Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 52 R K&S with .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S bullet and 43 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 SNPE Vectan SP 11.
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: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,030 psi | 85% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,525 psi | 90% | 2549 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,235 psi | 90% | 2612 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,205 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,582 psi | 86% | 2523 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,886 psi | 87% | 2530 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,366 psi | 90% | 2612 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,337 psi | 90% | 2644 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,408 psi | 88% | 2539 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,277 psi | 85% | 2526 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,394 psi | 88% | 2559 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,089 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,331 psi | 75% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,350 psi | 88% | 2510 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,235 psi | 90% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,538 psi | 86% | 2477 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,771 psi | 89% | 2559 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,582 psi | 88% | 2533 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,770 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,395 psi | 90% | 2507 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,221 psi | 90% | 2520 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,219 psi | 85% | 2520 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,250 psi | 90% | 2602 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,264 psi | 90% | 2582 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,607 psi | 76% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,409 psi | 90% | 2625 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,264 psi | 90% | 2654 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,567 psi | 86% | 2464 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,437 psi | 86% | 2523 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,582 psi | 88% | 2533 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,770 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,133 psi | 87% | 2566 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,162 psi | 87% | 2513 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,480 psi | 86% | 2425 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,264 psi | 90% | 2526 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,133 psi | 87% | 2523 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,509 psi | 86% | 2612 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,466 psi | 88% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,293 psi | 90% | 2503 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,640 psi | 88% | 2510 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,785 psi | 87% | 2490 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,264 psi | 90% | 2536 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,553 psi | 86% | 2520 fps | 97.5% |
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% | 37,797 psi | 80% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,708 psi | 76% | 2411 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,682 psi | 84% | 2559 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,682 psi | 82% | 2444 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,953 psi | 72% | 2379 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,579 psi | 78% | 2434 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,103 psi | 85% | 2562 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 33.7 gr | 86% | 35,433 psi | 75% | 2484 fps | 95.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,943 psi | 83% | 2487 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,634 psi | 71% | 2382 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,737 psi | 74% | 2411 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,506 psi | 77% | 2474 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,498 psi | 56% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,073 psi | 83% | 2464 fps | 97% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,450 psi | 84% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,319 psi | 81% | 2431 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,333 psi | 79% | 2464 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 83% | 2490 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,172 psi | 77% | 2395 fps | 97% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,089 psi | 85% | 2464 fps | 98% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,900 psi | 85% | 2477 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,998 psi | 76% | 2425 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,958 psi | 85% | 2556 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,289 psi | 79% | 2477 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,832 psi | 57% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,217 psi | 79% | 2513 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 31.3 gr | 80% | 31,285 psi | 66% | 2385 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,363 psi | 81% | 2421 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,823 psi | 72% | 2379 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 83% | 2490 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,172 psi | 77% | 2395 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | 32.4 gr | 84% | 36,622 psi | 78% | 2467 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,696 psi | 82% | 2464 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,069 psi | 72% | 2297 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,639 psi | 84% | 2474 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,519 psi | 73% | 2382 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,068 psi | 68% | 2408 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 78% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,492 psi | 80% | 2411 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,893 psi | 66% | 2277 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 77% | 2402 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,273 psi | 75% | 2385 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,029 psi | 81% | 2467 fps | 96.8% |
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 43 powders for 6.5 x 52 R K&S loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,654 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,647 fps to 2,654 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (325 MPa), the top charges use 75–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17, SNPE Vectan SP 11 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 52 R K&S with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes X 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.