How many rounds until you start load workup?

[slm9s]

When you have a new custom barrel fitted, do you put some rounds through it before you start your load work up, or just start immediately?

 

[Ned Ludd]

This question comes up regularly, and the answers you'll receive will likely cover a wide range from not starting "serious" load development until you have 100 to 200 rounds down the pipe, to beginning much earlier and developing a decent load so you can practice and fire-form brass while you break the barrel in. Both approaches work, and it's totally up to the shooter what they want to do. Just understand that if you choose the latter approach, you'll will likely have to re-work any load you come up after the brass is fireformed and the barrel has been lapped in (i.e. "sped up").

 

[Nightraider]

About 200-250

 

[std7mag]

Depends on the cartridge.

For my AI cartridges, i do break in/forming for the first 100 rounds. Which happens to be the number of new casings i get for that.

With a standard cartridge probably about 20 round break in/sight in.

 

[INTJ]

I start load development at round one. I have not had to do anything other than fine tune for throat erosion and fine tune for the particular range where I am shooting the match one I find a load.

By the time I have run the powder ladders and seating ladders as I am usually in at least 200 rounds. Why would I want to use up another 200-250 rounds of limited barrel life before starting load development?

 

[Evan]

I start load development at round one. I have not had to do anything other than fine tune for throat erosion and fine tune for the particular range where I am shooting the match one I find a load.

By the time I have run the powder ladders and seating ladders as I am usually in at least 200 rounds. Why would I want to use up another 200-250 rounds of limited barrel life before starting load development?

Agreed, except my load development begins at round 10 cause I shoot 1, clean. Shoot 3, clean. Shoot 5, clean. And then I'm off to the races.

Also, being honest about how much brass you actually need is useful for saving barrel life. I've gravitated away from prepping 4 or 500 pieces of brass after learning how to properly size brass. 100 pieces of Lapua, properly sized, will last longer than a barrel. Only time I would prep lots of brass anymore is for varmint hunting but those opportunities really aren't as available as they once were.

 

[billlarson]

When you have a new custom barrel fitted, do you put some rounds through it before you start your load work up, or just start immediately?

I shoot 20 rnds.siteing in,and cleaning.By then i,ve got a pretty good idea if i,ve got an average barrel,good barrel or a really good barrel.depending on it,s needed use will dictate how much tweaking I do.i have gotten custom barrels with bad spots in them that shot really really good...I have also asked for a replacement on a really good looking barrel.
bill larson

 

[mensajd]

I use the first few rounds for rough sighting in (though I always bore sight in advance) AND pressure testing. If you measure and record everything (including load data/velocity/SD/etc.) you do, the early shots will yield useful data. If/when the barrel speeds up and affects accuracy/POI etc., then you can adjust accordingly. A long winded way to say, keep good data.

 

[garandman]

Regarding barrel break, several very reputable builders have told me… "just shoot the effer."

My response: "Yes, sir."

 

[Dub]

I start a new barrel break in this weekend. Looking forward to it.

 

[INTJ]

Agreed, except my load development begins at round 10 cause I shoot 1, clean. Shoot 3, clean. Shoot 5, clean. And then I'm off to the races.

Also, being honest about how much brass you actually need is useful for saving barrel life. I've gravitated away from prepping 4 or 500 pieces of brass after learning how to properly size brass. 100 pieces of Lapua, properly sized, will last longer than a barrel. Only time I would prep lots of brass anymore is for varmint hunting but those opportunities really aren't as available as they once were.

I have never found any advantage to shoot and clean, so I think it's good you minimize that. Other guys like to do that for 50+ rounds. I know some competitors that think a barrel doesn't shoot its best until 200 rounds, and another who thinks the best accuracy is with as new of a barrel as possible. Both approaches have success.

100 pieces won't get me through a two or four day match with one rifle. I like to show up with enough cases ready to go.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I start load development at round one.

 

[K22]

I have never use the "popular" break in barrel procedures, i.e. shot one round, clean, shot another, clean, etc. I'm not asserting that these "popular methods aren't prudent or don't work - I just never used them. All my rifles seem to have survived not doing this, several shoot in the 1/2 to sub 1/2 moa range.

You're going to shoot the rifle anyway no matter which approach you take so why not start off with a bullet / powder / primer combo that you believe will yield the best results? You may have to adjust it or move on to something else but I just can't see sending bullets down a barrel merely to "break them in."

I've only had a few rifles in the past 50 years in which establish loads such as those listed in the various published data as "most accurate" that didn't work with some minor adjustment. The one issue I do agree with is that don't totally reject or totally accept a load until the brass is fire formed in the rifle chamber. This of course assumes that a group of cases are dedicated to a specific rifle.

 

[JFrank]

I have never found any advantage to shoot and clean, so I think it's good you minimize that. Other guys like to do that for 50+ rounds. I know some competitors that think a barrel doesn't shoot its best until 200 rounds, and another who thinks the best accuracy is with as new of a barrel as possible. Both approaches have success.

100 pieces won't get me through a two or four day match with one rifle. I like to show up with enough cases ready to go.

Blaine
Are you fire forming with a light recipe or full charge?

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

When PPC brass was hard to find, I gave Tony Boyer and his wife each 50 new cases at the Super Shoot one year. I got a detailed lesson in exchange. Score!

I watched him turn the case necks, trim to length, fire form, retrim, and shoot them in a brand new Shilen barrel for record. Those barrels had 25 rounds down at that time.

Next question...?

 

[INTJ]

Blaine
Are you fire forming with a light recipe or full charge?

For the 6 BRA, 20 grains of Bullseye, 1/8 piece of TP, and a soft primer.

For the 300 WSM, load development starts with new brass.

 

[JFrank]

Ok thanks, I was just curious since I’ve got some fresh brass I’m thinking about just hitting them with the full recipe, hells bells it’ll probably shoot inside my other brass.
We also have a 270 WSM at the ranch I’m gettin ready to work up a hopefully decent load for. Any powder tips ???

 

[Drop Port]

I start load development at round one. I have not had to do anything other than fine tune for throat erosion and fine tune for the particular range where I am shooting the match one I find a load.

By the time I have run the powder ladders and seating ladders as I am usually in at least 200 rounds. Why would I want to use up another 200-250 rounds of limited barrel life before starting load development?

+1
I load a few to shoot and clean and see if there is any copper, at the same time determining where it hits pressure. Last barrel was determined good after three shots and found max in six. Since it was a 6.5 x 47L I also loaded 5 at 40.0 and 5 at 40.5 of H4350, first 5 shot group at 500 was well under 2 inch. I get to it right away and don't waste barrel.

 

[Rockchuck]

I normally break in a new barrel. 1 shot clean until i dont see a lot of copper at the muzzle. With good lapped barrels. That will be less then 10 rounds normally. Then i load a few for sight in . Then start load development. So i would say less then 20 rounds before iam looking for a load.

 

[Sniper338]

I clean the barrel real good first thing before any rounds.... then put 10 or so round through it, see what it feels like. Clean it, fowler rounds, Then go to ladder testing.