Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 50 R with .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H335, Somchem S321 and Winchester 748.
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: 23.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,658 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,861 psi | 87% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,166 psi | 89% | 2457 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,537 psi | 75% | 2388 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,108 psi | 89% | 2493 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,840 psi | 70% | 2356 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,920 psi | 89% | 2346 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,369 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,253 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,471 psi | 90% | 2477 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,295 psi | 86% | 2421 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,324 psi | 86% | 2480 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,078 psi | 85% | 2500 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,456 psi | 88% | 2431 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,686 psi | 84% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,761 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,803 psi | 87% | 2385 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,904 psi | 85% | 2477 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,759 psi | 86% | 2451 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,557 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,498 psi | 86% | 2336 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,092 psi | 85% | 2454 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,053 psi | 61% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,529 psi | 90% | 2467 fps | 96% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,876 psi | 87% | 2513 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,832 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,295 psi | 86% | 2421 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,034 psi | 85% | 2425 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,384 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,889 psi | 85% | 2474 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,747 psi | 90% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,282 psi | 87% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,673 psi | 88% | 2448 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,354 psi | 88% | 2467 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,024 psi | 60% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,382 psi | 86% | 2425 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,471 psi | 90% | 2451 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,816 psi | 83% | 2395 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,034 psi | 85% | 2425 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,889 psi | 85% | 2474 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,253 psi | 87% | 2395 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,021 psi | 87% | 2142 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,514 psi | 90% | 2474 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,877 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,355 psi | 89% | 2388 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,190 psi | 76% | 2293 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,861 psi | 87% | 2457 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,788 psi | 86% | 2392 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,398 psi | 88% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,456 psi | 90% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,615 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,249 psi | 78% | 2395 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,193 psi | 83% | 2408 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,730 psi | 86% | 2425 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,192 psi | 80% | 2395 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2503 fps | 97.7% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,511 psi | 80% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 52% | 2067 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,489 psi | 63% | 2218 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 22,698 psi | 43% | 2021 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,141 psi | 63% | 2251 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,052 psi | 57% | 2218 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,492 psi | 69% | 2172 fps | 98% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,883 psi | 70% | 2175 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,319 psi | 72% | 2257 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,692 psi | 64% | 2234 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,798 psi | 75% | 2329 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,280 psi | 48% | 2077 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,380 psi | 80% | 2454 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,952 psi | 60% | 2178 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 75% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,476 psi | 65% | 2159 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,058 psi | 72% | 2251 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,262 psi | 74% | 2382 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,922 psi | 58% | 2172 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 22.9 gr | 80% | 31,053 psi | 59% | 2178 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,350 psi | 76% | 2251 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,496 psi | 80% | 2411 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,525 psi | 44% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,295 psi | 84% | 2415 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,383 psi | 52% | 2139 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 64% | 2175 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,798 psi | 75% | 2329 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,940 psi | 68% | 2267 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,766 psi | 68% | 2264 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,953 psi | 64% | 2280 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,918 psi | 85% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,824 psi | 68% | 2238 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,872 psi | 77% | 2352 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,778 psi | 60% | 2201 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,641 psi | 45% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,896 psi | 66% | 2238 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,286 psi | 63% | 2195 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,278 psi | 78% | 2352 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,940 psi | 68% | 2267 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,953 psi | 64% | 2280 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,047 psi | 81% | 2346 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,742 psi | 79% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,084 psi | 64% | 2238 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,489 psi | 61% | 2175 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,706 psi | 62% | 2136 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,704 psi | 56% | 2087 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | 25.9 gr | 90% | 39,755 psi | 75% | 2356 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,588 psi | 56% | 2090 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,493 psi | 73% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 58% | 2100 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,571 psi | 50% | 2014 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 23,525 psi | 44% | 2008 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,153 psi | 57% | 2142 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,943 psi | 75% | 2326 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,924 psi | 62% | 2221 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | 25.8 gr | 92% | 38,305 psi | 72% | 2356 fps | 95.6% |
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 56 powders for 6.5 x 50 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,513 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,467 fps to 2,513 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 56 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (365 MPa), the top charges use 60–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Hodgdon H335, Somchem S321, Winchester 748 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 50 R with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT 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.