Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 52 R with .257 | 90gr | Prvi Partizan HP bullet and 8 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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% | 30,429 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,430 psi | 88% | 2539 fps | 97% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,879 psi | 90% | 2552 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,807 psi | 90% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,705 psi | 89% | 1745 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,024 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,415 psi | 88% | 2425 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,401 psi | 88% | 2513 fps | 96.6% |
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>> | 82% | 28,761 psi | 81% | 2388 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 27,572 psi | 78% | 2438 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,947 psi | 70% | 2343 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 7.8 gr | 80% | 23,569 psi | 66% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 7.9 gr | 80% | 23,250 psi | 65% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,255 psi | 85% | 2385 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,747 psi | 84% | 2382 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,746 psi | 78% | 2411 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 8 powders for 6.5 x 52 R loaded with the .257 | 90gr | Prvi Partizan HP. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,552 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,706 fps to 2,552 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 8 of the 8 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (245 MPa), the top charges use 86–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 90.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:13.0 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 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 52 R with the .257 | 90gr | Prvi Partizan HP 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.