Staball 6.5 as good as they say?

[ChasingSqwach]

I use it with 150 eldx in my 7-08. The load I settled on is going 2,710 fps but went up to 2,860 before seeing pressure. I’m plenty happy with the results. 7-08 is a fun one to reload for.

 

[ropeup79]

Works well in my 300 WSM. Started with magnum primers, good velocity but meh accuracy. Switched to Fed large rifle and got great accuracy and single digit SD’s.

 

[43.6N]

I’m whipping up an NRL powerfactor load for 6.5cm and 147eldm with it right now. Just need to be above 2585 with my 18” barrel.
I’ll let you know how it goes.

Got out to the range today after work.
6.5cm NRL powerfactor is the goal.
18” tikka barrel. OG65
Painless load dev.

43.0gr staball 6.5
147 eldm
Starline brass
Winchester large rifle magnum primers (bcause I have 5k of them)
2.81” coal.

Averaged 2520fps.
Spread of 20fps.
No pressure issues.
accuracy was at least as good if not better than this guns average with H4350.

For the cost per lb, and for how easy it was to work with, I think it’s worth stocking up on.

 

[West2East]

I'm considering starting loading for my 6.5CM and based on this thread, would you recommend Staball or H4350? I would like to get either 130TMK going 28-- or 147 as high as I can. I really don't want to be dealing with a powder that's "spikey"

 

[Andouille]

I'm considering starting loading for my 6.5CM and based on this thread, would you recommend Staball or H4350? I would like to get either 130TMK going 28-- or 147 as high as I can. I really don't want to be dealing with a powder that's "spikey"

Try both 6.5 and H4350. The velocities are very close at the same pressure signs (case head expansion) for 143 ELDx, based on my extensive testing in my 6.5CM. Group size was small with both, amd I went with H4350 based on the smaller SD in the teens.

H4350 is a bit faster and may work better on the 130gr end, and SB6.5 better on the 147 end.

PM me if you want some Tikka specific data.

 

[Andouille]

Works well in my 300 WSM. Started with magnum primers, good velocity but meh accuracy. Switched to Fed large rifle and got great accuracy and single digit SD’s.

Same for my tikka WSM, single digit SDs with 6.5SB, Fed 210, and 175 LRX, plus great velocity. Group size was around 1.25", but i didnt play with seating depth.

 

[43.6N]

Went back to the range today after work.
Wanted to get a better feeling for Hornady book max with my 18” tikka 6.5cm.

Loaded: 10 each of:
-147gr eldm with 43.8gr SB65
-140gr eldm with 43.8gr SB65
-130gr eldm with 45.5gr SB65

NOTES:
-All grouped well compared to this guns average accuracy.
-All cycled easily without any signs of primer flattening
-recoil felt significantly less then expected, taken to be an indicator of mild pressure

10 shot average velocity as follows:
-147gr eldm with 43.8gr SB65: 2554fps
-140gr eldm with 43.8gr SB65: 2583fps
-130gr eldm with 45.5gr SB65: 2704fps

Historic velocity with H4350 for this gun:
147gr eldm with 41.5gr H4350: 2585fps
140gr eldm with 41.5gr H4350: 2630fps
130gr eldm with 43.0gr H4350: 2757fps

Picture of groups to follow…

 

[43.6N]

10 shot groups
1” grid and 1” circles for reference
100yds
55f

 

[Andouille]

Went back to the range today after work.
Wanted to get a better feeling for Hornady book max with my ...

Picture of groups to follow…

What brass, primer, and seating depth? Id like to compare to my 20" 6.5cm tikka data for 140 ELDM, and eventually 147s as well.

 

[43.6N]

What brass, primer, and seating depth? Id like to compare to my 20" 6.5cm tikka data for 140 ELDM, and eventually 147s as well.

This was Hornady once fired brass.
Winchester large rifle magnum primers (I have about 5k of them and would prefer to use them up before buying standard primers).
All bullets seated with Hornady seating die set at 2.8100” using the vld seating stem.