Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 50 R with .264 | 130gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 61 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,369 psi | 88% | 2224 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,644 psi | 88% | 2303 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,976 psi | 85% | 2306 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,843 psi | 77% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,179 psi | 85% | 2349 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,014 psi | 72% | 2267 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,543 psi | 90% | 2241 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,150 psi | 85% | 2208 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,064 psi | 87% | 2346 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,282 psi | 89% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,310 psi | 86% | 2326 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,296 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,340 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,528 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,384 psi | 90% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,701 psi | 86% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,035 psi | 87% | 2241 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,470 psi | 88% | 2283 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,963 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,456 psi | 88% | 2343 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,761 psi | 90% | 2369 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,427 psi | 88% | 2234 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,296 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,222 psi | 84% | 2362 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,358 psi | 61% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,339 psi | 86% | 2320 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,470 psi | 88% | 2402 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,789 psi | 88% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,296 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,890 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,295 psi | 86% | 2313 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,003 psi | 79% | 2277 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,819 psi | 90% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,892 psi | 90% | 2352 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,659 psi | 90% | 2365 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,401 psi | 61% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,238 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,992 psi | 87% | 2310 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,846 psi | 85% | 2300 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,890 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,003 psi | 79% | 2277 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,268 psi | 89% | 2297 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,137 psi | 89% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,701 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,847 psi | 87% | 2293 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,311 psi | 89% | 2359 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,687 psi | 86% | 2251 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,988 psi | 77% | 2198 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,717 psi | 88% | 2356 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2290 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,442 psi | 90% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,585 psi | 86% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,369 psi | 89% | 2283 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,235 psi | 80% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,831 psi | 85% | 2303 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,818 psi | 88% | 2326 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,540 psi | 82% | 2303 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,776 psi | 90% | 2402 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,702 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 96.6% |
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% | 43,555 psi | 82% | 2185 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,065 psi | 53% | 1982 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 56% | 2037 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 21,988 psi | 42% | 1906 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | 23.1 gr | 86% | 31,691 psi | 60% | 2116 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 27,311 psi | 52% | 2051 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,028 psi | 70% | 2077 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,420 psi | 71% | 2080 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,294 psi | 82% | 2303 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,378 psi | 74% | 2159 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,606 psi | 65% | 2146 fps | 98% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,450 psi | 73% | 2195 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,773 psi | 49% | 1991 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 22.4 gr | 88% | 40,321 psi | 76% | 2303 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,938 psi | 62% | 2090 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,306 psi | 76% | 2162 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,491 psi | 67% | 2077 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,492 psi | 69% | 2116 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,302 psi | 67% | 2198 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,618 psi | 60% | 2083 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,662 psi | 60% | 2090 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,886 psi | 77% | 2152 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,843 psi | 77% | 2270 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,597 psi | 79% | 2320 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,873 psi | 45% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,627 psi | 81% | 2277 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,368 psi | 50% | 2011 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,795 psi | 66% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,450 psi | 73% | 2195 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,202 psi | 70% | 2182 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,185 psi | 65% | 2126 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,648 psi | 62% | 2149 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,028 psi | 70% | 2192 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,028 psi | 70% | 2149 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,231 psi | 70% | 2178 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,443 psi | 58% | 2070 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,583 psi | 45% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,344 psi | 63% | 2100 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,124 psi | 57% | 2024 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,130 psi | 70% | 2172 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,202 psi | 70% | 2182 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,648 psi | 62% | 2149 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,028 psi | 70% | 2192 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,118 psi | 78% | 2205 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,061 psi | 79% | 1978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 66% | 2146 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,460 psi | 63% | 2090 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,483 psi | 84% | 2320 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,428 psi | 56% | 1965 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,614 psi | 50% | 1919 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,261 psi | 72% | 2221 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,803 psi | 51% | 1926 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,537 psi | 75% | 2123 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,488 psi | 59% | 2014 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,354 psi | 52% | 1936 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,495 psi | 42% | 1883 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,935 psi | 55% | 2014 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,145 psi | 72% | 2188 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,560 psi | 60% | 2090 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | 24 gr | 90% | 36,361 psi | 69% | 2211 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,712 psi | 77% | 2274 fps | 95% |
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 61 powders for 6.5 x 50 R loaded with the .264 | 130gr | Merlin Virtus. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,405 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,391 fps to 2,405 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 61 of the 61 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 130.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Hodgdon LEVERevolution 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. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Winchester 748, Accurate 2520 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 50 R 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.