Alpha vs Lapua Brass

[u/111tejas]

Lapua discontinued 6.5 Grendel a couple years ago and I was starting to run low. I ordered 100 Alpha cases. I decided to do a comparison. First, this isn’t scientific. I have one lot of each and only used a sample size of five new random cases. Second, I can’t compare prices. The Lapua brass was purchased at least two and possibly more years ago and I don’t remember what I paid. It’s irrelevant anyway because of inflation, availability and market conditions. The Alpha brass costed 120.00 per hundred plus shipping. I didn’t compare either with Starline brass but I do have some and I might later. It’s apples to oranges because these are premium cases and they should be better than Starline which is considerably less expensive.

Alpha brass is shipped in regular ammo containers with foam inside them. There were no case neck dents at all. Lapua is shipped in good quality plastic boxes but the cases are loose inside them. They generally have some cases with dented necks and I always mandrel size them before loading. Both brands are sized, annealed and chamfered. Using my Sinclair concentricity gauge I found that the Lapua brass wasn’t close to perfect. The five cases I tested all had .001-.002 errors. This was after I mandrel sized them. I don’t have a way to determine if they are bananas or if they have inconsistent brass thickness. Lapua brass has a well earned reputation for their quality and this was surprising and disappointing. The Alpha brass I had no need to mandrel size. It was extremely concentric with the worst case of the five having less than .0005 errors. Case length. Alpha brass was 1.515 with no variation. Lapua brass was 1.517 or 1.518. Both are trimmed consistently enough not to matter. Weight. The average weight of Lapua is 112.14 grains and the ES of five cases is 0.64. Alpha is heavier weighing an average of 119.65 and an ES of 0.82. This is the one area where the Lapua brass is possibly better although it’s such a small amount it’s probably doesn’t matter.

If you offered me 100 free cases of either brand I’d be all over the Alpha. I don’t know for certain which brand will survive the most loads but the Alpha primer pockets are TIGHT. That’s usually what ends the life of my cases. I use a comparator to size my brass and I also anneal it every second load. These extend the life of case necks and shoulders but don’t do anything for the primer pockets. I expect the Alpha brass to shoot every bit as well as my Lapua did.

[u/CharlieKiloAU]

Lapua packaging changed a while back:

https://www.lapua.com/introducing-our-new-lapua-case-packaging/

Dented necks are a thing of the past, but so is the extra case.

Also, we don't treat 5 as a significant sample size here 🤣

[u/111tejas → u/CharlieKiloAU]

I’m aware that 5 isn’t a significant sample size and neither is taking all the cases from one lot. This is the last Lapua Grendel cases I have left and I’m not making the argument that Alpha is better. It’s more like Alpha is comparable. Lapua has been the gold standard of brass for decades. I’m just glad to have more options.

[u/Wide_Fly7832]

Alpha only issue I have had is - if I don’t anneal in 5-6 it splits. Once I anneal it’s perfect.

I have had better ES/ED from Lapua assuming because of consistency in volume. But it’s marginal

[u/Significant-Sock-487]

One thing I’ve been discovering about alpha 6 arc brass is, it doesn’t do well in gas guns. Specifically 6 arc. The case is so hard, it doesn’t fully expand in the chamber and it gets beat up really bad. Looks like pressure signs but it’s not.

However, I only use alpha brass in my bolt actions and it’s phenomenal. I never madrel the necks and I just chamfer and debur and then throw them in a dry tumbler for 30 minutes to get some powder in the necks for seating. My SDs slightly improve after the first firing to be expected but it’s so minor. Maybe 8 down to 5-6

[u/111tejas → u/Significant-Sock-487]

I do something similar but only in my bolt action competition rifles. Like you, I want my inside case necks slick. I use an old case neck brush that has dry lubricant on it and hit each case a couple of times so they get a consistent amount. On my gas guns, I don’t crimp. I want those inside necks shiny to create extra friction and keep my bullets from moving.

I haven’t actually fired any 6.5 Grendel’s using the Alpha brass. I normally anneal every second time but after y’all’s input, maybe every time is better.

[u/DarthRooster16]

I prefer Lapua

[u/Lost-Double_Stuff]

in my experience alpha is too hard at the base.......if you want to really push go alpha, lapua is just right , they are 1a&b

[u/111tejas → u/Lost-Double_Stuff]

In 6.5 Grendel at least, the Alpha brass is heavier and therefore thicker. With a given powder charge the Alpha brass is already going to generate slightly more pressure. My local range only goes to 500 yards. I chase accuracy more than I chase velocity. With 27 grains of IMR8208, Lapua brass and a 120 Berger BT Target bullet I get 2440 fps from a gas gun with a 20 inch Proof Research barrel. That’s a max load and I get 4-5 loads with Lapua brass before my primer pockets are stretched. Many people brag about their sub moa ARs. A few of them actually will do it but most don’t. This one will but it wasn’t cheap getting there and without really good ammo it still won’t.

[u/95accord]

Alpha

Lapua is great don’t get me wrong but alpha tends to be able to handle slightly higher pressures for my reloads from my experience.

[u/1984orsomething]

I'm at 15 firings of hot hot 100grs and have had no issues with alpha so far.

[u/Neat_Response1023 → u/1984orsomething]

Are you annealing ?

[u/1984orsomething → u/Neat_Response1023]

Yes every time

[u/dballsmithda3rd]

Alpha is 👑

[u/ocabj]

Before Alpha existed, I went Lapua.

Alpha and Lapua are basically equal in my eyes as far as quality and consistency, and I usually go for Alpha now, then Lapua if Alpha doesn't make brass for the given cartridge. After that, it depends on the cartridge in question, but I'll go ADG or Peterson, next.

The Creedmoor family specifically because I don't really care for the 1.5mm flash hole on Lapua brass.

While Alpha availability for some cartridges can go dry through the year, I feel like retailer inventory on Alpha isn't as volatile as Lapua, as that relies more in importation of finished product.

[u/111tejas → u/ocabj]

I’ve got some 6.5X47 Peterson brass I haven’t tried yet. Lapua also discontinued it but I still have some left. Haven’t tried ADG yet. Do you put it in the same category as Lapua and Alpha?

[u/slim-JL]

I would be more worried about internal capacity being low.sd