New brass load work up questions

[excaliber]

I have a bunch of new brass(300 Win Mag) and was wondering how you guys work up a load with new brass? Do you use your intended bullets/ powder right off the bat with the new brass trying to get close to a preferred load?
I thought it might be best to use some less expensive lighter bullets to fire form the brass and then start working with the once fired brass from there.

I'm going to be Using Winchester Brass, Fed 215 LM Primers, 180 gr Nosler Accubonds with RL22 for starters. H4831sc and H1000 will be next to try.
This is going to be a hunting load to shoot out to 500 yards.

I have a pretty tight bored Rem 700 26" bl that shoots really well with Federal factory ammo.

 

[DrMike]

I treat new brass as I do once fired or twice fired. The data is so similar as to be identical. I do prepare most new brass by running the neck through an expander mandrel to straighten the neck. You can accomplish the same thing with a full length die to straighten the neck. I also ream the primer pocket and deburr the flash hole if the brass was punched and not drilled. Otherwise, it is good to go.

 

[super-7]

Same I don't treat new brass really any different then 1-2 times fired. I inspect each piece for defects , will ussually run thru the expander to straighten any neck dents. Then start regular load work up. If wanting to shoot an existing load for a particular rifle I back off a few grains and run 3-4 over the chrony and compare notes, haven't run into any trouble doing it this way yet.
Most of the new brass I have got lately has been Hornady , been pleased thus far. 300 weatherby brass was only 10$ more for 50 pieces than 300 win mag brass. Which is really reasonable I thought.
I use some Win brass , but for some reason I prefer or have had better luck and consistency with Rem brass.. Not sure if I gave just been lucky I know it seems like a crap shoot with quality on any brand. 99% of my loading is for hunting so one hole groups at 1000 yrds are not on my menu, if I can get a consistent MOA and under at 100-200-300 yrds I'm a happy camper.

 

[SJB358]

Same here, I check to see how the proven load works in brand new brass, but if I am working up loads with new brass, I will usually shoot through most of it at least one time before I tweak the loads a whole lot. Most of the time I haven't been able to observe too much of a difference.

 

[excaliber]

Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it.

 

[kraky]

Remember too.....that federal brass is plain virgin brass. Your powder charges are likely to be even more consistant than any factory ammo!
It isn't the brass that gives you the accuracy....its how well the barrel harmonics like the powder charge and bullet. You may just stumble onto a GOLDEN load right off the bat.

Btw....75 grains re22 under a 180 is a well known internet legend of potential accuracy in the 300 Wm.
My tikka "kinda" likes it.....lol