How so? I don’t use either so I have no dog in the fight.
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I use both and the Micron Die is smoother on the sizing. I also punch primers while I size with the BC Micron die without introducing any runout. This saves a step for me. They are both great dies when it comes down to it.
What he said. The micron was amazingly smooth and couldn’t be more consistent. I’m not saying the Redding is bad by any means. I just really liked switching with the results I got from the Micron
I would recommend Whidden, I have their regular (non bushing) click adjustable die. I went custom (sent them 3 pieces of fired brass) but I have no doubt their off the shelf non custom die would work fine too.
Im getting into dasher the game and seeing magnum primers in everyones pet loads all over. Seeing the cartridge makes me think this is not the one I would have guessed as using magnum primers. Can anyone explain why this tiny little case is using magnum primers?
What are the specific results that lead to choosing mag primers vs regular primers? It obviously works, but it does seem counterintuitive. Is it es/sd? Higher velocity? Holds pressure better? I have a few magnum SRP's but way more standard SRP's by far. What am I missing out on by going with non magnum primers? Is it worth it to run regulars or do I need to start looking for magnum primers?
Personally, I found my groups improved with the CCI 450's vs. other primers. The change was surprisingly noticeable.
Another outstanding addition was the Berger 105 Hybrid, which you also see repeated in the load data.
I think a common misconception is that "magnum" primers are for big, over-bore cartridges. If memory serves, "magnum" small rifle primers were developed to improve the ignition of ball type powders common in military use (someone, please correct me if I am wrong about this).
My advice: experiment; you won't know until you try.
Another outstanding addition was the Berger 105 Hybrid, which you also see repeated in the load data.
I think a common misconception is that "magnum" primers are for big, over-bore cartridges. If memory serves, "magnum" small rifle primers were developed to improve the ignition of ball type powders common in military use (someone, please correct me if I am wrong about this).
My advice: experiment; you won't know until you try.
Curious to hear peoples thoughts on the VT bullets as well.
Also..
Anyone running VV N135 in their dashers? Ive got a ton of N150 but just came across 6lbs of N135. I know its used in .223 and .308 a lot but haven't seen any data for the dasher. Should be close H4895 and 8208. Ive had great success with both of those powders.
My first Dasher barrel (Proof TL3 prefit) is just about at the end of its life. I’m hoping that going forward this can be my initial fireforming barrel for Lapua 6BR brass but wanted to see if anyone has run into any issues using an “old” like-for-like barrel for the first fireforming to save wear on my new prefit?
screw the new barrel on. take a shot.
compare measurements between barrels
fwiw my 2 proof dasher barrels are within half a thou on headspace. half of my brass was fired in one barrel and half will be in the other. new peterson dasher brass. result 500 pieces once fired brass and 2 barrels through speed up/break in
How many rounds did your Proof prefit last?
Proof Prefit 26” Comp contour. ~750 rounds on the barrel. 105 Hybrid, .003” off the lands, 31.5 Varget, Fed 205, Alpha 1st gen brass.
2900fps, ES lol, 5 in .212”.
2900fps, ES lol, 5 in .212”.
N150
30.2gr
105 berger hybrid
205m primers
.020 jump
2844 fps
ES 10
SD 3.4
Sub .25 MOA group
26" Rock Creek barrel
AI
30.2gr
105 berger hybrid
205m primers
.020 jump
2844 fps
ES 10
SD 3.4
Sub .25 MOA group
26" Rock Creek barrel
AI
I’m just past 2,500 and it’s starting to open up a bit. Definitely won’t be retiring it, just using it for fireforming/ringing steel. Went from ~.25 MOA to about .5 MOA. SDs still look good
Did a charge weight test today with Varget, Alpha Brass, CCI 450, 107gr SMK.
Nothing to impressive because I sucked. Groups could be tighter but I shot poorly and allergies were kicking my butt.
I'm going with 31.7gr and testing seating depth next. These were all at .020" off jam.
31.5 gr wasn't terrible; the first shot was my first shot after screwing on the barrel so I'm not sure if that is due to the AI barrel settling in after being torqued down so I'm ignorning that one. shot 2 was dead centered. Still .75" vertical stringing is on me since at 100 yard the 23 ES wouldn't do that.
31.6 gr was my best group. Although .45" isn't anything great.
31.7" more vertical stringing. With an SD of 3.6 and 2,888 FPS I'm going to try to work with this more. I know I can do better and should be able to tighten this up.
31.8gr, I'm cheating and ignoring a flyer. Maybe I'll revisit 31.8gr and 31.9gr later at some point to retest.
And then everything else above 31.9gr grouped poorly. It looks like I was getting to a high node around 32.4gr and I wasn't seeing pressure signs but that's higher than I'm looking to push it, I'm happy with medium velocities around 2,900 FPS.
Nothing to impressive because I sucked. Groups could be tighter but I shot poorly and allergies were kicking my butt.
I'm going with 31.7gr and testing seating depth next. These were all at .020" off jam.
| Charge | Avg | SD | ES | |
| 31.5 | 2875 | 8.6 | 23 | |
| 31.6 | 2882 | 6 | 13 | |
| 31.7 | 2888 | 3.6 | 11 | |
| 31.8 | 2901 | 6.3 | 16 | |
| 31.9 | 2904 | 3.8 | 9 | |
| 32 | 2916 | 6.8 | 18 | |
| 32.1 | 2923 | 7 | 19 | |
| 32.2 | 2927 | 13.5 | 27 | 3 shot |
| 32.3 | 2944 | 5.4 | 12 | |
| 32.4 | 2944 | 3.7 | 9 |
31.5 gr wasn't terrible; the first shot was my first shot after screwing on the barrel so I'm not sure if that is due to the AI barrel settling in after being torqued down so I'm ignorning that one. shot 2 was dead centered. Still .75" vertical stringing is on me since at 100 yard the 23 ES wouldn't do that.
31.6 gr was my best group. Although .45" isn't anything great.
31.7" more vertical stringing. With an SD of 3.6 and 2,888 FPS I'm going to try to work with this more. I know I can do better and should be able to tighten this up.
31.8gr, I'm cheating and ignoring a flyer. Maybe I'll revisit 31.8gr and 31.9gr later at some point to retest.
And then everything else above 31.9gr grouped poorly. It looks like I was getting to a high node around 32.4gr and I wasn't seeing pressure signs but that's higher than I'm looking to push it, I'm happy with medium velocities around 2,900 FPS.
What did 32.4 look like
Bad, about 1.1". The SD/ES where good but the group was not.
I have ran 32.3, 32.5, and 33.9(yup!) over the coarse of about 6 barrels, most being 32.3. You can't go wrong. The SD and es on every load looks good. Groups could be you or seating depth, mirage, hell who knows. Pick one and go with it!
Did more load development for the Dasher (and a little bit with a 6.5 Creedmoor) today. I still haven't dialed in a solid load for the 107gr SMK's, maybe .070 off jam is promising but would need more testing. I did find my barrel likes 112gr Match Burners so I'm going to work with those for now. Barrel is a PVA Osprey Barrel Works, 1:7, 26" M24.
112gr Match Burner data with virgin Alpha brass, CCI 450's and Varget. All loaded .010 off jam.
Any hotter loadings with either the 107's or 112's don't shoot well for me; 32.1gr looks like a winner until I shoot through my virgin brass and tweak the load. I felt like I could have done better and made this all a one hole group but I'm still happy with this:
32.2 was fair:
32.3 was starting to drop off and all the higher charges where mediocre.
112gr Match Burner data with virgin Alpha brass, CCI 450's and Varget. All loaded .010 off jam.
| Charge | Avg | SD | ES |
| 32.1 | 2902 | 6 | 13 |
| 32.2 | 2902 | 2.6 | 7 |
| 32.3 | 2915 | 9.8 | 27 |
| 32.4 | 2917 | 11.4 | 30 |
| 32.5 | 2929 | 4.8 | 13 |
| 32.6 | 2942 | 4.5 | 13 |
| 32.7 | 2942 | 11.7 | 32 |
Any hotter loadings with either the 107's or 112's don't shoot well for me; 32.1gr looks like a winner until I shoot through my virgin brass and tweak the load. I felt like I could have done better and made this all a one hole group but I'm still happy with this:
32.2 was fair:
32.3 was starting to drop off and all the higher charges where mediocre.
Did some load development with varget, imr4895 with new 109gr Berger 0.030 jump / alpha ocd / cci450. Will test seating depth next weekend. Bighorn Origin ss proof prefit.
Vaget
31.5 @ 2855 (5 shots ) ES 6
31.8 @ 2880 ES 16
32.2 @ 2922 ES 20
IMR4896
30.5 @ 2790 ES 10
31.0 @ 2810 ES 15
31.5 @ 2850 ES 23
Vaget
31.5 @ 2855 (5 shots ) ES 6
31.8 @ 2880 ES 16
32.2 @ 2922 ES 20
IMR4896
30.5 @ 2790 ES 10
31.0 @ 2810 ES 15
31.5 @ 2850 ES 23
Did a little elr with the dasher today. Took 23.8 mil to hit 1 mile(first pic). Also had an approx 8in, 3 shot group at 1500 yards. Load is 32.3, cci 450, 107 Sierra. 
Both the guys at SAC and Alpha recommended .266 when I asked them for the bushing size to use with Alpha brass. This is if you are using a mandrel (0.2415 size). They said the other two would not yield enough tension to fully engage the mandrel.
If you are not using a mandrel, they said .266 or .267 would work.
Anyone running 109 Hybrids at 2820-2850 Varger?
One my good friends is. One barrel is 105s @ 2900, other barrel is 109s at like 2840, want me to inquire charge weight? I know he's running lapua brass and cci450. 109s back around 50-60 jump, in whatever chamber proof cuts their pre fits with. Both barrels shoot very well.
Finally got around to testing jump sensitivity with 112gn Match Burners. They are insensitive to jump and held the same POI from jam out to .050". I'm sure the jump measurements don't exactly equal the current jump since the jam measurement was with a new barrel and I'm at 650 rounds now. I'm going with 0.0" jump (which is probably really in the 0.005" - 0.015" range) and I should never have to mess with jump again with this barrel.
26" PVA Osprey Barrel Works
112 Match Burners
Alpha brass
31.6gn Varget
CCI 45
2885 FPS
Jam (measured when barrel was new)
0.010"
0.020"
0.030"
0.040"
0.050"
0.060" noticeable POI shift:
26" PVA Osprey Barrel Works
112 Match Burners
Alpha brass
31.6gn Varget
CCI 45
2885 FPS
Jam (measured when barrel was new)
0.010"
0.020"
0.030"
0.040"
0.050"
0.060" noticeable POI shift:
30.7gr N150 at 2820. Guess he switched powders.
Thanks for the info. That gets me in the ball park
What free bore are you using?
Is a proof prefit, so it FB should be .125
I run them at 2860 with H4350.
I just want make sure I'm going tocget enough case fill at 2820-2850 with Varget to not cause issues
Been shooting my buddies 6 dasher at comps and he is loading 30 grains of varget w/108 eld's. Chrono'd 2840 avg. Don't have group pictures though. Hits everything you aim at out to a 1000.
I'm building one right now and should be assembled next week. Proof barrel, impact action. Alpha brass and 108 eld's. Don't have powder yet, but gonna shoot for the 2840's with what ever powder I get. Varget probably isn't gonna happen. I'm not paying gunbroker prices
I'm building one right now and should be assembled next week. Proof barrel, impact action. Alpha brass and 108 eld's. Don't have powder yet, but gonna shoot for the 2840's with what ever powder I get. Varget probably isn't gonna happen. I'm not paying gunbroker prices
I run 109 Hybrids closer to 2880 with 32gr Varget in Lapua brass. Played around with a node at 31.5gr in the range you described but got lower SDs at 32gr.
I’m settle with this load
32.5 N140 2885fps 112gr Barnes MB
32.5 N140 2885fps 112gr Barnes MB
1:7.5 twist bartlein
Alpha OCD brass
Berger 105 VLD hunting
.025 jump
31.5g RL15
2850 fps
.2 to .3 MOA if I do my part
Alpha OCD brass
Berger 105 VLD hunting
.025 jump
31.5g RL15
2850 fps
.2 to .3 MOA if I do my part
Looks good! Curious how far you're jumping the 112s?
Just got a dasher yesterday and loaded up 10 rounds to play with. Loaded five with 31.5gr varget with a avg speed of 2850 SD of 10.5. And the other five with 32.4gr varget with an avg speed of 2920. In alpha OCD brass, alpha reamer. 108 Berger BT target through an ultra 9. Both groups were 1/2" off a shitty bench with people blasting away with muzzle brakes and hunting rifles. Going to explore the 32.4gr load some more tomorrow.
Why not run a GT at that point?
