Use of Reloads in New Gun

Why not try factory ammo for function in a new gun? I see it to many times where someone blames a new gun when the problem is their reloaded ammo. I'm not saying it happens often but it does happen. The people that experience this should stop and try factory ammo before blaming the gun, most don't.

My answer is use whatever you want. But keep in mind if the gun doesn't function with your ammo it may not be the gun's at fault.
 
My Colt Govt 9mm has about 6k rounds through it. It has never had a factory load shot through it. Same goes for a couple of my Glocks.
 
"In .45, this means either 230g lead ball or 185g lead SWC. Noting that this is is a range gun, not SD, and this is the ammo I will expect it to eat: Is this reasonable to use for my first few hundred rounds or should I find some plated or jacketed?"

I see no problem. Go for it!
 
When I buy a new gun (or new-to-me gun), I buy a box of factory ammunition and shoot this through the gun first. That way if there are any problems, the manufacturer or seller (or their attorney if it is serious problem) cannot blame it on my reloads. After that, it all stuff I have assembled myself.
 
Makes no difference if the firearm is new or used when it comes to reloading. Nor does an firearm require any "break in" period.
"...this means either..." Isn't just 230's or 185's. 200's will do as well. With any bullet weight, you'll have to work up the load anyway. Partial to 230 RN's or FP's(flat point) myself. Far less fiddling with the OAL to get 'em to feed reliably.
"...an auto is a .45 and a wheel gun is a..." Go buy yourself a Smith M625 and a Desert Eagle if your hands are big enough for one. snicker.
 
I already know the DE is too big for me ... although I'd love to have one just because. I've fired the 625 and it just seems odd to put ACP rounds in a revolver. That said it was a nice gun.
 
I can't remember the last time I shot factory ammo out of a new gun. If I don't reload for it then I'll start before the gun ever leaves the box.
 
My Gold Cup has never fired a factory load. Nothing but cast 200s and 185s. I have other hand guns that have never fired a factory load inc. a Python and SAA. I do shoot a few factory loads thru my hunting rifles just to know what they will do in case I have to buy ammo on a hunt(never happened but you never know).
 
I run most of my guns on reloads. If I do not have the items required to reload for a gun I have purchased then I pick up some factory ammo for it. When I purchased my Savage a short while back I picked up two boxes of new ammo for a comparison point for my own reloads. They are hunting ammo, and I still have one box of them if the need to hunt happens I have the ammo I need ready. My .44 Spcl. at the time I picked it up there was a shortage on .44 Spcl. brass so I had to buy some ammo to get the brass.

My 9mm 1911 has not seen a factory load other than defensive ammo in the year I have had it. I have been feeding it my cast lead reloads. My Stoger Cougar has only had one box of factory ammo put out of it. My wife was taking her LCTH class, and I was out of primers at the time. My Marlin 1895 has not seen a single round of factory ammo ever. It has never had a jacketed bullet shout out of it to date either.
 
I always run my own reloads thru a new gun ...for the break-in period. I know my reloads are better than most factory ammo.

( Note: not all mfg's say no reloads or you will void warranty / Wilson Combat as an example - does not say you should not put reloads thru their guns ).
 
Average Joe said:
And if you did put a reload thru a gun, how would they know ?
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I thought about that.

I suppose they would know in the case of a catastrophic failure that left me in a position that I was unable to clean up after myself and send them a letter ... i.e. in the hospital.
 
I have shot factory ammo from a few of my guns before I starting reloading but ever since then I only shoot Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot in my EDC guns but for my hunting rifles and for training guns it's all reloads.

I have four revolvers, I know I need more, only one ever shot a factory round and that was two cylinders of 230 HST that I shot from my Smith 625JM just because.

45 Colt Vaquero: reloads only
45 AR/ACP 625: reloads mostly except 12 rounds (out of more that 1000 now)
Model 29: reloads only
460 XVR: reloads only

My Sako 308 has never seen factory ammo, nor has my Model 70 300WSM, or my 300BO AR15. Others are mixed.

Shoot the reloads.

Enjoy.
 
Thanks gents. Seemed reasonable that if that was going to be it's diet permanently, starting it out on that would be fine. If I get any issues I'll switch to some factory hardball just to rule out my loads - but I'm confident in this batch.
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Why are you confidant in this batch . Have you fired it in this new gun yet ? This is not to sound snarky . I can't tell you how many times I've read " this bullet at this seating depth works flawlessly in all my guns EXCEPT in my bla bla bla gun" . If they work in one or more of your guns , that does not mean they'll work in the next one .

A Nick C S states , I to always use factory ball ammo in new semi autos . This gives me my base line to work from . I don't shoot 200 as he does , 2 or 3 mags up to about 50rds seems to be good enough . I then start feeding my reloads to be sure the work as well .

When I first got my Springfield 1911 I was getting bullet set back during chambering of my reloads that I did not get with factory ball ammo or with my other two 45"s ( XD45 & SR45 ) . It has since worked in and I no longer really get that set back but that new gun did interact with my reloads differently then my other guns of the same caliber .
 
I'm confident that it runs through my other three 1911's well, and the batch is reasonable and not borderline-hot. Sure, I could end up with a feeding issue with this gun, but that would make me lean more towards something that needs to be addressed with this gun rather than a problem with the ammo. It's just 230 grain hardball - if this gun fails to eat it, it's going to be something that will be addressed. I will bring some factory hardball with me though.
 
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