Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 155gr | Lapua Mega bullet and 35 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester StaBALL HD, Hodgdon Retumbo and ReloadSwiss RS 76.
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>> | 90% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2457 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,059 psi | 82% | 2477 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2454 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,062 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2493 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,656 psi | 89% | 2559 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,482 psi | 89% | 2497 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2530 fps | 96.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,062 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2484 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,409 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,753 psi | 77% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2411 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,321 psi | 86% | 2398 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,568 psi | 87% | 2408 fps | 99% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,091 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 2520 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2457 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2457 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,724 psi | 79% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,917 psi | 90% | 2507 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 2569 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 2441 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2438 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,538 psi | 85% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2428 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,062 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,207 psi | 90% | 2480 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 2425 fps | 97.1% |
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>> | 80% | 31,024 psi | 65% | 2188 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,391 psi | 78% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,474 psi | 68% | 2313 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,826 psi | 79% | 2359 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,248 psi | 84% | 2428 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,463 psi | 78% | 2352 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,855 psi | 79% | 2402 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 62% | 2218 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,559 psi | 62% | 2228 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,024 psi | 67% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,362 psi | 78% | 2392 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,479 psi | 82% | 2470 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,855 psi | 79% | 2402 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,827 psi | 83% | 2428 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,797 psi | 79% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 45.8 gr | 90% | 35,114 psi | 73% | 2408 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 57% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,625 psi | 85% | 2362 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 76% | 2300 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,429 psi | 64% | 2175 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,408 psi | 84% | 2392 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,111 psi | 67% | 2297 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,059 psi | 84% | 2405 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,230 psi | 74% | 2343 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 59% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,943 psi | 83% | 2451 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 49 gr | 90% | 34,156 psi | 71% | 2388 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,463 psi | 76% | 2333 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,129 psi | 75% | 2329 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,855 psi | 79% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,853 psi | 73% | 2274 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,505 psi | 74% | 2283 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,359 psi | 70% | 2287 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 41.8 gr | 80% | 26,397 psi | 55% | 2218 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,898 psi | 77% | 2316 fps | 95.4% |
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 35 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 155gr | Lapua Mega. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,608 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,601 fps to 2,608 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 35 of the 35 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 77–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 155.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2225, 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. Winchester StaBALL HD, Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 155gr | Lapua Mega 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.