Question on New Brass Prep

[musher]

I've been using a particular load with my 25'06 in a batch of brass that came with the rifle. Since I'm starting to see a split neck or two, I'm tossing that batch and I've purchased new unprimed Remington brass.

This is my first foray into purchasing new unprimed brass and loading it up.

I've run my batch through the sizer to round the necks and am in the process of putting a chamfer on them.

A buddy of mine suggested that run a light load (a small charge of fast powder tamped with kapok) with a light bullet for the first loading before actually trying to work up the loads I intend to use. He felt it would help to fireform the brass to the chamber and make load development a little easier since the brass would be a bit more consistently sized.

I can see the point he's trying to make, as I typically neck size the fired brass instead of a full-length sizing.

What do folks think. Is there any value to doing this, or should I just start load development with the unfired brass? Anyone else go through this fire forming step with new brass?

This is a Ruger M77 btw, not a semiauto. I'm going to look at changes in bullet weight and type to see if I can get a little better accuracy out of the gun.

thanks

 

[HSMITH]

I shoot full loads from the first time on. I trim, full length size, load and shoot. Then neck size, load and shoot. Then anneal necks and load and shoot the next 5 loadings. Then anneal and load and shoot 5 more loadings. Brass lasts FOREVER this way.

If your pet load is hot back it down a little for the first loading, 5% or so, then go after it.

 

[stans]

HSMITH is correct. Now if you are going to work up new loads in this brass, it probably is better to load them to, or just a wee bit below factory levels and fire form before using them to develop an accuracy load.

 

[musher]

My plan is to work up new loads with a 100gr bullet instead of the 120 I've been shooting.

Sounds like it might be productive to try to narrow the possibilities the first time around, then try to get it dialed in on the second pass.

Thanks for the help.