Winchester StaBALL 6.5 Gunpowder

[Mr. Zorg]

Has anyone loadeed any cartridges using Winchester StaBALL 6.5 powder yet - especially in 7mm-08 Remington?

If so, have you chrono'ed your loads and compared the results with the published figures on the Hodgson website?

The 7mm-08 upper muzzle velocity versus piezo pressure looks like this stuff produces relatively high upper muzzle velocity figures with piezo pressures under 60 KPSI, particularly for projectile weights of 145 grains and greater.

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

This powder is also advertised to have low temperature sensitivity which sounds great to this South Texas boy.

 

[rayatphonix]

Reviewing the reloading data, the speeds are impressive. We’ve got a gun show coming up where I buy powder, and I’ll look for some. I’ve had great success with RL 17, but try other powders all the time.

 

[Bat Rastard]

I hope it's as good as they say. FedEx brought me 9lbs of it yesterday.

 

[horsemen61]

Wonder how it would shoot in a 6.5 Creedmoor?

 

[rayatphonix]

Horsemen, that’s what I’ll be testing it on. I plan on picking some up the first weekend in January. I’ve done some research and most reports say the increased velocities claimed by Winchester are overstated. I’ll post my results after I test them.

 

[rayatphonix]

Bat, please let us know what you think. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[rayatphonix]

Here’s a video I found. The test was for temperature stability, but he still reports velocities.

 

[roc1]

I shot a few 6mm Creed loads yesterday with it accuracy was good didn’t chrono it will later. I loaded some in 6.5 haven’t shot any of those yet. Meters excellent in measure. Accurate looks promising
Roc1

 

[A Historian]

I purchased a pound of this shortly after watching that video by Johnny's Reloading Bench; bought it to try in my aging 7mm Mauser.

I have rounds loaded up with 165 Sierra Gamechangers, I just need to get out to the range to see how they do and to chrono them.

 

[Bat Rastard]

Bat, please let us know what you think. Inquiring minds want to know.

Will do. I am soon to have a rifle rebarreled in 6.5CM. That is the intended project for the powder.
I probably should have dipped my toes into a 1lb package begore jumping in. Brownells had 1cent hazmat a week ago, so I dove right in. If it is horrible (it won't be), I will burn it up somewhere.

The barrel is a Bartlein, I will be shocked if it is not a performer.

Merry Christmas my friends!

 

[horsemen61]

Will do. I am soon to have a rifle rebarreled in 6.5CM. That is the intended project for the powder.
I probably should have dipped my toes into a 1lb package begore jumping in. Brownells had 1cent hazmat a week ago, so I dove right in. If it is horrible (it won't be), I will burn it up somewhere.

The barrel is a Bartlein, I will be shocked if it is not a performer.

Merry Christmas my friends!

Yes I can’t wait to see your results!

 

[berettaprofessor]

Loaded up a ladder of 6.5 Creedmore today, but it's too windy here to chrono it. All I can say so far is that it doesnt seem isn't an overly dense powder compared to CFE223 or Benchmark.

I'm also disappointed to see that there aren't loads for Staball in 243 Winchester included in the new Hodgdon 2020 Annual or on the Hodgdon Reloading Center. I figured if it works well in 6 and 6.5 mm cartridges it would be a gas in 243 Winchester. Maybe they didn't test it or maybe they know something I dont...the latter being more likely.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

After watching that video, I think the best interpretation of the ad-speak is StaBALL 6.5 has much lower temperature sensitivity than other ball powders for sale at the retail level.

I don't reload, but I'm really interested in this powder for 7mm-08 Remington and now that @berettaprofessor has mentioned it, .243 Winchester. Those are the only .308W family cartridges among my rifles.

I use Reed's Ammunition and Research in Oklahoma City for cartridges that aren't readily available from the big names (like .338-06) or for loads that have an advantage over the big boys offerings (like 9.3X62mm). I had an order pretty well planned out in 7mm-08 Remington and 7X64mm Brenneke I was about to send in when I stumbled across the StaBALL 6.5 data for 7mm-08 Remington. I'll send Mike an email and gauge what they see for potential of StaBALL 6.5 for those 2 cartridges. I'm really primarily interested in 7mm-08 as Mike had said the 7X64mm performance numbers I'd sent weren't a problem to achieve.

 

[horsey300]

Loaded up a ladder of 6.5 Creedmore today, but it's too windy here to chrono it. All I can say so far is that it doesnt seem isn't an overly dense powder compared to CFE223 or Benchmark.

I'm also disappointed to see that there aren't loads for Staball in 243 Winchester included in the new Hodgdon 2020 Annual or on the Hodgdon Reloading Center. I figured if it works well in 6 and 6.5 mm cartridges it would be a gas in 243 Winchester. Maybe they didn't test it or maybe they know something I dont...the latter being more likely.

Just start with 6 creed data, when I get a hold of some it's gonna get tested in .22-250, .243, 6.5 creed, 7 stw initially.