Loading for a new rifle

[The boogalorian]

I am building a new rifle chambered in a cartridge new to me. I expect certain bullets and powders to work well and am tempted to purchase a barrel’s worth of supplies because they are currently in stock. In the back of my mind I worry “what if” the barrel doesn’t like that bullet. Then I am storing a bunch of supplies I may never need. Bullets are my main concern as the powders that i expect to work I already have a healthy supply of.

 

[CJ6]

Is the new cartridge drastically outside of your current cartridge lineup,? Cartridge ID would help as would barrel twist and expected use. Personally I would pick up a box of a couple different types ( brands) of bullets suitable for your purposes. Then when you find what works stock up.

 

[bozo699]

I am building a new rifle chambered in a cartridge new to me. I expect certain bullets and powders to work well and am tempted to purchase a barrel’s worth of supplies because they are currently in stock. In the back of my mind I worry “what if” the barrel doesn’t like that bullet. Then I am storing a bunch of supplies I may never need. Bullets are my main concern as the powders that i expect to work I already have a healthy supply of.

It would totally depend on the build for me. If I was building something I have already shot extensively, I would buy in volume before my build especially if I owned others that will shoot it. If it was something totally new to me I would research what has worked well for others and order smaller sample of several options.
Wayne

 

[Jr solocam]

It never is a bad thing to have a healthy supply of bullets, brass, powder and primers. Buy away, hopefully you have other cartridges that are similar if your plan doesn't work out....

 

[Bc'z]

2 thoughts
Buy all you can of what you need.
Or
Become really good at tuning.
I learned a lot by not buying a lot, now I purchase larger quantities knowing what works.

 

[Mcrider55]

I'm going thru the same thing, looking for a load for my new rifle. I played with what worked on other rifles (AR's) and wasn't satisfied with results. I just started asking questions on forums and got an excellent recommendation from one highly respected member. I tried it, liked it, then spent the last week tuning it.
Yesterday I shot the best 5 shot group I've ever shot at 100 yards.

The knowledge is out there among forum members on this and other sites. Just put out what you have for a gun, and then ask for recommendations. I wouldn't just go load up on stuff that you may never use.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Not knowing what you are getting into, it is hard to be specific in a response. I have always been in the camp of, getting whatever the wallet will handle. With the stuff I do ( Dasher/PPC ) the components pretty much stay the same from barrel to barrel, with just a tweak here and there.....But I use custom bullets, dies, and reamers for both. If you can overbuy for your immediate needs, you can always recoup most, if not all, your investment ( especially in the current climate )....Like I said, it depends on what you are getting into.

Regards
Rick

 

[PopCharlie]

When I got my 6.5x47L, I looked at the load map on the main 6mmbr.com site. Selected a few components and purchased accordingly. I was able to put together a couple of loads that worked well. With a few tweaks, the same loads are working with the new barrel.

PopCharlie

 

[SteveOak]

What level of accuracy to you expect/require?

If high, 2
If moderate, 1
If you consider 3 an acceptable answer, it doesn't matter.

 

[6.5 forever]

My caliber is the 6.5 CM. I'm getting too old to to have a collection of different cartridges. I prefer to have one I can maximize. I use the same barrel brand at each change. I know what components work and what velocity works best. I put my components heavy on the shelf. I understand that not everyone likes to play this way. But it keeps me content.

 

[K22]

I must confess that I am conservative and risk adverse to a fault. Thus, I have always chosen cartridges with known and proven capabilities with a proven history of successful load data. Therefore, I never had the issue posed by the OP's post.

Part of the issue is that I hate load development and experimentation. I just want to shoot and hunt so give me something that is simple and effective that gives me the shortest route to the range for practical performance shooting and the field.

Legacy cartridges like the 222, 223, 22 250 243, 270, 308, and the 30 06 offer everything I could ever want or need performance wise for my needs. I never saw the need to choose anything else especially a wildcat or the latest fad cartridge to hit the market.

I do not wish to disparage those who enjoy experimenting with new cartridges and enjoy load development. After all, this is just a hobby. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Well if you can get all these supply’s buy them in todays world you can easily resale what you don’t end up not using

 

[LCazador]

I am building a new rifle chambered in a cartridge new to me. I expect certain bullets and powders to work well and am tempted to purchase a barrel’s worth of supplies because they are currently in stock. In the back of my mind I worry “what if” the barrel doesn’t like that bullet. Then I am storing a bunch of supplies I may never need. Bullets are my main concern as the powders that i expect to work I already have a healthy supply of.

Pick a bullet that you think will work with primer/powder you have available. Test at least two powders and primers with that bullet then refine the test with seating depth. What you're looking for initially is a maximum load window or best powder fill. Measure head diameter on your brass at start and then proceed half grain incrementally till you see .0005" in expansion, that's half a thousandths. That will be the maximum load with that bullet and that powder and primer. Of course consult your loading manual for starting loads. Do all this with a few cases and don't fireform all of your brass till you have found your maximum. Most cartridges shoot best with a full case of powder but only if it's safe to do so.

 

[dgeesaman]

If the rifle and caliber is dedicated to pure accuracy I keep a barrels worth of several premium bullets, powders, and primers. You never know which one will make that new barrel sing.

If it’s not an all out accuracy choice, I will buy a few 100-Ct boxes of bullets and a couple of powders. If it shows great results I buy more and hopefully the retailer has more from that lot.

I spent a little time early in my reloading learning how lot to lot variances can mean much more than bullet type. I had a Sako A1 6PPC would shoot awesome with Berger Web BR bullets. I bought those bullets a couple more times but the newer lots just couldn’t shoot the same. So now when I buy bullets where I’m looking for maximum accuracy I buy at least 1000.

 

[Murray Brook]

I purchase many different bullets, powder and primers. If I have too much left over then I have no choice but to build another rifle.

 

[whatwind?]

more than one barrel for sure

 

[The boogalorian]

I purchase many different bullets, powder and primers. If I have too much left over then I have no choice but to build another rifle.

I see what you did there. Joke is on you cause I’m into that st1t.