Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 57 with .264 | 156gr | Norma Soft Point ALASKA bullet and 68 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester StaBALL HD, Norma MRP and Vihtavuori N560.
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>> | 94% | 49,472 psi | 87% | 2530 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,008 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,444 psi | 89% | 2657 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,659 psi | 84% | 2598 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,530 psi | 86% | 2556 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,574 psi | 88% | 2605 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,367 psi | 78% | 2507 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,204 psi | 69% | 2470 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,733 psi | 86% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,458 psi | 87% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,414 psi | 86% | 2549 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,211 psi | 87% | 2605 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,922 psi | 88% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,182 psi | 87% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,676 psi | 88% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,501 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,165 psi | 80% | 2572 fps | 97.3% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,211 psi | 87% | 2605 fps | 98.7% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,095 psi | 85% | 2467 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,660 psi | 86% | 2589 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,792 psi | 88% | 2559 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,356 psi | 87% | 2520 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,734 psi | 88% | 2552 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,747 psi | 86% | 2536 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,081 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumboᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,312 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,356 psi | 87% | 2589 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,999 psi | 65% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,994 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,588 psi | 88% | 2490 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,573 psi | 86% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,167 psi | 85% | 2493 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,749 psi | 90% | 2638 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,705 psi | 88% | 2490 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,068 psi | 90% | 2533 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,430 psi | 89% | 2543 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,429 psi | 87% | 2546 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,592 psi | 61% | 2392 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,646 psi | 86% | 2625 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,082 psi | 89% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,068 psi | 90% | 2654 fps | 98.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,849 psi | 86% | 2552 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,805 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,681 psi | 67% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,879 psi | 90% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,226 psi | 87% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,211 psi | 85% | 2680 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,067 psi | 89% | 2530 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,720 psi | 90% | 2585 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,095 psi | 85% | 2467 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,705 psi | 88% | 2490 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,068 psi | 90% | 2533 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,168 psi | 87% | 2448 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,299 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,283 psi | 85% | 2477 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,617 psi | 88% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,327 psi | 85% | 2520 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,719 psi | 88% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,733 psi | 86% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,734 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,966 psi | 90% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,284 psi | 87% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,849 psi | 86% | 2618 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,051 psi | 85% | 2592 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,097 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,792 psi | 88% | 2559 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,472 psi | 87% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,169 psi | 90% | 2559 fps | 98.8% |
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% | 30,835 psi | 55% | 2178 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,684 psi | 74% | 2408 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,843 psi | 72% | 2484 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,338 psi | 78% | 2539 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,434 psi | 66% | 2343 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,799 psi | 72% | 2441 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,553 psi | 73% | 2454 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,358 psi | 57% | 2303 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 71% | 2418 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,977 psi | 81% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,507 psi | 66% | 2346 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,288 psi | 62% | 2339 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 53% | 2208 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,804 psi | 49% | 2169 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,082 psi | 57% | 2323 fps | 98% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,405 psi | 66% | 2385 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,595 psi | 70% | 2464 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,288 psi | 62% | 2339 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 80% | 2415 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,929 psi | 71% | 2425 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,526 psi | 77% | 2454 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,311 psi | 82% | 2470 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,366 psi | 77% | 2444 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,786 psi | 76% | 2434 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,797 psi | 67% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,969 psi | 62% | 2398 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,409 psi | 75% | 2470 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,688 psi | 49% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,640 psi | 72% | 2356 fps | 97.7% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,615 psi | 82% | 2441 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,987 psi | 71% | 2365 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,525 psi | 75% | 2392 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,698 psi | 74% | 2474 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,164 psi | 78% | 2398 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 75% | 2385 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,456 psi | 50% | 2116 fps | 95% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,408 psi | 71% | 2385 fps | 96.4% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 32,663 psi | 58% | 2343 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | 42 gr | 80% | 32,169 psi | 57% | 2290 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,205 psi | 73% | 2402 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,408 psi | 73% | 2480 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 71% | 2398 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,156 psi | 60% | 2310 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,108 psi | 50% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,640 psi | 74% | 2431 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,016 psi | 71% | 2444 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,069 psi | 60% | 2379 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,626 psi | 74% | 2382 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,506 psi | 65% | 2326 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 80% | 2415 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,164 psi | 78% | 2398 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 75% | 2385 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,018 psi | 76% | 2346 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,172 psi | 64% | 2323 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,107 psi | 80% | 2425 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,884 psi | 67% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,867 psi | 62% | 2264 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,659 psi | 82% | 2402 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,496 psi | 75% | 2395 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,403 psi | 61% | 2251 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,959 psi | 74% | 2402 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,373 psi | 59% | 2277 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | 46.2 gr | 88% | 42,670 psi | 75% | 2503 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,148 psi | 75% | 2487 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,495 psi | 73% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,526 psi | 77% | 2454 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 41.6 gr | 80% | 26,426 psi | 47% | 2211 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,245 psi | 64% | 2297 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 73 powders for 6.5 x 57 loaded with the .264 | 156gr | Norma Soft Point ALASKA. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,707 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,598 fps to 2,707 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 73 of the 73 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (390 MPa), the top charges use 61–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 156.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, Alliant Reloder-25 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, Norma MRP, Vihtavuori N560 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 57 with the .264 | 156gr | Norma Soft Point ALASKA they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Baschieri & Pellagri 109, IMR 8133 Enduron, Vihtavuori N170 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.