Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 65 with .264 | 156gr | Norma Soft Point ALASKA bullet and 72 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester StaBALL HD, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and Hodgdon Retumbo.
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% | 52,286 psi | 87% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,519 psi | 89% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,374 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 99% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,244 psi | 90% | 2743 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,288 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,866 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,705 psi | 83% | 2648 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,309 psi | 74% | 2615 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,966 psi | 85% | 2628 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,966 psi | 85% | 2628 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,140 psi | 85% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,983 psi | 90% | 2674 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,982 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,171 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,402 psi | 87% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,243 psi | 88% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,621 psi | 89% | 2651 fps | 96.4% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,227 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,982 psi | 86% | 2713 fps | 99.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,982 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,402 psi | 87% | 2575 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,430 psi | 85% | 2677 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,735 psi | 86% | 2628 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,259 psi | 90% | 2638 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,837 psi | 86% | 2628 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,331 psi | 90% | 2667 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,532 psi | 86% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,372 psi | 85% | 2779 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,634 psi | 86% | 2661 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,173 psi | 62% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,128 psi | 90% | 2618 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,751 psi | 89% | 2598 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,925 psi | 90% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,200 psi | 88% | 2618 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,447 psi | 89% | 2720 fps | 99% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,958 psi | 66% | 2523 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,329 psi | 85% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,808 psi | 88% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,258 psi | 88% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,126 psi | 85% | 2612 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,118 psi | 67% | 2549 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,605 psi | 86% | 2700 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,185 psi | 87% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,027 psi | 90% | 2740 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,389 psi | 90% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,286 psi | 87% | 2680 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,116 psi | 63% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,345 psi | 89% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,750 psi | 86% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,750 psi | 86% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,488 psi | 84% | 2730 fps | 97.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,924 psi | 86% | 2602 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,403 psi | 89% | 2664 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,402 psi | 87% | 2575 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,329 psi | 85% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,808 psi | 88% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,650 psi | 89% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,982 psi | 88% | 2661 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,156 psi | 88% | 2595 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,634 psi | 87% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,824 psi | 89% | 2638 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,780 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,374 psi | 89% | 2621 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,910 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,243 psi | 87% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,517 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,605 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,735 psi | 86% | 2736 fps | 97.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,098 psi | 88% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,735 psi | 86% | 2628 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,647 psi | 84% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,403 psi | 89% | 2631 fps | 99.5% |
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% | 35,056 psi | 58% | 2300 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,920 psi | 78% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,811 psi | 63% | 2448 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,133 psi | 68% | 2510 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 65% | 2411 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,726 psi | 66% | 2461 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,232 psi | 64% | 2428 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,284 psi | 50% | 2280 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,465 psi | 66% | 2418 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,465 psi | 66% | 2418 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,802 psi | 74% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 65% | 2411 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,954 psi | 58% | 2359 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,620 psi | 56% | 2323 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,182 psi | 48% | 2241 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,666 psi | 61% | 2454 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,662 psi | 84% | 2602 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,737 psi | 58% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,275 psi | 62% | 2444 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,954 psi | 58% | 2359 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,197 psi | 82% | 2526 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,550 psi | 61% | 2392 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,269 psi | 80% | 2572 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,995 psi | 85% | 2585 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,726 psi | 66% | 2408 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,655 psi | 69% | 2451 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,293 psi | 70% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 47.2 gr | 84% | 32,590 psi | 54% | 2372 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,834 psi | 79% | 2598 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,007 psi | 47% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,686 psi | 74% | 2464 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,546 psi | 84% | 2546 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,556 psi | 74% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,321 psi | 69% | 2408 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,261 psi | 64% | 2438 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,405 psi | 62% | 2467 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,298 psi | 80% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,644 psi | 77% | 2497 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 50% | 2182 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,730 psi | 74% | 2503 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,864 psi | 51% | 2326 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,390 psi | 60% | 2418 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,876 psi | 76% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,797 psi | 63% | 2444 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 74% | 2513 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,721 psi | 56% | 2333 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 47% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,659 psi | 78% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,846 psi | 75% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 50.5 gr | 84% | 31,546 psi | 52% | 2346 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,294 psi | 72% | 2602 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,292 psi | 67% | 2392 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,305 psi | 64% | 2395 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,197 psi | 82% | 2526 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,298 psi | 80% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,644 psi | 77% | 2497 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,268 psi | 79% | 2457 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,971 psi | 63% | 2392 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,988 psi | 68% | 2385 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,830 psi | 71% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,030 psi | 65% | 2385 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,355 psi | 79% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,794 psi | 56% | 2267 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,499 psi | 77% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 63% | 2392 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,305 psi | 65% | 2467 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,407 psi | 65% | 2464 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,831 psi | 74% | 2615 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,340 psi | 77% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,559 psi | 81% | 2575 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 46.1 gr | 80% | 29,805 psi | 50% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,520 psi | 59% | 2313 fps | 95.8% |
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 72 powders for 6.5 x 65 loaded with the .264 | 156gr | Norma Soft Point ALASKA. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,779 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,644 fps to 2,779 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 72 of the 72 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (415 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, 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, 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, ReloadSwiss RS 76, Hodgdon Retumbo rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 65 with the .264 | 156gr | Norma Soft Point ALASKA 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.