Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5-06 Ackley Improved with .264 | 85gr | Hammer Hunter bullet and 93 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 70, ReloadSwiss RS 60 and Alliant Reloder-17.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,175 psi | 90% | 3409 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,783 psi | 89% | 3432 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,405 psi | 85% | 3442 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,507 psi | 87% | 3412 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,754 psi | 89% | 3481 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,665 psi | 84% | 3501 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,740 psi | 89% | 3520 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,726 psi | 90% | 3514 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,333 psi | 87% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,624 psi | 89% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,059 psi | 89% | 3652 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,405 psi | 85% | 3474 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,956 psi | 86% | 3504 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,637 psi | 86% | 3573 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,435 psi | 88% | 3619 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,931 psi | 66% | 3304 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,834 psi | 75% | 3497 fps | 97.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,059 psi | 89% | 3527 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,550 psi | 87% | 3497 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,318 psi | 87% | 3455 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,827 psi | 89% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,246 psi | 87% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,523 psi | 90% | 3609 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,334 psi | 88% | 3510 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,508 psi | 89% | 3560 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,349 psi | 90% | 3533 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,738 psi | 86% | 3491 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,450 psi | 90% | 3566 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,534 psi | 84% | 3520 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,462 psi | 55% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,883 psi | 86% | 3471 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,262 psi | 90% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,175 psi | 90% | 3494 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,131 psi | 89% | 3471 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,116 psi | 88% | 3481 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,247 psi | 90% | 3494 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,376 psi | 85% | 3494 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,421 psi | 88% | 3540 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,333 psi | 87% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,957 psi | 89% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,710 psi | 87% | 3435 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,117 psi | 89% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,711 psi | 89% | 3484 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,477 psi | 85% | 3461 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,275 psi | 87% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,971 psi | 88% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,216 psi | 85% | 3488 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,276 psi | 88% | 3553 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,173 psi | 86% | 3510 fps | 99.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,347 psi | 87% | 3540 fps | 97.8% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,869 psi | 88% | 3468 fps | 98.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,710 psi | 87% | 3494 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,232 psi | 88% | 3455 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,158 psi | 56% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,406 psi | 88% | 3481 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,695 psi | 87% | 3579 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,681 psi | 87% | 3615 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,711 psi | 90% | 3589 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,972 psi | 89% | 3625 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,029 psi | 88% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,724 psi | 87% | 3451 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,362 psi | 87% | 3488 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,318 psi | 87% | 3455 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,711 psi | 89% | 3484 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,957 psi | 89% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,117 psi | 89% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,477 psi | 85% | 3461 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,305 psi | 90% | 3556 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,405 psi | 85% | 3445 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,101 psi | 86% | 3478 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,363 psi | 88% | 3392 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,189 psi | 90% | 3386 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,378 psi | 90% | 3432 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,102 psi | 89% | 3497 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,029 psi | 88% | 3386 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,056 psi | 85% | 3435 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,565 psi | 87% | 3488 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,811 psi | 86% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,014 psi | 88% | 3356 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,638 psi | 89% | 3376 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,623 psi | 87% | 3419 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,537 psi | 89% | 3432 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,059 psi | 89% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,970 psi | 86% | 3484 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,029 psi | 88% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,869 psi | 86% | 3419 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,172 psi | 85% | 3484 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,529 psi | 73% | 3396 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,550 psi | 87% | 3458 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,421 psi | 88% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,827 psi | 89% | 3566 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,696 psi | 60% | 3297 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,289 psi | 87% | 3484 fps | 99.8% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,271 psi | 79% | 3297 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,237 psi | 68% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,692 psi | 80% | 3376 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,837 psi | 81% | 3343 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,814 psi | 64% | 3182 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,162 psi | 63% | 3219 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,500 psi | 73% | 3320 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,234 psi | 62% | 3130 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,588 psi | 76% | 3337 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,415 psi | 78% | 3333 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,729 psi | 67% | 3346 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 62% | 3159 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,149 psi | 66% | 3235 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,379 psi | 62% | 3228 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 52.6 gr | 80% | 34,853 psi | 54% | 3094 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,302 psi | 54% | 3097 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,264 psi | 65% | 3340 fps | 95.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,108 psi | 73% | 3317 fps | 97.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,059 psi | 62% | 3159 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,924 psi | 81% | 3389 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,981 psi | 78% | 3323 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,139 psi | 76% | 3356 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,331 psi | 84% | 3530 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,872 psi | 63% | 3163 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,125 psi | 77% | 3415 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,979 psi | 74% | 3333 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,882 psi | 54% | 3035 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,193 psi | 68% | 3291 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,589 psi | 78% | 3445 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,411 psi | 41% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,876 psi | 71% | 3274 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,819 psi | 74% | 3340 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,264 psi | 65% | 3176 fps | 97% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,937 psi | 78% | 3333 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,417 psi | 82% | 3412 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,329 psi | 79% | 3363 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,610 psi | 61% | 3159 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,222 psi | 68% | 3274 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,588 psi | 76% | 3337 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,065 psi | 72% | 3297 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,007 psi | 72% | 3248 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,293 psi | 65% | 3182 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,918 psi | 69% | 3228 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,762 psi | 75% | 3327 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,427 psi | 71% | 3268 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,934 psi | 72% | 3281 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,511 psi | 65% | 3222 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,002 psi | 63% | 3215 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,525 psi | 65% | 3232 fps | 97.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,876 psi | 71% | 3330 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,690 psi | 76% | 3330 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,400 psi | 76% | 3356 fps | 98.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,664 psi | 83% | 3389 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,716 psi | 41% | 2051 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,050 psi | 72% | 3278 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,774 psi | 70% | 3360 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 52.6 gr | 80% | 37,115 psi | 57% | 3186 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,147 psi | 63% | 3235 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 60.2 gr | 90% | 43,758 psi | 67% | 3317 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,415 psi | 78% | 3327 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,208 psi | 68% | 3209 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,594 psi | 58% | 3091 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,924 psi | 81% | 3389 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,918 psi | 69% | 3228 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,065 psi | 72% | 3297 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,293 psi | 65% | 3182 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,762 psi | 75% | 3327 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,711 psi | 60% | 3146 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,109 psi | 74% | 3301 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,992 psi | 71% | 3274 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,601 psi | 73% | 3222 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,827 psi | 61% | 3051 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,836 psi | 78% | 3294 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,070 psi | 83% | 3428 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,311 psi | 73% | 3215 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,921 psi | 74% | 3297 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 59% | 3100 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,068 psi | 49% | 3012 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,592 psi | 82% | 3304 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,993 psi | 74% | 3215 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,859 psi | 68% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,295 psi | 68% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,463 psi | 56% | 3018 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,118 psi | 62% | 3153 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,705 psi | 76% | 3330 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,989 psi | 66% | 3179 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,264 psi | 65% | 3215 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,711 psi | 60% | 3192 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,882 psi | 54% | 2986 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,806 psi | 77% | 3379 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,415 psi | 78% | 3425 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,765 psi | 52% | 3127 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,759 psi | 70% | 3281 fps | 98.7% |
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 111 powders for 6.5-06 Ackley Improved loaded with the .264 | 85gr | Hammer Hunter. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,652 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,234 fps to 3,652 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 111 of the 111 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 85.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, ADI AR 2209, Alliant Reloder-19 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. ReloadSwiss RS 70, ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 rank at the top here: for 6.5-06 Ackley Improved with the .264 | 85gr | Hammer Hunter they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AR 2209, Alliant Reloder-19, Alliant Reloder-22 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.