Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 with .264 | 120gr | Barnes Solid bullet and 66 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-26 and Hodgdon Superformance.
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>> | 82% | 49,153 psi | 87% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,792 psi | 90% | 2782 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 3100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,673 psi | 83% | 2799 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,530 psi | 88% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,124 psi | 87% | 2867 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,183 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,544 psi | 86% | 2920 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,531 psi | 89% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,836 psi | 90% | 2854 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,444 psi | 89% | 2930 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,155 psi | 90% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,990 psi | 78% | 2828 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-26ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,096 psi | 89% | 3012 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,778 psi | 90% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,068 psi | 90% | 2825 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,298 psi | 85% | 2805 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,457 psi | 86% | 2861 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,154 psi | 89% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,081 psi | 87% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,109 psi | 85% | 2884 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,984 psi | 64% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,444 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,559 psi | 88% | 2795 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,269 psi | 87% | 2769 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,225 psi | 85% | 2795 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,617 psi | 88% | 2802 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,879 psi | 88% | 2864 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,936 psi | 87% | 2831 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,647 psi | 88% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,255 psi | 87% | 2799 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,169 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,140 psi | 89% | 2841 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma MRPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,458 psi | 87% | 2959 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,472 psi | 86% | 2854 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,343 psi | 89% | 2864 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,343 psi | 89% | 2904 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,477 psi | 64% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,559 psi | 86% | 2789 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,024 psi | 90% | 2917 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,662 psi | 90% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,849 psi | 86% | 2887 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,950 psi | 85% | 2904 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,675 psi | 86% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,937 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,068 psi | 90% | 2825 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,255 psi | 87% | 2799 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,647 psi | 88% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,169 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,182 psi | 87% | 2848 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,676 psi | 90% | 2831 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,530 psi | 88% | 2700 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,979 psi | 87% | 2746 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,169 psi | 90% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,980 psi | 88% | 2913 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,400 psi | 87% | 2848 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,414 psi | 86% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,907 psi | 86% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,182 psi | 87% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,531 psi | 89% | 2854 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,459 psi | 89% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,734 psi | 88% | 2858 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,936 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,270 psi | 89% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,457 psi | 86% | 2861 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,479 psi | 70% | 2851 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,560 psi | 89% | 2838 fps | 100% |
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% | 45,992 psi | 81% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 79% | 2667 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,029 psi | 67% | 2628 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,526 psi | 77% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 57% | 2516 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 74% | 2654 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,194 psi | 80% | 2854 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,669 psi | 74% | 2677 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,744 psi | 79% | 2746 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,343 psi | 57% | 2523 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,158 psi | 64% | 2654 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,153 psi | 53% | 2490 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 48.5 gr | 90% | 34,969 psi | 62% | 2677 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,684 psi | 74% | 2684 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,991 psi | 80% | 2713 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,163 psi | 75% | 2687 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,264 psi | 75% | 2740 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 53% | 2428 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,021 psi | 81% | 2795 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | 48.9 gr | 88% | 44,817 psi | 79% | 2818 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,789 psi | 47% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,340 psi | 84% | 2766 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,859 psi | 78% | 2690 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,296 psi | 82% | 2713 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,266 psi | 80% | 2740 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,816 psi | 77% | 2690 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,591 psi | 59% | 2530 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,890 psi | 81% | 2776 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,947 psi | 78% | 2694 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,522 psi | 68% | 2585 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,524 psi | 73% | 2667 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,135 psi | 78% | 2733 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,120 psi | 76% | 2831 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,780 psi | 61% | 2569 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,976 psi | 78% | 2749 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,711 psi | 68% | 2671 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,296 psi | 48% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 75% | 2674 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,776 psi | 84% | 2858 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 68% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,330 psi | 61% | 2585 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 44.8 gr | 84% | 36,419 psi | 64% | 2651 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,658 psi | 81% | 2703 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,146 psi | 69% | 2628 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,991 psi | 80% | 2713 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,522 psi | 68% | 2585 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,947 psi | 78% | 2694 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,524 psi | 73% | 2667 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 71% | 2680 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,601 psi | 84% | 2776 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,205 psi | 73% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,076 psi | 76% | 2638 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,827 psi | 70% | 2631 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 52% | 2470 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,381 psi | 77% | 2736 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,585 psi | 81% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,861 psi | 81% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,855 psi | 67% | 2562 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,011 psi | 60% | 2520 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,266 psi | 78% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,402 psi | 59% | 2516 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,690 psi | 54% | 2510 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,489 psi | 59% | 2493 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,525 psi | 75% | 2746 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,601 psi | 51% | 2520 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,471 psi | 84% | 2785 fps | 99.9% |
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 92 powders for 6.5 x 57 loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes Solid. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,012 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,798 fps to 3,012 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 92 of the 92 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (390 MPa), the top charges use 64–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, Accurate High Country, Accurate MAGPRO 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 70, Alliant Reloder-26, Hodgdon Superformance rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes Solid they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate High Country, Accurate MAGPRO, ADI AR 2213 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.