Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .264 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting 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 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>> | 88% | 47,935 psi | 85% | 2986 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,994 psi | 87% | 3123 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,821 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,414 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,937 psi | 90% | 3136 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,139 psi | 87% | 3094 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,065 psi | 83% | 3114 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,705 psi | 88% | 3068 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,603 psi | 88% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,168 psi | 87% | 3058 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,703 psi | 84% | 3068 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,153 psi | 87% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,472 psi | 86% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,747 psi | 86% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,517 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 98.9% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,283 psi | 85% | 3104 fps | 98.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,703 psi | 84% | 3068 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,502 psi | 89% | 3123 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,575 psi | 89% | 3064 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,617 psi | 88% | 3048 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,951 psi | 88% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,908 psi | 90% | 3241 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,289 psi | 66% | 2008 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,211 psi | 87% | 3002 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,081 psi | 87% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,559 psi | 86% | 2995 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,863 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,583 psi | 75% | 3005 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,342 psi | 87% | 3009 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,719 psi | 88% | 3051 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,728 psi | 76% | 3035 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,952 psi | 90% | 3153 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,647 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,385 psi | 87% | 3127 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,545 psi | 88% | 3058 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,848 psi | 85% | 3058 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,029 psi | 67% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,328 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,572 psi | 84% | 3159 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,488 psi | 89% | 3179 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,662 psi | 90% | 3041 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,776 psi | 86% | 3051 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,399 psi | 86% | 3045 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,573 psi | 86% | 2969 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,155 psi | 90% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,255 psi | 87% | 3025 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,008 psi | 87% | 3005 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,039 psi | 90% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,749 psi | 90% | 3146 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,923 psi | 90% | 3127 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,430 psi | 89% | 3192 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,878 psi | 86% | 3012 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% | 36,405 psi | 64% | 2740 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,610 psi | 70% | 2917 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,383 psi | 82% | 3058 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 71% | 2877 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,394 psi | 73% | 2930 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,089 psi | 71% | 2894 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,676 psi | 56% | 2717 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,799 psi | 72% | 2881 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,325 psi | 82% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,422 psi | 71% | 2874 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,260 psi | 64% | 2805 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,027 psi | 62% | 2769 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,356 psi | 54% | 2667 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,638 psi | 68% | 2920 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,158 psi | 64% | 2802 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,276 psi | 69% | 2907 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,260 psi | 64% | 2805 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,305 psi | 68% | 2854 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,237 psi | 78% | 2940 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,410 psi | 77% | 2923 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,845 psi | 78% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 61 gr | 86% | 36,289 psi | 64% | 2890 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 49% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,151 psi | 82% | 2943 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,963 psi | 81% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,772 psi | 76% | 2874 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,856 psi | 70% | 2907 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,784 psi | 70% | 2940 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,270 psi | 55% | 2605 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 82% | 2989 fps | 98% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,882 psi | 62% | 2838 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,203 psi | 68% | 2884 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,442 psi | 84% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,610 psi | 70% | 2913 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,412 psi | 82% | 2999 fps | 99.6% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,389 psi | 63% | 2779 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 51% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,818 psi | 83% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 63.7 gr | 84% | 33,040 psi | 58% | 2789 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 71.9 gr | 94% | 43,207 psi | 76% | 3028 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,640 psi | 74% | 2858 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,827 psi | 70% | 2858 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,508 psi | 70% | 2851 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,467 psi | 75% | 2841 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,599 psi | 79% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,335 psi | 71% | 2838 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,998 psi | 62% | 2700 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,204 psi | 69% | 2854 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,976 psi | 78% | 3009 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,336 psi | 73% | 2927 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,357 psi | 55% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,941 psi | 65% | 2756 fps | 95.5% |
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 .264 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,241 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,008 fps to 3,241 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 0.264" 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, ReloadSwiss RS 80 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 R with the .264 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting 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.