I found some older threads, what’s the current thinking on the various StaBall powder flavors?

I’ve been using StaBall “Match” in my .308 loads with 168gr BTHP bullets and find that it’s identical to loads using Varget albeit with a grain more powder. It does meter a LOT better than Varget.

My next goal is to try SB Match in my various 5.56mm rifles with 77gr BTHP to see if it works as well as 8208XBR.

Today I loaded my first batch of .375 H&H 300gr RNSP using StaBall 6.5 and Magnum primers. Allegedly the starting load is a shade over 2,400fps which should be just fine for poking holes in paper and smacking steel on this side of the pond for now.

The StaBall stuff is what Hodgdon has available, what have you found?

using 6.5 in a Creed.

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
using 6.5 in a Creed.

Is it all you wanted and more?

I guess I’m curious about things like temperature stability, grouping compared to older loads and lot to lot consistency.

only worked up a load, I4350 and H414 were just as good.

I also use Staball 6.5 in a 6.5 Creedmoor. I use 44.1g behind a 142g SMK and get great accuracy and around 2790 fps. It's not as temperature insensitive as H4350 or RL16, but it's less temperature sensitive than other ball powders. And it meters really well. And is accurate.

I use StaBall 6.5 in .257 Roberts, 6.5 CM, and .375 H&H. I started using it when I realized too many of my loads were based on H4350 and I wanted to diversify a bit.

I've found it to be a touch dirtier in powder residue than H4350, but the marketing lies regarding reduced copper fouling appear to be true. To ultimately prove that out, I plan to work up a load in 9.3x62mm as that factory barrel is a copper fouling machine, and if that fouling is reduced then it will be easily noticeable.

It's been pretty easy to work up consistent loads in the mentioned cartridges all with good SD & ES numbers. I mentioned I originally bought StaBALL 6.5 as a back up to H4350, but I've stocked up as I'm now using it as a go-to powder.

Thanks skl1, ball powders load well but then do odd stuff out of spite. At least you’ve found SB 6.5 to be somewhat less temperature sensitive.

Puddle,

My Whitworth .375 fouls with Hornady bullets and then the foam, brush and Hoppe’s #9 party begins. I didn’t know Hodgdon says the StaBall line helps with fouling, I have used the CFE powders and couldn’t tell if they helped or not. I’ll be interested to see if it helps that problem at all.

For me, I haven't seen much of it available. I brought one pound of it and tried it in my 6.5 creedmoor, since that's supposed to be what its best at.

Got good velocity. Seemed OK for temp resistance but I haven't tried it in real cold weather.

My rifle really likes the 140 Hornady match hollowpoint and puts 5 into 1/2 inch at 100 yards with H4350. With Staball its about 3/4 of an inch.

So in my mind, its close enough to good for hunting use if needed, but its not as good as H4350. Since I weigh every charge for this gun, the metering isn't that big of an deal to me, but yes, it does meter well.

Since my 6.5 doesn't tend to foul too badly, I can't say I've noticed it does better or worse with this powder, but it does leave a bit more ash than some other things.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
For me, I haven't seen much of it available. I brought one pound of it and tried it in my 6.5 creedmoor, since that's supposed to be what its best at.

Got good velocity. Seemed OK for temp resistance but I haven't tried it in real cold weather.

It seems counterintuitive to me to name a powder after one caliber as that would tend to limit customer interest. They did the same with CFE223 and CFE BLACK which work for other cartridges.

I don’t know how “temperature insensitive” the StaBall powders are but I dipped my toe into the 28° end today. It was cold enough that the battery in my chronograph died and when I replaced it the device got glitchy.

StaBall “Match” in my 20” .223 AR with 77gr bthp wasn’t quite as fast as 8208XBR but grouped as tight or tighter. I intend to load a larger batch and pursue it further. With XBR looking like an endangered species this should help.

StaBall 6.5 at the listed starting load in my .375H&H ran just a bit over 2,400fps with 300gr Hornady softpoints and a three round group overlapped a three round group of the same bullet at 2400ish fps fueled by Varget.
This was at 50 yards with my 8# peep sighted gun and all the fun my old frozen bones needed.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick R:

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
For me, I haven't seen much of it available. I brought one pound of it and tried it in my 6.5 creedmoor, since that's supposed to be what its best at.

Got good velocity. Seemed OK for temp resistance but I haven't tried it in real cold weather.

I don’t know how “temperature insensitive” the StaBall powders are but I dipped my toe into the 28° end today. It was cold enough that the battery in my chronograph died and when I replaced it the device got glitchy.

I worked up my CM load in 70 - 75 degree F. weather, then took it elk hunting where temperatures hovered around 14 degrees F.

Test zero shots in the field were spot on, and didn't have any problems. I know that's not much of a temperature test, but it worked out fine for me.

“Cold” is certainly a relative thing!

The coldest I ran it at over the chrono was like 40 F, and it seemed within SD of what I got at 80.

To me, cold is like -20 F (coyote/varmint) but Puddle’s response of no POI change in the teens is what I look for with big game loads.

I’m just not interested enough to try and pack my chrono out and shoot from the bench in subzero weather.

Well now I know how my loads work at 28°. I’m going to have to make a sacrifice and drag the chrono out this summer to see how they work at 80°