StaBall 6.5

[CRM284]

With Winchester’s StaBall 6.5 powder being relatively new, have any of you guys worked with it? I was messing around on Hodgdons reloading site and saw that this particular powder was the only one that clicked over 3000fps with a 30-06 pushing a 165 grain bullet. That’s smokin! So, With that being said, what cartridges if any are you loading with this powder? And what kind of numbers are you getting? There isn’t a ton of info out there yet for this powder as far as the forums go.
I have a slew of calibers I load for including 30-06, 280 Ackley, 270 Win, 6.5 Creed, 6.5 PRC and 308 Win. I’m just wondering how this powder performs for you guys, and where I can apply it to my loading.


Craig

 

[Varminterror]

@Walkalong put together a pretty nice record of his load development with StaBall, I’d search for that.

 

[horsemen61]

I used it in 6.5 Creedmoor it was ok at best I wish they would release some 6.5Grendel load data

 

[CRM284]

So I checked out some more cartridge load data with this StaBall powder. Hodgdon shows that with the 7mm-08 and 140gr pills, it’s cranking them out at 3000fps. That’s 280 Ackley numbers, which I find insane. I might have to get some of this powders just to play around. But I wish I had more load data on it. If it’s useable in the 06 it’s gotta be useable in a 270, 280, 280 Ackley, 308, ect..... I just haven’t seen any data yet.

 

[CRM284]

For anyone who hasn’t found or seen the newest burn rate chart here it is. It took me a while to dig this up. Now, in seeing this chart, this powder should work in a wide variety of cartridges. Especially ones I load for. If the load data is correct, and this powder really is a temperature insensitive powder as advertised it should get quite popular.

 

[AJC1]

For anyone who hasn’t found or seen the newest burn rate chart here it is. It took me a while to dig this up. Now, in seeing this chart, this powder should work in a wide variety of cartridges. Especially ones I load for. If the load data is correct, and this powder really is a temperature insensitive powder as advertised it should get quite popular. View attachment 917367

Burn rate charts are funny because the only truth is the section updated by that company unless someone knows a company that tests them all.

 

[Walkalong]

The burn rate chart listings are from "closed bomb" tests. Depending on the caliber/bullet weight they can move up and down on the chart.

 

[CRM284]

I agree with you guys on the burn rate chart. But it’s still nice to see where it fits in vs other powders. It may be a little slower or a little faster than shown. But it definitely helps to see where it might work for the specific cartridges you load.

 

[Walkalong]

Agreed.

 

[hillman23]

I was looking at that powder and wondering what it might do in my 338 WM.

 

[AJC1]

I don't understand the appeal of stayball 6.5 it's supposed to be a stable ball powder. That's like saying it's the best driver in New York.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I thought Staball 6.5 was specifically developed for the wonder 6.5s, no?

 

[AJC1]

I thought Staball 6.5 was specifically developed for the wonder 6.5s, no?

Yeah but compare directly with h4350 and how is it better in any way other than availability

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yeah but compare directly with h4350 and how is it better in any way other than availability

Then It's very similar to H414/W760 but for the new additives and temp stability.

 

[2ndtimer]

Yeah but compare directly with h4350 and how is it better in any way other than availability

Well, being a ball powder, I am confident it will flow much better through my RCBS Uniflow powder measure, along with being available. Of course, if it turns out to be powder measure friendly and performs equal or better than H-4350, it won't be readily available for long. My bet is it won't match the accuracy of the extruded powders.

 

[rayatphonix]

2ndtimer hit it. Meters very nicely.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

I'm also interested to hear about real world experience with StaBALL 6.5 powder in 7mm-08 with 154+ grain bullets in particular as well as .30-06 Springfield. It's kinda odd to me there's no load data for .243 Winchester, .25-06 Remington, and .280 Remington considering the similarly shaped powder columns load data is published for.

WRT temperature stability the one test video I saw indicated much reduced temperature sensitivity than prior ball powders (relative sense), but not as low as some extruded powders known to have low temperature sensitivity. There's all sorts of objections that can be raised about the testing in that video WRT test methodology etc. but from a potential purchaser point of view I thought it did a decent job of demonstrating relative values.

 

[CRM284]

I'm also interested to hear about real world experience with StaBALL 6.5 powder in 7mm-08 with 154+ grain bullets in particular as well as .30-06 Springfield. It's kinda odd to me there's no load data for .243 Winchester, .25-06 Remington, and .280 Remington considering the similarly shaped powder columns load data is published for.

WRT temperature stability the one test video I saw indicated much reduced temperature sensitivity than prior ball powders (relative sense), but not as low as some extruded powders known to have low temperature sensitivity. There's all sorts of objections that can be raised about the testing in that video WRT test methodology etc. but from a potential purchaser point of view I thought it did a decent job of demonstrating relative values.

Your thoughts are exactly the same as mine and that’s why I asked this question. The spectrum of calibers I load for, meet up exactly in the spectrum that this powder should work well with.
If the numbers Hodgdon has published are accurate, I can’t see why this powder shouldn’t be somewhat popular.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

The most info I've been able to find from consumers is a multi-page thread started in Autumn 2019 on Sniper's Hide. And there's not been much useful to me info that I've been able to sift from there.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Then It's very similar to H414/W760 but for the new additives and temp stability.

It's also higher bulk density, more mass per volume, than those earlier ball powders. Relatively less compressed max loads published for one thing, among the few published loads available.

 

[AJC1]

The only real testing I have seen was done by jonnys reloading bench. Might be worth a watch if you want testing vs testimonials

 

[Charlie98]

Data for .30-06.... but not .308?

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Data for .30-06.... but not .308?

Nor a LOT of other cartridges within the same cartridge family as I noted - but 7mm-08 has published load data.

Guess who the primary target market is for a new powder with 6.5 in the retail name? Anything else looks incidental.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

The only real testing I have seen was done by jonnys reloading bench. Might be worth a watch if you want testing vs testimonials

That contains the test info I referred to having data of interest to me in relative data value that wasn't performed by some super certified lab with some recognized standardized methodology (I honestly don't know if such exists) that can be picked to death by folks interested in doing so.

<snip

WRT temperature stability the one test video I saw indicated much reduced temperature sensitivity than prior ball powders (relative sense), but not as low as some extruded powders known to have low temperature sensitivity. There's all sorts of objections that can be raised about the testing in that video WRT test methodology etc. but from a potential purchaser point of view I thought it did a decent job of demonstrating relative values.

 

[AJC1]

That contains the test info I referred to having data of interest to me in relative data value that wasn't performed by some super certified lab with some recognized standardized methodology (I honestly don't know if such exists) that can be picked to death by folks interested in doing so.

I dont know of any formal test data and I'm happy to have any test over a testimonial