Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S bullet and 46 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 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>> | 86% | 48,936 psi | 87% | 2986 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,385 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,908 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,313 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,560 psi | 89% | 3117 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,023 psi | 87% | 3077 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,720 psi | 90% | 3173 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,690 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,690 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,240 psi | 87% | 3048 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,153 psi | 85% | 3064 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,603 psi | 88% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,936 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,168 psi | 87% | 3123 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,633 psi | 90% | 3107 fps | 98.9% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,066 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 98.3% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,153 psi | 85% | 3064 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,314 psi | 89% | 3104 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,473 psi | 89% | 3051 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,559 psi | 88% | 3031 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,053 psi | 88% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,039 psi | 90% | 3232 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,521 psi | 66% | 2008 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,399 psi | 86% | 2979 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,965 psi | 87% | 3094 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,601 psi | 82% | 3081 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,459 psi | 89% | 3012 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,021 psi | 83% | 3110 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,126 psi | 90% | 3143 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,414 psi | 87% | 3114 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,211 psi | 85% | 3051 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,537 psi | 68% | 2057 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,051 psi | 85% | 3159 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,865 psi | 90% | 3176 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,444 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,052 psi | 87% | 3038 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,660 psi | 86% | 3035 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,530 psi | 86% | 2956 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,588 psi | 88% | 3015 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,081 psi | 87% | 2992 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,791 psi | 86% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,807 psi | 90% | 3133 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,472 psi | 86% | 3068 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,385 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,923 psi | 90% | 3189 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,863 psi | 86% | 2999 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% | 40,553 psi | 72% | 2815 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,120 psi | 76% | 2986 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,656 psi | 77% | 2982 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,381 psi | 77% | 2930 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,611 psi | 74% | 2920 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,509 psi | 72% | 2890 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,837 psi | 58% | 2736 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,874 psi | 78% | 2936 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,874 psi | 78% | 2936 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,482 psi | 77% | 2930 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,682 psi | 70% | 2877 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,566 psi | 68% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,620 psi | 59% | 2749 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,670 psi | 75% | 2999 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,144 psi | 66% | 2812 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,811 psi | 67% | 2858 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,682 psi | 70% | 2877 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,827 psi | 69% | 2851 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,295 psi | 78% | 2927 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,453 psi | 77% | 2910 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,992 psi | 83% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 58.1 gr | 82% | 34,896 psi | 62% | 2835 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,311 psi | 50% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,888 psi | 76% | 2861 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,234 psi | 71% | 2900 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,522 psi | 68% | 2894 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 62% | 2694 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,316 psi | 61% | 2805 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,611 psi | 74% | 2949 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,161 psi | 71% | 2913 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,040 psi | 60% | 2726 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,095 psi | 51% | 1844 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 60.7 gr | 80% | 32,140 psi | 57% | 2746 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,005 psi | 78% | 3035 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,570 psi | 79% | 2907 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,207 psi | 76% | 2920 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,859 psi | 76% | 2913 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,614 psi | 81% | 2894 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,918 psi | 78% | 2900 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,290 psi | 68% | 2766 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,221 psi | 76% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,437 psi | 73% | 2933 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,641 psi | 75% | 2943 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,194 psi | 80% | 3048 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 58.2 gr | 80% | 35,201 psi | 62% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,205 psi | 71% | 2818 fps | 96.6% |
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 46 powders for 6.5 x 68 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,232 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,008 fps to 3,232 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 46 of the 46 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 1:10.0 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 76, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 R with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S 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.