Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .263 | 120gr | Rhino Solid Shank bullet and 52 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 80 and Winchester StaBALL HD.
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: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,849 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,140 psi | 89% | 3150 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,894 psi | 90% | 3150 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,560 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,399 psi | 86% | 3087 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,256 psi | 89% | 3117 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,385 psi | 86% | 3140 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,778 psi | 90% | 3091 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,778 psi | 90% | 3091 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,647 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,241 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,791 psi | 86% | 3091 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,357 psi | 89% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,777 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,980 psi | 88% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,341 psi | 85% | 3077 fps | 98.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,574 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 98.4% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,791 psi | 86% | 3091 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,080 psi | 85% | 3077 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,341 psi | 85% | 3025 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,647 psi | 90% | 3071 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,952 psi | 90% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,646 psi | 86% | 3199 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,246 psi | 66% | 2014 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,082 psi | 89% | 3022 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,053 psi | 88% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,530 psi | 88% | 3018 fps | 97.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,183 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,772 psi | 77% | 3031 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,473 psi | 89% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,807 psi | 90% | 3074 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,193 psi | 78% | 3064 fps | 99% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,530 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,502 psi | 89% | 3150 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,647 psi | 90% | 3081 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,168 psi | 87% | 3081 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,174 psi | 67% | 2064 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,950 psi | 87% | 3189 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,993 psi | 85% | 3130 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,312 psi | 85% | 2999 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,661 psi | 88% | 3068 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,298 psi | 87% | 3064 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,472 psi | 87% | 2989 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,849 psi | 86% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,328 psi | 89% | 3045 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,009 psi | 88% | 3025 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,965 psi | 87% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,327 psi | 85% | 3100 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,675 psi | 86% | 3084 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,269 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,109 psi | 85% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,922 psi | 88% | 3035 fps | 98.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 66% | 2759 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 72% | 2940 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,222 psi | 78% | 3012 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,220 psi | 73% | 2900 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,206 psi | 75% | 2953 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,930 psi | 72% | 2917 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,416 psi | 57% | 2743 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,640 psi | 74% | 2900 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,640 psi | 74% | 2900 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,384 psi | 84% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,263 psi | 73% | 2894 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 66% | 2828 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,766 psi | 63% | 2789 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,067 psi | 55% | 2694 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 70% | 2946 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,999 psi | 65% | 2825 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,507 psi | 66% | 2864 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 66% | 2828 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,160 psi | 69% | 2877 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,177 psi | 75% | 2897 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,408 psi | 73% | 2877 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,628 psi | 79% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 60.7 gr | 84% | 34,679 psi | 61% | 2844 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,978 psi | 49% | 1808 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,036 psi | 83% | 2963 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,949 psi | 83% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,886 psi | 72% | 2831 fps | 95% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,654 psi | 72% | 2930 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,247 psi | 68% | 2900 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,126 psi | 57% | 2628 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,413 psi | 84% | 3009 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,446 psi | 59% | 2795 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 69% | 2907 fps | 97.7% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,625 psi | 72% | 2940 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,355 psi | 84% | 3015 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,750 psi | 60% | 2733 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,514 psi | 50% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,982 psi | 60% | 2822 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 73.3 gr | 94% | 44,556 psi | 79% | 3058 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,496 psi | 75% | 2877 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,756 psi | 72% | 2881 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,422 psi | 71% | 2874 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,192 psi | 76% | 2861 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,687 psi | 81% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,205 psi | 73% | 2858 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 63% | 2723 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,219 psi | 71% | 2874 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,003 psi | 74% | 2959 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,540 psi | 75% | 2956 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,847 psi | 81% | 3074 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 59.4 gr | 80% | 32,401 psi | 57% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,724 psi | 67% | 2776 fps | 95.9% |
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 52 powders for 6.5 x 68 R loaded with the .263 | 120gr | Rhino Solid Shank. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,199 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,014 fps to 3,199 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 52 of the 52 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (390 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.263" calls for a 1:11.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2225, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 8133 Enduron 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, ReloadSwiss RS 80, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 R with the .263 | 120gr | Rhino Solid Shank 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.