How many firings of a new rifle before developing home load ?

[charlieboy-shooter]

Hi,

Not sure if I should post this here or in ammunition and reloading section.

As the title of the thread. Have a new rifle how many factory loads should be fired before I attempt to develop a home load?
Don't know if it's relevant but it's a 6.5x55

Thanks

 

[User00048]

I see no reason why you can't start right away... Personally with a new rifle, all I do is clean the bore and then zero with factory ammo, from there you can develop loads.

With the factory standard of nearly all new rifles now, ''breaking in a new rifle'' isn't a requirement.

 

[bowji john]

I don't see an issue with load development with a new rifle

Though I have been advised in the past to use factory ammo for the first few shots just in case there is an issue with the rifle itself

If you start off with home loads you could find that the supplier might blame the home loads on what ever fault is found

Hence the initial use of factory just in case

 

[charlieboy-shooter]

Hi Guys,

I have fired 13 factory loads through it. 9 to zero and 4 thereafter trying the rifle out and was lucky enough to shoot 4 foxes with it on its 1st outing.
So good to go then.

Thanks

 

[deeangeo]

No problem with your own loads from the outset.

 

[levigsp]

I agree, use factory ammo for the first 20-40 shots and check everything, because you will find most companies wont except the warranty if you used home loads, ive been at the sharp end a few times.

 

[Milligan]

Just make sure you clean the packing grease out of the barrel. Otherwise good to go from 1

 

[Milligan]

I agree, use factory ammo for the first 20-40 shots and check everything, because you will find most companies wont except the warranty if you used home loads, ive been at the sharp end a few times.

How would they know?

 

[25 Sharps]

How would they know?

Exactly!!

 

[trucraft]

I like to start proper load development with fire formed brass. Brass fired in that rifle. I use the virgin brass to sight in, do a pressure test (find max load) and shoot a couple of deer. As I'm always keen to Christensen a new rifle
I have had several experienced shooters/ reloaders say that they don't start until they have fired 100+ rounds. That way the barrel has settled and velocity has topped out. My barrels usually speed up by 30 to 70 fps after approximately 100 rounds.

 

[Targetman]

If it's a brand new rifle worth reading the small print of the warranty just to be clear where you stand on the subject of homeloads.

 

[Milligan]

If it's a brand new rifle worth reading the small print of the warranty just to be clear where you stand on the subject of homeloads.

If someone can evidence this I would be interested. I suspect most warranties stipulated suitable or compatible ammunition. It would be quite difficult to establish what ammo was sent through the gun after the fact. To further establish the fault was with the ammunition would be onerous to the point where I suspect it would only arise in the event of injury or death.

 

[Targetman]

Dug out the manuels
The Sauer 202 page 55 section 2 states
.

The use of reloaded, remanufactured hand loaded or other non standard ammunition voids all warranties​

The Sako 75 LH page 23 section 8 states

The use of reloaded, handloaded remanufactured or other non standard ammunition voids all warranties
Both warranties are old I do not know if the manufacturers have changed their view points with the growth of homeloading.​

In 25 years plus of ownership I have ever fired a factory round through either rifle so the fact is I immediately voided the warranty on two expensive machines with their first use.
I had read the manuels and that was that was my decision. When you purchase any firearm checking warranties is sensible and be aware that if something goes wrong giving misleading evidence is unwise.
I do think that as consumers of quite expensive goods we should expect warranties that reflect their common use so some degree of compromise in the warranty defending the manufacturers from poor home loading whilst ensuring we get goods fit for purpose would be appropriate. One for the lawyers to phrase perhaps?

 

[hybridfiat]

I built a rifle in 1990 with a brand new barrel. Went down the range and worked up a load that printed 0.4" at 100yds and used that load for the next 25 years.

 

[jb1]

Some folk are most certainly going to heaven on the forum, to honest.

Its highly unlikely and virtually impossible to prove otherwise.

Crack on with the home loads, but be prepared you wont be spending time with 50 virgins when you snuff it.

 

[Sharpie]

Some factory barrels can be pretty rough initially. Easily detected by pushing through a dry patch, after ten or twenty rounds they smooth up IME. A thorough clean, then you are good to go I think.

 

[Whitebeard]

I handload from the outset, have not bought any factory for over 20 years except 22lr 17 hmr and 17 Fireball to get the rocking horse $hit rare brass.

Ian.

 

[deeangeo]

Really?
Folk on here worry about warranties on their firearms & their own reloading?
Astonishing!
In fact unbelievable.