Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 52 R with .258 | 120gr | Rim Rock RNFP Gas Check bullet and 17 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Accurate 4064, Accurate 2495 and SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000.
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>> | 90% | 31,560 psi | 89% | 2208 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,749 psi | 89% | 2228 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,111 psi | 90% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,705 psi | 89% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,269 psi | 85% | 2195 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,227 psi | 88% | 2198 fps | 96% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,792 psi | 87% | 2159 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,720 psi | 89% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,792 psi | 89% | 2146 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,227 psi | 88% | 2198 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,241 psi | 88% | 2087 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,560 psi | 86% | 2093 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,560 psi | 86% | 2093 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,125 psi | 88% | 2100 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,589 psi | 89% | 2188 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,285 psi | 88% | 2152 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,908 psi | 90% | 2178 fps | 96.8% |
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 | 21.3 gr | 80% | 21,915 psi | 62% | 1972 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | 22.9 gr | 86% | 25,817 psi | 73% | 2087 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,876 psi | 78% | 2126 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,149 psi | 68% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,672 psi | 75% | 2103 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 81% | 2146 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,151 psi | 76% | 2070 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,830 psi | 67% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,863 psi | 84% | 2103 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 81% | 2146 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 82% | 2044 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | 21.1 gr | 82% | 25,063 psi | 71% | 1962 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,413 psi | 80% | 2044 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 82% | 2057 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,033 psi | 68% | 2005 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,340 psi | 77% | 2057 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,949 psi | 79% | 2087 fps | 95.1% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
This overview compares 46 powders for 6.5 x 52 R loaded with the .258 | 120gr | Rim Rock RNFP Gas Check. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,234 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,450 fps to 2,234 fps. Somchem S365 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 46 of the 46 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (245 MPa), the top charges use 81–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.258" calls for a 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. 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. Accurate 4064, Accurate 2495, SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 52 R with the .258 | 120gr | Rim Rock RNFP Gas Check they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AR 2206H, ADI Benchmark 8208, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.