Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 156gr | Berger Elite Hunter bullet and 43 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.
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>> | 90% | 40,437 psi | 84% | 2369 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,451 psi | 85% | 2392 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,912 psi | 77% | 2402 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,931 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,060 psi | 86% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,596 psi | 85% | 2470 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,888 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2477 fps | 97% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2503 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,844 psi | 90% | 2464 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,886 psi | 85% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2556 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,091 psi | 90% | 2470 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,738 psi | 77% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,234 psi | 86% | 2349 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2408 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,582 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,843 psi | 85% | 2379 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,438 psi | 89% | 2507 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,655 psi | 87% | 2398 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,207 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2467 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,434 psi | 78% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 2428 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,509 psi | 85% | 2441 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2546 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2428 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,946 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,583 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,091 psi | 90% | 2392 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,989 psi | 88% | 2388 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,554 psi | 89% | 2398 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,294 psi | 90% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,119 psi | 88% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,134 psi | 88% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 96.6% |
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>> | 80% | 29,080 psi | 61% | 2126 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,450 psi | 82% | 2359 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,072 psi | 80% | 2343 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,577 psi | 72% | 2343 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 80% | 2365 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,782 psi | 79% | 2336 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,811 psi | 79% | 2382 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,021 psi | 59% | 2152 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,791 psi | 62% | 2215 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 62% | 2257 fps | 96.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,579 psi | 79% | 2375 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,610 psi | 83% | 2451 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,811 psi | 79% | 2382 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,016 psi | 84% | 2405 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 75% | 2264 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 45.1 gr | 94% | 37,449 psi | 78% | 2441 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,001 psi | 84% | 2411 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,543 psi | 58% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 81% | 2303 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,724 psi | 79% | 2313 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,190 psi | 84% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,327 psi | 63% | 2159 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,145 psi | 80% | 2326 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,592 psi | 72% | 2339 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,885 psi | 81% | 2346 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,768 psi | 79% | 2343 fps | 98% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,854 psi | 77% | 2356 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,963 psi | 58% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,088 psi | 82% | 2375 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,855 psi | 79% | 2385 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 47.2 gr | 92% | 34,200 psi | 71% | 2365 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,941 psi | 77% | 2323 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,190 psi | 84% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,593 psi | 76% | 2316 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,650 psi | 74% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,012 psi | 73% | 2257 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 85% | 2346 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,898 psi | 77% | 2293 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,842 psi | 83% | 2349 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,140 psi | 65% | 2218 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,450 psi | 82% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 39.4 gr | 80% | 24,787 psi | 52% | 2142 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,724 psi | 77% | 2293 fps | 95% |
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 43 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 156gr | Berger Elite Hunter. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,589 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,575 fps to 2,589 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 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 156.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2225, Bofors RP30, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 | 156gr | Berger Elite Hunter 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.