Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .264 | 139gr | Norma VULKAN bullet and 49 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>> | 86% | 50,705 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,646 psi | 86% | 2933 fps | 99% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,472 psi | 87% | 2936 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,747 psi | 86% | 2871 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,241 psi | 89% | 2940 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,834 psi | 86% | 2913 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,646 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,734 psi | 90% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,008 psi | 87% | 2867 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,008 psi | 87% | 2867 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,530 psi | 86% | 2861 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,807 psi | 90% | 2936 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,139 psi | 87% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,820 psi | 86% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,646 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,661 psi | 88% | 2992 fps | 96.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,140 psi | 90% | 2900 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,357 psi | 89% | 2930 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,762 psi | 86% | 2930 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,807 psi | 90% | 2936 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,966 psi | 88% | 2933 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,603 psi | 88% | 2871 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,689 psi | 86% | 2854 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,140 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,608 psi | 66% | 1883 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,618 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,733 psi | 86% | 2920 fps | 99% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,792 psi | 88% | 2969 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,269 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,734 psi | 90% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,589 psi | 89% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,081 psi | 87% | 2936 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,747 psi | 84% | 2871 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,624 psi | 68% | 1929 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,732 psi | 84% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,039 psi | 90% | 3002 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,603 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,008 psi | 85% | 2851 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,937 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,618 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,515 psi | 86% | 2825 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,312 psi | 85% | 2812 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,894 psi | 90% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,227 psi | 89% | 2949 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,952 psi | 90% | 2943 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,341 psi | 85% | 2943 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,153 psi | 87% | 2999 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,747 psi | 84% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,051 psi | 85% | 2818 fps | 99.5% |
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% | 41,582 psi | 74% | 2680 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 80% | 2864 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,772 psi | 76% | 2802 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,614 psi | 81% | 2812 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,814 psi | 72% | 2746 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,867 psi | 62% | 2605 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,281 psi | 80% | 2927 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 49% | 2444 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,948 psi | 81% | 2812 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,948 psi | 81% | 2812 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,527 psi | 80% | 2805 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,495 psi | 73% | 2756 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,161 psi | 71% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 62% | 2635 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,208 psi | 80% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,151 psi | 82% | 2923 fps | 95.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,107 psi | 80% | 2779 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 68% | 2687 fps | 97.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,621 psi | 61% | 2618 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,495 psi | 73% | 2756 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,982 psi | 58% | 2556 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,497 psi | 77% | 2753 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,670 psi | 75% | 2733 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 57.1 gr | 80% | 33,968 psi | 60% | 2667 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 50% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,657 psi | 79% | 2743 fps | 97.7% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,508 psi | 70% | 2726 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,505 psi | 63% | 2664 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,839 psi | 63% | 2556 fps | 99% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,109 psi | 51% | 2507 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,845 psi | 78% | 2825 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 70% | 2736 fps | 97.3% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 63% | 2615 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,979 psi | 51% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 61.1 gr | 80% | 33,098 psi | 59% | 2638 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 66.2 gr | 86% | 37,594 psi | 66% | 2726 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 82% | 2785 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,947 psi | 79% | 2792 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,614 psi | 79% | 2785 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,384 psi | 84% | 2776 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,498 psi | 80% | 2769 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 70% | 2644 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,860 psi | 79% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,627 psi | 77% | 2822 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,216 psi | 64% | 2635 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,843 psi | 74% | 2812 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,687 psi | 81% | 2930 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,884 psi | 67% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,872 psi | 74% | 2700 fps | 98.5% |
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 49 powders for 6.5 x 68 R loaded with the .264 | 139gr | Norma VULKAN. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,054 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,883 fps to 3,054 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 49 of the 49 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 139.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 8133 Enduron, Norma 217 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 | 139gr | Norma VULKAN 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.