Impact Precision: The 6mm Dasher “Sleeper” Rifle

A looming rainstorm turned what was supposed to be a relaxed range session into a race against the weather, but it also gave a newly completed custom rifle the perfect opportunity to prove itself. That's where Pieter Malan of Impact Shooting finds himself in a recent video, as he discusses a custom rifle build that combines modern performance with classic lines.

A Premium Precision Build

The rifle featured in the video combines an MDT TIMBR CORE wood chassis with a Bartlein carbon-fiber barrel, a BAT TR action, a TriggerTech Diamond trigger, and a Vortex Gen III Razor mounted in Area 419 scope rings. An APW muzzle brake and MDT's GRND-POD bipod, attached directly to the sling stud, round out this impressive build.

With rain already falling, there was little time for a traditional sight-in, so the focus shifted to quickly boresighting the rifle on steel, confirming zero, and stretching its legs before the weather closed in. Initial velocity readings averaged about 2,770 fps, with a standard deviation of just 8 fps, providing an encouraging start for a rifle that had only a handful of rounds through it.

A Strong First Impression

Despite worsening conditions, the rifle quickly settled onto steel targets. After dialing corrections and making a few wind adjustments, impacts became increasingly consistent, even as gusts continued to shift across the range. The original plan to shoot at 500 meters soon expanded to roughly 830 meters, where rapidly changing wind conditions made every shot a challenge. Even so, the rifle repeatedly connected with distant steel. Piet emphasized that all of the elevation data was essentially educated guesswork, making the rifle's performance even more impressive (that's what happens when you don't have any DOPE and conditions are less than ideal. You need to adapt).

Perhaps the biggest surprise was how little effort went into the load development. Chambered in 6 Dasher, the rifle was fed ammunition assembled using Piet's established recipe—30.5 grains of Vihtavuori N140 with nothing more than a bullet change and no adjustments to seating depth. Even with fewer than 30 rounds through the barrel, the rifle demonstrated excellent consistency and confidence-inspiring accuracy.

Final Thoughts

By the session's end, heavy rain and wind forced an early finish. Despite this, the short outing revealed that the MDT TIMBR CORE chassis, with premium components, created a rifle that tracked well, handled tough conditions, and showed long-range potential. Better weather will allow for more testing, but the rifle's first range day suggests this build already meets expectations with precision and repeatability.

Piet continues to offer real-world shooting scenarios, custom builds, and the thought process behind it all. Make sure to check him out. For more videos like this, head to the Impact Shooting YouTube channel.