Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 52 Carcano with .270 | 120gr | Sax KDG-S bullet and 26 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Somchem S365, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V and Winchester 6.5 StaBALL.
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: 27.7"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,389 psi | 86% | 2566 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,331 psi | 85% | 2526 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,927 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,260 psi | 90% | 2612 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,477 psi | 88% | 2680 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,112 psi | 80% | 2595 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,289 psi | 88% | 2605 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,563 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,751 psi | 84% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,028 psi | 90% | 2559 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,043 psi | 90% | 2644 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,840 psi | 89% | 2569 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,622 psi | 89% | 2602 fps | 97.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,230 psi | 88% | 2612 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,215 psi | 85% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,289 psi | 88% | 2690 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,201 psi | 88% | 2595 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,840 psi | 89% | 2569 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,259 psi | 85% | 2595 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,318 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,172 psi | 85% | 2556 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,043 psi | 90% | 2700 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,491 psi | 86% | 2539 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,144 psi | 90% | 2569 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,041 psi | 85% | 2667 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,477 psi | 88% | 2572 fps | 97.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 27.7"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,170 psi | 80% | 2516 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,431 psi | 81% | 2480 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,445 psi | 78% | 2500 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,969 psi | 85% | 2559 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,995 psi | 77% | 2562 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,154 psi | 75% | 2539 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,821 psi | 77% | 2500 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | 35.2 gr | 90% | 31,604 psi | 76% | 2493 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,875 psi | 63% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 85% | 2513 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,708 psi | 84% | 2592 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,548 psi | 84% | 2516 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,330 psi | 83% | 2546 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,765 psi | 82% | 2552 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,078 psi | 63% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 72% | 2516 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 72% | 2441 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,548 psi | 84% | 2516 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,125 psi | 75% | 2490 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,692 psi | 79% | 2411 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,937 psi | 75% | 2451 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S365 | 34.5 gr | 86% | 26,876 psi | 65% | 2421 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 71% | 2395 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,867 psi | 84% | 2523 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 32,895 psi | 80% | 2615 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | 36.5 gr | 84% | 30,066 psi | 73% | 2411 fps | 95.1% |
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 26 powders for 6.5 x 52 Carcano loaded with the .270 | 120gr | Sax KDG-S. Somchem S365 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,700 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,729 fps to 2,700 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 26 of the 26 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (285 MPa), the top charges use 80–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.27" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 S365, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, Winchester 6.5 StaBALL rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 52 Carcano with the .270 | 120gr | Sax KDG-S 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.