Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 160gr | Woodleigh PP SN bullet and 39 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and Winchester StaBALL HD.
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% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2388 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,337 psi | 88% | 2408 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2451 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,653 psi | 81% | 2425 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,525 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,496 psi | 89% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,076 psi | 88% | 2402 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2457 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,712 psi | 85% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2493 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2507 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,148 psi | 88% | 2444 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,829 psi | 87% | 2474 fps | 96.6% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 2457 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 2434 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,047 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,941 psi | 77% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2362 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2346 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,118 psi | 86% | 2359 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2395 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,214 psi | 71% | 2352 fps | 96% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 2477 fps | 96.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2405 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,176 psi | 84% | 2405 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,637 psi | 79% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,467 psi | 89% | 2454 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2520 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,365 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,988 psi | 86% | 2385 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,018 psi | 88% | 2372 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 2382 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,931 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,713 psi | 87% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,090 psi | 88% | 2375 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% | 30,647 psi | 64% | 2142 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,304 psi | 78% | 2306 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,393 psi | 84% | 2398 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,155 psi | 67% | 2264 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,492 psi | 78% | 2306 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,492 psi | 78% | 2306 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,972 psi | 84% | 2375 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,144 psi | 78% | 2303 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,998 psi | 73% | 2300 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 62% | 2165 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,688 psi | 58% | 2133 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,633 psi | 66% | 2280 fps | 98% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,912 psi | 77% | 2339 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,117 psi | 82% | 2418 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,998 psi | 73% | 2300 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,479 psi | 82% | 2379 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,507 psi | 78% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 44.2 gr | 90% | 34,606 psi | 72% | 2352 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,644 psi | 58% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 84% | 2313 fps | 97.7% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 75% | 2251 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,195 psi | 59% | 2080 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,074 psi | 84% | 2343 fps | 96.4% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 32,271 psi | 67% | 2303 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,865 psi | 67% | 2251 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,001 psi | 84% | 2415 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 83% | 2356 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,824 psi | 73% | 2293 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,094 psi | 59% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 82% | 2398 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 47.3 gr | 90% | 33,692 psi | 70% | 2336 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,347 psi | 76% | 2290 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,013 psi | 75% | 2283 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,623 psi | 79% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,490 psi | 72% | 2224 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,273 psi | 74% | 2238 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,909 psi | 69% | 2234 fps | 99% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 40.4 gr | 80% | 26,150 psi | 55% | 2172 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,724 psi | 77% | 2270 fps | 95.5% |
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 39 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 160gr | Woodleigh PP SN. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,552 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,565 fps to 2,552 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 39 of the 39 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 71–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 160.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.5 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. Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 160gr | Woodleigh PP SN 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.