280AI and Staball 6.5

[Carlos88]

I've been using H4350 and a 145 LRX. Anyone try Staball 6.5 and any combination of bullets? Going to try it in my tried and true Kimber.

 

[Dmagna]

I've been using H4350 and a 145 LRX. Anyone try Staball 6.5 and any combination of bullets? Going to try it in my tried and true Kimber.

Works okay with lighter bullets, I just hate ball powders. It's not that temp stabile, I have always used H4831sc instead. Shooting heavy bullets I use a magnum powder like n560 or n565

 

[Seabeeken]

My 280AI likes H4831SC and Reloder 22 with Barnes bullets. I tested a number of powders and these 2 did the best

 

[2UP]

Bumping this to see if anyone's tried 6.5 Staball in 280AI lately? New to 280 AI and I have an 8lb jug.

 

[AkleyFan]

Reviving this thread.

I'm going to start load development with the 145gr LRX and SB6.5 as well - has anyone else done so?

I'll be seating .055 off the lands and starting my charge weights @56.5gr, working up to 60gr in .5gr increments - this is typically how I start out and has worked well for me. RL19 runs very well in both my 280AI's, SB6.5 should run even better (wishful thinking, but that's how we roll!)

 

[6xshooter]

Load some up and try it. Sheeesh

 

[Tandin93]

You ever get that load worked up?

 

[AkleyFan]

I got the loads put together - went to the range - and got promptly side-tracked helping a young man get his new Browning X-Bolt dialed in for his upcoming Elk hunt. He also had 2 friends that desperately needed some assistance getting their new rifles dialed in. I provided some lessons in scope dial-ups too after getting their rifles shooting where they were supposed to. I spent 2 1/2 days with those guys.

Has it been since April 2023 ??!! Man time flies!

I'm off to Wisconsin on Wednesday for deer hunting, no opportunity to shoot 'em for a bit longer.

Anyone else have a chance to run some SB 6.5 loads down range?

 

[Tandin93]

Well, I can't think of a better reason to get sidetracked! I'm sure those young men appreciated it!
I think I'm going to try some this week in my X-Bolt. I'm going to give it a try with 160 Accubonds!

 

[204_ruger]

I loaded up some Berger 150gr Classic Hunter bullets. With RL22 for my Xbolt 280AI rifle. Put testing on hold. My oldest son graduates this weekend.

 

[KJW]

My brother in law from AK uses staball 6.5 in his AI and loves it. I believe he runs a 150 Barnes. Can't remember the specifics of his recipe but it's a mtn goat killing machine. I also killed my black bear with it and his wife killed a caribou.
I currently have a barrel at the smith waiting to get chamber in 280 AI and a pound of this powder on my shelf. Waiting is hard!

 

[Mark37082]

I bought a couple of pounds of StaBall 6.5 to try in my 280AI. I only tried it with a BD2 150 gr. I experienced extreme pressure spikes with .2 grain increase in charge. Toasted my new Peterson brass and very heavy bolt lift. It surprised me as I was doing a pressure ladder. I backed away from this combination. Those long mono's need a longer throat than my current SAAMI chamber, but I'm not sure if a compressed load caused the issue.