Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 52 R K&S with .264 | 115gr | 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 ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 and Hodgdon LEVERevolution.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,076 psi | 89% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,828 psi | 87% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,756 psi | 86% | 2585 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,930 psi | 87% | 2608 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,089 psi | 87% | 2582 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,148 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,915 psi | 87% | 2552 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,032 psi | 89% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,901 psi | 87% | 2602 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,640 psi | 88% | 2615 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,973 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 96.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,190 psi | 85% | 2602 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,596 psi | 86% | 2503 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,481 psi | 88% | 2618 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,336 psi | 88% | 2595 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,612 psi | 90% | 2671 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,953 psi | 72% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,074 psi | 85% | 2552 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,089 psi | 85% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,568 psi | 88% | 2566 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,641 psi | 90% | 2648 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,915 psi | 87% | 2552 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,727 psi | 89% | 2615 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,380 psi | 90% | 2536 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,872 psi | 87% | 2569 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,335 psi | 86% | 2546 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,219 psi | 85% | 2559 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,843 psi | 87% | 2605 fps | 96.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,654 psi | 86% | 2615 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,798 psi | 84% | 2566 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,843 psi | 89% | 2549 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,953 psi | 72% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,901 psi | 87% | 2690 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,394 psi | 88% | 2546 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,451 psi | 86% | 2539 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,103 psi | 85% | 2592 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,727 psi | 89% | 2615 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,872 psi | 87% | 2569 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,293 psi | 90% | 2654 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,424 psi | 90% | 2608 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,337 psi | 90% | 2516 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,771 psi | 89% | 2516 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,799 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,713 psi | 88% | 2520 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,988 psi | 87% | 2569 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,263 psi | 88% | 2602 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,549 psi | 75% | 2562 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,337 psi | 90% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,785 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,596 psi | 86% | 2543 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,351 psi | 90% | 2592 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,669 psi | 86% | 2546 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,727 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,307 psi | 88% | 2572 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,264 psi | 90% | 2638 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,510 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 97.1% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 78% | 2444 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,906 psi | 61% | 2329 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,143 psi | 75% | 2470 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,412 psi | 58% | 2303 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,609 psi | 82% | 2533 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,639 psi | 84% | 2533 fps | 95% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 76% | 2448 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,243 psi | 73% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,446 psi | 71% | 2444 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,131 psi | 83% | 2562 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 35.9 gr | 94% | 38,189 psi | 81% | 2615 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,896 psi | 74% | 2490 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,203 psi | 81% | 2457 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,402 psi | 71% | 2448 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,477 psi | 77% | 2493 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 32 gr | 84% | 34,809 psi | 74% | 2500 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,932 psi | 53% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,360 psi | 75% | 2451 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,779 psi | 70% | 2454 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,059 psi | 83% | 2516 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,246 psi | 79% | 2539 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 76% | 2448 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,575 psi | 67% | 2398 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,550 psi | 80% | 2438 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,866 psi | 72% | 2421 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,083 psi | 70% | 2385 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,185 psi | 70% | 2411 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,392 psi | 81% | 2552 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,247 psi | 81% | 2562 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,086 psi | 79% | 2510 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,088 psi | 83% | 2493 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,048 psi | 53% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 32.9 gr | 86% | 31,502 psi | 67% | 2454 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,550 psi | 78% | 2451 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,489 psi | 71% | 2388 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,824 psi | 74% | 2484 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,575 psi | 67% | 2398 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,866 psi | 72% | 2421 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,465 psi | 84% | 2595 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,202 psi | 79% | 2500 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,215 psi | 75% | 2375 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,558 psi | 61% | 2238 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,334 psi | 81% | 2523 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,389 psi | 73% | 2375 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,189 psi | 81% | 2510 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,390 psi | 77% | 2500 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,402 psi | 71% | 2510 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,230 psi | 75% | 2385 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 64% | 2346 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,154 psi | 66% | 2346 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,401 psi | 69% | 2388 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 76% | 2444 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 64% | 2329 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,595 psi | 82% | 2516 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,360 psi | 73% | 2474 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,318 psi | 77% | 2503 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 52 R K&S loaded with the .264 | 115gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,690 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,663 fps to 2,690 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 (325 MPa), the top charges use 72–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 115.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Somchem S365 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, Hodgdon LEVERevolution rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 52 R K&S with the .264 | 115gr | 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.