Choosing Your Precision Rifle Ammunition: Factory vs. Reload

Do you want the easy off the shelf answer or do you already reload? This is really the question to
answer before we get into any of the other minutia. The fact is that any of the common calibers in
precision rifle have and will continue to win matches. Starting out, that’s not the goal. The goal is to
enjoy the sport, learn and improve.

The Factory Ammo Route: 6.5 Creedmoor

Factory Ammo is amazing. You won’t be leaving anything on the table by shooting quality factory ammo
at a match. In fact, several large 2 day matches have been won with factory ammo. So if you haven’t
reloaded, do not have the time or do not want to reload any longer then running factory makes a lot of
sense.

6.5 Creedmoor is by far the most used round in precision rifle competition today. It’s a fantastic
cartridge for our sport and you can buy it online in bulk or at your local shop or sporting goods store any
day of the week. 6.5 CM is the great compromise of good ballistics, light recoil, good barrel life and
consistency. Factory loadings like Federal’s Gold Medal Match with 140 grain Berger Hybrids are
incredibly accurate and consistent. Hornady’s 140 ELD-M loading is another great option that has been a
staple of long range competitions since it was introduced.

There are several new factory calibers available like 6 Creedmoor, literally 6.5 mm necked down to 6
mm, and 6 GT that do offer the advantage of even less recoil. The drawbacks are less barrel life and
availability. If you’ve decided on the Factory route, it’s because you want to spend more time shooting
and less time fiddling. Stick with 6.5 Creedmoor for your first season then revisit other calibers.

The Reloading Path: Discovering 6 Dasher

This route will require some special equipment outside of reloading so again, if you want to spend your
time shooting instead of tinkering, run factory ammo for a year. However, if you already reload rifle
calibers and you have a good understanding of the reloading process (discussed elsewhere), there are
several advantages to running reloads.

6 Dasher is the golden cartridge of the Benchrest (BR) family of cartridges for years amassing win after
win after win. Today, the real important factor that makes Dasher a great choice for a first caliber is
factory brass is readily available. Quality manufacturers like Peterson and Alpha have grown by making
brass for competition cartridges outside of shooting at large so there’s no longer the drawbacks of
availability or the dreaded fireforming process.

The 6 Dasher can be summed up as Unicorn cartridge with features extremely well suited for precision
competition. The Dasher has the advantages of being accurate and efficient while also being light
recoiling, having excellent barrel life and being extremely simple to reload. The 40-degree Ackley-type
shoulder is part of the magic of the Dasher and part of the all the advantages above. The Dasher uses
less powder to achieve a specific velocity than other cartridges which again, is an advantage in terms of
less recoil and longer barrel life.

There are a few small drawbacks to starting your precision journey with the Dasher. First, don’t expect
to find Dasher brass at your local Scheel’s. You’ll also need Dasher / BR specific AICS pattern magazines though these are also readily available as either kits from Primal Rites or full magazines from MDT.

Additionally, while modern chassis like the JP APAC and stocks like Foundations or Manners are now
rock solid, some other brands and some legacy options that work for longer cartridges like 308 Win and
6.5 CM require significant tuning to get to run. However, if you stick to modern quality options, you
won’t have a problem.

Stick to the Plan: Compete and Have Fun

Remember, whether you reload or buy factory, the goal is to compete and have fun. It’s a great time to
be in the sport because there’s so many great options available to new competitors. Once you choose
your path, stick to it and remember this game is all about enjoying time spent hitting targets with
friends.