.30-06 165gr. SST StaBALL 6.5 recipe

mikeyb

mikeyb

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Just reading over my notes for the ladder test I did yesterday. Picked up the 165gr. SST bullets from a friend for dirt cheap, sitting on just under 200 of them now.

Rifle: Winchester Model 70, 22" featherweight contour barrel 1:10 twist
Bullet: Hornady 165gr SST
Brass: Winchester (once-fired)
Powder: Winchester StaBALL 6.5
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle

COAL: 3.248"

56.0gr Velocity 2637/2695/2664 min/max/average
57.0gr Velocity 2686/2737/2717 min/max/average
58.0gr Velocity 2788/2811/2799 min/max/average
59.0gr Velocity 2842/2866/2854 min/max/average
59.5gr Velocity 2866/2905/2891 min/max/average
60.0gr Velocity 2897/2915/2903 min/max/average

60.3gr Velocity 2936 (only had one of these loaded) ***BOOK MAX***

Hot weather, 32 degrees ambient, no stiff bolts, no flattened primers, no signs of excessive pressure. Accuracy node at 60.0 worth exploring - even with the Magnetospeed on a thin contour barrel and not really focusing on groups (just data collection) this one was right under 1 MOA.
 
Last edited:
Lead hammer said:
59.5-60 should work. Test around that and then do a seating depth test.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's the thinking here. Pushing 165's to 2900 out of a 22" barrel is plenty of jam for just about anything I would need, now just tweaking it for max accuracy. StaBALL is about all I can find in stock consistently so I'm pretty pleased with the hot weather performance. Fall bear here I come.
 
StaBALL has proven to be a powder worth keeping on my shelf! Excellent in 243/6mm, 6.5 Creed, 7-08, and 30-06 by the looks of it!
 
todbartell said:
StaBALL has proven to be a powder worth keeping on my shelf! Excellent in 243/6mm, 6.5 Creed, 7-08, and 30-06 by the looks of it!
Click to expand...

So good! It's one of the highlights of this whole component shortage for me. Gave it a try on a whim as it was all that was in stock and it's performing excellent. I have some loads for .270 Win and .280 AI as well to start working up. Coupled with CFE223 for .223, .308, and .35 Whelen, these newer powders seem to be pretty decent. All my guns shoot loads with these powders pretty well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom