Staball 6.5 powder

[remington jim]

Hey my first loads in my new 65 CM . Wow . does that Sh$t burn DIRTY ! What’s your experience with it
That’s after ONE shot ! lol

Overview !

Yes, StaBall 6.5 is widely described by users as a very dirty powder, meaning it leaves significant carbon and soot residue in the barrel.This is often a result of the additives in the powder, but it still shoots well for many and is considered a manageable issue, as the soot is generally easy to clean. Many users recommend cleaning more frequently, such as after every range trip, to prevent buildup and maintain accuracy.

 

[remington jim]

It did clean out fast but I used up a bunch of cleaners and patches
If it don’t shoot lights out right away - I’m moving on toot sweet lol

 

[Bustercluck]

Cleaning every range trip??? Not a chance.

 

[homer76]

Cleaning every range trip??? Not a chance.

+1

I clean when accuracy decreases. No way I'm cleaning after every time I shoot unless it's corrosive ammo.

 

[savagelh]

I've never noticed it being that dirty but then again, I rarely clean my bores.

 

[track]

I used that powder once and did notice that it is most filthy, equally I never was successful with ball powder, ever. I try to lean towards the temperature insensative powder. It appears that some guys don't clean their rifles, I do after every range day. Case-in-point, I clean my rifles right at the range.

 

[waldo54]

I have never used any staball powder but have heard from guys that it is dirty, I found the 748 like that also when I was loading it in my 22-250. I find winchester powder notoriously dirty in most of their 12ga loads primarily super target, much more so than federal topguns, AA not so much, not sure what powder they use in the super target ammo but it is definitely dirtier, the worst that I found in shotgun loads is Clever from europe, man it's cruddy.

 

[Mr Bill]

I haven't cracked open my keg of unstabil yet. Bought it for backup during the unavailable powder shortage wars. Why invest in gold and silver when you can make a fortune in the future selling powder. Duh….From what I’m reading about this powder it will be my last go to for reloading, lighting the BBQ ….or I’ll sell it when it hits $4,000/oz.

Those dirty patches reminds me to throw my socks and underwear into the laundry.

 

[boxhitch]

Whats 'too dirty' ? For many shooters Varget is too dirty, yet everyone else praises it
lots of comments but with no details

RJ, is the Staball dirty enough to affect accuracy? do you try to keep a shiny bore at all times?

 

[old303]

I have some Stab All 6.5 in storage, where it may remain unless perchance I use it in my second rifle to save N555 for the primary one. Will use different-headstamped brass with it if so, just to make it clear it's the other stuff.

 

[Mr Bill]

Whats 'too dirty' ? For many shooters Varget is too dirty, yet everyone else praises it
lots of comments but with no details

RJ, is the Staball dirty enough to affect accuracy? do you try to keep a shiny bore at all times?

VARGET DIRTY?? OMG…you just kicked a sacred cow!! lol

 

[track]

VARGET DIRTY?? OMG…you just kicked a sacred cow!! lol

My 30-06 loves Varget, behind the 125 grain Accubonds..........3,307 fps average, 1/2" groups all day.

 

[todbartell]

RJ, let us know how many rounds you fire before accuracy goes south with StaBALL 6.5 due to excessive fouling

 

[savagelh]

I used about 4lbs of it in a 22-250 rem and 7mm08 and accuracy never degraded at all and like I stated earlier, I rarely clean bores and if I do its for copper fouling which the 6.5 stabal seems to help minimize. But if you guys dont like it I'll take it all! Best velocity available in most mid size cases. Really makes 7mm08 sing with no pressure signs.

 

[mmcintyre1220]

I tried staball 6.5 in my 6.5 Creedmoor. SD and ES were excellent, accuracy was 100% there but, I could not get the velocity I was after. As far as being dirty, I clean after every range trip so that never mattered to me.

I have some staball match to try also.

 

[remington jim]

Whats 'too dirty' ? For many shooters Varget is too dirty, yet everyone else praises it
lots of comments but with no details

RJ, is the Staball dirty enough to affect accuracy? do you try to keep a shiny bore at all times?

I burn lbs of Varget in my GT and 308 s and it’s not nearly as dirty as Staball 6.5

I don’t want a dirty powder -it’s carbon and a barrels Enemy

 

[remington jim]

I tried staball 6.5 in my 6.5 Creedmoor. SD and ES were excellent, accuracy was 100% there but, I could not get the velocity I was after. As far as being dirty, I clean after every range trip so that never mattered to me.

I have some staball match to try also.

What grs of Staball 6.5 under what bullet ? Fps ? Barrel lenght ? Thxs

 

[remington jim]

RJ, let us know how many rounds you fire before accuracy goes south with StaBALL 6.5 due to excessive fouling

It will NEVER get excessively fouled because I clean my barrels ! OFTEN

 

[mmcintyre1220]

What grs of Staball 6.5 under what bullet ? Fps ? Barrel lenght ? Thxs

44 grains under hornady 120 grain eldm. 24 inch tikka t3x. Fps was 2779. 43.5 was also great at around 2750 fps. 43.5grain of H4350 was giving me 2880. The H4350 load is now up to 2950 as the barrel settles in. Might retest the staball loads.

5 shot groups at 100 for reference

 

[Meroh]

Hey my first loads in my new 65 CM . Wow . does that Sh$t burn DIRTY ! What’s your experience with it
That’s after ONE shot ! lol

Overview !

Yes, StaBall 6.5 is widely described by users as a very dirty powder, meaning it leaves significant carbon and soot residue in the barrel.This is often a result of the additives in the powder, but it still shoots well for many and is considered a manageable issue, as the soot is generally easy to clean. Many users recommend cleaning more frequently, such as after every range trip, to prevent buildup and maintain accuracy.

I use IMR 4350 or H4350 (not the same powders) in my 6.5 x 55, and they are loaded to modern pressures (compressed loads). Both are fairly short cut rod powders, and both shoot quite cleanly. I think that they will work quite well for 6.5 CM with a lot less soot.