
Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 120gr | Barnes TTSX BT bullet and 32 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 Somchem S365.
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% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,582 psi | 85% | 2710 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2677 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2703 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,627 psi | 89% | 2779 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,772 psi | 89% | 2805 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,901 psi | 88% | 2789 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,046 psi | 86% | 2831 fps | 97.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2707 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,221 psi | 88% | 2720 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,781 psi | 75% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,785 psi | 87% | 2717 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2657 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,567 psi | 85% | 2707 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2749 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,216 psi | 76% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,509 psi | 85% | 2730 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2707 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2657 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2700 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,221 psi | 88% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,582 psi | 87% | 2769 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,553 psi | 87% | 2641 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2707 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2753 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2687 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,521 psi | 78% | 2802 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% | 38,276 psi | 80% | 2641 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,677 psi | 68% | 2526 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 84% | 2625 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,016 psi | 84% | 2648 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,098 psi | 69% | 2549 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 72% | 2621 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,472 psi | 64% | 2503 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 48.9 gr | 92% | 35,549 psi | 74% | 2697 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,798 psi | 83% | 2651 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,480 psi | 85% | 2654 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,239 psi | 59% | 2385 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,440 psi | 55% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,968 psi | 71% | 2543 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,680 psi | 77% | 2546 fps | 95% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,170 psi | 69% | 2533 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,552 psi | 83% | 2690 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,905 psi | 56% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,956 psi | 77% | 2687 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,998 psi | 73% | 2605 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,463 psi | 78% | 2677 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,289 psi | 78% | 2592 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,680 psi | 77% | 2546 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 80% | 2644 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,711 psi | 83% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,145 psi | 80% | 2598 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S365 | 39.3 gr | 80% | 27,615 psi | 58% | 2421 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 76% | 2533 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,563 psi | 72% | 2539 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,069 psi | 71% | 2536 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | 42.6 gr | 88% | 30,864 psi | 64% | 2520 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,966 psi | 67% | 2457 fps | 97% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,819 psi | 60% | 2530 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 32 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TTSX BT. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,831 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,795 fps to 2,831 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 32 of the 32 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 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, 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. Alliant Reloder-26, Vihtavuori N555, Somchem S365 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TTSX 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.