Norma brass vs. Lapua brass

[SRMohawk]

Last night I was prepping .300 WSM cases made by Norma alongside some 6.5 x 284 Norma cases made by Lapua and found some pretty surprising differences that clearly contraindicate what most, if not all, of us believe about the superiority of the latter over the former.

1) In a random sample of 100 new (never spent) cases from each manufacturer, the extreme spread in the weights of the Norma sample was < 6 grains while in the Lapua lot it was approx. 8 grains. The fact that the Norma brass was of a considerably heavier species than the Lapua brass compounds the significance of this difference, too.

2) In the same random samples of Norma and Lapua brass, the extreme spread in neck wall thickness of the Lapua 6.5x284 Norma cases was over 0.004" while in the Norma .300 WSM cases it was approx. 0.0005". I won't even have to turn the necks of these cases !

Has anyone else who uses both of the subject brands for manufacturing their ammunition found similar differences? If this isn't just a fluke, wherein by some extraordinary confluence of errors I got a really inferior batch of Lapua brass and a really superior batch of Norma brass around the same time, then I won't be purchasing Lapua brass again ! Mind you, Lapua does not manufacture .300 WSM cases. And I haven't ever even bothered purchasing 6.5x284 Norma cases made by Norma. Consequently, I can make no immediate caliber specific comparison of the two brands at this time.

 

[USSR]

SRMohawk,

You definately got a really inferior batch of Lapua brass if the weight varies by more than 2 grains. On the other hand, the weight variance of the Norma seems about right. As for the weight/thickness comparison, this is only valid when comparing cases of the same cartridge. For example, in .30-06, Norma brass is extremely light in weight compared to Lapua.

Don

 

[SRMohawk]

Don,
I talked to a friend of mine up in Virginia earlier this evening about my surprising findings in comparing the two samples (albeit different species) of Norma and Lapua brass. He had some other interesting things to add to your very salient comments, which I read to him.

He asked if I had noticed that Lapua brass in the caliber 6.5x284 Norma has not been available anywhere in the U.S. since last Winter and won't be available again until late this year. When I told him that I had indeed noticed this, he then asked me if I had considered why this has been the case. And when I replied that I really hadn't given it much thought, he explained that the word amongst people in-the-know regarding these matters is that Lapua has offended so much of the competitive, world-class precision rifle world with the quality of their 6.5x284 Norma brass, specifically, that they decided to simply 'skip' supplying the U.S. with it for one, whole season of 1000-yd benchrest and NRA matches, with the idea that they would come back thereafter with new and improved supplies for the beginning of the off-season (when all the world-class dudes are getting ready for next year). He said the really bad part of all this is that we can all expect to see the price per 100 pieces go from $70-$75 to perhaps $100.

Does this jive with what you know and/or with what you've heard up in your neck of the woods?

 

[Gewehr98]

I've been running Lapua brass in my 700PSS and M14NM for years.

My batch of Lapua brass is headstamped "7.62x51", so it's a good bit older than what's out there now. However, of the several thousand pieces I have in stock, none of them have ever exhibited such a variance in weight and neck wall thickness as posted earlier in this thread. I wonder if something changed in production techniques, or if it simply is a bad batch?

I've also had exceptionally good results with RWS 7x64 Brenneke brass for use in reforming to feed my 6.5-06. I've completely disposed of domestic brass and Norma for that purpose, the RWS has been so good.

 

[USSR]

SRMohawk,

I had heard that Lapua brass in 6.5-.284 was near impossible to find since last winter, although the same shortage is now reported in Lapua .308 brass. Since the Lapua .308 brass is held in EXTREMELY high regard, I think I would discount the Lapua withdrawal-from-the-market conspiracy theory. Businesses don't typically withhold their products from the market to punish their clientele. As for the rise in price; bet on it. Have you been watching the copper futures market?

Don

 

[Clark]

Put some used mixed bad brand brass in your most accurate rifle.

Put some Lapua and Norma brass in your most inaccurate rifle.

The brand of brass is not near as important as a good, clean barrel with concentric chamber, concentric ammo, and good bullets. I don't think you will be able to see a .1" improvment on a 6" deer rifle.



I have Norma brass and lots of Lapua brass, and they are expensive, but take less preparation.

 

[SRMohawk]

You're right Clark! But then that's why the shooting disciplines so strongly attract those of us who suffer from OCD :banghead: ! There are just so many variables (regardless of their relative importance) that can be manipulated .

And Don, there is NO question that RWS brass is THE END! The most accurate long range rifles/ammunition combinations I've ever seen ALL used RWS brass. I have a friend whose got nearly 4 cases of the stuff in .300 Win. Mag. and I have a mind to build a rifle in this caliber just because of the extraordinarily greater accuracy I've seen at least two others shoot with it compared to even Lapua brass!

 

[USSR]

SRMohawk,

RWS may be great brass, but just try to find some to buy. This Saturday I will be trying the Norma .30-06 brass at 1,000 yards. Since it is lighter with more case capacity, I can stick .6gr more RL22 into it, which takes me from the 2875fps with Lapua brass to 2920fps. This cuts my trajectory by 1MOA.

Don

 

[SRMohawk]

RWS may be great brass, but just try to find some to buy.

That's why I'm not giving ANYONE the name and digits of this friend that has almost 4000 pieces for .300 Winchester Magnum !

 

[Cosmoline]

Norma has always seemed to be the best of the best in my brass, but Lapua is also good. I really like Laupa's 7.62x53R, but then again they've been making it for a long long time.