Have used Staball 6.5 for a year now. Have used it for 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5mm Creedmoor both from Ruger Precision Rifles. Five shot groups at 100 yards are consistently under 0.50” and normally under 0.40”. Best groups have been 0.34”. This is shooting four seasons in Iowa with temperatures 18 to 90°. Very consistent for me.
How've things been using Staball 6.5 for 6.5 Creedmoor? What's the ES and SD been like? I'm looking for a temp insensitive double base powder option to replace Reloder 16 because I just haven't been able to get good ES/SD with it. In the meantime I've just stuck with my H4350 and Vihtavuori N160 loads, both single digit SD in 20 shot test groups
Staball in 6.5 cm with 140 smk 135 Berger hunter and a 123 Hornady fmj. Shot the max published charge on all three. All three at or below 1/2 inch group. Meters great. For a while it was easier to find than reloader 17.
50gr of it has pushed a 140grTTSX to average 3018FPS from my 22" 7mm-08. I'm incredibly happy with it and will atleast for my 7mm-08 be using it primarily for a long time.
I had sworn off ball powder over 30 years ago. I was shooting a 6.5x55 in DCM matches. I worked up a load using 380 ball. The ambient temp during my testing was 80 F. The day of the match it was 110 F! Massive pressure problems. I just got a keg of Staball 6.5 and will give it a try in my 6.5x55 and 257 Roberts.
I've used this powder under the 129hr Hornady interlock soft point for dinner generic bulk hunting loads in my AR10. right around 2850fps and 1/2-3/4 MOA. Good enough for my needs. Now to find more primers...
I feel I gave StaBall a fair try in both 6.5CM and 6Dasher. I was hoping to get a powder that I could use for both of these cartridges (140gr hybrid in 6.5 and 105 hybrid in 6mm). I went through a series of load development tests and saw similar results as you got; lowest SD and tightest groups at the higher pressures. Where I got frustrated and threw in the towel on this powder was that once I selected the best load for each of the cartridges, I then loaded 50 rounds for each and shot 5-shot groups looking at consistency in both group size and velocity SD. That's where things fell apart. In larger test (multiple 5-shot groups) both the group size and velocity deviation were widely scattered. I understand statistics and know that with larger sample sizes you expect larger values, but not this large. With the standard powders for these cartridges, H4350 and Varget, I expect velocity SD's of < 11 fps for 6.5CM and
My .02 This powder needs to get crushed. Oldskool trick-Top off the charge, with a weebit of wool dryer lint. Also Each shot fired, is giving each round, that is sitting on your bench a good jolt, the powder might be getting more tightly compacted, with each consecutive shot. I always give each round a shake, and single feed my bolt guns. It is OCD But It works for me.
Just tested this powder in my 270. @ 55.5gr 3075fps 1/2moa 130 Accubonds. 57gr 3150fps 3/4moa with 130 Accubonds. So far it's looking like it will be a great powder even for my 270win.
@@Ultimatereloader I also tested it on my 06 with 168gn berger hunting VLD. Did a pressure test, Hodgdon 2020 annual listed 58gn as max, I went up to 59gn and never saw pressure with new Hornady brass and cci200's mv 2850. It was listed in the Hodgdon annual so there is some data there. Great video, keep them coming.
I'm using this powder for my 6.5 AR10 Creedmoor and 6.5x55Swede and having phenomenal results. Right now it is my go-to powder with 140 grain ELD match bullets both cartridges😉👍
Great job Gav. Very helpful. Appreciate all the diligence & data. I am very interested in the temperature sensitivity tests. Varget proved to be much more consistently accurate throughout the seasons than my 4064 & BL-C (2) in my 308 some years ago.but in the warmer seasons all performed very well. Thanks
I love Staball. All that I use with my 140gr. I have found it provides me with the best accuracy throughout the year. Second favorite is Superformance. Both great powders for 1000 yard shots out of my RPR.
I have used up 4 one-pound containers of this Winchester 6.5 powder so I can say the powder has the same burn rate as all of the brands or 4350 so you can substitute Winchester 6.5 for all loads using 4350. I have used the Winchester 6.5 for 6mm - 248 win / 6.5 -284 Norma / 308 win / 7mm Rem mag in substitute for loadings that use 4350. What I do see odd is 6.5 stable makes Hugh smoke clouds that at first you may thing a gun ruptured the barrel, or cartridge powder overload happened. I made a few loads for the 300 WBY mag for 165 gr bullets using 6.5 stable then the smoke looked like from a Muzzle loader !
I have not tried StaBALL yet. I have been Chronographing my loads for about 25 years now. As a general rule, if you use a powder with the appropriate burning rate for the cartridge and bullet weight, the closer you get to maximum acceptable pressures, the more consistent your velocities become. This does not mean that the 100 yard groups will be better but we must consider the vertical dispersion that will happen at longer ranges and wider extreme spreads. Many times the final powder charge with the most consistent velocity will be higher than published maximums but not by much. If you want reduced loads for some reason, it is best to use a faster burning powder that is acceptable for a particular cartridge/ bullet combination. Slower burning powders and reduced loads are a bad combination ballistically. You do some very interesting tests. Keep it up.
I know this video is over a year old but just watched it today. I just tested the StaBall 6.5 in my 7mm08 T3X and found that my groups are better with the 150gr Barnes TTSX over the 120gr. It seems the heavier bullets also performed better in the 7mm08. I will be testing much more with the StaBall but so far my groups are better with higher velocity.
Test Berger 144's and Hornady 147's. I have yet to see anyone shooting competition with bullets heavier than that in a Creedmoor size case. 150 + class bullets are being shot through PRC / SAUM based cases.
I lucked out and got some of this stuff right after happening upon it in load data for. 223 Rem. Testing has just begun, but all loads were slightly better than the comparable factory stuff we shot that day.
I have been using StaBALL 6.5 for my Savage Axis II chambered in .270 Winchester. My best accuracy (sub MOA) comes with the maximum charges: 52.4 grains for 150 grn Hornady Interlock SP and 150 grn SST and 55.5 grains for he 130 grn versions of those bullets. The Interlock Spire Points seem to get slightly better groups but not by much.
Staball 6.5 has been working well in 3006 with 150 grain Accubonds. It for sure adds speed as I am getting 3000 fps. I went to bottom of scale for Hodgdon specs as I want 2950. Went as high as 61.5 but primers was getting really flat. At 58.5 seeing Sd of 6 to 8 so tweaking from that
This powder is made for 7mm08 turned mine into a laser beam. 120gr Barnes ttsx bullets at 3200fps+. 140s at 3000+, 150s at 2910, and 165s at 2800-2840. I love it
I’ve tested staball in 6.5 creed, 300wsm and 375 Ruger with very good results. ES a tad wider than H4350 but higher velocity, significantly so with the 375 Ruger with heavy pills.
Bought into the hype and got 5 lbs. worked with it for my 6.5 cm with 95 gn vmax and it was horrible. Figured it would all be covered in dust in a year. Then I started testing 140 eld-m and 140 berger vld’s. I went out and picked up 4 more lbs.
@@johngreen1246 Not Gavin but try a Varget class powder. Including RL15.5 / 16 & whatever else has a similar burn rate, or perhaps a leetle faster - 95gr is on the light end for this cartridge. Great for varmints, just light for 6.5 CM so you need a faster-than-4350 powder. Latest burn rate chart I've seen is in the magazine-format 2022 Hodgdon guide. Not on newsstands any longer but appears to be to still be available on their web site @ $10 + S&H. HTH, LM
Was tempted to pick up some 6.5 StaBALL because I saw it in stock the other day, I really didn't want to get 8lb considering I've never tested it before. Besides, the website that had it was at higher cost than the competition even before the shipping costs (go figure). I really want some AR Comp to come back, my rifle loved it with 130gr Sierra TMK's.
Just loaded up test loads last weekend, 2 ea. 42.6 to 44.2 gn StaBall 6.5 in 0.20 gn increments, looking for "Satterlee MV plateau(s)". According to your prelim results, that may be in the 43.8 - 44.2 range given your low ES on 3 shots. Lapua SP new brass, Fed Std SR primers. Necks collet sized to 0.260. Data forthcoming - was going to shoot today, but 37F, windy, and had 4" of snow last night and this morning. Will wait for anticipated 60F temps later in the week. I use an Oehler 35P (4 ft.) for velocity measurement.
I've been trying it in an LMT 6.5CM rifle, and so far the charge weights he uses are not safe for use in semi autos. Anything over 43 grains with 130gr bullets will destroy the brass. (Starline LRP) I popped primers at 45 grains with Berger 130 AR Hybrids and 130 ELD-M and blown out primer pockets with everything past 43 grains. Velocities are amazing, and I've had good SD's and nice 4 o'clock ejection patterns in an otherwise notoriously-overgassed LMT rifle. Doing another round of testing this weekend with much lower charge weights with my Max charges being 43 grains with 130gr bullets and 41.5 with 140gr bullets. This poweder has great potential especially for shorter-barreled rifles because you get that velocity back, but work up your loads carefully and don't just chase velocities.
Great video! Even though I do not own a rifle chambered for a Creedmoor class cartridge (though I am hoping to build a 6ARC rifle in future after a lot more research), there is a lot of other great info here. I have been loading 9mm Para and 10mm Auto for pistol and PCC for almost a year now and I am just now starting to load for my 5.56x45 and 7.62x35 rifles. I have found the 7.62x35/300 AAC Blackout to be a great transition cartridge to load for and I enjoy the process of turning my excess Lake City 5.56mm brass into 300 Blackout cases. However, with 5.56, I now have more powder factors that need to be selected for. I did learn about ball vs flake with 9mm and now have a 12 ounce can 700x that sits unused in favor of CFE Pistol and HS6. Anyway, thanks Gavin for all the help! Its greatly appreciated.
Very late to the comment section, but my 6.5cm loves 45.3gr 6.5staball with the 120gr Barnes TTSX BT. I was surprised with the speed and extreme accuracy in the lighter solid copper bullet. For kicks I jumped up to a Barnes 140gr Match burner and the accuracy completely fell apart. Too bad because I have several hundred of the later that I need to rework with a different power.
Kinda late to the party, but wanted to share my experience. Rifle: 6.5CM Bullet: Hornady 147 ELD-M So far I have done a coarse seating depth test. My smallest group was found @ 0.1" off the lands and shot a 3 shot group around 0.25moa. The seating depth test was 15 shots total and the seating depth spanned a range of 0.12" while powder charge was held constant. Why this is crazy is that my SD was about 12 fps for the entire 15 shot string! Kinda crazy considering the fill ratio changed so dramatically. Also, fwiw, this powder seems to like about a 97% fill ratio.
I've used quite a bit of staball 6.5 with the nosler 140 gr CC and hornadys 140 gr ELD-M and the best group I've gotten was .451 with a R700 PCR 24". I'm sure someone else could do much better. I did try out the 153 gr A tips and best I got was .530 I didn't do alot with the a tips I split the package with my dad . I would like to try the 135 gr a tips and see how those do for me. I'm no professional shooter or reloader. Only been loading just shy of 4 yrs so I'm still learning and you put out great content.
I loaded somewhere around 2lbs of staball 6.5 shooting 140gn elds. It meters great out of my autocharge, and I thought man, this is going to be awesome. I after my 1st round of ladder testing, I found a load that shot great and was around my desired velocity so I loaded 50 and tested again. I was initially satisfied. After loading more however, shooting with a faster cadence like you would find in tactical shoots, or prs matches I started seeing the velocity jump as the rifle warmed up. I have noticed a slight velocity increase in h4350 but talking maybe 10fps over 5 - 5 shot groups fired at a faster cadence. Again I'm looking at average fps per each 5 shot group. Staball, however, I noticed would jump something like 10-15fps between group 2 and 3 and another 10-15fps from 3 to 4 and so on. I believe the most deviation between group averages was like 60fps. So I would argue that chamber temperature was starting to aid in the velocity increases I was seeing. This was being fired out of an ar10 with a wilson combat upper so possibly you wouldn't see as noticeable spike in a bolt action as the chambers generally stay cooler? I shoot alot of h4350 in a couple of calibers and it is just hard to beat. Maybe I'll try staball again with a new fresh rebarrel to give it another fair shake.
@@user-oe9di6mg2v RL17 was my go to back up, I also had a fantastic RL15 load for 120gn elds but really wanted to stay in the 140gn weight range. I have a couple pounds of h4831 and imr4831 I might try with a fresh barrel and 143gn eldxs for hunting. We'll see.
H-4831sc is such a sleeper for the creedmoor class cartridges. It’s my number one powder for the CM. I’ll take it over h-4350 !! Now, I have to say I shoot heavies in my 6.5’s so if I were shoots lighter bullets, h-4831sc probably wouldn’t be my number one choice.
@@jeffthomas751 my chamber is unique. Using srp Lapua brass. 46.3-46.7 grains but not actually a compressed load. Bullet is only in the neck of case. 28” barrel = 0 degs- 2850 fps. 100 degrees 2895 fos. Case life is in the low twenties. Please don’t try this charge of powder without knowing your chamber pressures. Good luck. Powder measured I’d chargemaster
It runs through a powder throw like water. It meters better than H4350 in progressives but I couldn't see much difference when throwing charges with a digital powder trickler. Speeds were close enough that I didn't see any real difference at the range in what little testing I've done. Regardless, if it hits the shelf...I'd run it.
Man, I SO wish I could spend some time with you on this one! I have a custom Savage 110 in .30-06 shooting Hornady ELD-M 168gr and was using H4350, but switched to StaBall 6.5 based on a recommendation. I’m still in discovery mode, but it’s what I’m going with for my upcoming match. I’d never considered using Winchester powders, but here in am.😂
Staball 6.5 has been working great for me with the Berger 144gr Long Range Hybrid Target! Very good velocity and its shooting about 1/2moa out to 700yrds...The only bad thing I have found is that I get terrible SD numbers if I put it in large primer brass...I tried 2 different types of LP Brass with a couple different primers and got the same high SD numbers...Not really sure why! But if I use my SP Lapua brass with cci 450's it drops to single digit SD's...I still get good groups at 100yrds with the LP brass it just has SD's around 25 or so
It needs to ne near full case capacity to yield optimal results. I'm happy with 6.5 staball, but not impressed. Thanks for all the great information you share in a fun to watch format. Keep it up!
Been using staball in Er Shaw mark vii vs ,hornady 147eldm ,hornady brass,br-2 primer 43grain gets me 2800fps and .25 Moa to .375moa. This stuff is great!
I use it in a 338 RPM 20" barrel by Oregon Mountain Rifle Company. I load 210 gr TTSX with 73 Gr StaBall 6.5 at 3.70 COAL reaching 3000 FPS muzzle velocity. Dropped a Brown Bear this year on the Peninsula at 150 yards double lung with exit hole. Doesn't work as well in my 300 WSM not as accurate as RL16.
Great 411... Looking for good info to get started "rolling my own smokes" for my 6.5 CM. Think I'll start off trying the W 6.5. Thanks for the great video.
My AR -10 has a wierd gas issue with this. 13/ ES 4/SD with the gas off. Jumps to like over 70 ES when gas is open. JP Enterprises adj. gas system, 5.25 turns locks back 5 doesn’t. Brass lands in a beautiful 12” circular pile. Faxon Firearms barrel 22” and MegaArms upper and lower. Makes me sad I can’t get lower ES numbers. 😤 Loading 130/140’s SMK and ELD’s.
300 win mag with just 0.56cm 100 yards group, 3000 fps, and 200 > grain bullet. This powder is wonderful and I only loaded less powder ;) Crazy powder! I inspected my shell and primer, all were spectacularly burnt right, just like factory ammunition, but 3000 fps????? Hmmm ;)
.55 moa with stabal. 140 eld .61 moa with 4350 140 eld. This is the first caliber that I enjoy this challenge of reloading . It's like the 338 lapua. Same hole capability with many different loads. Took me a long time to admit it's more accurate than my 308.
Loaded 127 grain barns Thought my gun didn't like those bullets then I loaded them with Imr 4350 10 shots made one hole . Hopefully the powder likes 140 grain bullets better.
Great video and love it in my 7mm-08 with my drum drop. Would love to see you test it with heavy 30-06 bullets. I plan on working up some loads for 212 eldx and it looks like 2700 fps with tight groups might be achievable. That is only 100 fps off my 300WM numbers which is crazy. Perhaps the powder density is helping get more juice out of smaller cases.
Have you looked at Vihtavuori N555 and N565 ? on a Vihtavuori video they mention some amazing temperature stability like 8M/S that’s about 26FPS for some military load test they did. Load data is on the Vihtavuori website or APP
I’m currently doing a comparison test with StaBall 6.5 and H4350 in my 22-250 and both are performing well so far, might have a slight edge with the staball in the beginning stages of the testing
@@juliusjames5577 I do still have further load developments already loaded up and waiting for the range, but life got in the way of me getting out to do the testing, hoping to get out in the very near future again to finish the charge portion of my test.
I did some experiment with this powder and your results are similar. The problem is that 4350 gives me such good results, no surprise here, that it's counter productive to focus on the powder. Sure, if you can't find 4350, then using this as an alternative is a good option. I am curious with the temperature test, so I am looking forward. I do test, but not too scientific. I compare summer results, when I do most of my development, with the winter by saving a batch and shooting when is below 45F(summer here is 80+F).
I’m doing Satterlee load development with 6.5 StaBall in a 6.5 Creed now using a few different bullets. They’re loaded, I just haven’t had a chance to shoot. I did load up some 7mm-08 rounds with StaBall and got some great velocities with 140gr pills, but accuracy wasn’t there.
I tried it in my 7mm-08 and was not impressed with it. I could not get a good consistent group with any of the loads from starting load up to near maximum. I can shoot 5/8" groups with the same cartridge and IMR 4350 with the same gun.
My only issue with your video about 6.5 Staball is that I wanted to keep it to myself. It brings a bit of extra velocity in my old 270 and the groups are still tight enough to match my abilities
Love what you do. Any chance you could do a precision bolt action .223 build. I know it's not as sexy as 6.5 but would be very helpful to the little guy. Thanks
i havent found staball 6.5 to work well in my uintah upper. i couldnt find any velocity nodes that produced good results (below .5 MOA) in fact i found the faster powders like IMR 4451 to work really well with the hornady 140 gr ELD bullets. I also found RL17 to work really well but tends to burn a little dirtier than the IMR 4451. with these two powders i found my widest and best node around 2740fps and got best groups down less than .25 MOA, shot these loads out to about 1480 yrds with groups of less than 44 inches. i also been using an A&D with a V3 auto tricklers to load and found that the ball powder actually didnt meter as well as the stick type, but i may just be bias to stick powders since i find them easier to work with. Also the precision of the A&D may only be about 1 stick equal to a few balls.
I like your style of detailed information. I have some experience with those 2 powders and 6CR. I could be wrong but. I don't hear you testing load pressure. I believe a lower pressure with high velocity is part of a good thing. But what do you think about that?
Been developing, trying to find a place for staball. Honestly, I don’t like it. 6mm velocities we’re way over advertised. I was seeing 3000-3100 fps. In a 6mm bolt gun. Group were nothing to brag about. 6.5 creedmoor. I latter tested with 140&130 grain, using Hodgdon data. In an AR10. The staball cratered primers and had a lot of recoil compared to other loads. Results weren’t terrible, but the recoil, ejector marks, primer cratering had me a little worried at the top end of the load.
Good morning, congratulations for the professionalism and quality of your videos, I am new to this ramming thing and I wanted you to give me your opinion on which model of Vihatavuori powder you recommend me to use for my 6.5 Creedmoor, N150 or N550, with 143 ELDx tips and 147 Eld M Hornady thank you very much. Greetings from Spain.
I cant get a decent group with staball 6 5 and 143 eldx for anythinh. Under 1/2 moa with H4350. Over 6" with staball. 43 grains was my highest charge and i abandoned the mission.
Have used Staball 6.5 for a year now. Have used it for 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5mm Creedmoor both from Ruger Precision Rifles. Five shot groups at 100 yards are consistently under 0.50” and normally under 0.40”. Best groups have been 0.34”. This is shooting four seasons in Iowa with temperatures 18 to 90°. Very consistent for me.
Loading 6.5creed now with this powder, this video helped a lot to find a starting point! Thanks Gav!
Awesome! Let me know how it performs Piet!
How've things been using Staball 6.5 for 6.5 Creedmoor? What's the ES and SD been like? I'm looking for a temp insensitive double base powder option to replace Reloder 16 because I just haven't been able to get good ES/SD with it. In the meantime I've just stuck with my H4350 and Vihtavuori N160 loads, both single digit SD in 20 shot test groups
Staball in 6.5 cm with 140 smk 135 Berger hunter and a 123 Hornady fmj. Shot the max published charge on all three. All three at or below 1/2 inch group. Meters great. For a while it was easier to find than reloader 17.
I think Gavin wants us all to buy Staball so he can get more Varget😀
50gr of it has pushed a 140grTTSX to average 3018FPS from my 22" 7mm-08.
I'm incredibly happy with it and will atleast for my 7mm-08 be using it primarily for a long time.
I had sworn off ball powder over 30 years ago. I was shooting a 6.5x55 in DCM matches. I worked up a load using 380 ball. The ambient temp during my testing was 80 F. The day of the match it was 110 F! Massive pressure problems. I just got a keg of Staball 6.5 and will give it a try in my 6.5x55 and 257 Roberts.
It works great with 130gr ELD-M between 3000 and 3100fps from the Swede and 143gr ELD-X at around 2850fps using T/C encore.
I've loaded some 270win and 30-06 with stayball 6.5 powered so good results
Just Started testing 6mm CM Velocity testing will be done this weekend, Overall length test was pretty dang good
I've used this powder under the 129hr Hornady interlock soft point for dinner generic bulk hunting loads in my AR10. right around 2850fps and 1/2-3/4 MOA. Good enough for my needs. Now to find more primers...
I feel I gave StaBall a fair try in both 6.5CM and 6Dasher. I was hoping to get a powder that I could use for both of these cartridges (140gr hybrid in 6.5 and 105 hybrid in 6mm). I went through a series of load development tests and saw similar results as you got; lowest SD and tightest groups at the higher pressures. Where I got frustrated and threw in the towel on this powder was that once I selected the best load for each of the cartridges, I then loaded 50 rounds for each and shot 5-shot groups looking at consistency in both group size and velocity SD. That's where things fell apart. In larger test (multiple 5-shot groups) both the group size and velocity deviation were widely scattered. I understand statistics and know that with larger sample sizes you expect larger values, but not this large. With the standard powders for these cartridges, H4350 and Varget, I expect velocity SD's of < 11 fps for 6.5CM and
I’m rowing too... same boat.
My .02
This powder needs to get crushed.
Oldskool trick-Top off the charge, with a weebit of wool dryer lint.
Also
Each shot fired, is giving each round, that is sitting on your bench a good jolt, the powder might be getting more tightly compacted, with each consecutive shot.
I always give each round a shake, and single feed my bolt guns.
It is OCD
But
It works for me.
found the same results as you did.
Want to sell it??
This was a great video. Next up, how to make your own primers!
That's what I was going to say. Where is he getting all these primers to do some loading. I haven't been able to get any for 5 months.
I found a vid using the powder from matchsticks & powder from the matchbox strikeface to reload primer cups 🤷♂️
@@jtr82369 ...using cap guns roll caps and the red cup cylinder rings are better because they're fulminate.
I wish
Load it allot in 22, 6 , and 6.5 creed. All 24” barrel . Provides great velocities,all in all like the powder .
Meters like a dream and I have been getting great accuracy results in the 6.5CM.
Bought this powder because I seen that you did a video about it. I’m planning on using this powder for my 260 Remington and 6.5 CM.
Just tested this powder in my 270. @ 55.5gr 3075fps 1/2moa 130 Accubonds. 57gr 3150fps 3/4moa with 130 Accubonds. So far it's looking like it will be a great powder even for my 270win.
Good stuff
@@Ultimatereloader I also tested it on my 06 with 168gn berger hunting VLD. Did a pressure test, Hodgdon 2020 annual listed 58gn as max, I went up to 59gn and never saw pressure with new Hornady brass and cci200's mv 2850. It was listed in the Hodgdon annual so there is some data there. Great video, keep them coming.
The testing & load dev you do is amazing, thank you for the great content
Thanks Jesse!!!
I'm using this powder for my 6.5 AR10 Creedmoor and 6.5x55Swede and having phenomenal results. Right now it is my go-to powder with 140 grain ELD match bullets both cartridges😉👍
What kinda Rig you running AR10 wise? Adjustable gas? Higher charges lower coal? Im struggling to get velocity consistency out of my MA10.
@@anubis8680 stop by my RUclips channel you can see what I've built 😉
Great job Gav. Very helpful. Appreciate all the diligence & data.
I am very interested in the temperature sensitivity tests. Varget proved to be much more consistently accurate throughout the seasons than my 4064 & BL-C (2) in my 308 some years ago.but in the warmer seasons all performed very well. Thanks
this is all i currently use in all my 6.5 Creedmoors very temperature insensitive, great vid Gavin
I love Staball. All that I use with my 140gr. I have found it provides me with the best accuracy throughout the year. Second favorite is Superformance. Both great powders for 1000 yard shots out of my RPR.
Right on!
I have used up 4 one-pound containers of this Winchester 6.5 powder so I can say the powder has the same burn rate as all of the brands or 4350 so you can substitute Winchester 6.5 for all loads using 4350.
I have used the Winchester 6.5 for 6mm - 248 win / 6.5 -284 Norma / 308 win / 7mm Rem mag in substitute for loadings that use 4350.
What I do see odd is 6.5 stable makes Hugh smoke clouds that at first you may thing a gun ruptured the barrel, or cartridge powder overload happened.
I made a few loads for the 300 WBY mag for 165 gr bullets using 6.5 stable then the smoke looked like from a Muzzle loader !
I have not tried StaBALL yet. I have been Chronographing my loads for about 25 years now. As a general rule, if you use a powder with the appropriate burning rate for the cartridge and bullet weight, the closer you get to maximum acceptable pressures, the more consistent your velocities become. This does not mean that the 100 yard groups will be better but we must consider the vertical dispersion that will happen at longer ranges and wider extreme spreads. Many times the final powder charge with the most consistent velocity will be higher than published maximums but not by much. If you want reduced loads for some reason, it is best to use a faster burning powder that is acceptable for a particular cartridge/ bullet combination. Slower burning powders and reduced loads are a bad combination ballistically. You do some very interesting tests. Keep it up.
I know this video is over a year old but just watched it today. I just tested the StaBall 6.5 in my 7mm08 T3X and found that my groups are better with the 150gr Barnes TTSX over the 120gr. It seems the heavier bullets also performed better in the 7mm08. I will be testing much more with the StaBall but so far my groups are better with higher velocity.
Used it in ar 15 with 69 grain smk bthp with very good results
Test Berger 144's and Hornady 147's. I have yet to see anyone shooting competition with bullets heavier than that in a Creedmoor size case. 150 + class bullets are being shot through PRC / SAUM based cases.
I’m excited to try it, providing if I can find it. Great video, please do a load development for the M1A. Thanks Steveo
Been waiting for the staball reviews. Had good preliminary results myself
I lucked out and got some of this stuff right after happening upon it in load data for. 223 Rem. Testing has just begun, but all loads were slightly better than the comparable factory stuff we shot that day.
I have been using StaBALL 6.5 for my Savage Axis II chambered in .270 Winchester. My best accuracy (sub MOA) comes with the maximum charges: 52.4 grains for 150 grn Hornady Interlock SP and 150 grn SST and 55.5 grains for he 130 grn versions of those bullets. The Interlock Spire Points seem to get slightly better groups but not by much.
Staball 6.5 has been working well in 3006 with 150 grain Accubonds. It for sure adds speed as I am getting 3000 fps. I went to bottom of scale for Hodgdon specs as I want 2950. Went as high as 61.5 but primers was getting really flat. At 58.5 seeing Sd of 6 to 8 so tweaking from that
This powder is made for 7mm08 turned mine into a laser beam. 120gr Barnes ttsx bullets at 3200fps+. 140s at 3000+, 150s at 2910, and 165s at 2800-2840. I love it
I’ve tested staball in 6.5 creed, 300wsm and 375 Ruger with very good results. ES a tad wider than H4350 but higher velocity, significantly so with the 375 Ruger with heavy pills.
Bought into the hype and got 5 lbs. worked with it for my 6.5 cm with 95 gn vmax and it was horrible. Figured it would all be covered in dust in a year. Then I started testing 140 eld-m and 140 berger vld’s. I went out and picked up 4 more lbs.
This powder is WAY too slow for 95 grain bullets in the 6.5 Creedmoor!
@@Ultimatereloader What powders would you recommend for 95gr v-max?
@@johngreen1246 Not Gavin but try a Varget class powder. Including RL15.5 / 16 & whatever else has a similar burn rate, or perhaps a leetle faster - 95gr is on the light end for this cartridge. Great for varmints, just light for 6.5 CM so you need a faster-than-4350 powder. Latest burn rate chart I've seen is in the magazine-format 2022 Hodgdon guide. Not on newsstands any longer but appears to be to still be available on their web site @ $10 + S&H. HTH, LM
Was tempted to pick up some 6.5 StaBALL because I saw it in stock the other day, I really didn't want to get 8lb considering I've never tested it before. Besides, the website that had it was at higher cost than the competition even before the shipping costs (go figure). I really want some AR Comp to come back, my rifle loved it with 130gr Sierra TMK's.
Just loaded up test loads last weekend, 2 ea. 42.6 to 44.2 gn StaBall 6.5 in 0.20 gn increments, looking for "Satterlee MV plateau(s)". According to your prelim results, that may be in the 43.8 - 44.2 range given your low ES on 3 shots. Lapua SP new brass, Fed Std SR primers. Necks collet sized to 0.260. Data forthcoming - was going to shoot today, but 37F, windy, and had 4" of snow last night and this morning. Will wait for anticipated 60F temps later in the week. I use an Oehler 35P (4 ft.) for velocity measurement.
How did it turn out? What’s your load?
I've been trying it in an LMT 6.5CM rifle, and so far the charge weights he uses are not safe for use in semi autos. Anything over 43 grains with 130gr bullets will destroy the brass. (Starline LRP) I popped primers at 45 grains with Berger 130 AR Hybrids and 130 ELD-M and blown out primer pockets with everything past 43 grains. Velocities are amazing, and I've had good SD's and nice 4 o'clock ejection patterns in an otherwise notoriously-overgassed LMT rifle. Doing another round of testing this weekend with much lower charge weights with my Max charges being 43 grains with 130gr bullets and 41.5 with 140gr bullets. This poweder has great potential especially for shorter-barreled rifles because you get that velocity back, but work up your loads carefully and don't just chase velocities.
Great video! Even though I do not own a rifle chambered for a Creedmoor class cartridge (though I am hoping to build a 6ARC rifle in future after a lot more research), there is a lot of other great info here. I have been loading 9mm Para and 10mm Auto for pistol and PCC for almost a year now and I am just now starting to load for my 5.56x45 and 7.62x35 rifles. I have found the 7.62x35/300 AAC Blackout to be a great transition cartridge to load for and I enjoy the process of turning my excess Lake City 5.56mm brass into 300 Blackout cases. However, with 5.56, I now have more powder factors that need to be selected for. I did learn about ball vs flake with 9mm and now have a 12 ounce can 700x that sits unused in favor of CFE Pistol and HS6. Anyway, thanks Gavin for all the help! Its greatly appreciated.
Very late to the comment section, but my 6.5cm loves 45.3gr 6.5staball with the 120gr Barnes TTSX BT. I was surprised with the speed and extreme accuracy in the lighter solid copper bullet. For kicks I jumped up to a Barnes 140gr Match burner and the accuracy completely fell apart. Too bad because I have several hundred of the later that I need to rework with a different power.
Kinda late to the party, but wanted to share my experience.
Rifle: 6.5CM
Bullet: Hornady 147 ELD-M
So far I have done a coarse seating depth test. My smallest group was found @ 0.1" off the lands and shot a 3 shot group around 0.25moa.
The seating depth test was 15 shots total and the seating depth spanned a range of 0.12" while powder charge was held constant. Why this is crazy is that my SD was about 12 fps for the entire 15 shot string! Kinda crazy considering the fill ratio changed so dramatically.
Also, fwiw, this powder seems to like about a 97% fill ratio.
I've used quite a bit of staball 6.5 with the nosler 140 gr CC and hornadys 140 gr ELD-M and the best group I've gotten was .451 with a R700 PCR 24". I'm sure someone else could do much better. I did try out the 153 gr A tips and best I got was .530 I didn't do alot with the a tips I split the package with my dad . I would like to try the 135 gr a tips and see how those do for me. I'm no professional shooter or reloader. Only been loading just shy of 4 yrs so I'm still learning and you put out great content.
I loaded somewhere around 2lbs of staball 6.5 shooting 140gn elds. It meters great out of my autocharge, and I thought man, this is going to be awesome. I after my 1st round of ladder testing, I found a load that shot great and was around my desired velocity so I loaded 50 and tested again. I was initially satisfied. After loading more however, shooting with a faster cadence like you would find in tactical shoots, or prs matches I started seeing the velocity jump as the rifle warmed up. I have noticed a slight velocity increase in h4350 but talking maybe 10fps over 5 - 5 shot groups fired at a faster cadence. Again I'm looking at average fps per each 5 shot group. Staball, however, I noticed would jump something like 10-15fps between group 2 and 3 and another 10-15fps from 3 to 4 and so on. I believe the most deviation between group averages was like 60fps. So I would argue that chamber temperature was starting to aid in the velocity increases I was seeing. This was being fired out of an ar10 with a wilson combat upper so possibly you wouldn't see as noticeable spike in a bolt action as the chambers generally stay cooler? I shoot alot of h4350 in a couple of calibers and it is just hard to beat. Maybe I'll try staball again with a new fresh rebarrel to give it another fair shake.
i had similar results. found IMR 4451 and RL 17 to work best for me. 4451 having less FPS variation in string fire. but i'm also using a bolt.
@@user-oe9di6mg2v RL17 was my go to back up, I also had a fantastic RL15 load for 120gn elds but really wanted to stay in the 140gn weight range. I have a couple pounds of h4831 and imr4831 I might try with a fresh barrel and 143gn eldxs for hunting. We'll see.
Thank you Gavin,see you soon brother.
Please do a video on how to make primers...
H-4831sc is such a sleeper for the creedmoor class cartridges. It’s my number one powder for the CM. I’ll take it over h-4350 !! Now, I have to say I shoot heavies in my 6.5’s so if I were shoots lighter bullets, h-4831sc probably wouldn’t be my number one choice.
I am using H-4831sc with 147gr ELD-M and large primers in my 6.5C. What powder measure and bullet weight are giving you the best results?
@@jeffthomas751 my chamber is unique. Using srp Lapua brass. 46.3-46.7 grains but not actually a compressed load. Bullet is only in the neck of case. 28” barrel = 0 degs- 2850 fps. 100 degrees 2895 fos. Case life is in the low twenties. Please don’t try this charge of powder without knowing your chamber pressures. Good luck. Powder measured I’d chargemaster
It runs through a powder throw like water. It meters better than H4350 in progressives but I couldn't see much difference when throwing charges with a digital powder trickler. Speeds were close enough that I didn't see any real difference at the range in what little testing I've done. Regardless, if it hits the shelf...I'd run it.
Man, I SO wish I could spend some time with you on this one! I have a custom Savage 110 in .30-06 shooting Hornady ELD-M 168gr and was using H4350, but switched to StaBall 6.5 based on a recommendation. I’m still in discovery mode, but it’s what I’m going with for my upcoming match. I’d never considered using Winchester powders, but here in am.😂
Staball 6.5 has been working great for me with the Berger 144gr Long Range Hybrid Target! Very good velocity and its shooting about 1/2moa out to 700yrds...The only bad thing I have found is that I get terrible SD numbers if I put it in large primer brass...I tried 2 different types of LP Brass with a couple different primers and got the same high SD numbers...Not really sure why! But if I use my SP Lapua brass with cci 450's it drops to single digit SD's...I still get good groups at 100yrds with the LP brass it just has SD's around 25 or so
I shoot 43 grains of 6.5 staball with hornady match slugs. .4 inch groups. Sd is roughly 7. Im happy
Since StaBALL 6.5 is bit slower then H4350 I think it would be interesting to test heavier bullets. For example 147gr Hornady ELD-M.
Gavin falls in the class of videos where I hit like before I watch it.
Huh dad?
So far I haven’t had good luck with staball, although I have only tested the lower end of charge weights so far
Worked great in a savage 12fv in 22-250 on prarie dogs with speer 52 gr. hp last year
It needs to ne near full case capacity to yield optimal results. I'm happy with 6.5 staball, but not impressed. Thanks for all the great information you share in a fun to watch format. Keep it up!
Thank you!
In my Ruger America 6.5, got. 43" with 140g match burner.
I haven’t seen any to try , I usually load IMR 4350 in my 6.5 Creedmoor with good results in a Ruger target rifle and the Predator rifle also
Been waiting for this video.
I've been waiting ANY powder to become available. :-(
Shhhh don't tell them how good it is!
Just picked up an 8lb jug to try in my 6gt. Curse the shipping delays keeping the precious varget down under!
Just got 8# jug! Let the fun begin!
Very nice a Month ago when you could still buy it.
Been using staball in Er Shaw mark vii vs ,hornady 147eldm ,hornady brass,br-2 primer 43grain gets me 2800fps and .25 Moa to .375moa. This stuff is great!
I use it in a 338 RPM 20" barrel by Oregon Mountain Rifle Company. I load 210 gr TTSX with 73 Gr StaBall 6.5 at 3.70 COAL reaching 3000 FPS muzzle velocity.
Dropped a Brown Bear this year on the Peninsula at 150 yards double lung with exit hole. Doesn't work as well in my 300 WSM not as accurate as RL16.
Great 411... Looking for good info to get started "rolling my own smokes" for my 6.5 CM. Think I'll start off trying the W 6.5. Thanks for the great video.
just starting with staball. i've got large primer and small primer brass. can't wait to see how the compare in my 6.5 creed
My AR -10 has a wierd gas issue with this. 13/ ES 4/SD with the gas off. Jumps to like over 70 ES when gas is open. JP Enterprises adj. gas system, 5.25 turns locks back 5 doesn’t. Brass lands in a beautiful 12” circular pile. Faxon Firearms barrel 22” and MegaArms upper and lower. Makes me sad I can’t get lower ES numbers. 😤 Loading 130/140’s SMK and ELD’s.
300 win mag with just 0.56cm 100 yards group, 3000 fps, and 200 > grain bullet. This powder is wonderful and I only loaded less powder ;) Crazy powder! I inspected my shell and primer, all were spectacularly burnt right, just like factory ammunition, but 3000 fps????? Hmmm ;)
.55 moa with stabal. 140 eld
.61 moa with 4350 140 eld. This is the first caliber that I enjoy this challenge of reloading . It's like the 338 lapua. Same hole capability with many different loads. Took me a long time to admit it's more accurate than my 308.
I am surprised you didn't find out sooner.
Loaded 127 grain barns Thought my gun didn't like those bullets then I loaded them with Imr 4350 10 shots made one hole . Hopefully the powder likes 140 grain bullets better.
I feel like this video has been long over due
Just got the powder recently :)
@@Ultimatereloader Bought powder recently? What's that like?
Great video and love it in my 7mm-08 with my drum drop. Would love to see you test it with heavy 30-06 bullets. I plan on working up some loads for 212 eldx and it looks like 2700 fps with tight groups might be achievable. That is only 100 fps off my 300WM numbers which is crazy. Perhaps the powder density is helping get more juice out of smaller cases.
What did you do to prep your brass, and which primers did you use? I would think a hotter primer *should* work better for the ball powder?
Build a 22cm next. I love mine as a cheap trainer and just fun gun
been buying reloading gear just need some primers hoping we will see some this year.
Help me, I'm going through primer withdrawal!
Have you looked at Vihtavuori N555 and N565 ? on a Vihtavuori video they mention some amazing temperature stability like 8M/S that’s about 26FPS for some military load test they did. Load data is on the Vihtavuori website or APP
ruclips.net/video/eEcbL4lRsHY/видео.html
@@Ultimatereloader Thank You
N555 is legit.
I’m currently doing a comparison test with StaBall 6.5 and H4350 in my 22-250 and both are performing well so far, might have a slight edge with the staball in the beginning stages of the testing
George, please tell me if your still using staball in .22-250. I shoot h380 in mine but would be interested in trying staball
@@juliusjames5577 I do still have further load developments already loaded up and waiting for the range, but life got in the way of me getting out to do the testing, hoping to get out in the very near future again to finish the charge portion of my test.
man, no feedback on what your brass looked like at max charge? I think you were just tapping into staball's potential! Keep the vids coming!
I wasnt impressed when I tried StaBall. The velocities didn't keep up with H4350, 4451 or R16 &17. Tho, need to do a few more tests...
Rl17 varies consistently with temperature and I get groups and velocity with it. Seems to easier on the cases too vs 4350 and 4451
I had just the opposite experience. I got excellent velocity but the best SD I got was 12 fps. Need to paly with it some more.
Would like to test on 243,270 and 30-06 with staball 6.5
I did some experiment with this powder and your results are similar. The problem is that 4350 gives me such good results, no surprise here, that it's counter productive to focus on the powder. Sure, if you can't find 4350, then using this as an alternative is a good option. I am curious with the temperature test, so I am looking forward. I do test, but not too scientific. I compare summer results, when I do most of my development, with the winter by saving a batch and shooting when is below 45F(summer here is 80+F).
I’m doing Satterlee load development with 6.5 StaBall in a 6.5 Creed now using a few different bullets. They’re loaded, I just haven’t had a chance to shoot. I did load up some 7mm-08 rounds with StaBall and got some great velocities with 140gr pills, but accuracy wasn’t there.
6.5 PRC?
I tried it in my 7mm-08 and was not impressed with it. I could not get a good consistent group with any of the loads from starting load up to near maximum. I can shoot 5/8" groups with the same cartridge and IMR 4350 with the same gun.
My only issue with your video about 6.5 Staball is that I wanted to keep it to myself. It brings a bit of extra velocity in my old 270 and the groups are still tight enough to match my abilities
Love what you do. Any chance you could do a precision bolt action .223 build. I know it's not as sexy as 6.5 but would be very helpful to the little guy. Thanks
i havent found staball 6.5 to work well in my uintah upper. i couldnt find any velocity nodes that produced good results (below .5 MOA) in fact i found the faster powders like IMR 4451 to work really well with the hornady 140 gr ELD bullets. I also found RL17 to work really well but tends to burn a little dirtier than the IMR 4451. with these two powders i found my widest and best node around 2740fps and got best groups down less than .25 MOA, shot these loads out to about 1480 yrds with groups of less than 44 inches. i also been using an A&D with a V3 auto tricklers to load and found that the ball powder actually didnt meter as well as the stick type, but i may just be bias to stick powders since i find them easier to work with. Also the precision of the A&D may only be about 1 stick equal to a few balls.
I have 3 lbs I was able to get my hands on. Wanna load for my 6mm creed. Only thing that sux, is finding more....
Thank you!
I like your style of detailed information. I have some experience with those 2 powders and 6CR.
I could be wrong but. I don't hear you testing load pressure. I believe a lower pressure with high velocity is part of a good thing. But what do you think about that?
excelent job, keep it up
Did you ever do a video on temp stabilization on this Staball ?
Been developing, trying to find a place for staball. Honestly, I don’t like it. 6mm velocities we’re way over advertised. I was seeing 3000-3100 fps. In a 6mm bolt gun. Group were nothing to brag about.
6.5 creedmoor. I latter tested with 140&130 grain, using Hodgdon data. In an AR10. The staball cratered primers and had a lot of recoil compared to other loads. Results weren’t terrible, but the recoil, ejector marks, primer cratering had me a little worried at the top end of the load.
Good morning, congratulations for the professionalism and quality of your videos, I am new to this ramming thing and I wanted you to give me your opinion on which model of Vihatavuori powder you recommend me to use for my 6.5 Creedmoor, N150 or N550, with 143 ELDx tips and 147 Eld M Hornady thank you very much. Greetings from Spain.
I cant get a decent group with staball 6 5 and 143 eldx for anythinh. Under 1/2 moa with H4350. Over 6" with staball. 43 grains was my highest charge and i abandoned the mission.
Always appreciate your videos! Thoughts on 6.5CM 22” Barrel -Alliant Reloader 26 for 147 gr ELD-M Hornady Lapua SRP Brass
Have you done the Temp Testing on this powder yet? I'm not seeing a video on it.
Great info!!
How've things been using this powder since? Any follow up information regarding ES or SD with 10 or 20 shot groups? I'm curious
N540 works best for me in the 140+ bullet range just pricie but every thing is now if u can find it
i use 86.5 gr in a custom 375 ruger shooting a 250gr ttsx and its a tac driver , this powder got me away from RL 17 which is not very stable .