Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 121gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid bullet and 30 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2703 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,597 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2720 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,669 psi | 85% | 2743 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,119 psi | 88% | 2835 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,708 psi | 75% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,772 psi | 89% | 2651 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2680 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,844 psi | 90% | 2661 fps | 97% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2753 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,506 psi | 76% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,423 psi | 87% | 2730 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 2740 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,104 psi | 86% | 2651 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,844 psi | 90% | 2661 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,047 psi | 88% | 2700 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 2651 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,235 psi | 88% | 2713 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,815 psi | 89% | 2648 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,264 psi | 88% | 2684 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2733 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2756 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,566 psi | 81% | 2812 fps | 99.7% |
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% | 39,465 psi | 82% | 2644 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,852 psi | 71% | 2536 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,881 psi | 71% | 2552 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,607 psi | 74% | 2625 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,486 psi | 62% | 2457 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 48.3 gr | 92% | 36,521 psi | 76% | 2703 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 61% | 2395 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,832 psi | 56% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 84% | 2598 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,823 psi | 71% | 2523 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,666 psi | 79% | 2549 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,113 psi | 71% | 2539 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,292 psi | 84% | 2690 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,093 psi | 57% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,855 psi | 79% | 2690 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,504 psi | 70% | 2549 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 43.7 gr | 84% | 35,781 psi | 75% | 2615 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,392 psi | 80% | 2595 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,666 psi | 79% | 2549 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,305 psi | 82% | 2644 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 84% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,088 psi | 82% | 2602 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 60% | 2431 fps | 96.9% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,898 psi | 77% | 2598 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,344 psi | 70% | 2448 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,461 psi | 72% | 2513 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,128 psi | 73% | 2559 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | 42.1 gr | 88% | 32,010 psi | 67% | 2536 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,837 psi | 69% | 2461 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,762 psi | 62% | 2543 fps | 96.3% |
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 30 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 121gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,835 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,775 fps to 2,835 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 30 of the 30 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 121.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:8.0 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, ReloadSwiss RS 70 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 121gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid 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.