Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 R with .264 | 85gr | Hammer Hunter bullet and 37 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Somchem S365 and Vihtavuori N150.
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 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,350 psi | 86% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,800 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,728 psi | 89% | 3130 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 3156 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 3241 fps | 96.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,149 psi | 90% | 3159 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,047 psi | 90% | 3143 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,235 psi | 88% | 3143 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,872 psi | 87% | 3163 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,737 psi | 73% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,770 psi | 85% | 3071 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,133 psi | 86% | 3140 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 3146 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 3074 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,018 psi | 90% | 3120 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,901 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,989 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,989 psi | 90% | 3156 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 3169 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,940 psi | 73% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,105 psi | 90% | 3258 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,395 psi | 89% | 3087 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,047 psi | 90% | 3150 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,018 psi | 90% | 3120 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,814 psi | 85% | 3002 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,033 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 3107 fps | 96.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,278 psi | 86% | 3097 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,408 psi | 87% | 3199 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,134 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,495 psi | 87% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 3094 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 3058 fps | 96.2% |
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 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,274 psi | 76% | 2963 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,258 psi | 72% | 2933 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,161 psi | 84% | 3068 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,101 psi | 80% | 3031 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,422 psi | 84% | 3169 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,695 psi | 79% | 3031 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 84% | 3084 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,392 psi | 82% | 3077 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,680 psi | 77% | 3031 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,628 psi | 54% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,276 psi | 80% | 3012 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 75% | 3012 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,247 psi | 82% | 3077 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 81% | 3048 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 85% | 3009 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 74% | 2933 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,378 psi | 82% | 3025 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 82% | 3041 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,393 psi | 84% | 3094 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,190 psi | 84% | 3100 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,904 psi | 54% | 1946 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 45.1 gr | 82% | 32,866 psi | 69% | 2966 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,391 psi | 78% | 2966 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,565 psi | 78% | 3018 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 81% | 3048 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 74% | 2933 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 70% | 2828 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,480 psi | 85% | 2999 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,001 psi | 84% | 3041 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,783 psi | 81% | 3038 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | 49.1 gr | 94% | 36,230 psi | 76% | 3061 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,218 psi | 80% | 2946 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 76% | 2966 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 77% | 2956 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | 43.6 gr | 88% | 35,027 psi | 73% | 2917 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,419 psi | 76% | 2966 fps | 98% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,956 psi | 79% | 2986 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 64 powders for 6.5 x 57 R loaded with the .264 | 85gr | Hammer Hunter. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,258 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,126 fps to 3,258 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 64 of the 64 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 72–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 85.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 4831 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Somchem S365, Vihtavuori N150 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 R with the .264 | 85gr | Hammer Hunter they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.