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.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Staball 6.5 has been great for my 6.5cm and 30-06 Tikkas. Staball 6.5 w/130 gr TMKs is my go to.

 

[43.6N]

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.

Here’s another range trip of data for you all to compare.

Sourced a 24” factory tikka barrel.
Same exact load as in my quoted post above.

43.0gr Staball 6.5
147gr eldm
Winchester magnum primers.
Seated 2.81” coal.

25 shot average vel: 2643fps.
Accuracy was exactly the same as the 18” barrel posted above. IE: Multiple shots stacked on top of each other, round group shape, roughly 1.0-1.25” extreme diameter spread aka 3 SD diameter. Group 2 SD diameter would be around 0.75”.

I don’t think there is going to be a way for me to run an 18” barrel fast enough with the 147’s to be consistently above my NRL powerfactor velocity. And for competitions I do not like running super high pressure reloads. So sourcing a longer barrel solves the velocity problem for me.

Staball 6.5 is consistent enough, cheap enough, and oh so easy to work with. I will plan on running it for the winter to assess how temp stable it proves to be. But likely will be shooting it for the 2026 NRL hunter season.

 

[TX_Diver]

I tried some a few weeks ago with that 16" barrel that wasn't shooting well.

I need to get back on it. I was here for .5gr off pressure:

2.770OAL 45gr Staball 6.5…around 2875 (Jump is .082)

If I can get 1.5" MOA with the Harrell's powder dropper I can make some concessions and be satisfied over trickling H4350 into the wee hours.

I might be on my last legs reloading...never get the time back.

Just throw H4350 on the harrells

T

Thread 'Harrells Culver vs Lee Perfect Powder - Super Scientific Comparison'

Jun 6, 2025

Trying to find something faster than my RCBS CM Lite to throw powder with. My RCBS Uniflow works fine for Staball 6.5 and Match, but I got close to +/- .5gr with H4350 (unfortunately I can't find my notes).

The 2 most popular powder throws for stick powders seem to be Harrells (@Carl Ross ) and the Lee Perfect Powder Measure. These powder measures are at complete opposite end of the quality spectrum. The Harrells is a piece of art and costs $240 and the Lee is extremely cheap feeling and cost $22. I didn't know the exact settings I needed to get 41 gr of H4350 (which is what I'd...

• TX_Diver
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Reloading

• 

 

[nm.otter]

I'll be loading StaBall 6.5 and Superformance for eval on a 20" T3x 6.5 CM in a few weeks. Need to shoot through the rest of the American Gunner on hand.

 

[Nine Banger]

Just throw H4350 on the harrells

I've tried and haven't found it to be consistent with stick powder.

It clogs every now and then too and you can get a light load and then a heavy load.