Which 6 has the EDGE?

Hodgie · Post by **Hodgie** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 10:55 pm

After being smashed at Cessnock OPM with a clean sheet and not enough Xs, I have made the decision to go with a Six for the shorts and a Seven for the Longs.Really would appreciate any opinions as to what Six combo will give me the edge ! ps Hopeless at reading wind, Maybe a poll/vote. Am just about to order everything for the Dasher, Is this the right choice?

Cameron Mc · Post by **Cameron Mc** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:16 pm

I would go with the Dasher. Larger 6's will give a little more velocity, but that is the only plus as I see it.
With the Dasher you get high accuracy. Reasonable barrel life. Cases will last a long time. Once you get a Dasher humming you can put all your effort into technique and learning to read wind.

My thoughts
Cam

DaveMc · Post by **DaveMc** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:21 am

Hodgie - yes the dasher would be my choice too (I have a very accurate BR and built a wildcat 6*46 (long BR) on shortened 308 case that I then used 6.5*47 cases when they came out - but would go the Dasher next time).

BUT I think if you are basing your decision purely on this open you may be disappointed in the long run.

I take it you shoot 7mm at the moment???

It appears (if I am correct on website name) that you shot a 60.9 and 60.8 in the first 2 ranges and came third averaging 7 x's in a quality field with 5 clean sheets and 5 more only dropping 1 point. You were dragged down only by your last range (60.4) and if this was because of a couple of slight changes in wind then a dasher won't help you at all (in fact you may well have gotten less x's - or worse).

You shot brilliantly

and actually proved the bigger caliber is just as capable of high x's at the shorts with your two first ranges. In our experience up here with small twitchy winds the 7mm's actually average higher x counts in general and keep up with the 6's in even the lightest of conditions and short ranges. They are fully capable of 60.10 at 300 yards despite what many people will tell you.

I have an accurate 6mm - it sits in the cupboard unless I just want to play. The only exceptions are on extremely calm days (rare and the 284 shoots just as high a score) and I would pull it out for a fly shoot. - I see an advantage at rattling them down quick as well if you wanted to set up like Matt for the ET's.

BUT for this Open - I have to say I don't think you were beaten because you didn't have a 6mm - even if the other top runners did have them.

Post by **AlanF** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:33 am

Personally, I've never had a 6mm that won anything much, so probably not the best person to ask, but I do think there are advantages to specialising in one calibre, and I have no doubt that the 7mm is a better all-rounder than the 6, or even the 6.5. When in cuts up rough at the longs, those Berger 180s are currently the best thing to have.

Alan

macguru · Post by **macguru** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:21 am

6mm Dasher, broughton 5c or Bartlein 1000yd f class profile 1:8

then use your 7mm with 180s when its windy (gusting) at the longs. Your 7mm is one of the good ones, that pac nor is accurate and your elevations were good. Still, I can see why you dont want to wear it out in club shoots !

the 6x47 is accurate but you need to be prepared to buy more barrels

The higher velocity will give it the EDGE over the dasher but at a price. Also, you have a great 7 for those situations...

Brad Y · Post by **Brad Y** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:13 am

The whole reason I have a dasher is for club shooting and 1000ydBR when I want to rattle them off quick. Its cheaper to run than a 308, superbly accurate and even with a good BC, those 105 hybrids will still drift when it gets rough- making me learn from the wind. I made the choice not to use it in serious f class competition unless its a specific short range event. The difference between it and the 7mm in recoil is huge and I dont want to risk developing a flinch or having gun handling issues between swapping calibers.

I choose to run a 6.5mm that really shoots great scores and is ballistically not far off a 7mm for my lighter recoiling option. Its pleasant to shoot all day and will do very well. But if its down right rough and at the longs, the 7's consistantly produce the goods world wide- and thats usually where an event is won and lost. Tuning all rifles to the point where they can score 60's with very high x counts in calm conditions is important. But sometimes when you get down and it was switchy for you but still for another person... well thats just shooting. You did well to stay clean for the event.

BRETT B · Post by **BRETT B** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:49 am

What calibre are you running now?

Hodgie · Post by **Hodgie** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:27 pm

Thanks for the responses guys. Currently have a straight 284 and am extremely fortinute to be part of a great F Class club that all have six/seven combos. The sledging is unbearable!, so have to join them to stay in the hunt as am allways being flogged by the Sixes.Seems in calm conditions they have edge.ps good luck to the North Sydney boys at Wingham this weekend. All short ranges.so wish I could be there

mike H · Post by **mike H** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:21 pm

Hodgie
I would suggest you travel away to ranges that give a bit more challenge,this idea that 60;s with high centre counts are normal is flawed, In reality it is not like that. The scores that you appear to be disappointed with are good sound results.
When you have shot around most of Australia,through easy ranges and hard you will get used to the occasional flogging.
I don;t think having calibres and rifles for different ranges is going to help.
Since I am not a F/O shooter you are free to ignore my suggestions.
Mike.

macguru · Post by **macguru** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:14 pm

Mike, a lot of the country ranges around Sydney hold 1-2 day events that go back to only 600 yards. Under the right conditions the 6br/dasher/brx calibres are a pleasure to shoot and can give a high centre count. Having said that, some 7mm and 308s can get similar groups. A few F std shooters at hornsby rifle range (well 2 or 3 actually) are getting similar results with the berger full bore projectiles and only drop an extra point or so when the breeze blows compared to the higher bc open rifles. I admit hornsby is an easy range.

I think being even more hardware centric, F open shooters like to have a couple of irons in the fire so they are prepared when the wind blows...

Chopper · Post by **Chopper** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:41 pm

Sorry, but I cant help myself, do a 6 in dasher or 47 and put more time into wind reading, and you will have your fair share of wins ,as much as any , i did a seven a while ago and had to read the wind again, and wound more out than in , too good for me

a full bore shooter in 308 knows his gun, put him in FO and he starts again, correct me if im wrong, not many i think can read them all :?:

Chop.

KHGS · Post by **KHGS** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:43 am

Chopper wrote:Sorry, but I cant help myself, do a 6 in dasher or 47 and put more time into wind reading, and you will have your fair share of wins ,as much as any , i did a seven a while ago and had to read the wind again, and wound more out than in , too good for me a full bore shooter in 308 knows his gun, put him in FO and he starts again, correct me if im wrong, not many i think can read them all Chop.

Beware of the "one gun man" :lol:

Keith H.

ned kelly · Post by **ned kelly** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:44 pm

G'day all,
6x47 Lapua. Why? see below
1. easy to form,
2. can be loaded back to Dasher performance if required
3. relatively cheap brass AND dies.
4. long neck unlike a dasher, for chasing the throat wear.
5. Cases seem to last a long time.
6. Easy to tune (like a 6BR)
7. According to the sierra infinity ballistic program, mine at an estimated 3140fps (based on real world come ups) with 107SMK (moly) has sightly more wind drift at 1000yds compared to a 6.5-284 with a 142SMK @ 2850fps
8. Shoots with AMAZING PRECISION (I've had two) Shoots less than 0.3moa off a bench at 150yds, and recently gave me a 60-8 at 300yds.

Love mine!
Cheerio Ned

Quick · Post by **Quick** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:16 am

I have a 6x47L and am going away from it. Its a fine rifle for the shorts but its at times hard to tune the vertical out of it at 900 and 1000yds. And id prefer to have one rifle for all ranges. So a 7mm-08AI is what I'm building now.

if you want it for the shorts then go ahead but as a rifle for all ranges choose a 6.5 or similar.

I'm taking my rifle to the nationals so will see how the 6x47L stacks up against the bigger stuff.

Also im on my 2nd barrel and both have been hard to tune.

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:15 pm

Did you consider trying something like the 140gr VLD's, or maybe a flat-base version down to 120gr and sneeking up on them with the 284W?

I can't imagine there would be much difference in the BC between a 140gr-7mm and a +105gr-6mm out to 600y. Especially if you average the BC over the higher operating velocity with the 140gr's.

Alan, didn't you have some initial success using a flat-base 77gr a 224cal in the early-mid 2000's?