6mm Dasher
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Berger 105gr Hybrid Target
Alpha SRP
31gr Varget (+/- .1gr depending on season/temps)
CCI 450s
~2815-2825fps through my 26" Proof SS prefit on my 737r
Gadarzi runs this similar spec on his competition dasher, as per him/some affiliated cronies in his neck of the woods. When he's not playing with Noslers.
Alpha SRP
31gr Varget (+/- .1gr depending on season/temps)
CCI 450s
~2815-2825fps through my 26" Proof SS prefit on my 737r
Gadarzi runs this similar spec on his competition dasher, as per him/some affiliated cronies in his neck of the woods. When he's not playing with Noslers.
Nope. I’ve shot thousands of 112’s and recently started shooting some 115 DTACs. As Lightning8 said I see the same thing. All the local shooters shoot 105’s and a few shoot 109’s. Unless the distances push out past 1k I hardly notice a difference in wind calls or energy with any of those so I’m starting to see the attraction of sticking with the good old 105 hybrid.
I did a back to back with N150 and Varget and N150 gave me higher velocity/pressure at a lower charge. 30.8 varget with a 105 gave 2820 and 30.5 gr of N150 gave me 2840.
With N140 be careful, dont assume its 1:1 with Varget
With N140 be careful, dont assume its 1:1 with Varget
I tested n150 in a prior Dasher barrel with heavier 112gr match burners and found it was 1:1 with Varget. Same charge gave that same velocity.
With n140 I'd be very hesitant to assume it's 1:1 with Varget unless I was shooting very light projectiles like an 80gr.
Either way work up, it's always worth the few extra rounds with lower charge weight that you think you need because results can vary depending on components and conditions. For example my last 2 barrels shot a 112gr at 2880 with 31.4gr but my current barrel takes 31.9gr to get 2860. So that's a 0.5gr charge weight swing just from a barrel so always work up from a load you got from some random dude on that interwebz.
With n140 I'd be very hesitant to assume it's 1:1 with Varget unless I was shooting very light projectiles like an 80gr.
Either way work up, it's always worth the few extra rounds with lower charge weight that you think you need because results can vary depending on components and conditions. For example my last 2 barrels shot a 112gr at 2880 with 31.4gr but my current barrel takes 31.9gr to get 2860. So that's a 0.5gr charge weight swing just from a barrel so always work up from a load you got from some random dude on that interwebz.
Okay, so you guys shooting the VV 140 and 150 how does the accuracy compare to varget? I am not a speed seeker with the dasher and seem to have found a sweet spot with the Berger 105 hyb at around 2880. If I could get the VV to shoot like Varget in that Speed I would be tickled. After the last price increase by hodgon putting a 8lb jug of Varget over $420 plus I am ready to spend my cash with another supplier.
In both my 22 creed shooting 62 eld-vts and my 6 dasher shooting 105 hybrids Varget shot better. The 22 creed was .8-.9 MOA with N150 and .6-.7 MOA with varget. The 6 Dasher was .4-.5 MOA with N150 (3, 10 shot groups) and the varget was .25-.35 MOA (3, 10 shot groups). SDs are 3-4 fps with both powders though.
Barrel sped up a little more. Finally finished with increased mv at the 220 round mark - at least I expect to be. Settled into the below load. Shooting .3 moa at 200 yards. Hammering all the way out to 1k today.
31.4 Varget
CCI 450
Alpha Dasher Brass
Berger 109. CBTO 1.789 (~33thou jump)
10 shots first day testing:
MIN 2855
MAX 2861
AVG 2857
ES 5.9
SD 1.7
18 rounds today
2848 MIN
2855 AVG
2865 MAX
ES 17.4
SD 4.8
Had another 6 rounds recorded on the Garmin but I wasn’t conscious of the battery and it died. Had to settle for the 18 rounds recorded. The additional 6 were identical results/slightly better.
Dasher has officially replaced .260 as my favorite cartridge.
31.4 Varget
CCI 450
Alpha Dasher Brass
Berger 109. CBTO 1.789 (~33thou jump)
10 shots first day testing:
MIN 2855
MAX 2861
AVG 2857
ES 5.9
SD 1.7
18 rounds today
2848 MIN
2855 AVG
2865 MAX
ES 17.4
SD 4.8
Had another 6 rounds recorded on the Garmin but I wasn’t conscious of the battery and it died. Had to settle for the 18 rounds recorded. The additional 6 were identical results/slightly better.
Dasher has officially replaced .260 as my favorite cartridge.
I have 50rd loaded up to put through my new Dasher barrel
28" PVA Osprey 1.2" straight
Single shot TL3
Fully bedded benchrest stock
SIDHE BR Evo trigger
EC 2 Tuner
Virgin Alpha Dasher brass
107smk
31.3gr Varget
Touching lands
28" PVA Osprey 1.2" straight
Single shot TL3
Fully bedded benchrest stock
SIDHE BR Evo trigger
EC 2 Tuner
Virgin Alpha Dasher brass
107smk
31.3gr Varget
Touching lands
Shot 50rd today.
31.3gr Varget
107 smk
Slight jam
Virgin alpha
28" 7 twist PVA Osprey 1.2"
Single shot TL3
Fully bedded br stock
SIDHE BR Evo trigger
2899
SD 6
After 25rd it started tightening up nicely. Not to shabby for first time shooting Dasher. Look forward to tuning and load.
First time shooting the SIDHE trigger and I love it. Breaks like glass. No creep. Looking forward to getting some more rounds behind it.
A few 5 shot groups @ 100yd
31.3gr Varget
107 smk
Slight jam
Virgin alpha
28" 7 twist PVA Osprey 1.2"
Single shot TL3
Fully bedded br stock
SIDHE BR Evo trigger
2899
SD 6
After 25rd it started tightening up nicely. Not to shabby for first time shooting Dasher. Look forward to tuning and load.
First time shooting the SIDHE trigger and I love it. Breaks like glass. No creep. Looking forward to getting some more rounds behind it.
A few 5 shot groups @ 100yd
Its the Keystone Sporting Arms Revolution 3" benchrest stock. Has a built in aluminum v block in it. I fully bedded my single shot TL3 in the stock...
Little update on my second outing with Alpha brass..
I took the 50pc of 1x fired Alpha brass and sized it in my LE Wilson SS FL Bushing die. I tested bushings and a 266 bushing then my 21st Century 6mm turning mandrel gave me 0.001-0.0015 neck tension.. Tad lighter than I wanted. So I dropped in a 265 SAC bushing and then ran the brass in my 21st Turning mandrel and it gave me 0.002 neck tension like I wanted.
Tumbled the brass and chamfer/debur..
I then loaded up 10rd each 31.3, 31.6, 31.9, 32.2, 32.5
107smk
0.005 off lands
Wasnt shooting for accuracy, just wanted to check velocity and pressure. Was a super windy day and a loose backer was blowing around so I paid no attention to groups with the backer blowing around.. When I caught some lulls in the wind and that backer wasn't blowing around, shots were going through the same hole...
Here the numbers..
31.3 - 2869 SD 17.3
31.6 - 2909 SD 12.4
31.9 - 2933 SD 11.6
32.2 - 2955 SD 7.4
32.5 - 2980 SD 6.7
SD's half at the top end of the charge weights... Just started to get a slightly stiff bolt lift at 32.5gr... These 107smk have a long bearing surface. Puts them down in the case more than I would like. They are a great bullet to switch to when the throat starts wearing and you can load out longer..
Gonna load up some 105 Hybrids and play in that 32.3 - 32.7 range for next outing.
I took the 50pc of 1x fired Alpha brass and sized it in my LE Wilson SS FL Bushing die. I tested bushings and a 266 bushing then my 21st Century 6mm turning mandrel gave me 0.001-0.0015 neck tension.. Tad lighter than I wanted. So I dropped in a 265 SAC bushing and then ran the brass in my 21st Turning mandrel and it gave me 0.002 neck tension like I wanted.
Tumbled the brass and chamfer/debur..
I then loaded up 10rd each 31.3, 31.6, 31.9, 32.2, 32.5
107smk
0.005 off lands
Wasnt shooting for accuracy, just wanted to check velocity and pressure. Was a super windy day and a loose backer was blowing around so I paid no attention to groups with the backer blowing around.. When I caught some lulls in the wind and that backer wasn't blowing around, shots were going through the same hole...
Here the numbers..
31.3 - 2869 SD 17.3
31.6 - 2909 SD 12.4
31.9 - 2933 SD 11.6
32.2 - 2955 SD 7.4
32.5 - 2980 SD 6.7
SD's half at the top end of the charge weights... Just started to get a slightly stiff bolt lift at 32.5gr... These 107smk have a long bearing surface. Puts them down in the case more than I would like. They are a great bullet to switch to when the throat starts wearing and you can load out longer..
Gonna load up some 105 Hybrids and play in that 32.3 - 32.7 range for next outing.
For the 105's I would do a test at 31.3- 31.5 and 31.7. My rig is pretty close to your and 31.3-31.5 is kind of magic at 100-300yds. The 105's in my rig really shoot well at 2880ish.
Keep us posted.
I have zero desire to shoot 105s @ 2880 in a Dasher with 1.3-1.5gr more powder than my BR. I've been shooting 105s in 6BR for many many years out of 28" barrels with 30.2gr Varget @ 2850 -2860 depending on the barrel with 30+ reloads on Lapua brass. Shit some brass i have damn near 40...
I shoot 106 DOD A-Tips with the same 30.2gr load @ 2870...
If i cant shoot 105/106 at close to 3000 then I have no desire to shoot Dasher... 2950 - 3000 is my goal. from my limited testing so far 32.3-32.5gr is looking ideal as you can see the SD's dropping to half at 32.3gr and higher and above 2950...
I just annealed and sized my 2x Alpha. Gonna load up 32.5gr with 95 TMK's and see how they do..
95 TMK have the shortest bearing surface of the bullets I measured in my barrel and sit nicely above the neck/shoulder junction.. in my 28" 6BR Bartlein these 95 TMK's with 31.2gr varget give me 3019 SD 2 and 0.2's accuracy....we shall see
Hopefully i can get out and shoot these tomorrow.
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Yea I just dont get why you would shoot a Dasher at those speeds? Maybe it's just me. Why wouldn't you just shoot a straight BR?
2850 - 2870 all day with 105's with standard non hot load in my 6BR for years.. what's the point/advantage shooting a Dasher at those same speeds other than using more powder per charge??
Here my 26" Wilson 6BR. This barrel was a fast barrel..
105 Hybrids and Varget
30.2gr is my go to load...2875
Here my 28" Bartlein straight BR..
105 Scenars
30gr Varget
2850
200yds
I think that slow-Dasher trend is very specific to PRS but not everyone's shooting PRS and even those who do don't all follow the trend. I prefer more middle-ground velocities myself. The old classic 105 Hybrid at 2920ish with a 26" Dasher makes more sense to me. I think if I wanted to follow the slower PRS trend I'd probably invest into some 6 BRA dies.
Just got back from shooting these 95 TMK's with 32.5gr Varget.. They shoot really well as I expected from past experience.
I loaded 50rd up with freshly annealed and sized 2x Alpha brass. Loaded them to 0.015" off the lands
28" PVA Osprey 1-7
6 Dasher 0.110FB
TL3
95TMK
2xAlpha brass
CCI 450
0.015" off lands
32.5gr Varget
3107 SD 7.7
I scrubbed the barrel clean with Thoroclean at the 100rd mark this morning before taking it out..
Those 2 groups on the 3rd line up from the bottom on the below target were the first 2 groups down the clean cold barrel.
Then I went back and start working left to right bottom row, changing tuner settings and working up row by row.
I found a promising tuner setting on the top row middle 2 groups measured in the 0.1's... Nothing formal or scientific about todays outing, just shooting 2 groups and turning the tuner 5 lines then shooting 2 more groups..
Ill now do a mini load workup and seating depth test with this tuner setting and see if I cant dial this into one hole groups... This is about 100fps faster than my 95TMK hottest 6BR Varget load... I didnt have any pressure signs today.
I loaded 50rd up with freshly annealed and sized 2x Alpha brass. Loaded them to 0.015" off the lands
28" PVA Osprey 1-7
6 Dasher 0.110FB
TL3
95TMK
2xAlpha brass
CCI 450
0.015" off lands
32.5gr Varget
3107 SD 7.7
I scrubbed the barrel clean with Thoroclean at the 100rd mark this morning before taking it out..
Those 2 groups on the 3rd line up from the bottom on the below target were the first 2 groups down the clean cold barrel.
Then I went back and start working left to right bottom row, changing tuner settings and working up row by row.
I found a promising tuner setting on the top row middle 2 groups measured in the 0.1's... Nothing formal or scientific about todays outing, just shooting 2 groups and turning the tuner 5 lines then shooting 2 more groups..
Ill now do a mini load workup and seating depth test with this tuner setting and see if I cant dial this into one hole groups... This is about 100fps faster than my 95TMK hottest 6BR Varget load... I didnt have any pressure signs today.
109 LRHT Berger
once fired alpha brass
cci 450
35.0 H4350
roughly 40 thou jump
2905 out of a 26" benchmark with .183 FB
once fired alpha brass
cci 450
35.0 H4350
roughly 40 thou jump
2905 out of a 26" benchmark with .183 FB
How do you measure groups? How can your 2 groups measure in the .1's if there are .243" bullet holes that aren't even touching or are barely touching?Just got back from shooting these 95 TMK's with 32.5gr Varget.. They shoot really well as I expected from past experience.
I loaded 50rd up with freshly annealed and sized 2x Alpha brass. Loaded them to 0.015" off the lands
28" PVA Osprey 1-7
6 Dasher 0.110FB
TL3
95TMK
2xAlpha brass
CCI 450
0.015" off lands
32.5gr Varget
3107 SD 7.7
I scrubbed the barrel clean with Thoroclean at the 100rd mark this morning before taking it out..
Those 2 groups on the 3rd line up from the bottom on the below target were the first 2 groups down the clean cold barrel.
Then I went back and start working left to right bottom row, changing tuner settings and working up row by row.
I found a promising tuner setting on the top row middle 2 groups measured in the 0.1's... Nothing formal or scientific about todays outing, just shooting 2 groups and turning the tuner 5 lines then shooting 2 more groups..
Ill now do a mini load workup and seating depth test with this tuner setting and see if I cant dial this into one hole groups... This is about 100fps faster than my 95TMK hottest 6BR Varget load... I didnt have any pressure signs today.
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I bet your bullet holes are well under .243" in diameter causing you to mismeasure.
Add 0.243 to all the groups then subtract whatever makes you happy. I've always measured outside to outside and subtracted bullet diameter. No funny business going on here.
Measure an individual hole with the calipers and post a picture. Holes in paper often measure .020 to .030" undersize.
Does anyone have a good start point. This is my first Dasher experiment.
I have two proof comp contour blanks chambered with an alpha dasher legacy .104 freebore reamer
I have two prefits heavy palma 6 dasher from smr rifles
I have many different components available
alpha ocd srp brass
berger 105 hybrids 108 bt's 109lrht's
sierra 110 smk's
115 dtac's with rebated boat tail and coated and nose ring
112 barnes match burners
cci 450 primers
plenty of varget, reloder 15, 15.5, 16,
staball 6.5 and staball match
I have two proof comp contour blanks chambered with an alpha dasher legacy .104 freebore reamer
I have two prefits heavy palma 6 dasher from smr rifles
I have many different components available
alpha ocd srp brass
berger 105 hybrids 108 bt's 109lrht's
sierra 110 smk's
115 dtac's with rebated boat tail and coated and nose ring
112 barnes match burners
cci 450 primers
plenty of varget, reloder 15, 15.5, 16,
staball 6.5 and staball match
105 Hybrids and Varget is easy button. I'd start 0.02 off lands and load 31 - 32.5 and after finding your load tweak seating depth if need be to shrink group size...
So maybe test .015” to . 030” off the lands for seating depth? I always had my best luck near a book max charge weight without seeing any pressure signs like ejector swipes or cratered primers.
I only have about 6 pounds of varget left but plenty to start load development with.
There has to be a reason so many people are using the 105 hybrid Berger and 109 lrht Berger in PRS. It seems like other shooting disciplines seem to think the Berger 108 bt is very consistent but you never see it in prs.
The 115 dtac and the 110 smk have a much better bc but no one uses those much either in prs so there has to be a reason why
Edit: as far as a starting point for seating depth, when I say off the lands I meant that distances further back from a hard jam
What are your goals? If PRS, shoot 30.8 of varget under a 105 hybrid jumped .010" from the lands and go have fun. It will be well under 1/2MOA, about 2800 fps, and your time will be better spent practicing than trying every possible combination. The rifle will be competitive and low recoiling
Goals are prs primarily. I also have a local match that is fairly competitive which is completely prone at 600 yards on an electronic target the same size as an f class target. It’s an outlaw match but wanted to do well at that also
Alpha brass, ADI2208(Varget), 105Hybrid or 110SMK loaded 31.5-31.7gn
Magic happens around that charge
Note - living in a very humid area, Queensland, my charge may be higher weight than MV you desire.
PS. with Lapua brass, 32.4gn 2208/Varget - if it doesn't shoot a 105H really well, have a long chat with your smith
A friend signed me up to shoot a match with him this weekend. First match ever for me. He knows I have less than 100 rounds through my rifle. Nervous doesn’t come close. It is a rookie squad, I just don’t want to look silly out there
Peterson brass
Hornady 108s
N140
Shot a 5 round group yesterday to verify my zero and speeds. Forgot to take a picture of the group, but here’s the Garmin. Insanely consistent
Peterson brass
Hornady 108s
N140
Shot a 5 round group yesterday to verify my zero and speeds. Forgot to take a picture of the group, but here’s the Garmin. Insanely consistent
What is the consensus on neck tension? 2 thousands and forget about it? Maybe a bit tighter like 3 or 4 thousands to maybe help with preventing setback with rounds in the mag? Can't find much on 6 dasher neck tension.
0.002 is working great for me but I have not tested more or less yet. Will be playing with that here shortly.
Have always run 0.002, never an issue with setback in the mag. It's a Dasher so not much recoil lol.
I live in the South East in the USA so I live in a very humid environment also.
I thought about doing my load workup starting at 31 grains and working up until I started seeing ejector swipes or cratered or flat primers.
I have no idea what chamber I have. I found a snowy mountain rifle (smr) prefit in 6 Dasher that was on a bartlein for less than the cost of a bartlein. I guess I could work backwards and estimate the freebore in the reamer based on where the bullet touches the lands
which mandrel size are guys sizing for alpha brass for .002
I think I bought a .2425 from SAC
I run a 0.241 from 21st Century after squeezing the neck down on my Alpha brass with a 265 bushing
I run 265 neck diameter full length die (honed Forster) and a .241 carbide expander mandrel from Sinclair.
I have the .266 bushing from sac and the .2425 mandrel
Maybe I need to order the . 265 bushing and .241 mandrel to be safe
Maybe I need to order the . 265 bushing and .241 mandrel to be safe
0.266 bushing and 0.241 mandrel was only giving me 0.001 neck tension with Alpha brass.. I had to drop down to 0.265 bushing with the 0.241 mandrel to give me consistent .002 neck tension... Looks like I wasnt the only one with @Sheldon N saying hes using the same combo
0.2425 is going to be too big of a mandrel to give you proper neck tension with alpha brass... If you wanted to use your 0.266 bushing then you would need to get something like a 0.240 or 2405 mandrel to get proper neck tension...
