17remhunter
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- Nov 12, 2025
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Has anyone used the Winchester Powder STA BALL 6.5. What was your results and your personal opinion
STA BALL 6.5
- Thread starter 17remhunter
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Bux_N_Beards
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2014
- Messages
- 83
I use it in a 6.5 Creedmoor with a Barnes 127gr LRX. Been very happy with accuracy and picked up some velocity over H4350 in my rifle. Shot a 1.25” group with it at 300yds prior to this past season.
To be fair, that rifle has shot everything I’ve fed it well, so not much of a test, but nothing not to like.
To be fair, that rifle has shot everything I’ve fed it well, so not much of a test, but nothing not to like.
grizzly63
Well-known member
Very useful powder. works well in many cartridges. Use it in 7-08, and 6.5 creed. Has more speed in some cartridges than others.
I am a fan, 7-08 and 270 Win. Think it could work in the 243 for me too, have not tried it yet. Just heed max load data and velocity. This powder will often not show traditional pressure signs until things are way too hot. You may not be seeing signs of pressure and all of a sudden you do in a big way.
I have not experienced this phenomenon personally, but some experienced reloaders I know warned me after their experiments. No one was hurt and no gun was damaged, just a fact to be aware of.
I have not experienced this phenomenon personally, but some experienced reloaders I know warned me after their experiments. No one was hurt and no gun was damaged, just a fact to be aware of.
Addicting
Well-known member
7mm-08, 18” barrel, 140g Accubond, CCI 200
I tested it in my daughter’s rifle. Being a short barrel I noticed that the typical powders were not climbing in velocity. Typically the ladder will rise, flatten out over .4 grains then rise again. None of really did it. It acted like it was just making a larger fireball out the end of the barrel.
N540 did produce a typical ladder and was almost 100 fps faster. It produced .7MOA at 100. My load is not yours use this data at your own risk.
I tested it in my daughter’s rifle. Being a short barrel I noticed that the typical powders were not climbing in velocity. Typically the ladder will rise, flatten out over .4 grains then rise again. None of really did it. It acted like it was just making a larger fireball out the end of the barrel.
N540 did produce a typical ladder and was almost 100 fps faster. It produced .7MOA at 100. My load is not yours use this data at your own risk.
WYWINCHESTER
Active member
Use it in all my big game rifles. Had to develop a couple on my own.
Kimber7man
Well-known member
I’ve never used it on pronghorn.
WYWINCHESTER
Active member
Built a load for a 280. Made a beautiful clover leaf on paper. Put an elk down at 310yds. Shot placement trumps dia. every time.
Benfromalbuquerque
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- Jul 15, 2020
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Staball 6.5 has come through well for me on .270 Win and 30-06. I’ve found it to tolerate exceeding Hodgdon recommended maximum load ALMOST every time.
I feel comfortable with this powder to start within a few grains of max recommended loading. There may be a flow around the primer after you get to at or over max load. That’s where I now stop load development with Staball 6.5. I’ve not seen bolt face indentation or obvious swipes with this powder.
It’s going to go right to stuck bolt, blown primer, sticky case or you can’t stuff any more powder.
I feel comfortable with this powder to start within a few grains of max recommended loading. There may be a flow around the primer after you get to at or over max load. That’s where I now stop load development with Staball 6.5. I’ve not seen bolt face indentation or obvious swipes with this powder.
It’s going to go right to stuck bolt, blown primer, sticky case or you can’t stuff any more powder.
