6.5 StaBall 300 Win Mag QL help

[dixiecricket]

6.5 StaBall is my slowest powder and I would like to use it in a 300WM 24" hunting rifle with 180gr Hornady GMX bullets. Woul ideally get 3000fps, but above 2900 is alright.

Can someone run this bullet and powder in quick load to give me a starting charge range? Unable fo find any published load data.

Thanks!

 

[hoosiermike]

My experience with 6.5 staball in quickload is that the powder file needs adjusted for accurate data. I have not worked with it enough yet to get readings that compare to other sources. The pressures are pretty low
in the calculations. My feeling is that 6.5 staball is too fast for your combination. I might be incorrect about this but there is probably a good reason that you can not find data for that combination. That is all I can
suggest for you.

 

[Murray Brook]

To get a reasonable assessment of a powder charge using a program such as QL or GRT you would need your case capacity, your cartridge OAL and bullet length. Using the default settings in the GR tool for the load you mentioned 64 grs would be max for a pressure of just about 60000 psi with a velocity of 2769 ft/sec. This load could be higher pressure wise in your rifle depending on you #'s. As was posted by Hmike there are better powders. If you do try this powder I would reduce the above # by 10% ( keeping in mind that too low of a charge in a large case poses another potential problem) and what I have found using StaBall 6.5 in other cartridges is that it spikes real fast pressure wise. One grain can make a huge difference with this powder. IMO a call to Hodgdon concerning this load would be wise. JMO

 

[RustyInBend]

The QL numbers actually look more reasonable than I thought they would when I read this. Here are the numbers based exclusively on powder, caliber, bullet and barrel length. You can't get to 3,000, but 2,900 looks possible. Make sure you start low, and work up.

 

[dixiecricket]

I understand its not an ideal powder. I don't need to chase performance and would like to use powders I have on hand.

 

[dixiecricket]

@RustyInBend
Thanks, thats just the starting information I needed to not waste componants, barrel life, and range time!

 

[RustyInBend]

Thanks, thats just the starting information I needed to not waste componants, barrel life, and range time!

You're welcome. Post your results ... I have a "ton" of StaBall and if it worked as a backup for my 300-WM, that could be interesting. My reference load (OCW) for my 300-WM MPA is 74.7 grains of Retumbo ... which I have plenty of (for now), but who knows what the future holds for powder availability. I've had lots of 1-mile hits with this recipe.