EC Tuner Testing 6 Dasher PRC rifle in 110 degree heat

[Jerry Snyder]

Man, hot one today. First off, I appreciate the assistance Mister Cortina provided in making me a 3d printed wrench for the Cortina V2 tuner I purchased. It worked great with my 70 year old arthritis ridden hands. Shooting at 100 yards on a Caldwell front rest, and a rear bag. 6 Dasher Bartlein barrel, MTU contour, Defiance Ruckus action, Manners Stock, trigger tech diamond trigger. The Manners stock did not fit great in the front rest. I ordered a SEB Mini X, but it might be a bit before it comes.... Started at 07:00 AM at Ben Avery Shooting Complex in Phoenix. Load is 31.8 of Varget, CCI 450 primers, Alpha brass, Berger 105 hybrids, loaded out to 1.935 BTO. I circled a few of the better groups.

I ran 20 - three shot groups, waiting 2 minutes between each 3 shot group to let the barrel cool a little. and about 10 minutes after each 9 round session ( 3 groups of 3). Barrel temp hovered about 110 to 120. I used a chamber chiller after each 9 rounds. I still have some additional turns to go on the tuner, meaning I have not yet bottomed it out.

Attached is the target, and a simple spreadsheet with data for each of the three shot groups. First group was high, so I adjusted the scope down a bit. Second group was a little low, so up a click. What advise would you give to a beginner based on the info provided. I am open minded to constructive criticism to load, equipment, technique etc... My expectations are to 1. Have fun 2. Try to improved the little things before they become big things. Thanks all.

 

[Bill Norris]

I think the dasher may want a tad more go juice. The 6BRX has a very close powder capacity as the previous one and the one I now own wanted to get up about mid-32 gr. range to give best groups. What I would look for would be a pattern or a set of groups of two or three that were at the same POI and tight.

 

[JFrank]

I would go back to the first group tuner setting and go up about 3% in powder testing both sides of 32.7 ish (~ 32.4 -32.6-32.8 ) I think it will come together nicely.

 

[LCazador]

Try making scope adjustments before you start any test then shoot a few shots to let scope settle. I'm with moving the powder charge up a bit and start tuner test again. I'd play around a bit with bullet tension, powder charge, and seating depth before starting tuner test.

 

[ogre1911]

+4 on adding powder/horsepower. The Dasher I have that likes 105 hybrids likes 32.6 of either Varget or N150, they are interchangeable. Average speed is about 3026 fps.

I shoot in the same or worse heat as Ben Avery, about 2&1/2 hrs southwest of there.

 

[CADDIE5]

Run 6dasher@32.5gr Shooters World precision, alpha brass, B105Hybrid. Muzzle velocity 2965fps@80*F.;2920fps@60*F. Alpha reamer, Bartlein 7.5T@28"

 

[jpjulian]

Who in the hell does a tuner test, or any kind of load test, in 110* heat?!?!?!

(says one who doesn't believe tuners work anyway.....) ;-}

 

[Gray420]

Jerry, good write up. I am with the others and juicer up a little bit. My dasher with the 105’s is magic at 2887. I am not knocking tuners but a short story. I did my current dasher build and first shots down the barrel where through an EC tuner where it lived for the next 600 or so rounds. About 2 weeks ago I shot in a F class match where brakes are not appreciated so I removed it and put on a thread protector. Having shot that match and another 300 yd shoot for score I can not see any difference in the performance of the rifle.
My barrel is a heavy contour and I just don’t if a tuner on the end is making any difference.
BTW I think your very first group was money.

 

[jelenko]

Man, hot one today. First off, I appreciate the assistance Mister Cortina provided in making me a 3d printed wrench for the Cortina V2 tuner I purchased. It worked great with my 70 year old arthritis ridden hands. Shooting at 100 yards on a Caldwell front rest, and a rear bag. 6 Dasher Bartlein barrel, MTU contour, Defiance Ruckus action, Manners Stock, trigger tech diamond trigger. The Manners stock did not fit great in the front rest. I ordered a SEB Mini X, but it might be a bit before it comes.... Started at 07:00 AM at Ben Avery Shooting Complex in Phoenix. Load is 31.8 of Varget, CCI 450 primers, Alpha brass, Berger 105 hybrids, loaded out to 1.935 BTO. I circled a few of the better groups.

I ran 20 - three shot groups, waiting 2 minutes between each 3 shot group to let the barrel cool a little. and about 10 minutes after each 9 round session ( 3 groups of 3). Barrel temp hovered about 110 to 120. I used a chamber chiller after each 9 rounds. I still have some additional turns to go on the tuner, meaning I have not yet bottomed it out.

Attached is the target, and a simple spreadsheet with data for each of the three shot groups. First group was high, so I adjusted the scope down a bit. Second group was a little low, so up a click. What advise would you give to a beginner based on the info provided. I am open minded to constructive criticism to load, equipment, technique etc... My expectations are to 1. Have fun 2. Try to improved the little things before they become big things. Thanks all. View attachment 1688171 View attachment 1688170

What is changing from one group to the next? E.g., are you changing the tuner?

 

[Jerry Snyder]

What is changing from one group to the next? E.g., are you changing the tuner?

Yes. I started at Zero, and each group I went up one number for two complete rotations. Next week I will try two more full rotations and that will be just all the tuner has in terms of rotation.

 

[Jerry Snyder]

I think the dasher may want a tad more go juice. The 6BRX has a very close powder capacity as the previous one and the one I now own wanted to get up about mid-32 gr. range to give best groups. What I would look for would be a pattern or a set of groups of two or three that were at the same POI and tight.

Yes, I was worried with 110+ temps, so I loaded the lower node. Thanks

 

[Jerry Snyder]

I will do th

I would go back to the first group tuner setting and go up about 3% in powder testing both sides of 32.7 ish (~ 32.4 -32.6-32.8 ) I think it will come together nicely.

I will do that this week. Thanks for your advice.

 

[swd]

Is the tuner out enough at "0" to go the opposite direction? I would go -1 and -2 from your first group. I also am in agreement to add more powder but that first group is pretty nice!

 

[CharlieNC]

Set it at 0 and lock it down.