Need Input-Dasher and Vtac Ladder

[Ccrider]

Decided to play with a Dasher I bought a while back. Wanted to shoot Varget with VTacs- automated.

Long story short, I flat could not get it to shoot small at 100 yards and it was not due to lack of dedication on my part. The best I could do was occasional 3 shot groups in the low ones. It would shoot twos pretty consistently with 2 and 1 groups with two shots being in the same hole. I finally gave up and decided to take my best seating depth and shoot a ladder at 600.

Slept in late so I got the full benefit of the wind and mirage in the heat of the day. I tried to pick the same condition and get the three shots off as fast and accurately as I could.

It actually shot better than i anticipated. From 32.9-33.3 I only had 1.43 vertical for the 9 shots in unfavorable conditions. For some reason, shot 15 was down in velocity by around 40fps. Take it out and the 9 shot group over the powder charge would be respectable (a little under 1.8). What would you do next?

 

[BoydAllen]

Where were you on seating depth and neck tension? What kind of clearance do your loaded round necks have in the chamber. One thing, to a certain extent this seems like you are telling your rifle what to like rather than asking it what it likes on powder. Obviously 32.9 is the smallest but the node seems critically narrow. Why would you want more wind or mirage than you had to have for load testing. I don't understand that. I can see if for learning how to handle both but when I am testing loads I want the least wind and mirage I can get.

 

[DHuffman]

I'd do a seating depth test at 600 in .001s centered on whatever the depth was for the test above at 32.9

Then I'd shoot another powder ladder in .1s at 600,

32.7, 8, 9, 33, 33.1 using the best seating depth

 

[JFrank]

@Ccrider
Charles, do you remember which direction the wind was blowing on shots 8-9 ?

 

[Ccrider]

Where were you on seating depth and neck tension? What kind of clearance do your loaded round necks have in the chamber.

.017 in after touching the lands. .004 clearance.

One thing, to a certain extent this seems like you are telling your rifle what to like rather than asking it what it likes on powder. Obviously 32.9 is the smallest but the node seems critically narrow.

I shot from 32.3 through 33.3 in .2 increments. I have thoroughly tested from 31.9-33.5 at 100. Eliminate shot 15 and the 9 shot group from 32.9-33.3 seems acceptable? I am always hesitant to eliminate a shot, but this one did not feel right and the velocity was way off from what I usually have.

Why would you want more wind or mirage than you had to have for load testing.

I promise, I did not want it. My shooting time is limited. I have to shoot and test when I can.

 

[Ccrider]

@Ccrider
Charles, do you remember which direction the wind was blowing on shots 8-9 ?

Yes. Left to right 4-6 mph with gust 12-14 mph. The switch was normally from left to right to a head wind.

 

[JFrank]

Yes. Left to right 4-6 mph with gust 12-14 mph. The switch was normally from left to right to a head wind.

That could explain the low right impacts.

 

[Ccrider]

I'd do a seating depth test at 600 in .001s centered on whatever the depth was for the test above at 32.9

Then I'd shoot another powder ladder in .1s at 600,

32.7, 8, 9, 33, 33.1 using the best seating depth

Sounds like a plan. At 100, the rifle shot most consistent at touch using the Wheeler method. Are the nodes for a dasher normally smaller than a 6bra?

 

[DHuffman]

Sounds like a plan. At 100, the rifle shot most consistent at touch using the Wheeler method. Are the nodes for a dasher normally smaller than a 6bra?

I've got very little dasher experience so wouldn't want to make a statement to that. Keep testing at 600 in the best conditions you can and it will reveal itself.

 

[Ccrider]

Where were you on seating depth and neck tension? What kind of clearance do your loaded round necks have in the chamber. One thing, to a certain extent this seems like you are telling your rifle what to like rather than asking it what it likes on powder. Obviously 32.9 is the smallest but the node seems critically narrow. Why would you want more wind or mirage than you had to have for load testing. I don't understand that. I can see if for learning how to handle both but when I am testing loads I want the least wind and mirage I can get.

So, what are your thoughts about the target and what my next steps should be?

 

[shoot4fun]

So, what are your thoughts about the target and what my next steps should be?

I have sent a few downrange with the Dasher and never found a node with any barrel above 32.7 Varget.
The results you have tell me to take a little deeper dive on seating depth at 32.9.
I know you and know your ability so I am inclined to believe you can do the testing at that distance with a degree of certainty in the results. I see it may be coming back into another node at 33.3 but, IMO, that is not going to hold up under the heat and humidity here in Alabama.
See You Saturday (I hope).

 

[Ccrider]

I have sent a few downrange with the Dasher and never found a node with any barrel above 32.7 Varget.
The results you have tell me to take a little deeper dive on seating depth at 32.9.
I know you and know your ability so I am inclined to believe you can do the testing at that distance with a degree of certainty in the results. I see it may be coming back into another node at 33.3 but, IMO, that is not going to hold up under the heat and humidity here in Alabama.
See You Saturday (I hope).

Thanks Jerry. It was shooting well at 100 yards with 33.3, so I expected it to come together around 33. Seating depth at 100 looked good from .004 off touch, to .003 into the lands. I chose touch as the middle point for powder testing. 8 shots across a .4 grain powder charge 1.8 inches gives me hope. It’s a rough work in progress, but something tells me the Dasher and these Vtacs will shoot small when I get it right.

Plan to be there Saturday but I got to get ammo prepped and loaded. Hopefully I can get it done and will not be up till two Saturday morning like the last two matches.

 

[LRPV]

Thanks Jerry. It was shooting well at 100 yards with 33.3, so I expected it to come together around 33. Seating depth at 100 looked good from .004 off touch, to .003 into the lands. I chose touch as the middle point for powder testing. 8 shots across a .4 grain powder charge 1.8 inches gives me hope. It’s a rough work in progress, but something tells me the Dasher and these Vtacs will shoot small when I get it right.

Plan to be there Saturday but I got to get ammo prepped and loaded. Hopefully I can get it done and will not be up till two Saturday morning like the last two matches.

From your target, assuming shots were all good and not affected by aiming through mirage, 33 is where I would expect you to end up but like others stated, I’d probably shoot them again in .1 increments like 32.8-33.2 at least. I’ve had good results with Vtac around 10 off.