Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .264 | 120gr | Barnes TSX BT bullet and 55 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 76 and ReloadSwiss RS 80.
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>> | 90% | 50,444 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,182 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,110 psi | 87% | 3068 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,488 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,530 psi | 86% | 3087 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,586 psi | 82% | 3107 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,124 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,762 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,676 psi | 90% | 3130 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,631 psi | 86% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,124 psi | 85% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,066 psi | 85% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,951 psi | 88% | 3114 fps | 98.8% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,184 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 98.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,676 psi | 90% | 3130 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,922 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,140 psi | 89% | 3064 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,182 psi | 87% | 3045 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,327 psi | 87% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,343 psi | 89% | 3238 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,173 psi | 66% | 2014 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,660 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,602 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,211 psi | 85% | 2995 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,646 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,018 psi | 74% | 2999 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,546 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,515 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,327 psi | 87% | 3051 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,148 psi | 75% | 3022 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,386 psi | 89% | 3146 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,053 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,849 psi | 86% | 3120 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,124 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,398 psi | 84% | 3051 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,855 psi | 67% | 2057 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,951 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,937 psi | 90% | 3232 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,879 psi | 88% | 3173 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,314 psi | 89% | 3045 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,298 psi | 85% | 3048 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,546 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,921 psi | 85% | 3041 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,066 psi | 85% | 2963 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,691 psi | 90% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,675 psi | 86% | 3018 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,457 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,850 psi | 90% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,372 psi | 89% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,227 psi | 89% | 3140 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,386 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,952 psi | 90% | 3179 fps | 96.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,111 psi | 90% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,053 psi | 88% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,370 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 98.6% |
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% | 35,447 psi | 63% | 2723 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,774 psi | 81% | 3051 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 70% | 2871 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,770 psi | 72% | 2923 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,523 psi | 70% | 2884 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,127 psi | 59% | 2769 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,861 psi | 81% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,827 psi | 70% | 2864 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,752 psi | 63% | 2799 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,345 psi | 61% | 2759 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,660 psi | 52% | 2651 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,985 psi | 67% | 2907 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,985 psi | 67% | 2851 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,609 psi | 68% | 2894 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,752 psi | 63% | 2799 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,724 psi | 67% | 2844 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,627 psi | 77% | 2933 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,772 psi | 76% | 2913 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,236 psi | 76% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 61.8 gr | 86% | 35,694 psi | 63% | 2881 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,833 psi | 49% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,643 psi | 81% | 2936 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,469 psi | 80% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,221 psi | 75% | 2867 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,407 psi | 70% | 2900 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,218 psi | 69% | 2930 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,398 psi | 84% | 2972 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,342 psi | 54% | 2585 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,963 psi | 81% | 2982 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,069 psi | 60% | 2818 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,449 psi | 66% | 2867 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,818 psi | 83% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,088 psi | 69% | 2907 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,788 psi | 81% | 2992 fps | 99.6% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,737 psi | 61% | 2769 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,311 psi | 50% | 1844 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,398 psi | 82% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 64.6 gr | 84% | 32,489 psi | 57% | 2776 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 72.8 gr | 94% | 42,540 psi | 75% | 3015 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,104 psi | 73% | 2851 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,204 psi | 69% | 2851 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,398 psi | 84% | 2972 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,870 psi | 69% | 2841 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,989 psi | 74% | 2838 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,947 psi | 78% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,769 psi | 70% | 2831 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,316 psi | 61% | 2687 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,688 psi | 84% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,363 psi | 68% | 2838 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,482 psi | 77% | 3002 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,785 psi | 72% | 2920 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,282 psi | 84% | 3107 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,688 psi | 84% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 54% | 2772 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,260 psi | 64% | 2746 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 55 powders for 6.5 x 68 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TSX BT. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,238 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,014 fps to 3,238 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 55 of the 55 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 0.264" calls for a 1:10.5 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 76, ReloadSwiss RS 80 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 R with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TSX 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.