When to start load development on a new barrel?

[slowbalt]

Finally got my new rifle put together and starting to get some fired brass (couldn’t find any virgin brass in the great white north, so ended up buying loaded Lapua ammo), and I am wondering at what point I should start to work up a load? I understand the barrel changes rapidly in the first few hundred rounds fired, so when is a good time to start?

 

[Murray Brook]

I generally do a 15 round break in( custom lapped barrel) then start to develop loads. I will fire form 50 brass but not with just any powder or cheap bullet. I use a suitable powder and bullet that I may use later and get some data for later use, like max load, seating depth etc. Virgin brass can surprise you as to how accurate it can be. JMW
PS: By the way is there any good place in Rimouski to get components.

 

[slowbalt]

I wish! There is one shop that do have some gear, but nothing too high end, more tailored towards hunting.

 

[drop_point]

I have never found any advantage to waiting to do load development on a custom barrel. I start by doing powder charge weights over a chronograph and shooting groups. I will do two or three rounds of groups and look for trends. Then I will repeat the best on a different day. Then I tune for depth. I've heard guys say doing load development until a couple hundred rounds in was a waste, but I haven't found it to matter.

Only real velocity change I see is on fouled barrels, maybe 20-40 fps. When I scrub a bore, the velocity drops again for 2-3 rounds.

 

[JFrank]

I’m no expert but I started as soon as the barrel stopped coppering, I had a chance to learn something about the barrel such as current velocity and when it may speed up and by how much, how it shoots now compared to how it shoots in a hundred rounds. Does the throat advance and by how much ?

Stuff like that.

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

With a new barrel. I always thought it was the time to find the right seating depth. Because once That's found, the bullet will shoot decent over several different charge weights.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Can do basic load development right away. However I don't start serious load development until after around 100 rounds or so after the barrel is broke in and speeds up. But I will do ladders to get velocity/pressure and seating depths the first 100 rounds while also fire forming brass. After that it's time to get serious and nail the powder charge node from your ladders, and then tweak your seating depth.

 

[Bill Norris]

Depends widely on what I'm working with. 30BR or cases that do not need blowing out I start right out of the gate. The AI calibers and such that need brass blown out I find it best to get it done first. However, good groups are not uncommon while blowing out brass.

 

[gpoldblue]

Finally got my new rifle put together and starting to get some fired brass (couldn’t find any virgin brass in the great white north, so ended up buying loaded Lapua ammo), and I am wondering at what point I should start to work up a load? I understand the barrel changes rapidly in the first few hundred rounds fired, so when is a good time to start?

I personally think right after you do your fireforming(properly),neck turning,primer pockets,,flash holes,trimming,and weight sorting is a good time to start load development.
Anyway,that's the way I do it.. Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Fast14riot]

In my AI chamberings I always start with seating depth while fire forming brass. Then by second firing I should be close to finding a tuned load, but I own my reamer and my brass is within .001" between barrels normally so I know roughly where I need to be going in.

 

[mgunderson]

I start it long before I expect to use the barrel. Couldn't help myself.

 

[Clancy]

My friends and I usually shoot 20 “bulls***” bullets into the dirt and get 2-3 cleanings in.

Then, I’ll do a depth test, then powder, then shoot that load for about 200 rounds then revisit.