Other powders for 30 06 springfield

Just doing a bit of homework before I pick up my next 30 06 :yaeh am not durnk:
I know I have had success in the past with superformance and 2209 but has anyone had any experience with the likes of staball 6.5 in the "caliber of the gods" dirty 06 :cool:
Preliminary research suggests it should give good velocity similar or even slightly better than superformance and much more temp stable.
Just putting feelers out if anyone has actually tried it ?
I'll be using 178gn eldx, the rifle has a long mag and throat ideal for seating bullets out to make the most of the dirty 06 case capacity and a 24" barrel.
Likewise are there other powders (that are actually available) I should consider for good velocity with the above factors ?
Cheers team

Why not just stick to the two you know work ?
Or running low

RE 22 would be the other one that I think would be ideal
But again unlikely to be available and you may not have any

I've been using Belmont 763 rifle powder for a year or 2 it's Allient powerpro 2000mr with 178 eldx and sierra 165 hpbts and am quite happy. I Don't know if that's helpful but I got a bit of 763 when supply of any powder was tight and it was astonishingly well priced

Ill have a look when i get home the powders i run in 6.5 06 should be ok?

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Originally Posted by akaroa1

Why not just stick to the two you know work ?
Or running low

RE 22 would be the other one that I think would be ideal
But again unlikely to be available and you may not have any

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I have none of either, superformance is available as is staball 6.5 and I can get my hands on 2209 so that's kinda where I'm at.
I liked the velocity I could get with superformance but was always aware that it has a reputation for being a bit temp sensitive so the staball seems to be a a viable option.
Just looking to see if anyone else has tried it ?

RL17 should be another good option given 2209 & Superformance are very sim burn rates

Here is a comparison from hodgdon's load data for 180gn pills between superformance and staball 6.5 in the dirty 06

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Seems staball gets ever so slightly better velocity for less powder, granted slightly higher pressure (to be expected).

For sgk180 my accuracy load is IMR 4350--56Gns. 2710fps.
Gamechanget 165 with 2209 -->2900fps. Norma brass. Cci200 primers.
Couldnt get good performance with URP or 7828.
IMR 4320 works well with 155gn bullets.

760

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

760

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I'm looking for powder that is currently available locally, which kinda limits options

Hard to go past Superperformance isn't it? Goes really well in 270 and 3006 is one of calibres it's recommended for.

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Originally Posted by jackson21

Hard to go past Superperformance isn't it? Goes really well in 270 and 3006 is one of calibres it's recommended for.

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Yup I was very happy with it in my lupo 30 06, I must admit I'm pretty curious about the staball if it can produce the same results and be less temp sensitive. I think I'm just gonna have to give it a nudge :cool:

So....what have you bought this time?

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Originally Posted by Blackfern

So....what have you bought this time?

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A 30 06 :yaeh am not durnk:

to be seen back up for sale at a forum near you soon........... tick....tock...tick....tock

Following as nephew is taking delivery of a 30.06 soon

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

to be seen back up for sale at a forum near you soon........... tick....tock...tick....tock

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@Blackfern
I bought a sako finnbear :cool:

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I see your gesturing Im your #1 fan.........

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Originally Posted by dannyb

Here is a comparison from hodgdon's load data for 180gn pills between superformance and staball 6.5 in the dirty 06

Attachment 226724

Attachment 226725

Seems staball gets ever so slightly better velocity for less powder, granted slightly higher pressure (to be expected).

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What sort of granules are the Staball? The SP measures out really nice and packs in case neatly so not compressed.

Interesting with all the Internet debates on various new cals, the numbers look pretty good on the old '06 to hit pretty hard and get job done!

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Originally Posted by jackson21

What sort of granules are the Staball? The SP measures out really nice and packs in case neatly so not compressed.

Interesting with all the Internet debates on various new cals, the numbers look pretty good on the old '06 to hit pretty hard and get job done!

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It is a ball powder like superformance :thumbsup:

Im using 2217 in my 6.5 06 not sure if thats any good in 30 06

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Originally Posted by blip

Im using 2217 in my 6.5 06 not sure if thats any good in 30 06

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Apparently it can go ok, but likewise to mickducks suggestion I cannot lay my hands on any 2217

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Originally Posted by dannyb

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@Blackfern
I bought a sako finnbear :cool:

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Looks like a very nice original finnbear. Hard to find these days.

Just looked over Nathan Fosters notes on the 30/06 (he’s a huge fan of the cartridge) and his recommendations are 2209 for 150-168gr pills, and superformance for the 178’s and heavier. Burn rate about the same as 2213sc, but higher bulk density so you can pack a healthy dose in there.

And screw the haters @dannyb have fun with it!

@Hunter_Nick Ive said it before..if didnt already own a .270w I would own either a .30/06 or a .308 cant give them higher praise than that.... and yip something really heavy in 06 would be a LOT of fun in the bush....

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Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

Just looked over Nathan Fosters notes on the 30/06 (he’s a huge fan of the cartridge) and his recommendations are 2209 for 150-168gr pills, and superformance for the 178’s and heavier. Burn rate about the same as 2213sc, but higher bulk density so you can pack a healthy dose in there.

And screw the haters @dannyb have fun with it!

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Yup have read Nathan Fosters stuff, that's partly why I'm intersested to see how the staball goes. Its similar to SF but temp stable.
Haha don't worry have never been overly concerned about haters (I'm sure there's a few out there....can't please em all) :yaeh am not durnk:

lgs had a parker hale 30 06 with its iron sights on it still and scope for $300 nearly came home with it but I've got enough already.

Danny I have been playing around with Staball 6.5 and the new Staball HD which has a burn rate like AR 2225. Staball 6.5 will do what 2209 will do maybe even slightly better.
I have tried it in several of my rifles with good results. Accuracy has been good too. I have a 20 inch suppressed Ruger American and have been loading the Hornady 180 gr SP with 56.5 grs of Staball 6.5 and ended with an average velocity of 2687 fps which isn't to bad for a 20 inch barrel. My load is a little under max so there is wiggle room there.
If you can get try some, you will notice after firing the barrel looks dirty but as far as I know this is something to do with the copper retardent in the powder. I like it a lot its good in 243, 22 250, 30 06, 303, 6.5x55, 270 etc.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

Danny I have been playing around with Staball 6.5 and the new Staball HD which has a burn rate like AR 2225. Staball 6.5 will do what 2209 will do maybe even slightly better.
I have tried it in several of my rifles with good results. Accuracy has been good too. I have a 20 inch suppressed Ruger American and have been loading the Hornady 180 gr SP with 56.5 grs of Staball 6.5 and ended with an average velocity of 2687 fps which isn't to bad for a 20 inch barrel. My load is a little under max so there is wiggle room there.
If you can get try some, you will notice after firing the barrel looks dirty but as far as I know this is something to do with the copper retardent in the powder. I like it a lot its good in 243, 22 250, 30 06, 303, 6.5x55, 270 etc.

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Excellent....i will pick some up

nice rifle by the way, you should get a bit more velocity than me with the longer barrel too.

While it’s hard to better 2209 in the 06 for 15-180s, here is a few that can deliver. WW760 and equivalent H414, RL19, RL22 for 180+, H4831/2213 for 180+.
My experience is accuracy comes easy with 09 as does velocity.


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In order from fastest to slowest velocities

RL17
N550
Superformance
WIN760 / 2209 Same velocity at max charge.

RL22 & 2217 would both have to be very compressed to get the same velocitys as the above

GRTs powder data doesnt appear to be accurate / line up with hodgdon manual or peoples real world experience with staball 6.5, it suggests it to be the slowest of all these for velocity by far.

I have no experience with staball 6.5 but have found superformance and other ball powders i have tried to be very temp sensitive which put me off it, and ball powders in general. i much prefer stick powders.

N550 would be a good option, gunworks have it in stock & on paper should offer better velocity over superformance & none of the temp sensitivity

No 30.06 experience with Staball 6.5 but have done quite a bit recently with .375 H&H for which it works very well in my very fussy rifle.
Two relevent comments I would make.
1) The anti copper fouling is VERY good I found. My .375 H&H fouls quite easily in the central area of the bore with many powders. Usually cleaned out after about 50 rounds. After shooting about 100 Staball 6.5 rounds all I can see by borescoping is one small streak along the central bore. Nothing anywhere else.
2) Pour the stuff slowly and steadily from the container into a powder hopper or trickler. The tiny kernels seem to fly really easily. First couple of times I used it I found many stray kernels on my bench and even on the concrete floor. I don't handle powders carelessly so this surprised me and now I am extra careful with Staball 6.5
Hope you get great results in the 30.06 That was probably my next calibre to try.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

Danny I have been playing around with Staball 6.5 and the new Staball HD which has a burn rate like AR 2225. Staball 6.5 will do what 2209 will do maybe even slightly better.
I have tried it in several of my rifles with good results. Accuracy has been good too. I have a 20 inch suppressed Ruger American and have been loading the Hornady 180 gr SP with 56.5 grs of Staball 6.5 and ended with an average velocity of 2687 fps which isn't to bad for a 20 inch barrel. My load is a little under max so there is wiggle room there.
If you can get try some, you will notice after firing the barrel looks dirty but as far as I know this is something to do with the copper retardent in the powder. I like it a lot its good in 243, 22 250, 30 06, 303, 6.5x55, 270 etc.

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just checking @Mooseman that yours was a 20" 30-06 aye ?

Yes, that is correct. Using 56.5 grs of Staball 6.5 and the 168 gr Barnes did 2746 fps average. Some old loads with 180 gr Hornady SP and 56 .5 grs 2209 averaged around the 2700 fps. I load my rounds to 82 mm OAL. The load I use with the 178 ELD X is 58 grs of Superformance for 2737 fps average.
What I like is Staball 6.5 isn’t sensitive to temp change unlike Superformance.
Work up to my loads as we all know every rifle is different.

Hi there
I have an identical sako to the one Danny has just acquired and have been using Reloder 16 and IMR 4831 in it with the Hornady 180 SSTs which it really likes. The best load to date is 57 gns of Re16 for about 2780 fps (chrony was playing up so not confident of accuracy) so will be off to the range again to confirm the load. My sako came with the 24" barrel threaded so I put DPT on it and it is just lovely to shoot.

I've been looking into the temp stability claims of staball 6.5 and I think I'm gonna stick with 2209 as its just so temp stable and gives great results in the dirty 06.......will just have to locate some once I have all the bits I need together :(

Hard to beat AR2209 in the 06, but at least you have a good alternative in Staball 6.5. When I get a chance I will try some loads I have ready for th 7 mm Mag usingStaball HD