StaBall Powders Experience

[Reddish]

For those of you that have used the StaBall powders, how do you like them. Specifically looking at the 6.5 and Match powders in 6.5 CM. .243 and .223.

I haven’t bought powder in about 8 years and I’m finally running low. Been using Varget for .223 and IMR 4831 for the other two. I like the metering ability of the StaBall powders, but don’t know much about performance comparison other than what the book says.

 

[id_jon]

I get SDs of 10-12 with thrown charges with 6.5. Good enough for practice ammo for sure.

 

[sndmn11]

I use 6.5 for almost every cartridge I load for and it is easy. I have used match to see if it could replace imr4166 when I run out in the near future, and it was also easy so I bought a bunch for when that time comes.

I also have used HD in a 6.5prc, and while consistent, it was slower than expected.

 

[Ozarkansas]

I’ve used staball 6.5 in the 6.5x55 and .243. Honestly I haven’t really put it to the test very hard, I’m not at a point in my life where I have much time to do load development. I stick with staball because it’s been extremely easy to load and forgiving.

It throws very consistently and seems able to achieve very good velocities without excess pressure. SDs and accuracy have been good, even shooting in very hot weather (although I haven’t put it to the test in cold weather).

I haven’t been able to match my most accurate H1000 load in 6.5x55 yet, but I get good hunting accuracy without needing to trickle powder and that’s worth more to me these days.

 

[grfox92]

I waited for a month and a half for my local Murdochs to get 6.5 Stabal in stock. It was the powder I wanted to use for my 7mm08 because it gave incredible velocities according to load data, and I had a gift card.

They finally got it in stock. I already had brass prepped, and being that this X Bolt had shot everything I've ever put through it at 1" or less I loaded one, shot it into the dirt to check for pressure and then proceeded to load 30, to go zero and start to true my dope based on load data velocity as my starting point.

I set up prone out of the bed of my truck and took 5 shots at 100 yards. The group was 3.5 inches. I shot another 5 and the 10 round group was almost 4 inches. Throwing shots wildly. I had just mounted the scope, an SWFA, degreased, torqued loctite, the whole nine yards.

I proceeded to shoot all 30 at distances from 100 yards to 300. The 300 yard group was over 12" wide with shots all over the place.

Demoralized and bewildered I went home and figured I would look at the gun another day.

But I couldn't let it go. So I went down to the bench and loaded 5 with IMR 4895 and 5 with Varget, and 5 more with 6.5 SB, took the gun down the road to the BLM and set out at 100 yards. The 4895 and Varget shot at an inch and the 6.5 SB shot around 3 inches.

That's my very limited experience with only one rifle. I really wish it would have worked out. It was perplexing because that gun shoots everything including cheap blue box at an inch or less. But not 6.5 SB.

Here are the pics from my confirmation trip to the range, 5 shot groups. The 3rd pic being the 6.5SB.

Edit, I know 1 1/8 MOA is not correct. Not sure why I wrote it that was..it was 1 inch and 1/8.

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[sndmn11]

I waited for a month and a half for my local Murdochs to get 6.5 Stabal in stock. It was the powder I wanted to use for my 7mm08 because it gave incredible velocities according to load data, and I had a gift card.

They finally got it in stock. I already had brass prepped, and being that this X Bolt had shot everything I've ever put through it at 1" or less I loaded one, shot it into the dirt to check for pressure and then proceeded to load 30, to go zero and start to true my dope based on load data velocity as my starting point.

I set up prone out of the bed of my truck and took 5 shots at 100 yards. The group was 3.5 inches. I shot another 5 and the 10 round group was almost 4 inches. Throwing shots wildly. I had just mounted the scope, an SWFA, degreased, torqued loctite, the whole nine yards.

I proceeded to shoot all 30 at distances from 100 yards to 300. The 300 yard group was over 12" wide with shots all over the place.

Demoralized and bewildered I went home and figured I would look at the gun another day.

But I couldn't let it go. So I went down to the bench and loaded 5 with IMR 4895 and 5 with Varget, and 5 more with 6.5 SB, took the gun down the road to the BLM and set out at 100 yards. The 4895 and Varget shot at an inch and the 6.5 SB shot around 3 inches.

That's my very limited experience with only one rifle. I really wish it would have worked out. It was perplexing because that gun shoots everything including cheap blue box at an inch or less. But not 6.5 SB.

Here are the pics from my confirmation trip to the range, 5 shot groups. The 3rd pic being the 6.5SB.

Edit, I know 1 1/8 MOA is not correct. Not sure why I wrote it that was..it was 1 inch and 1/8.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

What was the load data?

 

[Mountainrancher]

How has temp stability been for you guys? Is it actually “staball”

 

[grfox92]

What was the load data?

47.6g, coal 2.875, Winchester LRP.

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[MT-nuffgun]

Staball 6.5 gave me 2950 out of a 6.5 creedmoor with 24” barrel shooting 130 tmk-hornady brass-br2 primer. Staball 6.5 also gave me 3250 out of a .243 win 22” barrel 87 vmax-Winchester brass-wlr primer. I also tried Staball 6.5 in a ruger m77 mkii 22-250 shooting 55 hornady sp’s, but I could only get it to group at the low end of 3300 fps. I don’t own a 22-250 to have it shoot that slow with 55’s so I went back to my original load of IMR 4895 in that rifle.

 

[sndmn11]

47.6g, coal 2.875, Winchester LRP.

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What brass and bullet? I'll check my notebook after I get home from the gym, but I think around 50gr. is what we had been using.

How has temp stability been for you guys? Is it actually “staball”

I haven't had any hiccups and I think we've seen at or less than 75fps from 100deg to single digits with 6.5.

 

[grfox92]

What brass and bullet? I'll check my notebook after I get home from the gym, but I think around 50gr. is what we had been using.



I haven't had any hiccups and I think we've seen at or less than 75fps from 100deg to single digits with 6.5.

If I could get it to work I'd be ECSTATIC. I was using 162eldm in winchester brass which is my least favorite factory brass. I had pressure issues in book loads of .308 with win brass.

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[cowboy300]

I’ve used Staball 6.5 quite a bit in 6.5 Creedmoor and 6 Creedmoor. Loads end up 1gr more than h4350 with similar velocity to RL16. Never had anything weird regarding temp related and is crazy accurate in my tikka 6.5 creed (10 shot groups)

 

[sndmn11]

If I could get it to work I'd be ECSTATIC. I was using 162eldm in winchester brass which is my least favorite factory brass. I had pressure issues in book loads of .308 with win brass.

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My notebook says 50.3-5 with 145LRX in rem/barnes brass, dropped down to 48.5 in Alpha. 150eldx is back up to 50.3-50.5 in alpha brass.

I have a bunch of that rem/barnes brass is you want it.

 

[wind gypsy]

I’ve used Staball 6.5 quite a bit in 6.5 Creedmoor and 6 Creedmoor. Loads end up 1gr more than h4350 with similar velocity to RL16. Never had anything weird regarding temp related and is crazy accurate in my tikka 6.5 creed (10 shot groups)

damn. Is that a factory barrel?

 

[Longleaf]

I use staball65 in my 6creed, 8fps spread between 38 deg and 85 deg.

 

[gerry35]

I use 6.5 for almost every cartridge I load for and it is easy. I have used match to see if it could replace imr4166 when I run out in the near future, and it was also easy so I bought a bunch for when that time comes.

I also have used HD in a 6.5prc, and while consistent, it was slower than expected.

What speeds are you getting with your 6.5 PRC? I'm thinking of trying it in my 6.8 Western which is a pretty similar cartridge. Thanks.

 

[Wrongside]

I’ve shot a bunch of StaBall 6.5 in my competition rifle- 6CM with 115s, and really like it. Great accuracy and SDs. Flows like water, so I throw all my loads after load development. Tried it in the 6.5CM, with less success. But nothing extensive, so will definitley revisit down the road.

Shot some thrown together StaBall Match test loads in my 223 Tikka w/ 75ELDs. It’s early, but shows promise. Sub-minute for 5. Low SDs. Lower velocity than the LVR load I’ve been shooting for the last few years, but hopefully will be more temp stable and run cleaner.

I have a keg of StaBall HD on the way to try in a 6.5PRC build, so looking forward to guys here experiences with that combo.

 

[sndmn11]

What speeds are you getting with your 6.5 PRC? I'm thinking of trying it in my 6.8 Western which is a pretty similar cartridge. Thanks.

Not fast. I'll look in my book later today or tomorrow, but it is the slowest rifle we shoot.

Using the 156eol, Peterson brass, 22" barrel with a muzzle brake. I had wanted to use the 140vld like we use in the creedmoor and get more velocity, but they were like 30-50fps apart. So I went up in bullet weight and velocity didn't drop off drastically.

If I were buying new powder, I think I would try H4831, but I am surely not disappointed.

 

[NickT406]

I’ve used Staball 6.5 quite a bit in 6.5 Creedmoor and 6 Creedmoor. Loads end up 1gr more than h4350 with similar velocity to RL16. Never had anything weird regarding temp related and is crazy accurate in my tikka 6.5 creed (10 shot groups)

I will go ahead and take the 6.5 creed off your hands for you if you don't like it...
Man that thing is lights out!

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

47.6g, coal 2.875, Winchester LRP.

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Do you know the velocity? I don't have extensive use with staball 6.5 but have read it likes the upper end of pressure.

I just ran a .5gr single shot ladder looking for max pressure with it in a 243 and those shots EDIT (weren't) all over the place even as the charge was changing. I haven't gone back out with a selected charge to shoot groups yet though.