Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 52 R K&S with .263 | 120gr | Rhino Penetrator bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 and Ramshot Big Game.
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: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,395 psi | 90% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,365 psi | 88% | 2539 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,322 psi | 90% | 2572 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,684 psi | 88% | 2543 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,059 psi | 85% | 2490 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,394 psi | 88% | 2510 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,103 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,684 psi | 88% | 2562 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,322 psi | 90% | 2575 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,423 psi | 88% | 2638 fps | 97.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,176 psi | 87% | 2566 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,872 psi | 89% | 2572 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,945 psi | 89% | 2552 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,016 psi | 85% | 2546 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,321 psi | 86% | 2572 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,301 psi | 73% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,495 psi | 86% | 2510 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,959 psi | 87% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,032 psi | 89% | 2523 fps | 96.7% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,698 psi | 88% | 2598 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,799 psi | 87% | 2559 fps | 97% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,394 psi | 88% | 2510 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,161 psi | 85% | 2526 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,219 psi | 85% | 2444 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,640 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,741 psi | 86% | 2500 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,901 psi | 87% | 2516 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,568 psi | 88% | 2566 fps | 97.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,234 psi | 87% | 2575 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,030 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,795 psi | 74% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,234 psi | 87% | 2621 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,321 psi | 88% | 2651 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,395 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,234 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,060 psi | 87% | 2556 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,161 psi | 85% | 2526 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,640 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,045 psi | 85% | 2559 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,147 psi | 85% | 2510 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,118 psi | 85% | 2425 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,134 psi | 89% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,974 psi | 89% | 2470 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,597 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,076 psi | 89% | 2562 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,870 psi | 82% | 2592 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,190 psi | 85% | 2425 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,583 psi | 90% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,205 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,408 psi | 86% | 2503 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,191 psi | 87% | 2503 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,366 psi | 90% | 2539 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,524 psi | 88% | 2533 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,045 psi | 85% | 2543 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,148 psi | 89% | 2569 fps | 97.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,561 psi | 69% | 2352 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,522 psi | 82% | 2487 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,792 psi | 65% | 2333 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,666 psi | 78% | 2438 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,710 psi | 80% | 2441 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,609 psi | 82% | 2454 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,565 psi | 80% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,285 psi | 68% | 2362 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,231 psi | 79% | 2470 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 34.9 gr | 90% | 36,492 psi | 77% | 2530 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,502 psi | 67% | 2359 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,767 psi | 78% | 2470 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 78% | 2451 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,462 psi | 75% | 2448 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,156 psi | 70% | 2411 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,730 psi | 55% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,563 psi | 75% | 2405 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,621 psi | 76% | 2461 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,217 psi | 79% | 2428 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,899 psi | 83% | 2543 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,824 psi | 76% | 2454 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,609 psi | 82% | 2454 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 74% | 2418 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,594 psi | 80% | 2392 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,401 psi | 69% | 2333 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,114 psi | 77% | 2405 fps | 97% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,201 psi | 77% | 2421 fps | 99% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,550 psi | 78% | 2461 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | 33 gr | 84% | 36,027 psi | 76% | 2464 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,768 psi | 80% | 2470 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,599 psi | 54% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,392 psi | 81% | 2559 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 31.8 gr | 82% | 30,066 psi | 64% | 2369 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,943 psi | 85% | 2461 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,403 psi | 73% | 2359 fps | 96.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,750 psi | 72% | 2405 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 74% | 2418 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,401 psi | 69% | 2333 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,434 psi | 79% | 2503 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 75% | 2408 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 80% | 2375 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,850 psi | 65% | 2244 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,289 psi | 79% | 2382 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,274 psi | 77% | 2421 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,070 psi | 74% | 2418 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,184 psi | 68% | 2434 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,768 psi | 80% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,967 psi | 70% | 2356 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,011 psi | 72% | 2359 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,080 psi | 62% | 2257 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,754 psi | 82% | 2457 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,779 psi | 70% | 2346 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,418 psi | 73% | 2382 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,318 psi | 79% | 2487 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,243 psi | 73% | 2405 fps | 95.5% |
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 55 powders for 6.5 x 52 R K&S loaded with the .263 | 120gr | Rhino Penetrator. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,651 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,634 fps to 2,651 fps. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 55 of the 55 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (325 MPa), the top charges use 73–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.263" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 4831 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 60, Alliant Reloder-17, Ramshot Big Game rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 52 R K&S with the .263 | 120gr | Rhino Penetrator 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.