Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles StaBALL 6.5 powder.

Winchester is claiming some fast numbers in the 7mm-08. I just ordered some from powder valley. I’ll be trying it with 120, 140, & 150 grain bullets. I’ll report back with results when I have time to load and shoot.

Keep us posted. I hope it isn't as watery as Ramshot B.G.

Holy cow! The load data on the winchester site for 7mm08 is crazy fast! 2825fps and a 160 is a whole new level of performance from the 7/08.

A gentleman by the name of George seemed to think it was OK in a Powder Valley Facebook post.

This will be interesting to watch. The velocities for the Creed were about what they are for a moderate load of Re 26. In the .270 it looks good, too, and it should meter well.

From Hodgdon data, it looks like a bigger performance jump with the 7-08 than the 6.5 Creed.

DF

It sounds like just another powder company marketing trick aimed at those suffering from "Creedmoor derangement syndrome" I've seen these claims made about many other new powders.

Reckon he knows a thing or two about rifle powders...?

Maybe rifles, too...?



DF

I wish you'd hurry up and get your order. Inquiring minds want to know.

Curious as well, but I’ve mostly been disappointed with “wonder powders” giving incredible speed, but crap accuracy.

As always, in the “we’ll see” camp

Came in today. If I wasn’t headed to the deer camp, would work up some loads. One of these days

One poster was concerned it would be “watery” like BG. It looks like Win 760/H-414, Ball C, typical Winchester ball powder appearance. Probably from St. Marks in FL if I was to guess. It should meter well.

DF

If you're not careful you are gonna win the curmudgeon trophy away from me.........

Contrary to your experience for example, RL 26 produced less accuracy in a 243, about the same accuracy in two other 243's and a 270, and noticeably better accuracy in one 270.

It has a different appearance, not the very tiny balls like BG. I like the way BG meters, no problem thru my RCBS Uniflow.

DF

Out of a Tikka T3 Lite stainless using Big Game:

120 NBT 3126 FPS
140 Partition 2890 FPS
150 eldx 2790 FPS

StaBall has slightly higher velocities posted, but not enough to be interesting.




P

I'll give it a try in the 6.5 Creedmoor.


Wonder what it will do with the heavier 110-120 grain bullets in the .250 Savage and 257 Roberts ?

Would like the answer to that question as well. The H-4831sc I have been loading is heavily compressed...but accurate and deadly.

So far H-100V is the velocity champ in the Roberts. StaBALL will for sure beat H-100V in the temp sensitivity business. Velocity will be interesting, have yet to see data.

DF

I did some shooting today with StaBALL 6.5 in the 7mm-08. I loaded 120 TTSX, 120 ballistic tip, 140 fusion and 150 AccuBond. All loads were with Hornady brass, and wlr primer. The rifle was a stainless ruger American 22” barrel. I did the usual treatment with working up loads and worked up to max looking for signs of pressure and looking for accuracy. I’ll say that this rifle is a bit picky with what it likes. I have a ruger American compact that shoots everything well but the one I shot today is a different animal.
Listed max with a 120gr bullet is 53gr
120 ballistic tip 2.80 col. 53gr got 3,037 FPS with no sign of pressure. Best accuracy at 52gr @ 2,934 3 shots at .27”! Need to look further into that load.
120 TTSX 2.78 col. 53gr got 3,052 FPS. With no pressure sign. Best accuracy was at 53gr. 5 shots @ .98”
Max for 140 is 48.5 but max for 139 is 51 and 145 is also 51. So I chose to try loading up to 51gr
140 fusion 2.8 col. 51 gr got 2,843 FPS. With no signs of pressure. Best accuracy was at 51gr @ .64” 5 shot group! Need to look further into this load.
Max for 150 bullets is lasted at 49.2 for 150 ttsx and 48.5 for 150 SIE HPBT. I tried loading up to 48.5 for a 150 AccuBond.
150 Accubond 2.80 col. I started seeing signs of pressure early and at 47.5gr @ 2,713 I was getting ejector marks and a stiff bolt lift so I didn’t go any further. Accuracy was terrible across all loads.

I know I used different components and had a 22” barrel but I came up pretty short of Winchester’s velocities. Although the velocity was less than expected some of the loads showed promising accuracy. I’ll have to reshoot the 120 ballistic tip and 140 fusion. Those are really good groups for this rifle. The 120 ttsx at .98” is also good but the ttsx is the one bullet that almost always shoots well in this rifle so .98 is pretty normal.

Thanks for the update

Thanks, obie458 for that info. Makes ya wonder how much hype is in that Hodgdon data. They showing way too much difference just from their 24" to your 22" barrel.

Those speeds you got are not that exceptional, several powders will match or beat those numbers. You did find some really accurate loads, so who knows where it's going.

I have two pounds of StaBALL. When hunting season winds down some, I hope to check it out in my Creed and 7-08, maybe my 257R, although it would be hard to beat H-100V performance in that one, temp stability notwithstanding.

DF