30-06 to 280ai

[bingo1010]

i am wanting to use lapua brass for my 280ai rig and the only thing that fits the bill is the 30-06. the question is when reforming this brass to 280 ai the new neck ends up quite short.....is there any eveidence out there to show that the shorter neck will be less accurate? as well since the rifle has a standard chamber (and standard throat length) will the shorter brass neck result in increased or accelerated throat errosion? thanks guys, first post here so take it easy on me

 

[wnroscoe]

Look at the Nosler Brass. They have 280AI brass ready to go no fire forming. I've used the Nosler Brass in my 260RP and was very satisfied with its quality, very uniform brass.

 

[bingo1010]

i used the nosler brass in my last rifle , i agree it is consistent, but it did not stand up too well under high power loads, that is why i am looking at the lapua.

 

[Charles E]

I have used .30/06 Lapua brass for a 6.5/06 AI. I bought 100 pieces. 50 of the cases had wall variation of over .005, which I consider too much. A while later, I bought another 100 pieces for a .25/06. Same problem, maybe a little worse. I have heard other people complain about the Lapua .30/06 brass having wildly varying wall thickness.

My eventual solution was to use RWS .270 brass. I believe RWS even makes a .280 case, but am not sure. Of course, RWS brass is now "hard to get." Hard-to-get translates into "expensive."

When I went back to this chambering with a new barrel, I wound up using Norma .270 brass. Others complain about it. In the 6.5/06 AI, I used 57.5 grains Rel-22 behind a 150-grain Clinch River bullet. This would be considered a load you don't publish; too hot. It was a Shilen Ratchet Rifled barrel, so perhaps there was less pressure for a given charge. Anyway, the Norma brass held up for me -- 10 firings & counting -- but a number of guys complain about it.

As to the short neck length, I doubt it would make for an accuracy issue per se. You will likely get more fouling building up in chamber in front of the *actual* case mouth. But remember the 6 PPC is often cut with a 1.515 or even 1.525 chamber, with cases routinely trimmed to 1.490. Doesn't seem to hurt the PPC's accuracy.

FWIW