Has anybody tried Staball 6.5 in 243?

ReloadKy

Handloader
May 13, 2020
319
234
I am trying out staball 6.5 in my sons 243 with a 100 gr Partition to try and find a speedier load for upcoming deer season. Anyone else tried this powder out in 243?

I had 3 powders in mind to try; IMR 4451, Staball and Hybrid 100V (I have plenty of all 3). The reason I want to get a little bit more speed with the Partition is because my son has a compact rifle with a short barrel so the velocity is going to be low. Historically his rifle is 150-200fps slower than published data. The faster I can start the better in terms of producing terminal energy. Hodgons reloading data lists these 3 powders as producing some of the top velocities. If anyone has any advice on any of the 3 powders with the 243 please share.
 
My truck gun is a 9 twist, 22" barrel Ruger American that I use StaBall with 80g Hammer Hunters. They are very accurate and average just under 3400 fps. I shot a coyote with that load at about 200 yards and he was DRT. i use RL26 with heavier bullets, like the 108g ELD-X, it gives me the good accuracy and velocity.

StaBall should work well with 100g Partitions.
 
if you have IMR7828ssc , give it a try . it should give close to top velocity with the 100 gr weight bullets .


edit to add ;
I just looked , one powder gives more velocity than IMR7828ssc , that's RL26 .
 
the 243 is rated to 60191 PSI . here are the powders you mentioned . these are the velocities you could potentially reach , if you don't over pressure before max load .


staball6.5 is going to get you around 2850 fps

Cartridge : .243 Win.
Bullet : .243, 100, Nosler PART SP 35642
Useable Case Capaci: 49.323 grain H2O = 3.203 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.710 inch = 68.83 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : Winchester 6,5 StaBall *T*C

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 75 36.48 2314 1189 31418 10030 96.4 1.395
-18.0 76 37.39 2368 1246 33520 10294 97.3 1.361
-16.0 78 38.30 2423 1304 35762 10541 98.1 1.329
-14.0 80 39.22 2477 1363 38153 10768 98.7 1.292
-12.0 82 40.13 2532 1423 40707 10976 99.2 1.253
-10.0 84 41.04 2585 1484 43430 11162 99.6 1.216
-08.0 86 41.95 2639 1546 46341 11325 99.9 1.180
-06.0 88 42.86 2692 1609 49449 11464 100.0 1.146
-04.0 89 43.78 2744 1672 52772 11583 100.0 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 91 44.69 2796 1735 56335 11697 100.0 1.080 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 93 45.60 2847 1799 60131 11808 100.0 1.049 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 95 46.51 2897 1864 64165 11915 100.0 1.020 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 97 47.42 2948 1929 68474 12019 100.0 0.991 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 99 48.34 2998 1995 73082 12120 100.0 0.963 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 101 49.25 3047 2062 78015 12216 100.0 0.937 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 103 50.16 3097 2129 83301 12309 100.0 0.911 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 93 45.60 2941 1920 71276 11472 100.0 0.978 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 93 45.60 2705 1625 49275 12112 98.9 1.144


IMR4451 2860 FPS

Cartridge : .243 Win.
Bullet : .243, 100, Nosler PART SP 35642
Useable Case Capaci: 49.323 grain H2O = 3.203 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.710 inch = 68.83 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : IMR 4451 Enduron *C*T

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 73 32.72 2336 1212 33688 10088 91.1 1.361
-18.0 75 33.54 2389 1268 35737 10394 92.2 1.330
-16.0 76 34.36 2442 1325 37897 10691 93.2 1.295
-14.0 78 35.17 2495 1383 40173 10980 94.2 1.259
-12.0 80 35.99 2548 1442 42572 11260 95.1 1.225
-10.0 82 36.81 2601 1502 45101 11529 95.9 1.191
-08.0 84 37.63 2653 1563 47765 11786 96.6 1.159
-06.0 86 38.45 2706 1625 50574 12031 97.3 1.128
-04.0 87 39.26 2758 1688 53536 12263 97.9 1.098 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 89 40.08 2809 1752 56659 12481 98.5 1.070 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 91 40.90 2861 1817 59953 12684 98.9 1.042 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 93 41.72 2912 1882 63429 12872 99.3 1.015 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 95 42.54 2962 1949 67098 13044 99.6 0.990 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 96 43.35 3013 2015 70973 13198 99.8 0.965 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 98 44.17 3063 2083 75068 13335 99.9 0.941 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 100 44.99 3112 2150 79398 13453 100.0 0.918 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 91 40.90 2969 1958 68981 12465 100.0 0.976 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 91 40.90 2714 1635 50923 12386 94.3 1.127


100v 2875 FPS

Cartridge : .243 Win.
Bullet : .243, 100, Nosler PART SP 35642
Useable Case Capaci: 49.323 grain H2O = 3.203 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.710 inch = 68.83 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : Hodgdon Hybrid 100V

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 78 34.16 2336 1212 31495 10359 95.9 1.409
-18.0 80 35.01 2392 1270 33639 10631 96.9 1.372
-16.0 82 35.87 2447 1330 35930 10886 97.7 1.337
-14.0 83 36.72 2502 1391 38365 11121 98.4 1.298
-12.0 85 37.58 2557 1452 40929 11336 99.0 1.259
-10.0 87 38.43 2612 1515 43641 11529 99.4 1.222
-08.0 89 39.28 2666 1578 46523 11700 99.7 1.186
-06.0 91 40.14 2719 1642 49584 11846 99.9 1.151
-04.0 93 40.99 2772 1706 52836 11968 100.0 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 95 41.85 2824 1771 56293 12075 100.0 1.086 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 97 42.70 2876 1836 59968 12179 100.0 1.055 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 99 43.55 2927 1902 63877 12280 100.0 1.026 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 101 44.41 2977 1968 68038 12378 100.0 0.997 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 103 45.26 3027 2034 72469 12471 100.0 0.970 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 105 46.12 3076 2102 77192 12562 100.0 0.943 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 107 46.97 3126 2169 82230 12648 100.0 0.918 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 97 42.70 2975 1966 71372 11767 100.0 0.980 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 97 42.70 2724 1648 48563 12511 98.5 1.156
 
IMR7828ssc 2970 FPS

Cartridge : .243 Win.
Bullet : .243, 100, Nosler PART SP 35642
Useable Case Capaci: 49.323 grain H2O = 3.203 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.710 inch = 68.83 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : IMR 7828 SSC

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 81 37.76 2309 1184 29946 10927 82.6 1.417
-18.0 83 38.70 2373 1250 32055 11362 84.3 1.379
-16.0 85 39.65 2437 1319 34320 11790 86.0 1.342
-14.0 87 40.59 2502 1390 36754 12206 87.7 1.306
-12.0 89 41.54 2568 1464 39369 12611 89.3 1.264
-10.0 91 42.48 2634 1540 42182 13001 90.8 1.223
-08.0 93 43.42 2700 1619 45218 13374 92.1 1.183
-06.0 95 44.37 2767 1700 48487 13727 93.4 1.144
-04.0 97 45.31 2835 1784 52016 14059 94.6 1.107 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 99 46.26 2902 1870 55829 14367 95.7 1.071 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 101 47.20 2970 1958 59955 14649 96.7 1.036 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 103 48.14 3038 2049 64424 14902 97.6 1.002 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 105 49.09 3105 2141 69275 15125 98.3 0.969 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 107 50.03 3173 2236 74550 15315 98.9 0.938 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 109 50.98 3241 2332 80292 15470 99.4 0.907 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 111 51.92 3308 2430 86563 15589 99.7 0.878 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 101 47.20 3139 2188 73117 14594 99.9 0.951 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 101 47.20 2748 1677 48540 13800 88.6 1.143




RL26 3016 FPS


Cartridge : .243 Win.
Bullet : .243, 100, Nosler PART SP 35642
Useable Case Capaci: 49.323 grain H2O = 3.203 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.710 inch = 68.83 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26 *C

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 80 39.04 2333 1209 28618 11957 90.1 1.461
-18.0 82 40.02 2401 1280 30742 12395 91.9 1.421
-16.0 84 40.99 2469 1353 33032 12811 93.5 1.382
-14.0 86 41.97 2537 1429 35526 13200 94.9 1.345
-12.0 88 42.94 2606 1508 38221 13560 96.2 1.302
-10.0 90 43.92 2675 1589 41142 13886 97.3 1.258
-08.0 92 44.90 2744 1671 44314 14176 98.3 1.214
-06.0 94 45.87 2812 1756 47762 14426 99.0 1.172
-04.0 96 46.85 2880 1842 51501 14635 99.5 1.132 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 98 47.82 2948 1930 55603 14799 99.9 1.092 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 100 48.80 3016 2019 60066 14916 100.0 1.055 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 102 49.78 3082 2109 64917 15001 100.0 1.019 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 104 50.75 3148 2200 70165 15079 100.0 0.984 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 106 51.73 3213 2293 75866 15151 100.0 0.950 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 108 52.70 3278 2386 82070 15217 100.0 0.918 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 110 53.68 3342 2481 88834 15276 100.0 0.887 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 100 48.80 3168 2229 75771 14277 100.0 0.959 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 100 48.80 2786 1723 46328 14901 95.6 1.181
 
Haven’t worked with it in 243, but have had great results with it in 270 Win. 56 grains gets me 3128 fps with 130gr BT’s.

Try working up a load starting with 100V data. Staball is one step slower than 100V on the burn rate chart. It usually gives substantially better velocities than 100V, but that should be a safe place to start as 100V is one step faster than Staball. Work up slowly and let us know how it goes. You’ll start getting best accuracy and velocity when you reach 90-93% load densities.
 
The first attempt with Staball did not go well. My velocity average was 2754 and the 4 shot group was 4.3 inches!!!! I think I am going to try the 100v. My son's rifle is a Rem 700 compact with 18 inch barrel so I know I am going to be lower than the velocities provided by Jim. Thank you for that Jim. I can get an average of 2800 and good accuracy with IMR 4831. I should probably just use that and be happy but I am being greedy and should not be.
 
awe shucks , I ran the info with a 20" bbl . I should have mentioned above ; IMR7828 is long cut kernels , it's to bulky for easy use in the 243 . I used it before there was an IMR7828ssc . IMR7828ssc is much better to work with in this combo . max load is 101% case fill for the ssc . as compared to the long cut being 107% .

I know all powders are hard to get right now . I think you might find IMR7828ssc easier than RL26 . I don't think the demand is as high . I did buy some IMR7828ssc from a local gun shop not to long ago , keep an eye out .
 
ReloadKy":wrd4ykk3 said:
I can get an average of 2800 and good accuracy with IMR 4831. I should probably just use that and be happy but I am being greedy and should not be.
It's all about bullet placement. Put that 100 gr PT exactly where it needs to go and your son will have dead deer, even with a 2800 fps MV. I always had great accuracy with IMR4350. No idea what the speed was.
RL26 certainly looks like it would be a good powder to try.

JD338
 
ReloadKy":3ie1yv5y said:
The first attempt with Staball did not go well. My velocity average was 2754 and the 4 shot group was 4.3 inches!!!! I think I am going to try the 100v. My son's rifle is a Rem 700 compact with 18 inch barrel so I know I am going to be lower than the velocities provided by Jim. Thank you for that Jim. I can get an average of 2800 and good accuracy with IMR 4831. I should probably just use that and be happy but I am being greedy and should not be.
Were you getting any pressure signs yet? That seems like about where Staball should start getting more consistent for a 18” barrel. If you weren’t getting pressure signs, keep going up slowly. Staball usually gives better velocities than 100V. Magnum primers helps Staball as well when it’s erratic.

After saying all that, you can’t go wrong with IMR 4831 in a 243. It’s one of those powders custom made for a 243 Win. Seems like IMR 4831 fits that bill in many different cartridges. There’s also no “in between” with it. If the rifle likes it, the bullets will just about go through the same hole on their own. If it doesn’t like it “they can’t hit the broad side of a barn standing inside with the doors closed.”
 
Joe I did not have any pressure signs. I have also found that IMR 4831 is very consistent in several different calibers. In fact my wife's 243 loves IMR 4831 with 95 gr SST's.
 
ReloadKy":5tjjzqus said:
Joe I did not have any pressure signs. I have also found that IMR 4831 is very consistent in several different calibers. In fact my wife's 243 loves IMR 4831 with 95 gr SST's.
That will just about make a deer look like it was struck by lightning. I haven’t deer hunted with my 243 for years but 8 out of 10 times it dropped them in their tracks. IMR 4831 is great in my 270 and a 7RM with 130gr BT’s and 139gr SST’s. It also has a very low flame temp compared to other powders in that burn range. Easier on chamber throats.
 
I use SB 6.5 in my 6 CM with 105's and it is excellent. Getting right around 3100 from it in my little Howa. It also works very well in my 30-06 with 212's. I'd surely give it a shot in a 243 with a 100. It can't be any worse than any others, and being a ball, it loads quite nicely.
 
Back
Top