Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet and 27 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, Alliant Reloder-16 and Winchester StaBALL HD.
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>> | 96% | 40,872 psi | 85% | 2690 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2749 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2759 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,640 psi | 87% | 2779 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2772 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2881 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,452 psi | 87% | 2703 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,911 psi | 75% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 2700 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,930 psi | 86% | 2638 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,423 psi | 87% | 2730 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,405 psi | 76% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2772 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2687 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,930 psi | 86% | 2638 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,120 psi | 90% | 2740 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2684 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2753 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,596 psi | 85% | 2618 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,988 psi | 86% | 2690 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2795 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,595 psi | 83% | 2854 fps | 99.9% |
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% | 38,145 psi | 80% | 2635 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,387 psi | 68% | 2513 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 39.1 gr | 80% | 32,474 psi | 68% | 2530 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 76% | 2657 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,255 psi | 63% | 2497 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 48.5 gr | 90% | 34,882 psi | 73% | 2674 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 62% | 2428 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,731 psi | 56% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,721 psi | 70% | 2533 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 76% | 2533 fps | 95% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,677 psi | 68% | 2516 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,870 psi | 81% | 2674 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,238 psi | 57% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,624 psi | 81% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,461 psi | 72% | 2589 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,579 psi | 76% | 2654 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,305 psi | 82% | 2631 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 76% | 2533 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,161 psi | 84% | 2680 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,030 psi | 84% | 2635 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 61% | 2467 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,000 psi | 79% | 2566 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,939 psi | 71% | 2520 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,547 psi | 70% | 2520 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,864 psi | 64% | 2516 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,591 psi | 70% | 2497 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 46.6 gr | 90% | 28,514 psi | 60% | 2516 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 27 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,881 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,798 fps to 2,881 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 27 of the 27 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 1:10.0 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, Alliant Reloder-16, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting 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.