lawman29
Gold $$ Contributor
My shooting discipline is F Class and the following information will detail my testing of a 6 dasher with RL 16 and the Norma Dasher brass (my first experience with a dasher). All of the testing took place at 500 meters at the Cody Shooting Complex (elevation ~ 5,280'). The range is orientated N/S and the prevailing winds are predominately out of the west and at times the north (known as a 'Red Lodge' wind...not good...). Couple photos of the range:
All velocity data was collected with a labradar (borrowed from my shooting buddy Keith).
Particulars:
Pierce Action, Brux 1x7.83 30" .236 4 groove, Berger 105 hybrids (not sorted), CCI 450, RL 16, 6 Dasher Norma Brass. Forester Co-ax press, Harrells 4d, Whidden seater, Forster priming tool, FX120i scale. JGS Reamer [1.605 - .4707 - .269 - .104].
Brass:
I ordered 500 rounds from the initial offering of the 6 norma dasher brass. While I was waiting for winter to end and the snow to melt, I read many of the comments regarding the brass on our forum. One of the issues regarding our forum and the world-wide web in general is...there's a lot of noise... The trick is separating the wheat from the chaff. At this point I'd like to thank Donovan for posting his comments regarding the new brass [that the norma brass was ~ .001 smaller, recommending a smaller chamber, that firing norma brass in a lapua chamber could lead to some of the issues with primer pockets as well as shooting max loads in green brass]. My reamer is .4707...
Rim thickness: My Pierce action, Forster co-ax and priming tool handle the brass with no problem (as a side note, I also have RCBS rockchucker and the #2 shell holder works). However, I turn necks with the Sinclair tool using my DeWalt drill and the Sinclair shell holder - there were about 50 pieces of brass that I set aside that were to thick for the shell holder (deal with them later). My criticism of the brass would be the lack of consistency, tolerances should have been better (if they were all thick that would be just fine...).
I subsequently turned ~ 300 pieces, loaded rounds measure .265, giving a neck clearance of .004. There is a gentlemanly debate about preferred neck clearances with very accomplished competitors on either side...no pun intended. I chose to go with more, one reason the discipline of F Class, laying down in the dirt with dust, dirt and assorted particles blowing around. I had Keith set back my old Bartlein 6BR barrel, chamber it for the Dasher and screw it back on the Pierce. I then loaded up the 300 rounds with 32 gr of IMR 4166 and 87 gr Sierras and "seasoned" the brass. After seasoning Keith screwed on the new Brux.
I selected 30 pieces of the seasoned brass and sized them with a .262 bushing and .002 shoulder bump [brass were cleaned in a tumbler with walnut media and primer pockets semi-cleaned with the rcbs pocket brush]. Measured the length of the brass and the shortest was 1.595 so they were all trimmed to that length. Cogitated a bit and decided to just beat these 30 pieces of brass up and see what happens. Currently the original 30 pieces have 8-9 cycles, with most powder charges between 34.4 and 35.6 gr RL 16 using Berger 105 hybrids. The primer pockets are still good (determined by feel and one of those cheap 'swage primer pocket gauge'). During this process I did not anneal the brass. At approximately 6 cycles the shoulder bump began to fail and by 7-8 cycles the brass was work hardened to the point that there was a 'crush fit' when chambering rounds. In addition the lengths grew .007-.008. I know that some of us don't anneal lapua brass, but this will need to be annealed. Headed over to Keith's and his Giraud and the shoulder's are back bumping...
All velocity data was collected with a labradar (borrowed from my shooting buddy Keith).
Particulars:
Pierce Action, Brux 1x7.83 30" .236 4 groove, Berger 105 hybrids (not sorted), CCI 450, RL 16, 6 Dasher Norma Brass. Forester Co-ax press, Harrells 4d, Whidden seater, Forster priming tool, FX120i scale. JGS Reamer [1.605 - .4707 - .269 - .104].
Brass:
I ordered 500 rounds from the initial offering of the 6 norma dasher brass. While I was waiting for winter to end and the snow to melt, I read many of the comments regarding the brass on our forum. One of the issues regarding our forum and the world-wide web in general is...there's a lot of noise... The trick is separating the wheat from the chaff. At this point I'd like to thank Donovan for posting his comments regarding the new brass [that the norma brass was ~ .001 smaller, recommending a smaller chamber, that firing norma brass in a lapua chamber could lead to some of the issues with primer pockets as well as shooting max loads in green brass]. My reamer is .4707...
Rim thickness: My Pierce action, Forster co-ax and priming tool handle the brass with no problem (as a side note, I also have RCBS rockchucker and the #2 shell holder works). However, I turn necks with the Sinclair tool using my DeWalt drill and the Sinclair shell holder - there were about 50 pieces of brass that I set aside that were to thick for the shell holder (deal with them later). My criticism of the brass would be the lack of consistency, tolerances should have been better (if they were all thick that would be just fine...).
I subsequently turned ~ 300 pieces, loaded rounds measure .265, giving a neck clearance of .004. There is a gentlemanly debate about preferred neck clearances with very accomplished competitors on either side...no pun intended. I chose to go with more, one reason the discipline of F Class, laying down in the dirt with dust, dirt and assorted particles blowing around. I had Keith set back my old Bartlein 6BR barrel, chamber it for the Dasher and screw it back on the Pierce. I then loaded up the 300 rounds with 32 gr of IMR 4166 and 87 gr Sierras and "seasoned" the brass. After seasoning Keith screwed on the new Brux.
I selected 30 pieces of the seasoned brass and sized them with a .262 bushing and .002 shoulder bump [brass were cleaned in a tumbler with walnut media and primer pockets semi-cleaned with the rcbs pocket brush]. Measured the length of the brass and the shortest was 1.595 so they were all trimmed to that length. Cogitated a bit and decided to just beat these 30 pieces of brass up and see what happens. Currently the original 30 pieces have 8-9 cycles, with most powder charges between 34.4 and 35.6 gr RL 16 using Berger 105 hybrids. The primer pockets are still good (determined by feel and one of those cheap 'swage primer pocket gauge'). During this process I did not anneal the brass. At approximately 6 cycles the shoulder bump began to fail and by 7-8 cycles the brass was work hardened to the point that there was a 'crush fit' when chambering rounds. In addition the lengths grew .007-.008. I know that some of us don't anneal lapua brass, but this will need to be annealed. Headed over to Keith's and his Giraud and the shoulder's are back bumping...
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). Over in the corner is my Shiloh Sharps drop tube (24" brass), works like a charm. I use one of the Sinclair poly blocks heavy duty, it's thicker and really stabilizes the case, plastic funnel on it and then the long tube.
