Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 116gr | Sax KDG-S bullet and 28 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, Vihtavuori N555 and ReloadSwiss RS 70.
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2766 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,756 psi | 87% | 2772 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2779 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2805 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2851 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,192 psi | 88% | 2897 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,105 psi | 90% | 2779 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,810 psi | 75% | 1831 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2776 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,873 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,510 psi | 87% | 2766 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2812 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,289 psi | 76% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,451 psi | 85% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 2789 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,973 psi | 86% | 2802 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2707 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,873 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2762 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,742 psi | 87% | 2713 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,772 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2697 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,625 psi | 85% | 2713 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2772 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,062 psi | 90% | 2743 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,696 psi | 81% | 2867 fps | 99.6% |
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,537 psi | 83% | 2703 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,968 psi | 71% | 2595 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,837 psi | 71% | 2605 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 74% | 2674 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,472 psi | 62% | 2507 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 49.9 gr | 92% | 36,535 psi | 76% | 2756 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 61% | 2448 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,701 psi | 56% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,085 psi | 73% | 2608 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,840 psi | 79% | 2608 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,040 psi | 71% | 2592 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2753 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,180 psi | 57% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,681 psi | 79% | 2743 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,027 psi | 75% | 2667 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 46.2 gr | 86% | 38,218 psi | 80% | 2733 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 80% | 2651 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,840 psi | 79% | 2608 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,436 psi | 82% | 2707 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,538 psi | 85% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 82% | 2657 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 60% | 2490 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,159 psi | 78% | 2592 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,578 psi | 74% | 2598 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,114 psi | 73% | 2598 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | 43.5 gr | 88% | 32,010 psi | 67% | 2585 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,822 psi | 69% | 2513 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,689 psi | 62% | 2592 fps | 95.8% |
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 55 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 116gr | Sax KDG-S. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,897 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,831 fps to 2,897 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 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 (330 MPa), the top charges use 75–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 116.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-25, Bofors RP15 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. Alliant Reloder-26, Vihtavuori N555, ReloadSwiss RS 70 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 116gr | Sax KDG-S they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AR 2209, Alliant Reloder-19, Alliant Reloder-22 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.