rem. or Lapua brass. Loads with Lapua or Rem. will shot honest 1/2 MOA out to 300 yds - LCM is 2 MOA at best. But the Ruger M77 likes the LCM just fine. The Lapua and Rem. shoot better in the Ruger, but not by a huge margin.

So you don't think the difference between Lapua and Remington reflects the 2x price difference? I'm sure the pricey ones are better but I just hope to get good results with Rem.

generally, case life is the main advantage of the higher priced Lapua. You can replicate the quality by tweeking the Remingtons a little bit with deburring, correct trimming, flash hole deburring, etc.

the Remington brass has been terrific in mine.

FWIW, 30-06 Lapua brass is the same thickness, about 0.014 to 0.0145. I wouldn't call that ridiculously thick, I consider it perfect. If you don't neck turn it will be about 0.336, maybe a bit tight for a 0.337 neck match reamer, but will still fit. But most 30-06s don't have a 0.337 neck--most are more like 0.340.

Just outside neck turn to 0.013. An added benefit is you'll see smaller standard deviations through your chrono, and fewer fliers.

Or just watch TV and get drunk at night. Whichever.

Well, it looks like all the online places are out of Remington brass in .260. I could just run down to my local store and get 7mm-08 or .243 brass and put it through the .260 sizing die. Is that all that's involved, just lube the brass and run it through, or would I need to turn the necks? Which of the 2 calibers is easier to resize for .260? They are both a lot easier to find.

ETA: I have never necked cases up or down. I'm still a rookie reloader.

Necking down a 7-08's probably the easiest. I lubed the necks and squished 'em down to a .286 with no problems. Necking up a .243 can give you a neck/shoulder donut that you might have to ream out, don't need the hassle.

Necking down allows the formation of a false shoulder for optimized minimum headspace clearance from the get go.

I've never turned necks before. Are you saying I need to get one of those neck turning tools and do that step after going through the .260 die?

I doubt you'll need to turn the necks if you use 7-08 brass by Remington, or Winchester. I necked mine down for a smaller .257 cartridge, and I have roughly .003 of clearance. About ideal, actually.