Finally got the Savage Dasher running Sunday Gunday!
I got just over 200 pieces of mostly 1x brass with it LOL
After priming it all it's mostly junk, most will barely hold a primer. There were maybe 30 pieces that were tight and another 30 that were decent, the rest is scrap.
Lesson learned I guess.
Any way I zeroed the scope with 4 then cleaned, shot 6 and cleaned, then shot 10 and cleaned and then shot about 4 sighters and the 15 shot ladder and cleaned.
I probably should have cleaned a little more frequently but I did not. The Rock Creek 28" 8 twist heavy varmint caught very little copper and the random 32g load of Varget and a 103 V Tacs was a little on the sooty side.
The new to me Sharpshooter comp trigger is nice but a little on the heavy side compared to my Bix & Andy or Jewell.
The gun shot well enough and it looked like the ladder was just getting to it's happy place where I left off. Unfortunately since the brass is junk I'll have to decide how many pieces of new Alpha I want to dedicate to the gun and "set" the heads with a lighter load to harden it up.
Here's a few pics.
Here's the powder ladder.
First pic is the Dasher center and right with the Panda running a different lot of powder to the left, top and bottom.
Close up of the Dasher ladder then speeds from the Dasher/Rock Creek shots 26 - 45 +/-
New Alpha Dashers, went with 30.2 g Varget and 103 VT Tacs
May be a while getting to them.
How do you like the Alpha dasher brass? My gunsmith was having issue with the Alpha brass and is going back to Lapua. I don't recall the exact issue.
I haven't fired the first piece yet Robin but my gunsmith is running it in his 11 year old sons Dasher and had a very successful rookie junior season against some of the best 1000 yard shooters out there.
I noticed it chambered very smoothly compared to the old Lapua which means not a lot, new barrel and used brass.
I have 500 pieces of Alpha Dasher turned and weight sorted. Seems there are reports about initial tight pockets before firing and then pockets that loosen after several firings.
My Dasher is finally done and will be christened soon, but I can't report right now.
I know several competitors that have won their matches using virgin Alpha brass. I believe it because it is the tightest sorting brass I've ever seen. Weight range was 0.8 grains total over 500 pieces. 290 of the 500 fell within a 0.2 grain range. The brass is soft out of the factory and I have been given a recommendation to set the brass on first firing with a light load. Evidently this hardens the case head without over stretching the primer pocket right out of the gate. I will break my barrel in with a medium range charge and then load development with the fired cases. That's the plan anyways. ????
I have been using Alpha Dasher brass this season and they shoot well, but the primer pockets suck. They are not consistent and seem to have a lip on them. I have a primer pocket go no gage and the go will not go. When priming on my RCBS bench primer they do not feel consistent. Lapua brass feel all the same. I am looking forward to Peterson brass when it is released.
Eric
Eric I'm surprised you are not uniforming your pockets after the first firing. I have a RCBS bench primer that just sits there until I'm doing reloading for non-comp cases. It just won't give me the feel or consistency in seating that a 21st or Sinclair hand primer will.
Jerry, I had a wrist fracture years ago and it's bone on bone now so using a hand primer is a no go.
Eric
Quote from: eas1949 on August 26, 2020, 10:15:21 AMJerry, I had a wrist fracture years ago and it's bone on bone now so using a hand primer is a no go.
Eric
Well that sucks - everything else about me is falling apart but fortunately my arms and hands are hanging in there. Sorry about your wrist my friend. Hasn't stopped you from shooting well and that's what counts! ????
My virgin Alphas felt both tight and consistent.
Like stated above mine are getting a light load before any serious load development begins.
I started to say something about the characteristics associated with the term virgin - but thought I better not.
:-[
You might not notice those characteristics if you check them out with a "small" primer...????
Well, I just got off the phone with Alpha to discuss their primer pockets. It seems that the issue I described was found in some of their earlier Dasher brass. They have subsequently changed the bevel angle on the primer pockets to correct the issue so you may see some owners like me complain about the pockets and those with more recent purchases have no issue at all.
I cant believe how fast they responded to my email message. Called back within 2 minutes of me sending the message.
They also noted that newer brass has harder bases which they say will last a lot longer and take more pressure.
Eric
I had several opportunities over the last two years to talk to either Bob or Tom. They have always been very helpful. There goal is to produce the best brass made anywhere in the world. Great guys.
That's good information Eric. Thanks for sharing.
Here I thought the Alpha brass was large primer and was really believing the whole tight primer talk the other evening. So who made / is making large primer Dasher Brass???
There was a huge debate about it last winter on AS, I could have swore it was Alpha.
Never mind....It was about the larger than Lapua .080" flash hole not the primer size I believe.
Correct
Just to add to the fire. :D
Read on another site that Peterson in the next 2 weeks is coming
out with 6 Dasher brass.
Could be BS
Just have to wait.
Hard to believe after all these years now companies are clamoring to make some high end brass in wildcat calibers.
It's good to see a couple upstart American companies give Lapua and Norma a run for their money. Lapua makes great brass no doubt but they are no longer sole king of the hill for top quality brass.
I agree! Everyone says they want to buy American if given the chance and I feel the same way. Without dropping names there are others as well.
It will be different so don't expect it to be the same. These companies are trying to make a better product not copy it.
Work up the load with an open mind and give it an honest chance without expecting it to be the same as Lapua and I bet success will be found.
If an issue is found contact the company and work through it with them instead of jumping on the internet and giving them a bad review.
We as reloaders can help them bring a good product to market or run them off the rails right off the bat it's our choice.
I remember a few years ago there was no Lapua 6 BR brass to be had. Lost at sea of I recall. That wouldn't happen buying American.
Back at this one again.
Set the 100 pieces of Alpha today with nothing really to look at but the Chrono numbers.
The barrel had 60 rounds to start off and had 160 after ff the Alpha. I chono'd 6 strings of 10+ rounds and tried to keep cold barrel shots and foulers off the strings.
The steady velocity gain was not really a surprise but the ES and SD numbers and the average speed had a pattern to them.
All 100 pieces had the same charge and seating depth.
Shot a powder ladder from 31.2 to 32 in .2 g increments at .006" in this evening.
Quote from: HufD63 on September 13, 2020, 08:18:13 PMBack at this one again.
Set the 100 pieces of Alpha today with nothing really to look at but the Chrono numbers.
The barrel had 60 rounds to start off and had 160 after ff the Alpha. I chono'd 6 strings of 10+ rounds and tried to keep cold barrel shots and foulers off the strings.
The steady velocity gain was not really a surprise but the ES and SD numbers and the average speed had a pattern to them.
All 100 pieces had the same charge and seating depth.
Interesting pattern....when we search for "charge" nodes.. are we actually searching for a velocity node?....i think I've seen two different powders shoot their best at close to same velocity...Does that make sense?....im thinking out loud again.
https://www.65creedmoor.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=11436.0;attach=10286
Here's a graph from a while back flat spots at 2908 with both powders....???
It absolutely makes sense.
I got busy eating last night and forgot to throw up the speeds on the above ladder.
Next problem with the Dasher / Alpha combo is the necks need turned. I've got very minimal clearance.
Brett is working his magic on the old wood butchered Savage
He does amazing work. Im sure it will be incredible when he's done with it.. cant wait to see it
Masked off for color then the orange
Then spray the black
Then peel the mask
I still got a lil work to do making butt plate and polishing rails. It'll give me something to do while I let this cure for a couple days before sanding and reclearing with Simtech's polyester.
Very snazzy! ????????????
Think I better get some clear bag rider tape for the bottom of that butt.
That's going to be a beautiful tool to work with...
Butt plate shouldn't be to uncomfortable for Dave.
Prepping for hand pinstripes this evening.
Brett, is their anyway you can make it shoot smaller
groups for Dave? He needs all the help he can get. ;) LOL
Quote from: Ranger 188 on January 25, 2021, 01:43:19 PMBrett, is their anyway you can make it shoot smaller
groups for Dave? He needs all the help he can get. ;) LOL
That's gonna be a tough job, but I'll give it a go.
Of course I'll need the barreled action and components shipped to me.
Quote from: Ranger 188 on January 25, 2021, 01:43:19 PMBrett, is their anyway you can make it shoot smaller
groups for Dave? He needs all the help he can get. ;) LOL
He'll I'm not even sure it will shoot.... New barrel, new trigger, new brass, new bullets, new butt plate, remodeled stock.
Could wind up being the nicest Savage ever to not shoot ????
Quote from: HufD63 on January 25, 2021, 09:07:54 PMHe'll I'm not even sure it will shoot.... New barrel, new trigger, new brass, new bullets, new butt plate, remodeled stock.
Could wind up being the nicest Savage ever to not shoot ????
Send it all over here, I' be happy to dial her in for ya!
I like a nice butt!
Quote from: BCz on January 25, 2021, 09:43:39 PMSend it all over here, I' be happy to dial her in for ya!
I like a nice butt!
I got enough into a Savage already without more shipping LOL
Sneak peek
Think Brett has a new permanent pin striper!!
That looks very well done. ????
Few more
She's done
A few more
Looks very good Dave. ????
Quote from: jvw2008 on January 31, 2021, 05:07:59 PMLooks very good Dave. ????
Now if it'll shoot as good as it looks!
I don't know - it's got a bunch of squiggly lines all over it. ????
Dave is a damn good driver so I bet it does well. ????
Looks good dave. Nice work brett..
Im looking forward to see if the savage action can keep up with dave's custom actions as far as accuracy goes.. i know dave will get the most he can out of it..
It's pretty much a "new" gun Grant,
New shouldered barrel that's just a little more than broke in.
New to me SSS trigger
Newly remodeled freshly painted stock, Brett did an amazing job straightening out my "handy" work along with getting the fore end in spec and shaping it up.
New brass
New bullets I'm planning on using
New Alpha brass
I'm looking forward to seeing what it will do.
Hopefully it surprises the hell out of you.
Would be nice to have a screamer right out of the gate.
Quote from: Ranger 188 on January 31, 2021, 08:33:52 PMHopefully it surprises the hell out of you.
Would be nice to have a screamer right out of the gate.
After screwing around with some used brass then FF 100 pieces of new Alpha I shot 1 powder ladder with the 1x Alpha, Varget & Vtacs. It came in small at 32g at 3000 fps +/-
I need to set at least another 100 pieces and skim the necks then get serious, never ends....
Are you using the vtac's to break-in the barrel or are you
going to try them in competition?
Quote from: Ranger 188 on January 31, 2021, 11:07:25 PMAre you using the vtac's to break-in the barrel or are you
going to try them in competition?
I used them so far (160+/- rounds) probably stay with them for the time being.
They have sure performed well in competition even alongside the hand pulled offerings.
Quote from: jvw2008 on February 01, 2021, 05:54:46 PMThey have sure performed well in competition even alongside the hand pulled offerings.
I know more than a few shooters that have quit the hand pulls and shoot the V Tacs now. I suspect it has some to do with price and availability as well though.
They sort better than Bergers but no where as good as the hand pulled Vapor Trails. I've been sitting on a 1000 of them trying to decide how best to use them.
Just shoot em' Jerry
Thanks to Brett
@BCz Brett started with a pretty gnarly POS here.
A testament to his skills!
Not great pics, was cold and losing the sunlight fast
Hows this shooting?
Quote from: BCz on February 11, 2021, 08:48:23 PMHows this shooting?
That there's funny, don't care who you is...
Obviously you've been missing the weather reports, -28° again this morning.
Excuses, excuses ????
And we thought you were tuff.
That's in the morning, it get's up to 0 during the day doesn't it?
Quote from: Ranger 188 on February 11, 2021, 10:42:33 PMAnd we thought you were tuff.
That's in the morning, it get's up to 0 during the day doesn't it?
The last week it has NOT, I'll tuff out some cold weather but not with much wind and we've had plenty of that too.
The stupid orange box thing (Labradar) doesn't work if you get much below 20° either. Not a big deal for fire forming but I'd like to have data for tuning.
(The stupid orange box thing)
Lmao!!!
Quote from: gman47564 on February 12, 2021, 08:37:14 AM(The stupid orange box thing)
Lmao!!!
I have to admit I stole that line from Tom Mousel, a world class 1000 yard shooter.