Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 50 R with .264 | 120gr | Frontier BTSP bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Somchem S321, Winchester 748 and Accurate 2520.
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: 23.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,035 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,557 psi | 88% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,223 psi | 85% | 2415 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,683 psi | 77% | 2392 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,034 psi | 85% | 2451 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,898 psi | 72% | 2362 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,152 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,630 psi | 90% | 2346 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,181 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,892 psi | 90% | 2470 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,818 psi | 87% | 2418 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,861 psi | 87% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,600 psi | 86% | 2497 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,514 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,716 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,629 psi | 86% | 2339 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,253 psi | 87% | 2382 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,585 psi | 86% | 2477 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,209 psi | 87% | 2444 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,065 psi | 89% | 2464 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,282 psi | 87% | 2336 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,672 psi | 86% | 2451 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,372 psi | 61% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,427 psi | 88% | 2510 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,528 psi | 88% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,818 psi | 87% | 2418 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,759 psi | 86% | 2421 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,875 psi | 85% | 2408 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,701 psi | 86% | 2474 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,630 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,471 psi | 90% | 2448 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,949 psi | 89% | 2464 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,416 psi | 61% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,934 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,745 psi | 86% | 2408 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,614 psi | 84% | 2395 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,759 psi | 86% | 2421 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,701 psi | 86% | 2474 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,833 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,615 psi | 88% | 2139 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,368 psi | 86% | 2431 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,324 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,863 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,741 psi | 77% | 2290 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,557 psi | 88% | 2454 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,485 psi | 88% | 2388 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,311 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,165 psi | 85% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,050 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,872 psi | 79% | 2392 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,802 psi | 85% | 2405 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,325 psi | 88% | 2421 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,873 psi | 81% | 2395 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,862 psi | 89% | 2493 fps | 97.6% |
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% | 43,424 psi | 82% | 2283 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,181 psi | 53% | 2070 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,300 psi | 61% | 2178 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,815 psi | 45% | 2037 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | 24.5 gr | 88% | 33,895 psi | 64% | 2254 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,225 psi | 55% | 2182 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,246 psi | 70% | 2175 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,608 psi | 71% | 2178 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,204 psi | 74% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,592 psi | 65% | 2238 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,292 psi | 76% | 2326 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,165 psi | 49% | 2087 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,917 psi | 81% | 2451 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,909 psi | 62% | 2182 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,538 psi | 77% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,317 psi | 67% | 2165 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,580 psi | 73% | 2251 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,972 psi | 76% | 2382 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,372 psi | 59% | 2169 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,589 psi | 60% | 2178 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,031 psi | 78% | 2251 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,120 psi | 81% | 2408 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,786 psi | 45% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,658 psi | 50% | 2103 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,722 psi | 66% | 2175 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,292 psi | 76% | 2326 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,072 psi | 70% | 2274 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,608 psi | 69% | 2267 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,751 psi | 66% | 2283 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,028 psi | 70% | 2247 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,640 psi | 79% | 2352 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,358 psi | 61% | 2201 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,960 psi | 45% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,810 psi | 68% | 2244 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,227 psi | 61% | 2156 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,018 psi | 79% | 2352 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,072 psi | 70% | 2274 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,751 psi | 66% | 2283 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,569 psi | 82% | 2343 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,293 psi | 80% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,621 psi | 65% | 2238 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,272 psi | 63% | 2178 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,214 psi | 63% | 2133 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,182 psi | 57% | 2087 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | 25.6 gr | 90% | 40,379 psi | 76% | 2356 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,269 psi | 57% | 2093 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 74% | 2224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,488 psi | 59% | 2103 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,383 psi | 52% | 2021 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 24,149 psi | 46% | 2011 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,734 psi | 58% | 2142 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,495 psi | 76% | 2326 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,562 psi | 63% | 2221 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | 25.5 gr | 92% | 38,885 psi | 73% | 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 54 powders for 6.5 x 50 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Frontier BTSP. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,510 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,463 fps to 2,510 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 54 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (365 MPa), the top charges use 61–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:8.5 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. Somchem S321, Winchester 748, Accurate 2520 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 50 R with the .264 | 120gr | Frontier BTSP 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.