StaBALL 6.5 loads and 2021 Hodgdon Annual

[Boreal Bog Walker]

Good day,
After reading the 2021 Hodgdon and learning the capabilities of StaBALL 6.5 ball powder I am wanting to try it in a few cartridges. Its velocity performance is outstanding. And I mean really outstanding! What I can find on the internet so far confirms that it is accurate as well. Here are some of the cartridges tested velocities.

StaBALL 6.5 Hogdons 2021 Annual

17 Rem 30 gr, 3904 fps, 65 fps fastest
6mm Creed 115 gr, 3026 fps, 82 fps fastest
6.5 Swede 140 gr, 2722 fps, 22 fps fastest
270 Win 140 gr, 3033 fps, 56 fps fastest
7mm08 160 gr, 2871 fps, 127 fps fastest
280 AI 160 gr, 2924 fps, 52 fps fastest
30-06 180 gr, 2857 fps, 13 fps fastest
300 WSM 180 gr, 3019 fps, 56 fps fastest
338 Mag 200 gr, 2951 fps, 28 fps slower
375 H&H 300 gr, 2570 fps, 23 fps fastest

So it seems to be working in a very wide range as the data speaks for itself. I plan to use this powder in my 6.5 Swede and then my 6.5 PRC. Anybody willing to talk about their experience with this newer powder that has very little data yet?

 

[Hudge76]

I currently have loads to test out in my .260 Rem and one of my .300WSM's. I'm hoping I can get out to the range this weekend and see how it performs. I'll let you know once I get to test them out.

 

[Dmagna]

I don't like ball powders. Stick to everything, I have 5 pounds of it and don't plan on using it.

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

I have gone through a few lbs trying to make it work in 7-08 with 150-168 class bullets. Velocity is there, accuracy is not. My rifle at least doesn't like it. Varget is a bit slower, but not enough to care about anymore and the benefits far outweight the slight bump in velocity. It's more temp stable, and muuuuch easier to work with than ball powders. Have about 5lbs left of Staball I'll probably be offloading...

 

[Iron Worker]

Good day,
After reading the 2021 Hodgdon and learning the capabilities of StaBALL 6.5 ball powder I am wanting to try it in a few cartridges. Its velocity performance is outstanding. And I mean really outstanding! What I can find on the internet so far confirms that it is accurate as well. Here are some of the cartridges tested velocities.

StaBALL 6.5 Hogdons 2021 Annual

17 Rem 30 gr, 3904 fps, 65 fps fastest
6mm Creed 115 gr, 3026 fps, 82 fps fastest
6.5 Swede 140 gr, 2722 fps, 22 fps fastest
270 Win 140 gr, 3033 fps, 56 fps fastest
7mm08 160 gr, 2871 fps, 127 fps fastest
280 AI 160 gr, 2924 fps, 52 fps fastest
30-06 180 gr, 2857 fps, 13 fps fastest
300 WSM 180 gr, 3019 fps, 56 fps fastest
338 Mag 200 gr, 2951 fps, 28 fps slower
375 H&H 300 gr, 2570 fps, 23 fps fastest

So it seems to be working in a very wide range as the data speaks for itself. I plan to use this powder in my 6.5 Swede and then my 6.5 PRC. Anybody willing to talk about their experience with this newer powder that has very little data yet?

Staball 6.5 is to fast burning for the 6.5 PRC .

 

[257Tony]

I"m using it in a 6.5 creed, and a .270. Good velocity in the Creed, very good in the .270. Both very accurate with minimal load workup. .270 is throwing 140 Bergers at 3050, could probably go higher. Going to be using it in a 6 Creed, and likely 338 win mag down the road.

 

[cape cove]

I used it in my 7/08 with the 145 Speer SBT. Worked up to a max of 50 grs in a Hornady case lit with a CCI-250. Velocity in my 24" barrel was 3012 ft/sec with MOA accuracy. I could have safely gone 1 more grain but the accuracy suffered. One thing I found about this powder is that it spikes real quick when you get to a max load.

 

[johnnyk]

I ran it this past deer season in my .270Win. Savage 114 Classic (22" barrel) and the accuracy is what sold me on it. Plus I wanted to shoot the 130gn Ballistic Tip (for the ole' times) and it performed superbly. I "kilt" them from 75yds out to 472yds, one shot each. I only pushed it to 3050fps.

 

[ButterBean]

Good day,
After reading the 2021 Hodgdon and learning the capabilities of StaBALL 6.5 ball powder I am wanting to try it in a few cartridges. Its velocity performance is outstanding. And I mean really outstanding! What I can find on the internet so far confirms that it is accurate as well. Here are some of the cartridges tested velocities.

StaBALL 6.5 Hogdons 2021 Annual

17 Rem 30 gr, 3904 fps, 65 fps fastest
6mm Creed 115 gr, 3026 fps, 82 fps fastest
6.5 Swede 140 gr, 2722 fps, 22 fps fastest
270 Win 140 gr, 3033 fps, 56 fps fastest
7mm08 160 gr, 2871 fps, 127 fps fastest
280 AI 160 gr, 2924 fps, 52 fps fastest
30-06 180 gr, 2857 fps, 13 fps fastest
300 WSM 180 gr, 3019 fps, 56 fps fastest
338 Mag 200 gr, 2951 fps, 28 fps slower
375 H&H 300 gr, 2570 fps, 23 fps fastest

So it seems to be working in a very wide range as the data speaks for itself. I plan to use this powder in my 6.5 Swede and then my 6.5 PRC. Anybody willing to talk about their experience with this newer powder that has very little data yet?

Your gonna be disappointed

 

[JAYgs8163]

I have gone through a few lbs trying to make it work in 7-08 with 150-168 class bullets. Velocity is there, accuracy is not. My rifle at least doesn't like it. Varget is a bit slower, but not enough to care about anymore and the benefits far outweight the slight bump in velocity. It's more temp stable, and muuuuch easier to work with than ball powders. Have about 5lbs left of Staball I'll probably be offloading...

Isn't Varget faster than Staball? Looking at the Hodgdon chart that's what I'm reading. Staball is in the h4350 area.

 

[Jefff1]

I loaded my Tikka 6.5cm rounds with various amounts of Staball and shot them a couple of days ago.
135gr A Tip Hornady....New Lapua brass..
20" stainless barrel.
40.7gr powder was my best grouping at 200yds.

 

[Justice1327]

Good day,
After reading the 2021 Hodgdon and learning the capabilities of StaBALL 6.5 ball powder I am wanting to try it in a few cartridges. Its velocity performance is outstanding. And I mean really outstanding! What I can find on the internet so far confirms that it is accurate as well. Here are some of the cartridges tested velocities.

StaBALL 6.5 Hogdons 2021 Annual

17 Rem 30 gr, 3904 fps, 65 fps fastest
6mm Creed 115 gr, 3026 fps, 82 fps fastest
6.5 Swede 140 gr, 2722 fps, 22 fps fastest
270 Win 140 gr, 3033 fps, 56 fps fastest
7mm08 160 gr, 2871 fps, 127 fps fastest
280 AI 160 gr, 2924 fps, 52 fps fastest
30-06 180 gr, 2857 fps, 13 fps fastest
300 WSM 180 gr, 3019 fps, 56 fps fastest
338 Mag 200 gr, 2951 fps, 28 fps slower
375 H&H 300 gr, 2570 fps, 23 fps fastest

So it seems to be working in a very wide range as the data speaks for itself. I plan to use this powder in my 6.5 Swede and then my 6.5 PRC. Anybody willing to talk about their experience with this newer powder that has very little data yet?

I have used it in my 243, 6.5 CM, 260, 708, 308, 280. It does spike fast. Some of the loads were worked up in QL by a LRH member and they all worked great. Seating depth changes reduced grps to less than MOA in all cartridges and SD. Not as dense of a fill as other pwdrs, but as worked well for me. Might be too fast of a ball pwder for the PRC, but try and get a load from QL and see.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I was thinking of trying it with a 131 Hammer Hunter in the 6.5 PRC as the hammers seem to like a faster burning powder than what we tend to usually use.

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

Isn't Varget faster than Staball? Looking at the Hodgdon chart that's what I'm reading. Staball is in the h4350 area.

I'm not referring to burn rate... I'm talking about velocity of the bullets with the given powders.