Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 160gr | Hornady InterLock 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>> | 88% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,147 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,756 psi | 87% | 2434 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2454 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,350 psi | 84% | 2470 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,959 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2441 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,858 psi | 87% | 2480 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,959 psi | 86% | 2464 fps | 96.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2441 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,147 psi | 86% | 2425 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,072 psi | 77% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,351 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2474 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 2398 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,027 psi | 75% | 2405 fps | 97% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,756 psi | 85% | 2457 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2467 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2448 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,782 psi | 79% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,393 psi | 84% | 2507 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2375 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2428 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2425 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,915 psi | 85% | 2362 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,742 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,176 psi | 86% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,756 psi | 85% | 2359 fps | 97% |
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% | 31,952 psi | 67% | 2178 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,114 psi | 75% | 2290 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,160 psi | 82% | 2382 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,074 psi | 84% | 2398 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,357 psi | 66% | 2254 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,013 psi | 75% | 2287 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,448 psi | 76% | 2339 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,661 psi | 64% | 2205 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,934 psi | 56% | 2119 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,040 psi | 69% | 2323 fps | 98.6% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,230 psi | 76% | 2333 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,377 psi | 80% | 2411 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,448 psi | 76% | 2339 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,551 psi | 81% | 2372 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,073 psi | 82% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 44.8 gr | 88% | 33,852 psi | 71% | 2346 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,557 psi | 58% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,434 psi | 78% | 2290 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,045 psi | 84% | 2415 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,601 psi | 58% | 2070 fps | 95% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 31,720 psi | 66% | 2297 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,257 psi | 69% | 2293 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,943 psi | 81% | 2405 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,692 psi | 70% | 2277 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,253 psi | 59% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 47.9 gr | 88% | 32,793 psi | 69% | 2323 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,885 psi | 83% | 2323 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,288 psi | 74% | 2274 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 73% | 2270 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,218 psi | 82% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,766 psi | 75% | 2257 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,403 psi | 72% | 2224 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 72% | 2270 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 41.8 gr | 80% | 27,166 psi | 57% | 2211 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,462 psi | 74% | 2254 fps | 95.3% |
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 35 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 160gr | Hornady InterLock. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,546 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,581 fps to 2,546 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 75–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 160.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.0 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, Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 160gr | Hornady InterLock 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.