Staball Match Review

New powder came out. StaBALL Match.

This is basically, when talking about 223/556 a slower burning powder, that has max loads slightly below CFE223. It reminds me of Accurate 2520 actually. Except it is not like those powders, as the point of StaBALL line, is to be TEMP STABLE in a BALL powder. So if you can achieve the accuracy and velocity you want out of the StaBALL line, then pretty much, you would not use any other ball powders, there would be no point. So this line, is a superior ball powder, to plainly say it.

Case fill, and velocity were fine for 223. You can use this powder for 50 grain bullets all the way to 80+ grain bullets, so its extremely versatile.

Some good groups...

This is all loaded to 2.255, using Starline 556 brass, that was brand new. Federal Gold Medal Match primers, and the brass was prepped.

Since this is the very first time I ever shot this powder, I just put together some loads close to or above MAX book data. So it would be just sheer LUCK if anything grouped great.

Well, we got lucky, and 27 grains is definitely a killer load for 55 grain Berger Varmint bullets, and 26 grains is not bad for 60 grain Hornady V-Max either. The 77 Grain Berger OTM went under 1", but I am positive all these 77 grain bullets could do a lot better than these results. So use these results to understand the velocity range, using a 20" barrel.

Tossed 2 super hot loads with 77 SMK to get a baseline of what is going overboard. Since MAX book load is 24.0 grains with 77 grain SMK, then the 25.5 and the 26.0 grain loads were iffy to see if the primers hold up. They didn't hold up. The 25.0 load had marks, the 25.5 had burs and heavy stamp marks, and the 26 grain load was stamped HARD and one of the primers popped out. See pics below.

Lets inspect PRIMERS!!

77 Grain CC 25.0 Gr

All are 2.255
slight marks...showing pressure..

77 Grain SMK 25.5 Gr

very flat, barely cratered primers, heavy marks on brass, stamped good.

77 Grain SMK 26.0 Gr

Cratered primers, and 1 primer popped out of brass! HEAVY stamps...marks..

Data doesn't lie..

Looks like velocity is respectable for sure! That 28 grain load with the 55 grain bullet was SUB MOA, and it was VERY good velocity.

Now that I have shot the 77 grain bullets, I can see that "probably" the sweet spot for the 77 grainers is "near" 25.2 grains. Hmm...just like AA2520!!! This will put people near 2750 FPS in a 20" barrel, depending on the barrel.