New Rifle, New Brass, New Optic...Now What?

[Lapuapalooza]

Greetings...

I have searched for the answer, but have not been able to locate anything. I have a new setup that I need to get underway (new gun, optic, brass, etc..). Everything that I have encountered so far discusses how to set up once fired brass in an (assumed) established platform, so the rifle is sighted in, brass has ran through the gun, headspace established, etc.. So... If you were to get this kit to go boom, could a person load his ammo in the new brass at say 10% off max load at SAMMI oal, to sight the scope and start his load work up? I am assuming that the SAMMI length (if it fits in the magazine) should jam into the landings and therefore be at least a good starting point to work the ammo and get things rolling.

Here's the Platform info:
Rifle: Savage 111
Barrel: 26" 1:9 twist
Caliber: .338LM
Optic: Nightforce
Brass: Lapua
Bullet: Hornaday 285gr BTHP
Powder: Hogden H1000
Primer: Federal 215M

Thanks for your input.

Kevin

 

[Sniper Uncle]

SAMMI spec should not "jam" the lands. You need to measure your chamber, to find max COAL with the bullets you want to use. You can use new brass, it may not be the same dimension as it will be after firing---depends how tight your chamber is. You can load the first set, being careful to follow proper procedure---start low, and work up on charge, watching for signs of pressure---research the various ways to detect chamber pressure signs. I run the new brass through a sinclair expander mandrel die to be sure that all the necks are round and uniform.
Go out and start shooting, and then at the time of reloading, adjust your dies for minimal shoulder bump. You might find a bit of a difference in case capacity between first use of virgin brass and first use of re-sized brass.
Have fun, and be safe!

 

[rduckwor]

Start at the low end of the loading for the bullet/powder combo you have and make a few loads to sight the rifle in.

Realize that you will need to work up the optimum load for your rifle/powder/bullet combination and that will require re-zeroing the scope when you find that magical load. Google "Optimum Charge Weight" for Dan Newberry's method. Work very well.

Load your test runs to SAAMI OAL and don't try fooling with jumping or jamming until you have a powder charge that works. Then you can begin to determine optimum COAL.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

Thanks for the info guys. The Dan Newberry method looks interesting and simple. After studying the method in the sticky's above, I think I'll need to review it several times to fully grasp the concept. But it looks very promising.

Thanks again,

Kevin

 

[samnev]

Start at the low end of the loading for the bullet/powder combo you have and make a few loads to sight the rifle in.

Realize that you will need to work up the optimum load for your rifle/powder/bullet combination and that will require re-zeroing the scope when you find that magical load. Google "Optimum Charge Weight" for Dan Newberry's method. Work very well.

Load your test runs to SAAMI OAL and don't try fooling with jumping or jamming until you have a powder charge that works. Then you can begin to determine optimum COAL.

I agree with the above. I never start a the high end. Always the low end and work up in 0.2 grain increments. I find almost every rifle I load for I find the most accurate loads much closer to the low end than the high end.

 

[Thump_rrr]

You will usually find 2-3 accuracy nodes.
In one of my rifles for example 39.9, 42.3, and 44.5 are all accuracy nodes and surprisingly with 2 different powders.
Unless I am shooting over 600y I typically go with my middle node.

 

[bruddah]

This is a good Q. I've worked up some loads using new Lapua brass as well, only neck sizing with the Lee collet die. That would suck if all my data changed after the brass being once fired!