Winchester StaBall load help

[miningshawn]

I picked up a couple of things when I was home last rotation; a new Remington PCR in 260 Remington (fire-sale on Remingtons lately!) and 11 lbs of Winchester StaBall 6.5. I am looking for load data and everything points to 4831 - I only have 3 lbs of H4831SC left... I would like to give the StaBall a chance. I plunked a Strike Eagle 5x25-56 on top and ordered a TriggerTech Diamond - which should be on the doorstep by the time I get home. No other changes yet.

I have picked up 3 boxes of Lapua brass and I will be using BR2 Primers. The bullet I will initially try is the Berger 140gr Hybrid.

I am half tempted (really more than half tempted!) to pick up a 260AI reamer and shorten the distance to lands before I even try it out! Reamers are available, even though primers aren't.

Does anyone have a good, known load using StaBall in 260? Should I go straight to 260AI? Does anyone have a good, known load for 260AI?

I would really like your input and experience on this one. Doing workups in 0 degree weather is not as easy and I would like to narrow my focus at the bench instead of the range this time of year.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Hodgdon 2020 lists StaBall6.5 with the 140 Nosler Part., 142 Sierra HPBT (I think that's the MK), 143 Hdy ELD-X, and 147 Hdy ELD-M.. MAXIMUM loads are 41.1g. for 2689, 43.1 for 2745, 44.0 for 2765, and 43.7 for 2718, respectively, all with 24" barrel.. If you rechambered yours to AI first, I'd start with these loads.

You might buy one of the Hodgdon 2020 manuals.

FWIW, I'll be using SB6.5 and Superperformance in my new 6Creed, at least initially.

 

[divingin]

Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester powder data is available on line. Go to Hodgdon.com and select Resources, Reloading Data Center. Follow the prompts for cartridge, bullet and powder Mfr/Type.

No data for 260AI, but 260Rem is there.

 

[Murray Brook]

Can't give you any loads on the cartridge you ask for, but I loaded some in my 7/08 with 145 gr Speer. I found it a fairly good powder for the 7/08 with this bullet but an observation I made concerning the powder is that it can spike very fast. One grain made a big difference in my load. FYI