12 Twist 6 Dasher testing

[JamesnTN]

I had a break in the weather today so I decided to get the Savage out that I Had rechambered from a 6 BR to a Dasher. I started out trying the 87 Vmax but I couldn't get any real consistent results. Either the ES was low and groups were large or the ES was high and the groups were very good.
So I grabbed a box of the Berger 80 FB found the lands and began working with seating depth and once I felt I had found what the rifle liked I began working on the loads. Although I dropped the charges with a Harrell's dispenser I don't have any charge weights. I will say in between the three different groups shot there is a 2 click difference in each group. The -.010 seating depth test and the top right on charge target were the same loads. Velocity ranged in the low 3300 fps range

Here is the test target, I'll retest again Friday if the weather permitting.
Powder used is VV N135 and primer used were the CCI 450m

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Thats pretty good shooting.

Aaron

 

[MarkS]

James,
It is looking good. N135 and 80 gr. Berger are my go to load with a 12 tw 6BR ( I have a small lot of Jeff Fowler's 80gr made by Jeff, they are the best, Berger's are the best now that Jeff has left us ). I have never had good luck with the CCI 450, myself, high ES try BR-4 or Fed 205gm. The 87 gr. Vmax will give my around 1/2 moa, way out, but are the best varmint made for Varmints in 6mm.

Mark Schronce

 

[JamesnTN]

I went back and did some more testing and for what ever reason 135 didn't produce velocity and was hard on my brass. I tested a few rounds with Varget and guess what, it shot way better with much lower ES and good velocity.

Mark what velocity are you getting out of your 12 twist?

 

[JamesnTN]

Thanks Donovan

If Varget don't serve me well I'll drop down to 8208 and give it a try. So far it does show promise around 33.5 grains and I may hit another node up around 34.0 I'm gonna test and see.

 

[potatoe]

James I had the same issue with N135 in my slower twist dashers. They liked varget, I had to use a long drop tube to get all the powder in there but I shot 35+gr. with 80 grain noslers

 

[JamesnTN]

James I had the same issue with N135 in my slower twist dashers. They liked varget, I had to use a long drop tube to get all the powder in there but I shot 35+gr. with 80 grain noslers

Thanks for the input. Looks like I may need to keep going up in powder. I'm also coating my bullets with HBN so I just may have to go to 8208 if I can't get enough powder in the case

 

[potatoe]

Yeah you might have too, I went very high (it was on a BAT so I could push it a little more) just out of curiosity and I get almost 3600 with the 80gr. Nosler BT's. I think I could get a little over 36gr with a long drop tube before it got into the neck. Even though my loads were on the hot side, it didn't get any bad pressure signs and I had at least a half dozen firings on the brass but the case was full.

 

[CBVet66-67]

JamesnTn..... I'ma lonnnnnnnnng time rifle chooter, but new to hand reloading for 6br and Dasher. Seems like everytime I get a new hobby I have to learn a new language, or abbreviations. What is ES?

 

[JamesnTN]

JamesnTn..... I'ma lonnnnnnnnng time rifle chooter, but new to hand reloading for 6br and Dasher. Seems like everytime I get a new hobby I have to learn a new language, or abbreviations. What is ES?

ES = Extreme Spread. That's the spread of the slowest velocity vs the fastest of a given load. I strive for 5 fps and less but in reality 10 fps and under at 600 yards is good.

 

[CBVet66-67]

Ahhh, that makes sense. Thanks
Earl

 

[AckleymanII]

ES = Extreme Spread. That's the spread of the slowest velocity vs the fastest of a given load. I strive for 5 fps and less but in reality 10 fps and under at 600 yards is good.

I shoot IMR 4895 with the 87 V, touching +.003, CCI BR4. real accuracy

 

[CBVet66-67]

My new 6 Dasher will be here in about eight weeks. There are several loads I'm looking forward to testing. Still wading through dies I will need. Much appreciation for the info you guys post.