Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 120gr | Frontier BTSP bullet and 29 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, ReloadSwiss RS 70 and Alliant Reloder-16.
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,120 psi | 90% | 2733 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2740 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2749 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,307 psi | 86% | 2772 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,814 psi | 85% | 2759 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2864 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,799 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,795 psi | 75% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2677 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,611 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2730 fps | 98% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2717 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,579 psi | 76% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,857 psi | 85% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2759 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2769 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2677 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2730 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2674 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,076 psi | 90% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2674 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2753 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2654 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,175 psi | 82% | 2841 fps | 99.8% |
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,550 psi | 78% | 2618 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,301 psi | 72% | 2562 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 39.7 gr | 82% | 34,301 psi | 72% | 2579 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,969 psi | 75% | 2648 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,979 psi | 63% | 2484 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 48 gr | 90% | 34,403 psi | 72% | 2657 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,501 psi | 62% | 2415 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,789 psi | 56% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,538 psi | 85% | 2618 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,024 psi | 67% | 2490 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,058 psi | 80% | 2572 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,563 psi | 72% | 2562 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,319 psi | 80% | 2661 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,050 psi | 57% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,276 psi | 80% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,142 psi | 71% | 2579 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 44.4 gr | 84% | 36,085 psi | 75% | 2638 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,885 psi | 81% | 2621 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,058 psi | 80% | 2572 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,798 psi | 83% | 2671 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,610 psi | 83% | 2625 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 60% | 2457 fps | 97.1% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,911 psi | 73% | 2562 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,837 psi | 71% | 2474 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 73% | 2543 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,563 psi | 74% | 2582 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,401 psi | 68% | 2556 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,330 psi | 70% | 2487 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,311 psi | 59% | 2503 fps | 95.2% |
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 29 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Frontier BTSP. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,864 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,791 fps to 2,864 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 29 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 1:8.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Winchester StaBALL HD 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, ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-16 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 120gr | Frontier BTSP 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.