Need advice on a Dasher!!!

[marwitz89]

I'm thinking about diving into a Dasher.... I have 3 barrel blanks that I am considering having chambered in a Dasher for 600 yard shooting. Thomas 'Speedy' Gonzalez will be chambering the barrels for me and I will be getting my own reamer to keep for future barrels. I'm looking for answers to the following questions from the Dasher experts on here:

1. I plan on shooting Berger 105 Hybrid mostly but may shoot 105 VLD, 105 BT, 108 BT, and Sierra 107 MK. What freebore would be optimal for these bullets?

2. I use Blue box Lapua brass and would prefer not to turn necks, unless there is an obvious accuracy advantage by doing that. Do you recommend turning my necks? What neck diameter should I get on the reamer for neck turning and what diameter for a no turn neck?

3. What dies should I go with? Money is not an issue so I would like a very nice set. I do have a 21st century hydro press that I currently use for seating bullets.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.....


Joe

 

[ShootDots]

The bullets you are talking about vary GREATLY in bearing surface length>>>necessitating different freebores. Your "VLD" style bullets, i.e. Berger 105 VLD and even the 107SMK (although not a TRUE VLD has the short bearing surface of a VLD) the 105 Berger B/T's all would do very well with a 104-110 freebore. The Berger Hybrids and the 108 B/T's need at least a .135freebore and a .150 is NOT out of the question.

Necks>>>a "true" NO TURN neck is .272 BUT I do recommend neck turning and a .271 or even Kiff's "Blue Box" special of 0.2704 will work with a modicum of neck turning>>just enough to skim off the high spots>>about an 85 pct. "clean-up"..

As far as dies go>>John Whidden usually has them on the shelf and can be had for the same price as Forster or Redding. He has BOTH Bushing as well as NON-bushing dies.. They are excellent!

 

[Dubya]

If "Speedy" is doing your barrel, go no further than him for reliable info on bullets.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

.160 free bore, .268 neck, .4715 @ .200, JGS reamer, Harrell's full length bushing die.

 

[marwitz89]

What type of dies are most using these days, bushing or non bushing?

 

[ShootDots]

Bushing dies DO give you more versatility....

 

[3dogs]

Neil Jones sure makes a nice Dasher F/L die