New Barrel-Do I need new brass?

[bill123]

I just had a new barrel put on my GAP 308. Will the fired brass from the 1st barrel shoot well in the new barrel or could it cause problems?

 

[Thud]

Yes. Why tempt fate. Brass may or may not work.

 

[bill123]

Yes. Why tempt fate. Brass may or may not work.

I'm having problems getting a previously great bullet/load combination to work and before concluding that the new barrel doesn't like the bullet, I'm wondering if it's reasonable to suspect the brass.

 

[mgdietrich]

I have had the same brass go through 3 different chambers in it's lifetime. If the reamer was the same no problem, if different chambers you may have an issue.

I would not worry about it.

 

[bill123]

I have had the same brass go through 3 different chambers in it's lifetime. If the reamer was the same no problem, if different chambers you may have an issue.

I would not worry about it.

Not sure if the reamer is the same but the throat is definitely longer.

 

[CatShooter]

I shot the same batch of 22-250 through 5 barrels with out problems.

If the old load does not shoot, work up a new load...use the same brass.

 

[MGYSGT]

Full length resize prior to loading for the new barrel. I just had to demil 300 rounds for a new barrel. The old chamber was larger than the new and the ammo wouldn't chamber.

 

[bill123]

Thanks all for your help!

 

[Corey Schwanz]

Id full length size for sure if I wanted to try old brass in a new chamber. Once you get a firing on them in the new barrel you should be ok to do your normal routine again. I'm not a big fan of using brass from one gun to another. If its not a regular thing you'll be ok.

 

[amlevin]

Only time I had brass issues with a new barrel was when I changed to a tight chamber (yet still "no turn" necks) and had to make sure the cases were F/L sized all the way to the base. A Small Base die is recommended for the first go round if your new chamber was cut to minimum size.

Fire form and move on.

 

[Martin52]

Only time I had brass issues with a new barrel was when I changed to a tight chamber (yet still "no turn" necks) and had to make sure the cases were F/L sized all the way to the base. A Small Base die is recommended for the first go round if your new chamber was cut to minimum size.

Fire form and move on.

Same here. Previous 0.308 chamber produced fired brass measuring 0.4725 at the head of the case, the new tight chamber produces fired brass at 0.4700 - so the brass from the old chamber just needed a body die tight enough to resize close to new brass dimensions, around 0.469. After that, no problem with the old brass.

Martin

 

[geraldgee]

Anneal

 

[suberjc]

Wait wait wait. Full length resize those brass and as my friend IMMIKE says, " CHOOT EM". A funny thing happens after that.
They become fireformed to the new barrel. Then anneal em and voila! You're there.
All kidding aside, I got some 6X47 Lapua brass that have been shot through 2.5 barrels. Still bug holeing. You may have to change the load. I got a tight bore last time around and had to drop half a grain and go to a BR primer from a mag (450 CCI)
Same speed, same accuracy. You will most probably have to change OAL as well.
It's all part of the fun of getting a new barrel :-\

All match barrels are not the same. Some take longer to ferret out issues than others but unless they are defective (Happens occasionally) you'll find a load for it. Go to work. Hang in there.

OK all this is me assuming that you are shooting Lapua brass, which in spite of the initial cost are the cheapest you can buy shot for shot. (Note: above listed barrel count on this batch of Lapua brass)
No I don't work for them. They work for me. LOL