Staball 6.5 and high velocity?

[TimberHunter]

Tried finding pressure today with 42,42.5,43,43.5 grains with 147 ELDM. No signs of pressure and velocity was 2675 fps from an 18” barrel. As a comparison I found pressure with N150 at 37 grains with a vel of 2525 fps

Referencing several books, max seems to be between 43-43.8 with a max velocity of 2725 fps with 24” barrel

So I’m only 50 fps off max vel when I should be closer to 150 fps slower since my tikka barrel is 18”. A bit concerned I’m at high pressure but not seeing any signs with my Hornady brass..?Thinking of trying a 10 round group at 42.5 since I only need around 2600 fps out of the 147

Anyone else see high velocity but no pressure signs with staball 6.5 in a 6.5 creedmoor?


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[T_Widdy]

Tried finding pressure today with 42,42.5,43,43.5 grains with 147 ELDM. No signs of pressure and velocity was 2675 fps from an 18” barrel. As a comparison I found pressure with N150 at 37 grains with a vel of 2525 fps

Referencing several books, max seems to be between 43-43.8 with a max velocity of 2725 fps with 24” barrel

So I’m only 50 fps off max vel when I should be closer to 150 fps slower since my tikka barrel is 18”. A bit concerned I’m at high pressure but not seeing any signs with my Hornady brass..?Thinking of trying a 10 round group at 42.5 since I only need around 2600 fps out of the 147

Anyone else see high velocity but no pressure signs with staball 6.5 in a 6.5 creedmoor?


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I run my 20” ctr with 42.5 gr. 147”s, alpha brass= 2615fps. I put 5 loaded at 43 gr in a glove with some hot hands, temped them at about 110° when shot. I didn’t see any pressure there either. I then did a water test and definitely have heavy bolt lift with both loads. I’ve since switched to n555 because I could never get a low sd with the staball. Im almost the same charge with n555 and only about 5 fps slower

 

[TimberHunter]

I run my 20” ctr with 42.5 gr. 147”s, alpha brass= 2615fps. I put 5 loaded at 43 gr in a glove with some hot hands, temped them at about 110° when shot. I didn’t see any pressure there either. I then did a water test and definitely have heavy bolt lift with both loads. I’ve since switched to n555 because I could never get a low sd with the staball. Im almost the same charge with n555 and only about 5 fps slower

Water test by just spraying them with some water and shooting?


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[T_Widdy]

Water test by just spraying them with some water and shooting?


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Yes just a slight mist

 

[TimberHunter]

Yes just a slight mist

Thanks I’ll give it a try


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[T_Widdy]

Thanks I’ll give it a try


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I have been loading my hunting loads to not have bolt lift when wet just in case I run into a bad situation. It seems to be around 3 grains lower than max, it’s definitely slower than I used to run.

 

[hoooogan]

Beginner shooter and reloader. I wouldn't look into the groups too much.
18" XBolt Max SPR.
3 shots each, loaded to 2.800" COAL in Norma Brass.
Hit pressure at 44.0.
Was ~40 degrees when I shot this.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Staball 6.5 does haul ass. I use 45.5 behind a 130TMK with zero signs of pressure. I have not done the water test, but made up the load during the AZ summer, then used it on an elk in CO snow. No issues, just a dead elk. That load is 2750 (measured with both the Garmin and older chrony) out of a 16” suppressed barrel.

I also use it my 30-06 178gr ELDM load. It’s fast. It seems like a very energetic powder.

 

[seand]

Tried finding pressure today with 42,42.5,43,43.5 grains with 147 ELDM. No signs of pressure and velocity was 2675 fps from an 18” barrel. As a comparison I found pressure with N150 at 37 grains with a vel of 2525 fps

Referencing several books, max seems to be between 43-43.8 with a max velocity of 2725 fps with 24” barrel

So I’m only 50 fps off max vel when I should be closer to 150 fps slower since my tikka barrel is 18”. A bit concerned I’m at high pressure but not seeing any signs with my Hornady brass..?Thinking of trying a 10 round group at 42.5 since I only need around 2600 fps out of the 147

Anyone else see high velocity but no pressure signs with staball 6.5 in a 6.5 creedmoor?


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Your chrono reading is your pressure sign. The book velocities are pressure tested reference data. You can’t exceed the book velocities by 150fps without exceeding SAAMI max pressure.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

If you are loading longer than book data, that changes the pressure curve.

 

[aachey]

I'm using staball 6.5 in my 7-08, definitely increases velocity compared to other powders, which is why I went with it. There are quite a few posts about it pressure spiking pretty easily, so probably best to be careful chasing pressure with this powder.

 

[TimberHunter]

Your chrono reading is your pressure sign. The book velocities are pressure tested reference data. You can’t exceed the book velocities by 150fps without exceeding SAAMI max pressure.

That’s where my concern is coming from. But would’ve figured the Hornady brass would show pressure like it does with other powders. Going to spray some water on them and try to find pressure again to see where hunting safe may be


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[jfk69]

In my very limited experience with 6.5 Staball, it does great. Until it doesn’t. When it gets close to max loads, ES and SD get wonky and pressures get real, real fast. I was using in a .257AI and I’ll continue playing around but I’d use a lot of caution if you’re velocities don’t line up with conventional wisdom/book values. I found it “spikey”. Just my, again, limited experience. I’ll keep playing with it.

 

[TimberHunter]

Update. Potential solution may be my lab radar was reading fast on the first day…? I hastily set it up and shot from tail gate, today I shot in my typical prone position and velocities fell much closer to typical book value minus 125 fps ish for my 18” barrel


Staball 6.5 147 water test
41- 2482 no ejector or bolt lift
41.5-2505 slight bolt/ejector
42-2553 noticeable ejector/bolt
42.5-2557 no bolt/ejector. Used little less water
43-2619 noticeable ejector/bolt. Used typical water

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[T_Widdy]

Update. Potential solution may be my lab radar was reading fast on the first day…? I hastily set it up and shot from tail gate, today I shot in my typical prone position and velocities fell much closer to typical book value minus 125 fps ish for my 18” barrel


Staball 6.5 147 water test
41- 2482 no ejector or bolt lift
41.5-2505 slight bolt/ejector
42-2553 noticeable ejector/bolt
42.5-2557 no bolt/ejector. Used little less water
43-2619 noticeable ejector/bolt. Used typical water

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Looks like 41.5 would be pretty safe. Have you shot any factory Hornady ammo and compared speeds?

 

[TimberHunter]

Looks like 41.5 would be pretty safe. Have you shot any factory Hornady ammo and compared speeds?

Yeah the precision hunter 143 is 2510 ish. Was 2640 ish at 24” before I cut barrel to 18”


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