Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5-300 Weatherby Mag. with .264 | 130gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 51 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N570, Hodgdon Retumbo and ReloadSwiss RS 76.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,651 psi | 86% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,001 psi | 89% | 3169 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,114 psi | 85% | 3114 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,159 psi | 88% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,811 psi | 86% | 3110 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,824 psi | 84% | 3091 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,332 psi | 85% | 3205 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,073 psi | 89% | 3173 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,363 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,753 psi | 87% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,202 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,131 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,911 psi | 85% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,882 psi | 84% | 3091 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,305 psi | 88% | 3186 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-50ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,898 psi | 88% | 3166 fps | 97.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,333 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 98.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,637 psi | 86% | 3094 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,668 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,202 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,478 psi | 87% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,566 psi | 90% | 3107 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,392 psi | 88% | 3087 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,290 psi | 88% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,436 psi | 90% | 3238 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,739 psi | 58% | 1995 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,479 psi | 90% | 3077 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,247 psi | 90% | 3159 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,724 psi | 87% | 3146 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,508 psi | 89% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 58,276 psi | 90% | 3173 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,347 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,550 psi | 85% | 3117 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,204 psi | 90% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,827 psi | 60% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,056 psi | 85% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,581 psi | 90% | 3189 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,479 psi | 88% | 3068 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,362 psi | 87% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,985 psi | 86% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,955 psi | 85% | 2992 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,579 psi | 87% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,797 psi | 87% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,898 psi | 86% | 3048 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,028 psi | 86% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,753 psi | 86% | 3120 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,840 psi | 87% | 3117 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,679 psi | 84% | 3120 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,318 psi | 87% | 3192 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,737 psi | 84% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,463 psi | 87% | 3041 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 70% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,270 psi | 77% | 3031 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,543 psi | 73% | 2966 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,893 psi | 77% | 2972 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,962 psi | 69% | 2904 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,723 psi | 55% | 2687 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,616 psi | 73% | 3045 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,618 psi | 47% | 2579 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,038 psi | 77% | 2969 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,559 psi | 76% | 2959 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,600 psi | 70% | 2910 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,454 psi | 68% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,682 psi | 60% | 2776 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,865 psi | 78% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,542 psi | 70% | 2956 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,791 psi | 75% | 3012 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,122 psi | 71% | 2881 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,496 psi | 65% | 2841 fps | 98.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,868 psi | 55% | 2697 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,600 psi | 70% | 2910 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,390 psi | 56% | 2707 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,558 psi | 73% | 2910 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,557 psi | 72% | 2887 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,679 psi | 83% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 66.9 gr | 80% | 37,724 psi | 58% | 2822 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,311 psi | 44% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,312 psi | 74% | 2897 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,787 psi | 67% | 2887 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,405 psi | 58% | 2749 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,914 psi | 60% | 2690 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,501 psi | 47% | 2575 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,762 psi | 75% | 2986 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,150 psi | 68% | 2904 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,653 psi | 61% | 2766 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 45% | 1831 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 71.6 gr | 80% | 37,130 psi | 57% | 2792 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,784 psi | 61% | 2815 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,401 psi | 78% | 2946 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,226 psi | 76% | 2949 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,878 psi | 75% | 2946 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,488 psi | 79% | 2933 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,429 psi | 76% | 2920 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,323 psi | 67% | 2792 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,257 psi | 80% | 2986 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,965 psi | 75% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,341 psi | 74% | 2982 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,016 psi | 62% | 2779 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,915 psi | 63% | 2838 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | 78.1 gr | 90% | 48,544 psi | 75% | 3038 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,482 psi | 67% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,759 psi | 70% | 2851 fps | 99.1% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 51 powders for 6.5-300 Weatherby Mag. loaded with the .264 | 130gr | Merlin Virtus. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,238 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,995 fps to 3,238 fps. Alliant Reloder-50 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 51 of the 51 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 130.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-50, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 8133 Enduron reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Vihtavuori N570, Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for 6.5-300 Weatherby Mag. with the .264 | 130gr | Merlin Virtus they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.