Peterson 6 Dasher Brass

[Conrad]

I’m new to the Dasher game but built one up the other month and bought 500 pieces of Peterson and 4166 since I couldn’t find Varget. All the comments on needing to form up the brass for length are accurate. I found I couldn’t push it too hard on virgin brass, too much headspace. I’ve been shooting 105 hybrids at an easy charge of 30.5 very accurately. Some groups in the 0.1s most .2-.3. But I’m not a great group shooter.
With a 109 hybrid and once fired brass I’ve gone to 3010 FPS at 32.6 gr, but there is pressure over about 32. Seems to be about a .4 gr node from 31.7 to 32.1 at 2965 but I’m still a little leery. 400 yd ladder yesterday seems to be confirming 31.6-32 gr node. 30.2-30.4 shot real close too at 2828 and 2831 FPS.

Still playing with seating depths on 109s a bit but it’s coming together. This is all in a 28” barrel. I haven’t tested upper velocity with 105s as I’m just using them for forming but they shoot good at 2880 on new brass.

 

[Mikemci]

Meaning Alpha or Peterson? The thread started on Peterson, but now it’s a mixed bag.

Peterson.

 

[Conrad]

Personally if this a new build .I would use something other than 109 Berger ,I couldn't get them to stay consistently if you were shooting a case larger than dasher maybe, there's a lot better bullets to choose from that's my opinion.

Sorry, I didn’t follow your sentence, you couldn’t get them to stay “what” consistently??

Thanks!

 

[Conrad]

I’m going to assume you simply meant you couldn’t get them to shoot (typo) consistently.

Dasher has plenty of capacity. I’ve read of other guy thinking the same about the 109s, meanwhile others are rocking along with them in Dashers. They shoot well in my 6xc.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Sorry, I didn’t follow your sentence, you couldn’t get them to stay “what” consistently??

Thanks!

I deleted my comment you experts are on your own.lol

 

[Conrad]

I deleted my comment you experts are on your own.lol

Hi Stan,

I was just asking for some clarity to your sentence. It looked like a typo so I was asking if you noticed something specific or simply saying they didn’t shoot consistently in general.

Thereafter, I relayed there are some shooters that have said the same as you and other reputable shooters who have had very good luck with them in dashers. Sorry that you took it any other way than face value. Was just looking for further experience and maybe elaboration.

Thanks.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Hi Stan,

I was just asking for some clarity to your sentence. It looked like a typo so I was asking if you noticed something specific or simply saying they didn’t shoot consistently in general.

Thereafter, I relayed there are some shooters that have said the same as you and other reputable shooters who have had very good luck with them in dashers. Sorry that you took it any other way than face value. Was just looking for further experience and maybe elaboration.

Thanks.

I totally understand I'm not the most punctual on this internet stuff I will just keep my opinion to myself because someone here is always going to say my equation of products is wrong just hated you wasting the life of a good barrel been there an done that no offense at what you said.
Good luck with the 109 Berger I have 500 for sale.

 

[Conrad]

I totally understand I'm not the most punctual on this internet stuff I will just keep my opinion to myself because someone here is always going to say my equation of products is wrong just hated you wasting the life of a good barrel been there an done that no offense at what you said.
Good luck with the 109 Berger I have 500 for sale.

Thanks for the input Stan. I appreciate it. I have a few more things to try on them, but I've shot enough to see that there is probably an easier bullet, as you're suggesting. Right now in my dasher it seems the results are variable, thus me trying to find other people's experiences with the bullet. Take care.

 

[oht]

Is there any reason not to headspace short if your using Peterson Dasher brass? I've got a barrel ready to chamber and can't really think of why not just headspace to the brass. Realizing I will probably have to shorten sizing die a little. Not a SAAMI cartridge anyway. Any thoughts before I screw myself on this one?

 

[Spacegunr]

Is there any reason not to headspace short if your using Peterson Dasher brass? I've got a barrel ready to chamber and can't really think of why not just headspace to the brass. Realizing I will probably have to shorten sizing die a little. Not a SAAMI cartridge anyway. Any thoughts before I screw myself on this one?

Other than reducing the case capacity a little further, I can't think of one. The last time I had a short chamber on a rifle though, I modified the shell holder vs. modifying the die. If you mess up, you've only wasted a $5 shell holder.

 

[expiper]

make your headspace correct so that your dies will work without unnecessary grinding/shiming/etc,,,the brass will fire form to fit the minor differences and then spend time shooting rather than fiddling/adjusting for a needless problem that you caused in the first place,,,Roger

 

[oht]

My Peterson brass is avg. 1.235" @ .375 on shoulder. Reamer print is 1.2479" min, 1.2524" max. What is the typical Dasher? My plan was to shoot a few pieces a couple times and send to Harrell's. So I was gonna just headspace off brass plus .002-.003. Now you've got me thinking again.

 

[HTSmith]

So I'm very new to the dasher. I bought a used gun and ordered some Peterson brass with the necks already turned. I'll shorten a very long story, but about half my rounds wouldn't fire, despite known good primers (CCI 450) and good looking dent in those primers. Again I'll shorten the story, but I had to jam the bullets hard and go to a softer primer (CCI 400) to get my rounds to fire reliably. With my Harrell's jig twice fired brass headspace measured .012" longer than an unfired piece of brass--too much for my chamber at least.

After 2 firings all is well. I've developed some very accurate loads, but they are taking a full grain of Varget less than what seems to be standard with blown out Lapua brass. The primer pockets are nice and tight and there is little weight variance.

So I like your idea. If it was me I'd get the brass in hand to make sure the dimensions have not changed and then call the Harrell fellers to make sure they could make you a die--then go for it.

Of course if I were so smart, I'd be rich and have a lot more small rifle primers on hand

 

[HTSmith]

My Peterson brass is avg. 1.235" @ .375 on shoulder. Reamer print is 1.2479" min, 1.2524" max. What is the typical Dasher? My plan was to shoot a few pieces a couple times and send to Harrell's. So I was gonna just headspace off brass plus .002-.003. Now you've got me thinking again.

You were ahead of me.

 

[Ccrider]

Ok. The Peterson brass is shorter than the fireformed Lapua. Hence, you will be fireforming the Peterson the first couple of firings to blow the shoulder out.

My question is, ideally, what would you spec a reamer to for using the the Peterson Brass? @Stan Taylor @johara1?

 

[Old Navy]

Alpha does the same thing, although it’s starting to seem like the consensus is that their actual brass isn’t up to the highest standards.

I hadn't read that here.

 

[jmcgowe]

I asked a friend of mine who has a milling machine to cut into these to see what they looked like. I thought this view was kind of interesting and thought I would share.View attachment 1215466

Great picture; thanks for posting. It seems to me that the primer pocket in the Peterson brass is shallower than the others. Have any of you Peterson brass users noticed any primer seating issues?

John

 

[HTSmith]

Great picture; thanks for posting. It seems to me that the primer pocket in the Peterson brass is shallower than the others. Have any of you Peterson brass users noticed any primer seating issues?

John

No issues with seating primers a hair below flush for me

 

[Ccrider]

Been a while but I have finally received my reamer and have had some time to start load developmentwith the Peterson Dasher brass. I am shooting a Defiance Rebel drop port action, 28inch Brux barrel. No turn neck.

First, I think it is significant that the brass at the shoulder is .015 or so shorter than my chamber. The first two pictures below are of my reference unfired piece of brass and a fired round. As a result, you definitely will be fireforming the first time you shoot it in order to blow the shoulder out. Had I given this due consideration when I started, I would have used cheaper bullets at least for the first firing. It did not dawn on me until after I had fired 15 or 20 rounds and by then, I did not want to do anything different on the first firing so I finished the batch of 99 with VT 103s.

I started off with a mild charge of Varget, 29.5gr. hoping this would give me around 2800fps. It was closer to 2760 so I upped the charge to 30.2 and this put me in the 2810-20 range. I am using cci 450 primers. I believe the primer pockets do better if you do not hit the brass hard the first couple of firings.

Second, out of the 99 rounds I fired, I had 6 fail to fires. I went back, seated the bullet longer and used a heavier 105 Berger and softer 205m primers. All but one of the six fired. I had to reload that one a third time to get it to fire.

With the shoulders moving so much, I did not expect much for accuracy, but decided to adjust seating depth as I progressed for any information I might gain. Below is a picture of my target. I started .20 off of touching the lands and worked into the lands. Overall, I saw nothing astonishing. I will start out at .020 to .028 into the lands based on what I saw and develop the load from there.

I have not measured the brass since firing but will before I size it. I may also weigh and sort it. I expect the brass to be pretty consistent because I got very consistent es., usually single digits and nothing over 20. The best series was 11 shots with an es of 6.

I shot +.025 into the lands 4 times(3 shot groups). 3 of the four groups were zero. The fourth group I had horizontal and it was not the wind. I don’t think it was gun handling either but it could have been as I have seen this when I don’t align the gun up properly.

Overall, I will not draw any conclusions at this point. I do feel like the gun will shoot after I get the load right tuned at longer distance. For now, I will have to tune at 100.

 

[HTSmith]

Been a while but I have finally received my reamer and have had some time to start load developmentwith the Peterson Dasher brass. I am shooting a Defiance Rebel drop port action, 28inch Brux barrel. No turn neck.

First, I think it is significant that the brass at the shoulder is .015 or so shorter than my chamber. The first two pictures below are of my reference unfired piece of brass and a fired round. As a result, you definitely will be fireforming the first time you shoot it in order to blow the shoulder out. Had I given this due consideration when I started, I would have used cheaper bullets at least for the first firing. It did not dawn on me until after I had fired 15 or 20 rounds and by then, I did not want to do anything different on the first firing so I finished the batch of 99 with VT 103s.

I started off with a mild charge of Varget, 29.5gr. hoping this would give me around 2800fps. It was closer to 2760 so I upped the charge to 30.2 and this put me in the 2810-20 range. I am using cci 450 primers. I believe the primer pockets do better if you do not hit the brass hard the first couple of firings.

Second, out of the 99 rounds I fired, I had 6 fail to fires. I went back, seated the bullet longer and used a heavier 105 Berger and softer 205m primers. All but one of the six fired. I had to reload that one a third time to get it to fire.

With the shoulders moving so much, I did not expect much for accuracy, but decided to adjust seating depth as I progressed for any information I might gain. Below is a picture of my target. I started .20 off of touching the lands and worked into the lands. Overall, I saw nothing astonishing. I will start out at .020 to .028 into the lands based on what I saw and develop the load from there.

I have not measured the brass since firing but will before I size it. I may also weigh and sort it. I expect the brass to be pretty consistent because I got very consistent es., usually single digits and nothing over 20. The best series was 11 shots with an es of 6.

I shot +.025 into the lands 4 times(3 shot groups). 3 of the four groups were zero. The fourth group I had horizontal and it was not the wind. I don’t think it was gun handling either but it could have been as I have seen this when I don’t align the gun up properly.

Overall, I will not draw any conclusions at this point. I do feel like the gun will shoot after I get the load right tuned at longer distance. For now, I will have to tune at 100.

I bought my Dasher used and it was my first experience with a wildcat. The introduction of the Peterson brass was what pushed me over the ledge so to speak, because I didn't want to fireform. I had the same failures to fire as you, and didn't know what the heck was going on until I got my Harrell's die. I used the gizmo they send with their die to determine there was a big difference in shoulder length between the new and three fired brass. I figured my chamber was just reamed too deep. Like you for the rest of the batch I hard seated some old Speer bullets and used CCI400's to form the rest. So much for not liking fireforming.

The other thing for me is the necks were too thick for my .272 "no turn" chamber--I had to skim cut them. Now that I have so much invested in this brass, I sure hope it holds up.

Looks like that rig of yours is going to be a real shooter.