Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .264 | 120gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter bullet and 51 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% | 49,168 psi | 87% | 3009 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,285 psi | 89% | 3153 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,776 psi | 84% | 3087 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,691 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,733 psi | 86% | 3094 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,357 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,472 psi | 86% | 3143 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,923 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,850 psi | 90% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,372 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,139 psi | 87% | 3097 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,488 psi | 89% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,922 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,357 psi | 89% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,472 psi | 86% | 3081 fps | 98.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,937 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,139 psi | 87% | 3097 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,399 psi | 86% | 3084 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,443 psi | 86% | 3028 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,981 psi | 90% | 3077 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,111 psi | 90% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,965 psi | 87% | 3205 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,275 psi | 66% | 2018 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,183 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,430 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,661 psi | 88% | 3022 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,343 psi | 89% | 3136 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,092 psi | 78% | 3038 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,589 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,937 psi | 90% | 3077 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,309 psi | 78% | 3068 fps | 99% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,646 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 99.6% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,879 psi | 90% | 3156 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,807 psi | 90% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,226 psi | 87% | 3084 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,203 psi | 68% | 2067 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,284 psi | 87% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,327 psi | 85% | 3136 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,414 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,024 psi | 88% | 3077 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,632 psi | 88% | 3071 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,545 psi | 88% | 2989 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,023 psi | 87% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,430 psi | 89% | 3045 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,140 psi | 89% | 3028 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,139 psi | 87% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,457 psi | 86% | 3100 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,037 psi | 87% | 3091 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,371 psi | 87% | 3146 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,341 psi | 85% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,009 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% | 37,420 psi | 66% | 2766 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 72% | 2943 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,324 psi | 78% | 3015 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,379 psi | 73% | 2904 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,610 psi | 70% | 2890 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,031 psi | 73% | 2920 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,503 psi | 57% | 2743 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,800 psi | 74% | 2907 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,543 psi | 84% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,423 psi | 73% | 2897 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,246 psi | 66% | 2831 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,100 psi | 64% | 2795 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,198 psi | 55% | 2697 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,929 psi | 71% | 2949 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,144 psi | 66% | 2828 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,826 psi | 67% | 2871 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,246 psi | 66% | 2831 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,262 psi | 69% | 2881 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,293 psi | 75% | 2900 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,495 psi | 73% | 2881 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,773 psi | 79% | 2913 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 60.9 gr | 84% | 34,795 psi | 62% | 2848 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 49% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,152 psi | 83% | 2966 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,079 psi | 83% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,988 psi | 72% | 2838 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,988 psi | 72% | 2936 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,305 psi | 68% | 2900 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 57% | 2631 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,543 psi | 84% | 3012 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,721 psi | 60% | 2802 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,247 psi | 69% | 2910 fps | 97.8% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,727 psi | 72% | 2943 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,471 psi | 84% | 3018 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,852 psi | 60% | 2740 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 51% | 1850 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,792 psi | 56% | 2749 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 73.6 gr | 94% | 44,846 psi | 79% | 3064 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,612 psi | 75% | 2881 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,886 psi | 72% | 2884 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,553 psi | 72% | 2881 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,468 psi | 77% | 2867 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,847 psi | 81% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,307 psi | 73% | 2861 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 63% | 2726 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 71% | 2881 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,134 psi | 74% | 2966 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,670 psi | 75% | 2959 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,948 psi | 81% | 3074 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 59.6 gr | 80% | 32,590 psi | 58% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,840 psi | 67% | 2779 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 51 powders for 6.5 x 68 R loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,205 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,018 fps to 3,205 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 51 of the 51 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 1:11.5 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 80, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 R with the .264 | 120gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter 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.