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Proper New Brass Initial firing

In reading Glen Zedikers book on Competition reloading, he points out to not fire a batch of NEW brass at different load weights. For example your first shot should not be you 200 yd load if you are then going to reload it again for 600 yd load. This would not be so hard if I already had my load development done but when using new brass with a new caliber or BULLET/powder combo it seems unrealistic to load 50 -100 pieces of brass for a load I don’t know will even be accurate just so the initial firing is consistent.

I would like to think I could use the new brass on its first firing to do initial ladder work for load development. I am not a benchrest shooter but still only find an accurate gun interesting. How do you guys handle the first firing of a new batch of brass?
 
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If I don't already have a load worked up (new chamber / barrel config) and I can expand new brass in an old/test barrel than I do that. I find that it takes at least 1, in many cases 2 firings to fully expand new brass. I don't do anything serious in the way of load development until after the first firing as I have been bit by lower volume of new brass.

With that said, I run SAAMI chambers. If you are running tight then it would be less of an issue. Either way, YMMV. All I know is it sucks to have to do load development on a new chamber with new brass - already down that road 2 times this year and getting ready to start number 3. I make the best of it by finding a mid-range load that works for others and shoot 200 yards while trying my best so I can call it good practice.
 
If I don't already have a load worked up (new chamber / barrel config) and I can expand new brass in an old/test barrel than I do that. I find that it takes at least 1, in many cases 2 firings to fully expand new brass. I don't do anything serious in the way of load development until after the first firing as I have been bit by lower volume of new brass.

With that said, I run SAAMI chambers. If you are running tight then it would be less of an issue. Either way, YMMV. All I know is it sucks to have to do load development on a new chamber with new brass - already down that road 2 times this year and getting ready to start number 3. I make the best of it by finding a mid-range load that works for others and shoot 200 yards while trying my best so I can call it good practice.

Thanks! That is real helpful and makes sense. I had a custom 6.5x47L die made by Harrell’s Custom and they wanted 3 cases that had each been fired 3 times in the same chamber to make the die...same theory as what you went through...
 
@Baer45
New brass will be at it's smallest shape/size dimensionally. After it is fire-formed one time, it will then have blown and stretched dimensionally to a shape closer resembling the chamber, and likely enlarged in several directions in doing so (primarily changing in shoulder dimensions and capacity). If used in the same gun, after a 2nd firing, typically the amount of case stretch and brass flow will have settled down, to a perfect match of the chamber.

To get consistent dimensions, it is best to fire-form the brass with a equally pressured load, so that they all are blown and stretched an equal amount, which will yield better dimensional consistency and capacities. Many people have found best consistency by using a mild load for fire-forming.

Example below of a "case log" across 5 firings/cycles:

Brass Cycle.png
 
@Baer45
New brass will be at it's smallest shape/size dimensionally. After it is fire-formed one time, it will then have blown and stretched dimensionally to a shape closer resembling the chamber, and likely enlarged in several directions in doing so (primarily changing in shoulder dimensions and capacity). If used in the same gun, after a 2nd firing, typically the amount of case stretch and brass flow will have settled down, to a perfect match of the chamber.

To get consistent dimensions, it is best to fire-form the brass with a equally pressured load, so that they all are blown and stretched an equal amount, which will yield better dimensional consistency and capacities. Many people have found best consistency by using a mild load for fire-forming.

Example below of a "case log" across 5 firings/cycles:

View attachment 1132306
Good stuff Donovan
Thanks for posting
CW
 
@Baer45
New brass will be at it's smallest shape/size dimensionally. After it is fire-formed one time, it will then have blown and stretched dimensionally to a shape closer resembling the chamber, and likely enlarged in several directions in doing so (primarily changing in shoulder dimensions and capacity). If used in the same gun, after a 2nd firing, typically the amount of case stretch and brass flow will have settled down, to a perfect match of the chamber.

To get consistent dimensions, it is best to fire-form the brass with a equally pressured load, so that they all are blown and stretched an equal amount, which will yield better dimensional consistency and capacities. Many people have found best consistency by using a mild load for fire-forming.

Example below of a "case log" across 5 firings/cycles:

View attachment 1132306

Impressive! Are you turning that brass? I’ve been resizing each time with fls bushing die on my 6XC and as I have not seen donuts in 3 firings I have left off turning necks. Figured I’d ream first...
 
@Baer45
Any brass that I am going to neck turn, I do it before fire-forming. Which in IME aids against donut effects (by blowing the "cut line/end" into the shoulder when the shoulder gets fire-formed). Have tried reaming in the past, but like expanding and re-turn if I detect donuts or taper issues.
 
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For my target rifles I like to (break in) new brass by using a reduced load. This lengthens the brass life's span by keeping the primer pockets tighter for longer and does make a difference. For example in my 284 f open rifle I break in my brass with a velocity of around 2700fps which is my low node. If i fire form with my 2820 or 2850 nodes the primer pockets become looser much quicker. Because I neck turn I don't like to bin them sooner than necessary.
 
@Baer45
New brass will be at it's smallest shape/size dimensionally. After it is fire-formed one time, it will then have blown and stretched dimensionally to a shape closer resembling the chamber, and likely enlarged in several directions in doing so (primarily changing in shoulder dimensions and capacity). If used in the same gun, after a 2nd firing, typically the amount of case stretch and brass flow will have settled down, to a perfect match of the chamber.

To get consistent dimensions, it is best to fire-form the brass with a equally pressured load, so that they all are blown and stretched an equal amount, which will yield better dimensional consistency and capacities. Many people have found best consistency by using a mild load for fire-forming.

Example below of a "case log" across 5 firings/cycles:

View attachment 1132306

Could you explain a bit more what you mean by "mild load", at the bottom end of load data, or middle, or closer to the upper end of load data for a particular caliber?
 
Best method of getting new brass to fully blow shoulders forward on first firing is by jambing the bullets
 
In reading Glen Zedikers book on Competition reloading, he points out to not fire a batch of NEW brass at different load weights. For example your first shot should not be you 200 yd load if you are then going to reload it again for 600 yd load. This would not be so hard if I already had my load development done but when using new brass with a new caliber or BULLET/powder combo it seems unrealistic to load 50 -100 pieces of brass for a load I don’t know will even be accurate just so the initial firing is consistent.

I would like to think I could use the new brass on its first firing to do initial ladder work for load development. I am not a benchrest shooter but still only find an accurate gun interesting. How do you guys handle the first firing of a new batch of brass?

Who is Glenn Zediker? and what has he won? And where has he won it?
 
Mr. Zediker is knowledgeable and perhaps more accomplished at selling information commonly known to a lot of competitive shooters - to those who don't. For those who know nothing about an AR-15, his books would be great, however misguidedly biased.
 
Baer45:

I shoot F-Class so I only need 75-80 rounds out of a 100 cases for a match, so I sort my brass by weight(lightest to heaviest). The lightest 60 cases are for competition, not testing, next 20 are sighters and foulers(marked with red sharpie). The last 20(the heaviest) are used for load development. If there's a couple of hot loads that show signs of over pressure, the cases won't be mixed into the competition cases.These are also marked 1,2,3,4,5,6 in groups of three. The process keeps the 60 competition cases consistent both in weight, stretch and firing.

Also, don't ream. I've screwed up more cases reaming, unless your a machinist and have the very best of tools, and the accuracy was awful after reaming. As I remember, 220 swift that shot around 1/2 MOA at a hundred yards went 1 1/2 MOA. I tossed them.
 
I uniform primer pockets after second fire form.
I see pockets actually move in fire form
I use a mild load first and then a bottom competitive load second.
just me and my method
 

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