Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 65 R with .264 | 156gr | Berger Elite Hunter bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester StaBALL HD, Hodgdon Retumbo and ReloadSwiss RS 76.
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>> | 92% | 48,312 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 2657 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,818 psi | 85% | 2602 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,456 psi | 86% | 2556 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,398 psi | 84% | 2569 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,017 psi | 74% | 2530 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 2556 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,703 psi | 87% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,123 psi | 86% | 2546 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,443 psi | 88% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,369 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 2631 fps | 98.2% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 98.8% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 2513 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,630 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,327 psi | 88% | 2556 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,414 psi | 88% | 2552 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,543 psi | 86% | 2536 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,950 psi | 87% | 2585 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,912 psi | 67% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 2497 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,690 psi | 90% | 2641 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 2490 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 2533 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 2549 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,037 psi | 87% | 2543 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2457 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 2621 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,398 psi | 84% | 2598 fps | 97.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,688 psi | 87% | 2549 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 2595 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,884 psi | 69% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,630 psi | 85% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 2690 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,948 psi | 83% | 2638 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 2533 fps | 97.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,647 psi | 90% | 2589 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 2513 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 2490 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 2533 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 2441 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 2585 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,775 psi | 85% | 2470 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,892 psi | 89% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 2549 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,472 psi | 88% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,674 psi | 87% | 2615 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,427 psi | 86% | 2602 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 2644 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,603 psi | 90% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 2562 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,153 psi | 89% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,748 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% | 32,532 psi | 59% | 2231 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,758 psi | 79% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,248 psi | 73% | 2487 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,439 psi | 79% | 2539 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,448 psi | 66% | 2343 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,711 psi | 72% | 2438 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,611 psi | 74% | 2457 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,865 psi | 58% | 2310 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 67% | 2349 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,989 psi | 76% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,564 psi | 66% | 2343 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,635 psi | 63% | 2339 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,067 psi | 56% | 2254 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,224 psi | 49% | 2169 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,692 psi | 61% | 2375 fps | 98.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,666 psi | 67% | 2385 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,059 psi | 71% | 2470 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,635 psi | 63% | 2339 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 2464 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,885 psi | 71% | 2425 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,165 psi | 82% | 2500 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,453 psi | 77% | 2448 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,626 psi | 76% | 2431 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,537 psi | 72% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 46.3 gr | 88% | 34,345 psi | 62% | 2402 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,425 psi | 81% | 2523 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,702 psi | 50% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,134 psi | 76% | 2402 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,655 psi | 76% | 2411 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,495 psi | 75% | 2392 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,582 psi | 74% | 2470 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,527 psi | 83% | 2441 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,918 psi | 80% | 2431 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,021 psi | 51% | 2119 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,916 psi | 76% | 2431 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,242 psi | 59% | 2352 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,736 psi | 61% | 2346 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,946 psi | 78% | 2448 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,724 psi | 68% | 2425 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,640 psi | 76% | 2444 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,475 psi | 61% | 2313 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,384 psi | 52% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,540 psi | 79% | 2480 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,713 psi | 76% | 2493 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 48.4 gr | 86% | 31,154 psi | 57% | 2320 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 2572 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,466 psi | 73% | 2379 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,665 psi | 65% | 2323 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 2464 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,527 psi | 83% | 2441 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,918 psi | 80% | 2431 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,498 psi | 81% | 2392 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 64% | 2320 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,089 psi | 75% | 2369 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,711 psi | 72% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 66% | 2313 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,483 psi | 81% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,562 psi | 61% | 2247 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,801 psi | 79% | 2451 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,838 psi | 63% | 2323 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,814 psi | 76% | 2507 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,321 psi | 75% | 2487 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,135 psi | 80% | 2585 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,120 psi | 78% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,440 psi | 82% | 2507 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 43.2 gr | 80% | 27,528 psi | 50% | 2264 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,433 psi | 64% | 2293 fps | 95.3% |
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 67 powders for 6.5 x 65 R loaded with the .264 | 156gr | Berger Elite Hunter. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,710 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,614 fps to 2,710 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 67 of the 67 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 156.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, Bofors RP30 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, Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 65 R with the .264 | 156gr | Berger Elite Hunter 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.