I've been having a heck of a time trying to find something useful out of Staball 6.5.
Here's what I'm working with. Shooting a Weathermark LT 6.5 Creedmoor 22" barrel, 1/8 twist. I've been Trying multiple bullet weights from what has been available and just wasn't happy with the result. I'm using Staball because it's what I could find. In general I can get decent accuracy at start load but when I work up to standard velocity groups open up all around 1-1/2" to 2". After finding a box of factory 123 gn Federals, the gun proved to me that it will shoot. Regular grouping with those are 3/4"-1/2". At that I started a ladder using Staball and 123 gn Scenars. I have been all over from start to max load and have done everything from jammed in the lands to .150" off the lands. The only way I have been able to get it to shoot worth a darn is at slower 2000-2300 fps loads. That's fine for target work but I've been trying to get a load ready for this falls hunting season. Weird thing is that Staball has had the lowest S.D. of any powder I've sent over the chrono coupled with horrible groups. After scratching my head for a bit, I dug out a pound of Viht N150 that I was saving and worked up a ladder with the Scenar 123 gn bullets and loaded them at the listed OAL which happens to be about .080" off my lands of the long throated Weatherby. The entire load ladder produced groups 3/4" and under. The best group was just over 1/4". So right there I know that the rifle will shoot. But what is the reason for poor accuracy with the Staball? Could this be an effect of poor harmonics between the barrel and the report from the powder blast? I don't know what other variable I can test out other than maybe trying a magnum primer. I would really love to get the velocity from Staball If I could figure this out. I see many posts from other shooters who have gotten really good accuracy from Staball so I know it's possible. Any ideas?
Here's what I'm working with. Shooting a Weathermark LT 6.5 Creedmoor 22" barrel, 1/8 twist. I've been Trying multiple bullet weights from what has been available and just wasn't happy with the result. I'm using Staball because it's what I could find. In general I can get decent accuracy at start load but when I work up to standard velocity groups open up all around 1-1/2" to 2". After finding a box of factory 123 gn Federals, the gun proved to me that it will shoot. Regular grouping with those are 3/4"-1/2". At that I started a ladder using Staball and 123 gn Scenars. I have been all over from start to max load and have done everything from jammed in the lands to .150" off the lands. The only way I have been able to get it to shoot worth a darn is at slower 2000-2300 fps loads. That's fine for target work but I've been trying to get a load ready for this falls hunting season. Weird thing is that Staball has had the lowest S.D. of any powder I've sent over the chrono coupled with horrible groups. After scratching my head for a bit, I dug out a pound of Viht N150 that I was saving and worked up a ladder with the Scenar 123 gn bullets and loaded them at the listed OAL which happens to be about .080" off my lands of the long throated Weatherby. The entire load ladder produced groups 3/4" and under. The best group was just over 1/4". So right there I know that the rifle will shoot. But what is the reason for poor accuracy with the Staball? Could this be an effect of poor harmonics between the barrel and the report from the powder blast? I don't know what other variable I can test out other than maybe trying a magnum primer. I would really love to get the velocity from Staball If I could figure this out. I see many posts from other shooters who have gotten really good accuracy from Staball so I know it's possible. Any ideas?