Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles StaBALL 6.5 powder.

Good info. Thanks!

Thanks for the update Obie, I had the same experience with RL-16 when it first came out. Velocities in a 22.5" 7-08 and a 24" 7-08AI were way below those listed by Alliant. Maybe it's just marketing hype. Will probably try some once deer season is over.

Staball 6.5 did not work well in my Winchester M70 Stainless Classic 270 Winchester with 24" barrel. Load components were Win brass (sorted within .3 grain) fresh anneal before resizing, GM210M primers, 140 Accubond bullets seated at 3.38". Velocity measured with Labradar. All powder charges were weighed and contained 5 rounds fired at each weight of 6.5 Staball;
54.2 grains = avg 2911 fps, 49 fps ES, 27.2 SD
54.7 grains = avg 2923 fps, 61 fps Es, 35 SD
55 grains = avg 2940 fps, 85 ES, 42.7 SD

Immediately after trying the Staball loaded ammo I fired 3 rounds with my favorite load in this rifle containing same components and length except loaded with 58.8 grains of H4831 and shot a .251" group at 200 yards, avg velocity 3005 fps, ES 13 fps, SD 6 fps. This is the best 3 round group ever fired with this rifle at 200 yards, normally I get .8 - 1 inch groups. This load has worked very well in this rifle from 90 degree - 30 degree temps, with no signs of high pressure.

It appears that Staball is best used in the short 308 dimension type calibers, and will give it a try in my 7-08 single shot pistol sometime in the future.

With a 7-08 with 21" barrel shooting the 150 eldx I got slight ejector marks and stiffer bolt lift at 47.5 gr @ 2772 fps. I shot 48.0 gr which went 2807 fps with a heavier ejector mark and noticeably harder to cam bolt and stopped at that point.

Well duh, that's a 6.5 powder and everybody knows the 270 is gay.




I'm joking, welcome to the forum.

Seriously though - it does seem that a 140gr 270 Win load is best with a little slower burn rate (like your H4831 load), while Staball 6.5 seems to be targeted to rounds using a slightly faster burn rate for best performance.

I have yet to try it for myself, but will be satisfied if it gives similar velocity and accuracy to Rl16/17 but with ball powder metering and good temp stability.

It does seem that some new powders tend to get over-hyped in the load data velocity claims at first, then settle down with more realistic numbers after a year or two.

They're showing the 7-08 pushing a 120 at 3,200 fps. I've not had a chance to try that, but one contributor said he saw presssure issues WAY before he got there. So it could well be over hyped.

From what I've read, burn rate is in the 4350 range, which isn't far from RL-16, RL-17, 4451, etc. Time will tell.

DF

I have been working up loads using the StaBall powder and 175gr Grand Slams in my 280 Ackley. I had to establish my own data. What a head scratcher. I had two loads side by side. Both had 54gr of StaBall and Winchester primers. One standard and one magnum. I chonographed 2707 and 2744. Now I believe I have established a baseline.
I shoot a 54.5 standard primer load, blow the primer, and get a 2844.
I then load five 280 rem cases with 54,54.1,54.2,54.3, and 54.4. I used Winchester mag primers. I use 175gr Hornady interlock for the bullets. I averaged 2736 with a peak of 2758 and a low of2715.
I believe the improved shoulder and bullet length creates too much pressure.

It's no surprise that you're having issues when you're loading one round at a time and jumping around with different components. Stick to one set of components (bullets, brass, and primer), and load at least 3-5 rounds of each powder charge as you work up. If you want to change bullets or primers, start over and work up again.

A velocity reading on a single round is by no means a "baseline", and don't expect different bullets of the same weight to give you the same results.

I get 3126 with 120 NBT and Big Game out of a Tikka, 22 7/16” barrel.




P

I run some Re-15 yesterday with 120 BT's from 40 grains - 44 grains.. No load was over MOA and some were .250 MOA with 44 grains producing an impressive group of .5 moa. As much as I like Big Game with 150's , I never could get it to produce small groups with 120's. Re-15 seems like the best powder I've tried with 120's.especially for max loads.

Thanks. I have been spoiled with the powders I normally work with. Hodgdens 4831, 4350, and 4895

Anyone else try Staball 6.5 in the 7MM-08?
It look like most people are coming up pretty slow compared to what the reloading data suggests.

Tag.