Light bullet 6 dasher varmint load suggestions?

[Kiba]

Looking for some suggestions for light bullet varmint loads for my 6 Norma Dasher. Barrel is 28", 7.5 twist. Looked through the Dasher load thread but didn't find much info for lighter bullets.

Previously, for ground squirrels I was using a mix of Nosler 80 BTs and Berger 88 FB for the closer critters, and Nosler 105RDF or Berger 105 Hybrids for the way out there critters, all with Varget. All shot excellent. But since the lead-free ammo requirement is now in effect for hunting everywhere in CA I have to switch to non-lead bullets with terrible BCs for this upcoming season. I know the 7.5 twist is way faster than needed for the light bullets, but it's the barrel I have right now.

I have some Nosler 55gr ballistic tip lead free to try, another friend has had good luck with them in his 6BR and gave me some to test. Was hoping to get some suggestions what powder to use. I have the following powders on hand:

N133 -- might work well? Found an old thread talking about running 32.5-35.5gr N133 with 55s, running about 3950fps in 14 twist barrels.

Varget, H4895, AR Comp -- should work OK, but will probably max out case capacity.

H4350 & RL16 -- probably far too slow for the light 55s along with case capacity maxing out.

Found a couple other threads referencing AA2230, H335, and N135 for Dashers with the lighter bullets, I'll pick them up if suggested.

Appreciate any load/powder suggestions for the light bullets so I don't burn a bunch of powder, bullets, and time chasing dead ends.

Thanks!

 

[alf]

133 is a great powder with 55 & 70 grain BT's, for fireforming and full house loads. It's too fast for anything bigger. H-322 falls in the same category. At the price of VV, I wouldn't shoot it unless you have a bunch to burn.

I haven't used regular AA-2230, but have probably shot the majority of my Dasher loads, FF'ing & full house, on prairie dogs with the pulled down AA-2230-C powder, which is a direct twin to the current AA-2460. Meters like water for bulk loading as well. I'd start there.

 

[birdog]

I can give suggestions that I use in my 12 twist Dasher barrel.
70 Nos BT -- Vit-N-135--35.5gr
80 Berger FB Varmint -- Vit-N-135 34.5 gr
These shoot great in a 12 twist Dasher and N-135 meters very well

 

[daniel brothers]

just tagging this thread...

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I like h335 and h332. Both will give about 4000fps with a 55. H332 seems less temp sensitive. I had issues with h335 going out of tune. Accuracy was excellent with both.

 

[Kiba]

I like h335 and h332. Both will give about 4000fps with a 55. H332 seems less temp sensitive. I had issues with h335 going out of tune. Accuracy was excellent with both.

Alex, what's a recommended starting charge for H322 with the 55s in a dasher? Based off hodgdon's data for the 6br I was thinking of starting around 32.5gr and working up. I'll see if I can pick up a 1lb container locally to test.

 

[expiper]

Alex, what's a recommended starting charge for H322 with the 55s in a dasher? Based off hodgdon's data for the 6br I was thinking of starting around 33gr and working up. I'll see if I can pick up a 1lb container locally to test.

Kibba,,,I anit alex but over the years I have found the differance in charge wt. between a 6mmBR and a 6mmDasher is ~2 gr...dont forget to try Rx-15 ,,,,Roger

 

[Eric Leonard]

my 8 twist 6 BRDX shoots the 70 NBT and a stout load of Benchmark at 3650 and shoots < inch groups at 300 and 1.5 at 500 ,,I never can get the VMaxes to shoot as good as the NBT`s,,

 

[Kiba]

Just picked up some H322 locally (last 1lb container on the shelf, yay!) to test with the Nosler 55 lead free ballistic tips. Will report back. Hodgdon lists 32.5gr max for H322 in a 6BR with the 55s, and Nosler's data also shows 32.5gr max for H322 and 55s. I figure I'll start around 33.4gr and work up from there.

Not real happy about having to give up my tried and true higher BC lead bullet loads, but a citation from DFG for not using lead free bullets doesn't sound fun either. Tested the Nosler 50gr lead free ballistic tips in my 22" 223 AR and 23" 223AI bolt gun yesterday with N133 and AR Comp, was pleasantly surprised by the excellent accuracy and velocities that were running much faster than I expected. Hopefully the 55gr 6mm lead free ballistic tips will also impress out of the Dasher.

 

[4xforfun]

I am running a 1 in 12 twist specifically for lighter bullets..... I settled on h335 with a 65 grain VMAX very , very mild load got me
3600 feet per second and great accuracy.

 

[Kiba]

I've been thinking about having a 1-12 barrel spun up in regular 6BR just for these light bullet squirrel loads. IMO, the extra case capacity of the Dasher is overkill for sending 55gr bullets at squirrels... a 6BR would do the job just as well with the light bullets and probably have a much longer barrel life, then I can save the 6 Dasher barrel for the 105s and long range target work. Would need more brass and another set of dies though.

 

[4xforfun]

I've been thinking about having a 1-12 barrel spun up in regular 6BR just for these light bullet squirrel loads. IMO, the extra case capacity of the Dasher is overkill for sending 55gr bullets at squirrels... a 6BR would do the job just as well with the light bullets and probably have a much longer barrel life, then I can save the 6 Dasher barrel for the 105s and long range target work. Would need more brass and another set of dies though.

I did a dasher simply because I had 300 extra Dasher brass that I had already fire formed....or else a 6 br would have done great. I also did a 12 twist 22BR....52 flat base burgers at 3800...and bugholes to boot!!

I do dearly love the big heavies at long range, but there is something about shooting a prairy dog at 200 yards with light , fast bullets!! Maybe it is the red mist??

Tod

 

[Kiba]

Doing load testing right now... H322 works great. <8 fps ES for all charges and great groups with all of them. 33.4gr is yielding 3770fps with the nosler 55 lead free bt's and 34.4gr is at 3880. Bet that will make some red mist, Lol!

Might try some reduced charges in the 31.5-33.2gr range next trip. There was a very good node at 34.2-34.4gr H322 (about 3860fps), but next trip I think I'll try to find the next node down to be easier on the brass and barrel.

 

[JLR]

Anyone try something like the 60gr Varmint Grenade or 87gr vmax with 8208? Thought I might load up some coyote ammo and have that stuff on hand already.

 

[Kiba]

Hodgdon shows 33.5-36.3gr 8208XBR with a 58 Vmax, and 29.9-32.5gr XBR with a 90gr Swift for a 6 Dasher-- probably be decent starting points.

I wish you luck with the 87 Vmax, my rifle absolutely hated them. 4"+ groups at 300Y regardless of powder or seating depth, finally gave up on them. The 87s seem to be a love it or hate it bullet depending on your barrel, based on feedback they either make tiny groups or huge groups. I had the great idea to buy 3000 of them while my barrel was being chambered only to find out the gun hated them, LOL. Made tiny groups with 80gr Nosler BT's though, just had to make do with the lower BC of the Nosler compared to the 87 Vmax.

 

[WANTASHOOT]

I have used the Berger Column bullets 62.4 grain (I think) with 8208. Accuracy was awesome for me. Started with 32 grains and think I stopped at 36.2. Don't have the numbers in front of me. The accuracy was very consistent thru the charge weights. I bet it would work well with other bullets in this range.

 

[Kiba]

Found a lower node with the 55gr lead free BTs and H322 @ 32.5-32.8gr (3700fps.) ES opened up a bit with the lighter charge weights, but all loads tested were still <16fps ES.

Something that I find a bit interesting, Hodgdon lists 32.5gr of H322 (max) in a 24" 1:9 6BR pushing a Nosler 55 BT to 3,604fps. Nosler lists 3682fps from 32.5gr H322 with a 55gr in a 24" 1:14 6BR. In my 7.5 twist 28" Norma Dasher with a .105 freebore (quite long for the light bullets plus the long neck of the Norma Dasher case) I'm getting 3687fps out of the 55 Lead Free BTs over 32.5gr of H322. I was expecting lower velocity than the Hodgdon and Nosler H322 6BR loads at equal powder charges given my rifle has faster twist, a larger case, and the bullet seated quite far out. I can't see 4" of extra barrel length being the entire cause, but it probably helps. Maybe the non-lead bullets just run faster? I've noticed the same velocity trends with the 50gr Lead Frees in my .223 and .223AI, they seem to run quite a bit faster than regular lead bullets.

 

[RAG]

I did a dasher simply because I had 300 extra Dasher brass that I had already fire formed....or else a 6 br would have done great. I also did a 12 twist 22BR....52 flat base burgers at 3800...and bugholes to boot!!

I do dearly love the big heavies at long range, but there is something about shooting a prairy dog at 200 yards with light , fast bullets!! Maybe it is the red mist??

Tod

Old post, but I'm working on 22BR now, and hoping to feed it a steady diet of 53 Vmax, and/or 55 Blitzkings. I'm planning to try A2520 and Xterminator first. What powder are you using? Thank you!

 

[RAG]

Hodgdon shows 33.5-36.3gr 8208XBR with a 58 Vmax, and 29.9-32.5gr XBR with a 90gr Swift for a 6 Dasher-- probably be decent starting points.

I wish you luck with the 87 Vmax, my rifle absolutely hated them. 4"+ groups at 300Y regardless of powder or seating depth, finally gave up on them. The 87s seem to be a love it or hate it bullet depending on your barrel, based on feedback they either make tiny groups or huge groups. I had the great idea to buy 3000 of them while my barrel was being chambered only to find out the gun hated them, LOL. Made tiny groups with 80gr Nosler BT's though, just had to make do with the lower BC of the Nosler compared to the 87 Vmax.

And more "on topic", I also hope to feed a 6 Dasher 87 Vmax for varminting. I've got a 1-8 twist coming, which might overspin those bullets, and eventually I'll chamber up this 1-10 tube I have sitting here. But, I expect I'll fall back on the 88 Berger FB.

 

[4xforfun]

Old post, but I'm working on 22BR now, and hoping to feed it a steady diet of 53 Vmax, and/or 55 Blitzkings. I'm planning to try A2520 and Xterminator first. What powder are you using? Thank you!

12 twist 22 BR and 52 Bergers......Brnchmark.

12 twist 6 Dasher with 58's and 65's......H335