Winchester StaBall 6.5 powder

[sestoppelman]

I picked up a can of this recently when it was the only thing on the shelf. Did a bit of research and its a fairly slow ball powder that is supposed to work well in the 6.5 cals, the .270 and "many others".
In my .270 with one test load it seemed to shoot OK, but also seemed very dirty. Today in my 8x64s with 200 gr Speers I shot a box loaded with this stuff starting at 60 grs by halves up to 62 grs.
Seemed to really want to shoot well and also didnt seem at all dirty, hot day here too, shooting at 82F at 10 am. Much warmer than normal here this week. Perhaps it burns cleaner in warmer temps?

I plan to load another box starting at 62.5 grs as thus far pressure seemed normal, all primers looked the same, bolt lift was the same thruout as well, so I dont think its pushing the envelope at all. All groups were acceptable, a couple of called flyers ruined a couple of promising groups and one put 4 in just under an inch dead center.

Looking for others experience with this powder, not others in this burn rate area. I have lots of other powders but this one intrigues me a bit.

 

[wswolf]

I found StaBall 6.5 to work well in the 7x57, .30-06, .300 H&H and .358 Norma.

It contains a copper fouling reducing chemical which reacts with copper in the bore and converts it to a dirty-looking residue which is ejected from the barrel with the next shot. This can easily be mistaken for powder fouling.

 

[sestoppelman]

That might explain it thanks! How would you rate its burn rate in general?

 

[wswolf]

Hodgdon's burning rate chart puts it between H4350 and H4831.
This matches my experience with 7x57, .30-06 and .300 H&H but in the .358 Norma it seems faster than H4350. Closer to Big Game. An example of burning rate charts being rather vague guidelines and that burning rates can vary considerably with specific cartridges.

 

[sestoppelman]

Kind of how it looks to me as well. Thanks!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Just started working with it in my 6.5 CM Blaser. H4350 shoots very well behind the Hornady 143 ELD-X (3/8-1/2” 3 shot groups at 2,736 fps), but the StaBALL 6.5, though accurate is 70-80 fps slower with 2 grains more powder. Hodgdon shows higher velocities and pressure with the same amount of powder.
My plan was to focus on StaBALL 6.5 and Shooters World 4350 for my Blaser load development in the 6.5 CM and 30-06. My H4350 powder is very limited (as are my primers), thus I was looking at new powders that I could find.
I’ll try to update as I get the time to test.

Oh, I was thinking with capacities like the 270 and 30-06 maybe a magnum primer would help with the “ball” powder. Hodgdon lists standard primers though which is interesting. Normally magnum primers are recommended for larger volumes of ball powders.

 

[sestoppelman]

I tend to like mag primers as well with large doses of ball powder, though some need it worse than others, the worst perhaps being Win748. 760 is easier to light and its slower.
A similar burn range is Norma URP of which I snagged a large can of a few months ago when I couldnt find anything else. So far its proving very accurate powder in at least one rifle, my M98 Mauser 7x57.
But so far I like the Staball.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I'm running Staball in my .375 loads. I like it so far.

 

[PARA45]

I'm running Staball in my .375 loads. I like it so far.

Would you please elaborate a bit more on this? What bullet weight, 375 H&H or Ruger, velocities, etc. Thank you!

 

[Forrest Halley]

Would you please elaborate a bit more on this? What bullet weight, 375 H&H or Ruger, velocities, etc. Thank you!

Sorry I did not see notifications on this thread. I'm using 78.5 grains of Staball with a 300 grain SGK. It's accurate enough for me. I don't know the velocity. 80-82 Grains and I find the rifle quite rude in its demeanor.

 

[Ridgewalker]

80-82 Grains and I find the rifle quite rude in it's demeanor.

 

[TNDave]

I don't know the velocity. 80-82 Grains and I find the rifle quite rude in its demeanor.

Never quite heard it put like that

I picked up a couple of pounds of this powder too but haven’t tried it in anything yet.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Never quite heard it put like that

@TNDave and @Ridgewalker I refer to my two #1 rifles as the Businesswoman and the Lady. The .458 Lott is beautiful, but all business all the time without any gentle moments. The .375 is elegant, beautiful and gentle right up until you put 80 grains of powder into the shell and touch it off. At that moment she forgets all sensibility and is quite rude in her demeanor recoiling just like the .458.

 

[PARA45]

Ouch, sounds painful.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Ouch, sounds painful.

Not hardly, but it sure becomes the center of the attention.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Saw this available at Midway today and at "normal" price. Bought a 8 lbs jug and plan to try it in 6.5 Swede and 7x57. Maybe 270 also.

 

[Puddle]

I'm using H4350 in the 6.5 CM for 140 gr. and 143 gr. bullets. I bought 1 lb of StaBall to try with the 156 gr. Oryx and 160 gr. Weldcore.
No worries, if that idea doesn't pan out, I have plenty of 'ol reliable H4831SC I can use instead.