Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 65 R with .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT bullet and 59 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, Norma MRP and Alliant Reloder-16.
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>> | 98% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,313 psi | 89% | 2904 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 2792 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,718 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,152 psi | 86% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 2913 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,669 psi | 76% | 2831 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,166 psi | 86% | 2989 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 96.1% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,630 psi | 86% | 2805 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 2835 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,631 psi | 88% | 2900 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 2861 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,114 psi | 66% | 1844 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,226 psi | 89% | 2825 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 2841 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,356 psi | 90% | 2838 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 2848 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,110 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,978 psi | 85% | 2815 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,814 psi | 76% | 2743 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 2881 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 2946 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,776 psi | 89% | 2894 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,543 psi | 86% | 2887 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,550 psi | 66% | 1883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 2822 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 2927 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 2949 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 2917 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,630 psi | 86% | 2805 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,110 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,978 psi | 85% | 2815 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 2881 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,863 psi | 89% | 2910 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,819 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 2838 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,413 psi | 86% | 2838 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N165ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,356 psi | 90% | 2871 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,789 psi | 85% | 2841 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 2949 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,631 psi | 88% | 2900 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,105 psi | 78% | 2972 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 3100 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,621 psi | 65% | 2605 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,890 psi | 83% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,708 psi | 63% | 2602 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,092 psi | 80% | 2736 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,643 psi | 81% | 2822 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,396 psi | 81% | 2762 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 42.5 gr | 80% | 34,229 psi | 62% | 2615 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,798 psi | 70% | 2749 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,382 psi | 81% | 2864 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,123 psi | 51% | 2461 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2707 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 50.5 gr | 86% | 32,692 psi | 59% | 2648 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,150 psi | 80% | 2766 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,382 psi | 81% | 2864 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,742 psi | 76% | 2687 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,831 psi | 81% | 2779 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,508 psi | 72% | 2713 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,556 psi | 83% | 2799 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,633 psi | 57% | 2507 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,553 psi | 75% | 2789 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,847 psi | 49% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,354 psi | 84% | 2776 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,612 psi | 77% | 2726 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,669 psi | 74% | 2664 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 61% | 2556 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,398 psi | 84% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 69% | 2612 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,798 psi | 70% | 2644 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2625 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,339 psi | 82% | 2818 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | 52.4 gr | 92% | 40,596 psi | 74% | 2812 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 63% | 2602 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,143 psi | 66% | 2641 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,311 psi | 50% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 82% | 2759 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,292 psi | 75% | 2812 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,621 psi | 63% | 2621 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,837 psi | 61% | 2618 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,655 psi | 76% | 2713 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,035 psi | 84% | 2854 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,742 psi | 76% | 2687 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 69% | 2612 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,398 psi | 84% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,798 psi | 70% | 2644 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,989 psi | 78% | 2769 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,468 psi | 79% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,972 psi | 73% | 2612 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,600 psi | 83% | 2848 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,090 psi | 76% | 2713 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,169 psi | 57% | 2552 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,944 psi | 74% | 2720 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,234 psi | 73% | 2644 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 66% | 2608 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,018 psi | 78% | 2753 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,636 psi | 65% | 2602 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,893 psi | 56% | 2539 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,607 psi | 65% | 2579 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,769 psi | 72% | 2720 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,614 psi | 48% | 2487 fps | 95.1% |
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 59 powders for 6.5 x 65 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,989 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,844 fps to 2,989 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 59 of the 59 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, 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. Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-25, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Alliant Reloder-26, Norma MRP, Alliant Reloder-16 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 65 R with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT 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.