I have a Proof 18" SS barrel in 6 ARC and I have been doing load work to find some good combos. I have seen in a couple places that 6.5 Staball will work for the 6 ARC. Does anyone else have any first hand experience running this powder in the 6 ARC? I have LVR, CFE223, Varget, 8208, H335, N140, and Staball 6.5. I am running Berger and Barnes 105, Berger 108, and Sierra 107. I want to try some of the lighter bullets too. I enjoy finding new things that work well but I am still really new at hand loading. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
- Thread starter MontanaWild78
- Start date
Reloading Data Center
www.hodgdonreloading.com Select "6 MM ARC cartridge", ALL bullets, ALL manufacturers and ALL powders....
StaBall 6.5 is WAAAY too slow for 6mm ARC. You will never get enough powder in that case to get decent velocities. StaBall 6.5 is only one step away from Reloder 19. I'm running pretty much compressed loads of LeverEvolution with 115 Nosler RDF's in Hornady brass and getting good velocities. I would go with Lever or CFE223.
One of the best things you can do as a newbie is go to Hodgdon's website and print out a color Burn Rate Chart. They probably have the 2024 chart available right now, but haven't looked. Usually it's around this time that they put out the next year's chart. Learn it, study it, and learn what powders sit where, and that will give you a good idea of what will and won't work.
What about regular staball Match. Seems it would work.
That’s what I’m loading for .223ai.
That’s what I’m loading for .223ai.
I have good numbers and velocity in 6cm with 6.5staball. I haven't yet tried the Match but reg 6.5stabal has performed very well for me with pretty decent SD. I use 4350 in my 6.5cm and would probably be my first option for 6cm also but I have a ton of 6.5stabal and have a good load with it for 6cm so until I run it all or most I'm going to hang with it. Not sure if 6cm would transfer to the 6ARC but it's the same bullet class. (108/109).
It's hard to get away from LVL in a semi. It likes to be ran near the top, is dirty, and a little temp sensitive but man it shoots.
How about CFE 223 in the 6mm ARC? Burn rate
Is slightly slower than lever.
Is slightly slower than lever.
CFE223 would be fine. I run it in my 6.5 Grendel with CCI 400's, and get great results. Contrary to most people, I don't run magnum primers in my 6.5G and 6 ARC. I run CCI 400's, and just make sure I seat them all the way into the pocket. Never had any issues or slam-fires. But I have found when running my chrono's I get better groups, SD, and ES with 400's, compared to magnum (hotter) primers.
Staball 6.5 has a strange performance compared to other powders in some cartridges.
Loaded long in the 22 Nosler, 32.3grs fit behind 85.5 Bergers, 88 ELDs and 90gr SMKs (not compressed) and results in some pretty impressive velocities over most other choices. (per the Reloading Data Center)
Comparing powders for the 90 SMK in the 22 Nosler:
But does not seem to be a good choice in 'similar' overbore calibers.
Loaded long in the 22 Nosler, 32.3grs fit behind 85.5 Bergers, 88 ELDs and 90gr SMKs (not compressed) and results in some pretty impressive velocities over most other choices. (per the Reloading Data Center)
Comparing powders for the 90 SMK in the 22 Nosler:
| CFE 223 | 2.460" | 22.0 | 2,380 | 43,900 PSI | 25.0 | 2,589 | 52,300 PSI |
| IMR 4350 | 2.460" | 26.1 | 2,477 | 42,100 PSI | 29.4 | 2,742 | 52,900 PSI |
| StaBALL 6.5 | 2.460" | 29.3 | 2,649 | 42,500 PSI | 32.3 | 2,889 | 53,500 PSI |
| StaBALL Match | 2.460" | 25.0 | 2,532 | 44,100 PSI | 27.5 | 2,733 | 52,700 PSI |
But does not seem to be a good choice in 'similar' overbore calibers.
Weird 4000MR and 2000MR being so close together on the chart. I thought 4000MR was supposed to be closer to h4831, but its well on the fast side of h4350. I might have to try it out in my 6arc.