5.56spartan
Happy to be here
I recently acquired 8lbs of StaBALL 6.5 Ball Powder, and being a newer powder there isn't as much data out there as some other powders, so I thought I would share some of my testing.
I am new to the PRS style rifles, and am by no means an excellent shot, but I do okay. I have primarily reloaded for pistol, and have reloaded rifle for some old mil-sup rifles to keep costs down. This is my first foray into precision rifle reloading.
Rifle:
Savage 10 Ashbury Precision Ordnance in 6.5 Creedmoor
Barrel Length = 24" 1:8 right-hand twist (less than 300 rounds)
Trigger = stock, a tad under 2lbs
Environment :
70° F , 58% Humidity
Chronograph @ 10ft from muzzle
Target 100 yards - Incremental Ladder Test
Overall, the brass had some shiny spots, but nothing major that I could see.
Seeing a potential node near the bottom, I went back out with a few loads to see how it performed.
Environment:
62° F, 75% Humidity
Chronograph @ 10ft from muzzle
Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone. Testing of other powders was showing better performance with a .289 bushing and a COL of 2.823, so I adjusted. As such, the velocities were lower than the ladder test, and groups were acceptable however nothing spectacular. The consistency was good with all loads having an SD of 10.5 or less. Overall across 0.5gr of difference in powder there was less than 20fps between the lowest and highest averages.
StaBALL 6.5 - 42.5gr thru 42.9gr
6.5 Creedmoor - Hornady 140gr BTHP Match #26335
4 - Shot Groups @ 100 yards
I already have another set of loads ready to go, and plan to test accuracy with loads from 43.0gr to 44.8gr when the schedule allows.
I am new to the PRS style rifles, and am by no means an excellent shot, but I do okay. I have primarily reloaded for pistol, and have reloaded rifle for some old mil-sup rifles to keep costs down. This is my first foray into precision rifle reloading.
Rifle:
Savage 10 Ashbury Precision Ordnance in 6.5 Creedmoor
Barrel Length = 24" 1:8 right-hand twist (less than 300 rounds)
Trigger = stock, a tad under 2lbs
Environment :
70° F , 58% Humidity
Chronograph @ 10ft from muzzle
Target 100 yards - Incremental Ladder Test
Overall, the brass had some shiny spots, but nothing major that I could see.
Seeing a potential node near the bottom, I went back out with a few loads to see how it performed.
Environment:
62° F, 75% Humidity
Chronograph @ 10ft from muzzle
Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone. Testing of other powders was showing better performance with a .289 bushing and a COL of 2.823, so I adjusted. As such, the velocities were lower than the ladder test, and groups were acceptable however nothing spectacular. The consistency was good with all loads having an SD of 10.5 or less. Overall across 0.5gr of difference in powder there was less than 20fps between the lowest and highest averages.
StaBALL 6.5 - 42.5gr thru 42.9gr
6.5 Creedmoor - Hornady 140gr BTHP Match #26335
4 - Shot Groups @ 100 yards
I already have another set of loads ready to go, and plan to test accuracy with loads from 43.0gr to 44.8gr when the schedule allows.
