New Rifle - Where to Start w/Ammo?

[Phil3]

I have a new unfired Howa 223 action and barrel ready to shoot. I have some 223 factory crimped ammo (55 grain), 50 rounds of Hornady 55 grain soft point (lead tip), unfired Winchester and Lapua brass, Sierra MK, Berger, and A-max bullets all in grains good for this gun. Wondering if it best to test the gun, give the barrel some rounds with factory ammo or loaded Winchester cases before trying to use my premium Lapua brass and components to achieve best accuracy. Is it possible to begin to try and develop loads right from round #1, or...? Or is futile to try and develop loads with brand new unfired brass? If that is the case, I might as well use the Lapua to fire-form it, and simultaneously test the gun, and then reload that brass for load development.

Phil

 

[7x57 Shooter]

Pick a weight of bullet that you will use the most and refer to your reloading manual, start with the starting load and work your way up watching for signs of pressure.
Somewhere between start and maximum load will be the spot that your rifle likes, if you don't get accuracy, try another bullet and work up again.

 

[dabibbee]

Phil3,

I would use up the factory ammo first because a barrel break in is not necessarily a test of accuracy.
Under most conditions factory ammunition is not near as accurate as working up a load as 7X57Shooter suggests. Only thing I would add is , find the powder that your barrel likes best and adjust the
ogive to case base to tighten the groups up.

Dave

 

[22BRGUY]

You can both properly break in your new barrel and fireform some of your new brass at the same time. Many variations of opinion on breaking in....Personally, I shoot and clean the barrel the first 20 rounds. Once the brass is fired the first time and formed more closely to your chamber, you can begin to work on more accurate combinations.

 

[chevytruck_83]

You have to try your gun and see. I love the 223 caliber. My savages (axis, ftr model 10 and bvss model 12) shoot pretty much anything you see listed in a book as an accuracy load well. On the other hand the 2 remington 700's ive shot in 223 have been fussy. along with my ruger which was extremly picky.

 

[CarolinaBrass]

I would run it and choose what grain you want to actually use. Then start to work up loadings based on the grain you prefer. When you think you have it narrowed down then work on the brass and work up a load that gets you what you are looking for. For me, its important to actually try some rounds to determine how well the grain fits your intended use... I thought 55gr ball was great until I decided I wanted to shoot longer range and eventually ended up with 77gr Sierra's (1/7 twist) and I am very happy with that, however my father-in-law still loves 55gr and won't even try anything else... Let the gun guide the decision a little I would say.