Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 159gr | RWS TMR bullet and 37 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester StaBALL HD, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and Hodgdon Retumbo.
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>> | 88% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2386 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,640 psi | 85% | 2402 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,134 psi | 90% | 2460 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2478 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2400 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2455 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2452 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,640 psi | 87% | 2493 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,625 psi | 85% | 2501 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,698 psi | 85% | 2431 fps | 97% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2525 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2444 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,654 psi | 85% | 2421 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,234 psi | 86% | 2363 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,683 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,304 psi | 78% | 1587 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,119 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,236 psi | 90% | 2385 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2478 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,453 psi | 89% | 2406 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,651 psi | 77% | 2411 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2519 fps | 99% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,394 psi | 86% | 2472 fps | 96.4% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2456 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,869 psi | 79% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,873 psi | 90% | 2574 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2385 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,743 psi | 89% | 2439 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,380 psi | 89% | 2425 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,437 psi | 87% | 2412 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,422 psi | 84% | 2369 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,220 psi | 86% | 2379 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,379 psi | 86% | 2425 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,091 psi | 90% | 2495 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,495 psi | 85% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2422 fps | 97.7% |
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>> | 80% | 31,705 psi | 66% | 2188 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 75% | 2297 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,624 psi | 83% | 2406 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,212 psi | 65% | 2265 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,129 psi | 75% | 2293 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 75% | 2299 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,984 psi | 75% | 2345 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,458 psi | 64% | 2216 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,326 psi | 59% | 2178 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,793 psi | 69% | 2333 fps | 98.6% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,781 psi | 75% | 2329 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,913 psi | 79% | 2419 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,984 psi | 75% | 2333 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,101 psi | 80% | 2365 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,551 psi | 81% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 45.6 gr | 90% | 35,621 psi | 74% | 2398 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,659 psi | 58% | 1416 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,956 psi | 77% | 2294 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,640 psi | 85% | 2339 fps | 95% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,798 psi | 83% | 2425 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,095 psi | 61% | 2125 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,214 psi | 71% | 2357 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,822 psi | 69% | 2298 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,493 psi | 80% | 2411 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,301 psi | 70% | 2282 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,355 psi | 59% | 1452 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 47.8 gr | 88% | 32,605 psi | 68% | 2334 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,682 psi | 83% | 2334 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 73% | 2278 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,490 psi | 72% | 2264 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,696 psi | 81% | 2363 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,549 psi | 74% | 2269 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,953 psi | 71% | 2232 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,127 psi | 71% | 2284 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,350 psi | 84% | 2442 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 41.7 gr | 80% | 26,977 psi | 56% | 2224 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,027 psi | 73% | 2260 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 37 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 159gr | RWS TMR. ReloadSwiss RS 76 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,574 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,587 fps to 2,574 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 37 of the 37 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 159.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2225, Hodgdon TrailBoss, Norma 217 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, ReloadSwiss RS 76, Hodgdon Retumbo rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 159gr | RWS TMR 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.