Winchester StaBall in 6.5x55?

[ShootyBang]

I have a pound of this new Winchester StaBall powders, and have read some hints that it can drive a 120gr TTSX very well in my 6.5 Swede. I've been ruthlessly pay-walled in getting data specific to both Staball and a 120gr Barnes TTSX.

Staball data for other 120gr bullets suggests 41.4 to 46gr (with actually very, very low pressures... 45,700 CUP at max load?) giving respectable 2,612 to 2,938 FPS.

Has anyone got more specific load data for the STABALL and Barnes 120gr?

I will also try some loads with either Viht 140 & 150, and RL22, both of which I have at home, and have OEM load data for.

 

[ShootyBang]

Bumpity Bump

 

[Muir]

Start at the lowest end of the powder charge for a 120 and work up like you are supposed to do. ~Muir

 

[ShootyBang]

This I know. But I only have Staball tables for lead bullets, and so I am not sure what the starting load should be for copper monolithics.

 

[Muir]

I understand.
I spent the last half hour looking at data from Barnes and seeing how that compared to Hodgdon with the powders they list. I don't know whether they are being ultra conservative in the Swede or what, but some of their MAX data is below starting loads in Hodgdons with standard bullets. If I really wanted to shoot STABALL with that bullet, then I would load 5% below starting load and see what a few fired cases look like. For some reason, Barnes excluded the popular STABALL from their data while including obscure powders like IMR 4955. Makes you wonder if for some reason, they just didn't find STABALL suitable for this application. I doubt if you are going to find professionally established data for this combination. You will need to either pick a low end charge and try it, or get a different powder. I have been in this situation. It is frustrating.

Looked at data for Nosler's monolithic E-TIP and it wasn't that far off of Hodgdon's listing for like powders. Again, STABALL was omitted from their data suggesting again that it might not be suitable. This is from Barnes. I'm sure you have it already. You might want to pick a powder from that list. ~Muir

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/6.5x55-Swed.pdf

 

[ShootyBang]

There's a lot of discussion about load pressures and 6.5x55: a lot (esp US sites) load very conservatively for old 1940s/50s Krag rifles, etc, ignoring the pressure capacities of modern build rifles. I *did* find two loads on two subscription websites, for STABALL and TTSX, and I was even willing to pay, but neither would let me pay as I wasn't in (a) Germany (b) the US. Very frustrating, since one of the sites said "oh and this load with a TTSX & STABALL is the most accurate load we've ever seen!" I did get this, which is a starter for 10... I might load a few test rounds at 42gr and see what V it generates. The pressures are relatively conservative which gives me some additional margin.

 

[Muir]

That is what I would do, 100%. Let me know how it works.
It is still a 120 grain copper bullet. Barnes put grooves in it to reduce the drag. Physics is Physics. You cant' be to far off.
I read one recommendation that states with solid bullets you want to consider the mid-charge load of a cup and core to be maximum. Like I said, were it me I would load 5% under minimum C&C charge and try it while keeping well off the lands.
But that's me. Good luck. Post the results. ~Muir

 

[ShootyBang]

So I paid for a subscription to a German site (had to pretend I live in Germany... ) and they have the following load data listed for 120gr Barnes TTSX in 6.5 Swede:

Winchester Staball: 42.3gr-46.3gr, generating up to 2828fps at a max pressure of 47137 (86%). 99% powder consumption

For Nosler eTip 120gr:

41.4-45.4, with nearly exact performance & pressure
(and interestingly 38-39.8gr of Viht N150... what a narrow load band!)

 

[ShootyBang]

Speeds out of my 20" Blaser R8:

120gr Nosler e-Tip:
42.0gr Staball: 2434, 2412
42.5gr Staball: 2444
43.2gr Staball: 2519, 2553, 2591
So... going to 44.5 to try and get to a benchmark speed of 2700fps (which is what factory S&B copper generate)

120gr Barnes TTSX:
43.0gr Staball: 2446, 2434, 2486
43.5gr Staball: 2473, 2490, 2483
44.0gr Staball: 2522, 2585, 2548
So... going to 44.5 & 45 next

120gr Barnes TTSX:
39gr Viht N150: 2627, 2615, 2621.
So... going to try 39.5 (40.4 is max)

 

[hendrix's rifle]

T

Speeds out of my 20" Blaser R8:

120gr Nosler e-Tip:
42.0gr Staball: 2434, 2412
42.5gr Staball: 2444
43.2gr Staball: 2519, 2553, 2591
So... going to 44.5 to try and get to a benchmark speed of 2700fps (which is what factory S&B copper generate)

120gr Barnes TTSX:
43.0gr Staball: 2446, 2434, 2486
43.5gr Staball: 2473, 2490, 2483
44.0gr Staball: 2522, 2585, 2548
So... going to 44.5 & 45 next

120gr Barnes TTSX:
39gr Viht N150: 2627, 2615, 2621.
So... going to try 39.5 (40.4 is max)

That seems pretty slow?

 

[ShootyBang]

Well, quite.

 

[ShootyBang]

120gr Nosler eTip, Staball 45gr: 2675fps
120gr Barnes TTSX, Staball, 45gr, 2650fps
120gr Barnes TTSX, Viht N150, 39.5, 2675fps

 

[Acm]

Still struggling a bit on speed there, I think you’ll struggle with expansion at 200 and further. I’m getting 2740 from n160 with the same weight hornady cx

 

[Acm]

This from the viht manual using the Barnes 120grn and n160.

 

[ShootyBang]

I'm definitely aiming for >2700fps, ideally ~2800. Thanks for this.