Robert Graduous made my AIAX 6mm Dasher a dream come true

[Renomd]

Robert Graduous is an absolute genius when it comes to mastering rifle builds, I’ve used many gunsmiths for builds and AIAX barrels; but, he is king when it comes to chambering an accurate barrel. I’ve been shooting his barrels before the reigning PRS champ was using him to spin up dasher barrels. Yep the top shooter in the PRS circuit uses Graduous.

Using HRD mag spacers for the AW mag I’m able to get the rifle to feed properly. I will admit that ejection needs to be authoratative, if you try to eject a 6 dasher case slowly from an AI it will spin around.
Robert spun up a 24” barrel, heavy palma, and I worked up an excellent load using a JLK 105 jumped 0.015”, Varget 31.8 gr, cci450, and it one holes consistently. I’m using a suppressor and wanted to run a milder load. Velocity is 2900 fps over a magnetospeed.

Pictured is the same load during load development shot in separate relays (aka the Paul Reid method). Sub 1/4 moa by far..... 0.093 MOA !!!

If you want an insanely effortlessly accurate rifle or barrel I suggest having @Robert Gradous chamber one up for you! It’s no surprise that he’s gotten much busier after word spread that the PRS champ uses him for his 6 dasher barrels. Yet he can still turn them around in a couple of weeks...


Disclaimer: I am not at all sponsored by Robert nor have any financial interest

 

[Keyst0ne]

+1 On Gradous! I have three barrels from him for my AX. All are perfect, shoot lights out, and cerakoted "Slagle Green" to very nearly match AI Sage Green.

 

[Renomd]

+1 On Gradous! I have three barrels from him for my AX. All are perfect, shoot lights out, and cerakoted "Slagle Green" to very nearly match AI Sage Green.

Haha Slagle green

 

[verdugo60]

Are you using a premium barrel from Robert or his button rifled? I'm using one of his button rifled ones on my AT and it is a 1/2 to 3/4 moa tube in 6mm br. Just wondering if a bartlien or Rock Creek would tighten things up a little nore. Trying a different bullet this weekend.

I agree though, great guy and a pleasure to work with. He knows his stuff.

 

[Renomd]

@verdugo60 I have two button cuts one in 6 dasher and one in 6.5 creedmoor, and several premium barrels spun up by Robert. One thing to note is the 6mm button cuts are 3 grooves so they won’t behave like a 5r. On top of that my experience is you won’t see stability until 200 rounds or more. I was right at 225 and things tightened up, and I saw a generous increase in speed and stability. I went back out and things really tightened up around 275. I did do a thorough cleaning on my 6 dasher barrel (wipe out, then scrubbed it with a nylon brush) and especially knocked out a carbon ring in the neck. 6br is prone to carbon rings too if your using Varget. Carbon rings will destroy accuracy.

The 6.5cm button cut had been 1hole fun with Berger 140 hybrids, 140 match burners, and 130 JLK s.

The same bullets may also not behave the same in the button vs rifle cut. In my 6 dasher button cut, Berger 105s were only ok, 1/2 moa. 105 JLKs have consistently grouped 1/4 moa or less. Suprisingly Nosler 105 rdf s (the recent lots) shot really well. See attached 5 rounds.

I would keep working at it.
@verdugo60 what is your round count and loads? What are your lands measurements?

 

[verdugo60]

@Renomd , thanks for the detailed info, I'll have to keep that in mind. I'm right at 200 fired rounds in the br. Haven't used varget yet but have heard the same in the carbon ring.

My 95 gr TMK load is averaging .5ish moa @ 3000 fps with IMR 4895.

Trying 110 smk's and Varget tomorrow in a ladder test with some extras loaded for sighters/groups.

Will be interesting if things start tightening up soon. Love the low recoil and Lapua brass.

 

[djarecke]

That’s amazing accuracy from a top-notch smith. I’ve been thinking about a BR or Dasher barrel for my AX too!

 

[BullzeyeNJ]

That’s amazing accuracy from a top-notch smith. I’ve been thinking about a BR or Dasher barrel for my AX too!

Gradous did a 6BR for my AX308 and it shoots tiny little bugholes. It’s a pure pleasure to shoot. The man knows how to spin a barrel.

 

[verdugo60]

My barrel may be settling in, my Varget/110 smk ladder test at 600 yds went really well. Found two nodes, both with 1/4 inch vertical difference at 600 between loads.