Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .264 | 123gr | Hornady SST 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% | 47,921 psi | 85% | 2953 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,951 psi | 88% | 3097 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,588 psi | 88% | 3041 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,952 psi | 90% | 3104 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,095 psi | 87% | 3061 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,123 psi | 83% | 3084 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,835 psi | 88% | 3038 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,850 psi | 88% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,342 psi | 87% | 3031 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,921 psi | 85% | 3041 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,153 psi | 87% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,588 psi | 86% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,834 psi | 86% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,546 psi | 89% | 3091 fps | 99% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,457 psi | 86% | 3074 fps | 98.3% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,921 psi | 85% | 3041 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,459 psi | 89% | 3087 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,807 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,821 psi | 88% | 3022 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,995 psi | 88% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,850 psi | 90% | 3212 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,231 psi | 66% | 1978 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,226 psi | 87% | 2969 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,356 psi | 87% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,704 psi | 86% | 2966 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,153 psi | 87% | 3081 fps | 98% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,569 psi | 75% | 2976 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,342 psi | 87% | 2979 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,806 psi | 88% | 3018 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,931 psi | 76% | 3009 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,010 psi | 90% | 3123 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,705 psi | 90% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,487 psi | 87% | 3097 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,661 psi | 88% | 3025 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,805 psi | 85% | 3025 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,189 psi | 68% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,560 psi | 89% | 3091 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,601 psi | 84% | 3130 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,415 psi | 89% | 3150 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,749 psi | 90% | 3012 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,892 psi | 86% | 3018 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,515 psi | 86% | 3015 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,559 psi | 86% | 2936 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,848 psi | 85% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,443 psi | 87% | 2992 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,023 psi | 87% | 2972 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,138 psi | 85% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,821 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,865 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,877 psi | 85% | 3084 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,575 psi | 89% | 3159 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,907 psi | 86% | 2979 fps | 98.7% |
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% | 36,622 psi | 65% | 2717 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,178 psi | 76% | 2959 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,567 psi | 72% | 2851 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,524 psi | 73% | 2907 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,118 psi | 71% | 2867 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,676 psi | 56% | 2690 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,017 psi | 73% | 2854 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,499 psi | 82% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,640 psi | 72% | 2848 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,477 psi | 64% | 2782 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 62% | 2740 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 54% | 2648 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,783 psi | 69% | 2894 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,187 psi | 64% | 2776 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,320 psi | 70% | 2881 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,477 psi | 64% | 2782 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,305 psi | 68% | 2825 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,263 psi | 73% | 2844 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,540 psi | 77% | 2894 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,801 psi | 77% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 58.6 gr | 84% | 33,910 psi | 60% | 2795 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 49% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,369 psi | 82% | 2913 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,195 psi | 82% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,815 psi | 76% | 2844 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,972 psi | 71% | 2881 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,900 psi | 71% | 2913 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,401 psi | 56% | 2582 fps | 96.4% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,615 psi | 82% | 2959 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,619 psi | 58% | 2743 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,305 psi | 68% | 2858 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,456 psi | 84% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,784 psi | 70% | 2887 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 82% | 2966 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,011 psi | 58% | 2687 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,587 psi | 51% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,934 psi | 83% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 62.8 gr | 84% | 33,199 psi | 59% | 2769 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 70.8 gr | 94% | 43,265 psi | 76% | 3002 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,814 psi | 74% | 2828 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 70% | 2828 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,523 psi | 70% | 2825 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 75% | 2815 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,875 psi | 79% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,538 psi | 72% | 2812 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 62% | 2677 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 70% | 2825 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,060 psi | 73% | 2910 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,582 psi | 74% | 2904 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,657 psi | 79% | 3018 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,459 psi | 56% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 65% | 2730 fps | 95.7% |
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 | 123gr | Hornady SST. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,212 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,978 fps to 3,212 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 123.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 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 | 123gr | Hornady SST 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.