Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 65 with .264 | 156gr | Norma VULKAN bullet and 72 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, Winchester StaBALL HD 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,880 psi | 86% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,345 psi | 89% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,229 psi | 88% | 2733 fps | 99% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,809 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,824 psi | 89% | 2674 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,735 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,632 psi | 82% | 2644 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,222 psi | 73% | 2612 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,186 psi | 90% | 2674 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,114 psi | 90% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,548 psi | 89% | 2667 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,851 psi | 86% | 2680 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,997 psi | 88% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,272 psi | 87% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,098 psi | 88% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,621 psi | 89% | 2648 fps | 96.3% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,462 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,822 psi | 86% | 2710 fps | 99.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,851 psi | 86% | 2680 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,214 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,010 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,547 psi | 86% | 2621 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,128 psi | 90% | 2635 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,692 psi | 86% | 2625 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,215 psi | 90% | 2664 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,010 psi | 85% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,271 psi | 85% | 2779 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,184 psi | 85% | 2651 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,130 psi | 62% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,679 psi | 89% | 2612 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,606 psi | 89% | 2592 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,737 psi | 89% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,794 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,316 psi | 89% | 2717 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,842 psi | 66% | 2520 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,433 psi | 90% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,620 psi | 87% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,113 psi | 88% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,375 psi | 90% | 2661 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,769 psi | 66% | 2539 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,503 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,592 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,925 psi | 90% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,866 psi | 86% | 2674 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,072 psi | 63% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,200 psi | 88% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,285 psi | 85% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,358 psi | 85% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,140 psi | 83% | 2726 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,793 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,968 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,214 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,433 psi | 90% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,620 psi | 87% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,490 psi | 89% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,576 psi | 87% | 2651 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,069 psi | 88% | 2595 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,098 psi | 87% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,679 psi | 89% | 2635 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,433 psi | 90% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,606 psi | 89% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,939 psi | 88% | 2615 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,750 psi | 88% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,808 psi | 86% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,372 psi | 85% | 2694 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,213 psi | 85% | 2677 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,358 psi | 85% | 2730 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,649 psi | 87% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,547 psi | 86% | 2621 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,259 psi | 90% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,272 psi | 89% | 2628 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% | 34,911 psi | 58% | 2297 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,702 psi | 78% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,652 psi | 63% | 2441 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,787 psi | 73% | 2559 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,754 psi | 64% | 2408 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,581 psi | 66% | 2454 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,145 psi | 63% | 2421 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,168 psi | 50% | 2277 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,276 psi | 65% | 2411 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,614 psi | 74% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,914 psi | 65% | 2405 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,592 psi | 57% | 2349 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,460 psi | 56% | 2320 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 48% | 2238 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,477 psi | 61% | 2448 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,343 psi | 84% | 2592 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,563 psi | 57% | 2346 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,912 psi | 61% | 2434 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,592 psi | 57% | 2349 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,037 psi | 81% | 2520 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,448 psi | 61% | 2385 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,109 psi | 80% | 2566 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,531 psi | 84% | 2579 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,581 psi | 66% | 2405 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,510 psi | 69% | 2444 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,119 psi | 70% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 48 gr | 86% | 34,403 psi | 57% | 2418 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,703 psi | 79% | 2595 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 46% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 74% | 2461 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,401 psi | 84% | 2543 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,382 psi | 74% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,176 psi | 68% | 2405 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,130 psi | 63% | 2434 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,304 psi | 62% | 2464 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,080 psi | 80% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,470 psi | 77% | 2493 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 50% | 2178 fps | 96.4% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,556 psi | 74% | 2500 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,605 psi | 54% | 2372 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 60% | 2415 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,701 psi | 76% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,637 psi | 63% | 2438 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,411 psi | 74% | 2507 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,591 psi | 56% | 2329 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,587 psi | 47% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,499 psi | 77% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,701 psi | 74% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 50.2 gr | 84% | 31,270 psi | 52% | 2336 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,221 psi | 72% | 2598 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,103 psi | 67% | 2388 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,159 psi | 63% | 2392 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,037 psi | 81% | 2520 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,080 psi | 80% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,470 psi | 77% | 2493 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,152 psi | 78% | 2454 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,826 psi | 63% | 2385 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,857 psi | 68% | 2382 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,641 psi | 71% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,653 psi | 64% | 2375 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,068 psi | 85% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,195 psi | 78% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,678 psi | 56% | 2264 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,311 psi | 77% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,565 psi | 62% | 2388 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,771 psi | 69% | 2520 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,044 psi | 65% | 2454 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,701 psi | 74% | 2612 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,905 psi | 76% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,385 psi | 80% | 2572 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 45.9 gr | 80% | 29,660 psi | 49% | 2339 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 59% | 2306 fps | 95.7% |
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 VULKAN. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,782 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,640 fps to 2,782 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 1:10.0 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. Hodgdon Retumbo, Winchester StaBALL HD, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 65 with the .264 | 156gr | Norma VULKAN 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.