Winchester StaBALL 6.5 - Temperature sensitivity test

Published on November 3, 2019
Duration: 16:13

This video details a temperature sensitivity test for Winchester StaBALL 6.5 powder, comparing it against Hodgdon H4350, Hodgdon H414, and Alliant Reloader 17 in 6.5 Creedmoor. The test involved shooting five rounds cold (around 32°F) and five rounds hot (around 120°F) for each powder to measure velocity changes. Winchester claims StaBALL 6.5 is the world's first temperature-stable ball powder, and the results suggest it performs significantly better than H414 and Reloader 17 in terms of temperature insensitivity, though H4350 remains the benchmark.

Quick Summary

Winchester StaBALL 6.5 is a new ball powder claimed to be the world's first temperature-stable option, performing well in a test comparing it against H4350, H414, and Reloader 17. It showed a 67 fps velocity swing between 32°F and 120°F, outperforming H414 and Reloader 17, though H4350 remained the benchmark for stability.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Winchester StaBALL 6.5
  2. 00:49StaBALL 6.5 Naming and Purpose
  3. 00:56StaBALL 6.5 Burn Rate Comparison
  4. 01:14Load Data Availability and Applications
  5. 02:23Test Powders: H4350, Reloader 17, StaBALL 6.5, H414
  6. 03:54Understanding Temperature Sensitivity
  7. 04:46Ammunition Components for Testing
  8. 05:35Load Data Selection and Safety Margin
  9. 06:30Temperature Test Setup: Cold and Hot Coolers
  10. 07:07Temperature Control and PID Controller
  11. 07:30Firearm and Chronograph Setup
  12. 07:55Round-Robin Shooting Procedure
  13. 08:33Shooting Hot Rounds: StaBALL 6.5
  14. 09:03Hot Round Velocity: StaBALL 6.5
  15. 09:07Shooting Hot Rounds: H414
  16. 09:27Hot Round Velocity: H414
  17. 09:27Shooting Hot Rounds: H4350
  18. 09:37Hot Round Velocity: H4350
  19. 09:47Shooting Hot Rounds: Reloader 17
  20. 10:04Hot Round Velocity: Reloader 17
  21. 10:23Test Results: Average Velocity Changes
  22. 10:34StaBALL 6.5 Velocity Swing
  23. 10:44H414 Velocity Swing
  24. 10:56H4350 Velocity Swing
  25. 11:10Reloader 17 Velocity Swing
  26. 11:49Individual Shot Data Chart
  27. 12:36StaBALL 6.5 Standard Deviation
  28. 13:06Powder Rankings and Conclusion
  29. 13:31Excitement for StaBALL 6.5 Future Testing
  30. 13:45Test Protocol Refinements
  31. 14:09Ammunition Soaking Time
  32. 14:26Future Testing Plans
  33. 15:56Testing StaBALL 6.5 in Different Cartridges

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Winchester StaBALL 6.5 powder?

Winchester StaBALL 6.5 is a newly announced ball powder designed for cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor. Winchester claims it is the world's first temperature-stable ball powder, aiming for consistent performance across varying temperatures.

How does Winchester StaBALL 6.5 perform in temperature tests?

In a test simulating cold (32°F) and hot (120°F) conditions, StaBALL 6.5 showed a velocity swing of 67 fps. This performance was significantly better than Hodgdon H414 (124 fps swing) and Alliant Reloader 17 (104 fps swing), though not as stable as Hodgdon H4350 (15 fps swing).

Which powders were compared against StaBALL 6.5 in the temperature test?

The test compared Winchester StaBALL 6.5 against three other powders: Hodgdon H4350 (known for temperature stability), Hodgdon H414 (an older ball powder), and Alliant Reloader 17 (often cited for temperature sensitivity).

What was the methodology for the temperature sensitivity test?

The test involved placing ammunition in coolers for eight hours, one at approximately 32°F (ice water) and another at approximately 120°F (heating pad). Five rounds of each powder were shot cold and five hot to measure velocity changes using a Lab Radar chronograph.

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