Backfire: The Most Accurate Cartridge No One is Using - MDT Mention

Shooters are also tinkerers. Having worked on the sales side of the industry for twelve years, I can attest to that. They are always tweaking. Whether competition shooters or casual plinkers, we are all striving to wring the most out of our gear. But what happens when that gear crosses over to hunters? What if the top gear used by PRS pros and listed in Cal Zant’s incredible Precision Rifle Blog is used to build the most accurate and precise hunting rifle? That’s what Jim Harmer of Backfire set out to do. In his latest video, “The Most Accurate Cartridge And No One Is Using It,” Jim teases the most accurate cartridge and system no one uses and asks: why not?

THE RIFLE SYSTEM

The accuracy and shootability of a system are important to hunters. The easier a system is to implement in the field, the higher the chance of success. In this video, Jim stated, “The reason I can say this is the most accurate rifle in the world is not this particular one, but this combination of parts.” He takes PRS, pairs down to the top 200, and focuses on the components they use to build a rifle. (This information can be found in Cal Zant’s “What the Pros Use” articles on the Precision Rifle Blog.)

Of course, the sum of parts is top tier. Impact Precision 737 action, Bartlein Barrels, TriggerTech Diamond trigger, MDT ACC Elite Chassis,MDT LRA Send It level, and a Vortex Razer Gen II optic. The best part is that this rifle buildout doesn’t require a gunsmith to assemble. It can be done from your workbench at home. All needed is a barrel vice, action wrench, and go/no-go gauges.

What about the cartridge? Again, Jim went to Cal’s articles and chose the top cartridge used by the pros—6mm Dasher. For hunters, the Dasher has capabilities similar to those of a 243 Winchester. Hunting bullet weight ranges from 80 to just over 100 grains. Add that to the case’s efficient design, and the Dasher might be near perfect (the downfall is that not many companies offer a loading). All this makes it an excellent deer and antelope cartridge.

VIDEO ANALYSIS

Jim intermixes shooting footage between overviews of the rifle’s various components. To put it plainly, this rifle shoots. In the beginning, Jim asks the “what if” question about applying the best components used by PRS shooters and applies them to a hunting rifle. What he created isn’t a hunting rifle. At 20+ pounds, no one is hauling this around. But it is the best PRS rifle you can build. Jim mentioned doing a follow-up video that takes the accuracy and shootability of a PRS gun and turns it into a hunting rifle. The next video will take everything good about the current rifle and apply what’s needed in a hunting rifle. Perhaps he will go with MDT’s new CRBN stock? Time will tell.

6MM ARTICLES FROM MDT

• Building a 6mm GT for Competition
• ANALYSIS: 6MM BR NORMA
• HORNADY 6MM ARC FOR COMPETITION
• 6mm GT Load Development
• LOADING 6MM ARC AND .223 REMINGTON WITH A DILLON PROGRESSIVE PRESS
• Ultimate Reloader: 6mm ARC and MDT TIMBR Frontier Rifle Stock
• MDT RELEASES 6BR AICS MAGAZINES
• Ultimate Reloader 6GT Precision: From Reloading to 1000 Yards
• Analysis: 6.5x47 and 6x47 Lapua