Small primers worth the trouble??

[Randy99CL]

The handloaders here are some of the most experienced I've noted anywhere. Mind helping with a couple of non-Grrr questions?

I'm working toward loading for my 260 Rem bolt gun. I bought Lapua 260 cases (only available with large primer pockets).

I found some Lapua 308 Palma brass (small rifle primers) on sale for a great price.
Question 1: Is it worth the time and effort to neck down the 308 cases in order to use small primers in my 260?

Question 2: My 260 sizing die is full-length neck-bushing. I've not used these yet but like the idea that I can buy an intermediate bushing between 308 and 260 if I need to. Will that work or will there be some sort of step or shoulder in the neck that might ruin this idea?

The 260 is my dedicated long-range rifle but I'm only a semi-serious amateur. Not competing, just trying to get the most accuracy I can within my capabilities and budget.

TIA
Ruger M77 FTW 001A.jpg

[centerfire]

1: It depends on if you want to spend the time, if you already have bushings, and if you are set up to neck turn. It used to make sense but high quality 260 brass is readily available. It's definitely not worth it just for small primers. If you're not chasing velocity your brass will last just fine with large primers.

2: You will have to neck turn and you will need at least one intermediate size bushing.

3: Necking up is far easier than necking down. Find a deal on 243 brass and run a neck mandrel through it.

[Klem]

Randy,

I agree with Centerfire. It's a lot of effort to neck down, and then you'll have to turn the necks to manage the tight grip and chamber clearance. I would be wary of having enough clearance to release the bullet. If your chamber's neck has been reamed deliberately tight, or even if the reamer used was a bit worn that brass still needs to be able to expand to release the bullet. Otherwise there will be a build-up of unwanted pressure. That's why you will need to neck turn as well.

I would invest in a neck-size die and use that instead of your full-length. If you are interested in partial neck sizing you can do that with either die. As long as you are happy with the neck tension you can unscrew the die and only size half or two-thirds the neck. The remaining portion remains fireformed and helps it seat more concentrically in the chamber - or so the theory goes. In a bolt gun you have a lot of compound leverage in that bolt to help you fit snug cases into battery.

I have a 6.5*47 which uses small primer pockets. Even with small primer pockets the cases only last five or six reloadings before the primers start falling out. You can squeeze a bit more life out of the brass by starting with a narrow diameter primer and then switch to a wider diameter when the pockets become loose. There are primer diameter charts via Google images to help here (like starting off with CCI450 and then finishing with BR4).

There's a bit posted on other forums about this. Lot's of different thoughts and opinions.

[SCJim]

I have been shooting the .260 Rem for about 8 years now, about a year ago I tried some Peterson cases with the SRP. In theory the small rifle primer is less likely to back out on a hot load becasue of the smaller surface area of the primer. In real life I could not tell much difference. Here is a primer test I did using the Peterson cases with various primers

primers.jpg

[Randy99CL]

Thanks for the responses!

I ordered 100 of the Lapua Palma cases to try out; at 80c each they are almost 20c cheaper than the best price I've found for their 260 Rem.

My LGS has a huge selection of used die sets; I'll see what they have in 7mm/08 and 260. I'm thinking I'll full length size them to 260 then use my bushing die for the second+ loadings.
I'll monitor the neck wall thickness to see if they need turned.

I did google this idea and got lots of info and opinion. Many loaders think it's worthwhile. No one says it makes a huge difference but is another of those small things that add up to increased accuracy.

The funny thing about this is I remember this idea from 30+ years ago. Winchester was making 308 brass with SRP specifically for forming into some of the new BR cartridges that were coming out back then.

[centerfire]

Thanks for the responses!

I ordered 100 of the Lapua Palma cases to try out; at 80c each they are almost 20c cheaper than the best price I've found for their 260 Rem.

My LGS has a huge selection of used die sets; I'll see what they have in 7mm/08 and 260. I'm thinking I'll full length size them to 260 then use my bushing die for the second+ loadings.
I'll monitor the neck wall thickness to see if they need turned.

I did google this idea and got lots of info and opinion. Many loaders think it's worthwhile. No one says it makes a huge difference but is another of those small things that add up to increased accuracy.

The funny thing about this is I remember this idea from 30+ years ago. Winchester was making 308 brass with SRP specifically for forming into some of the new BR cartridges that were coming out back then.

You can buy factory Peterson SRP 260 brass for less money when you factor in the tools necessary to neck down and turn. If you have to buy any tools at all, you're losing money necking down 308 to 260.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/76515

Here is Lapua 260 brass for $.86ea.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/22845

Heck, I'll sell you 243 Nosler/Norma new and twice fired mixed (300pc) for $.50ea and you can neck it up to 260 with a mandrel and won't have to neck turn.

[Kswhitetails]

This is one thing I find fascinating about reloading. There is always a new experiment. If SRP brass works for one, it won't necessarily work for everyone else. Centerfire has it right, if you're already set up to do what helps make the change a success, and you want to try it, why not?

I've been chasing accuracy over velocity, as I want some cushion for circumstances where environmental changes make an already tight chamber increase in pressure stresses, rain anyone?

I've found that unless I'm trying for small groups well beyond my typical envelope distances, chasing velocity is more work for no gain, and at the sacrifice of brass and barrel life. To me, this isn't worth it. To you it may be different.

Good luck, however your road travels.