Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 R with .264 | 140gr | Barnes X S bullet and 44 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ADI AR 2225 and ReloadSwiss RS 76.
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>> | 84% | 50,560 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,937 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,544 psi | 86% | 2894 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,546 psi | 89% | 2877 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,747 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,836 psi | 90% | 2923 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,560 psi | 89% | 3012 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,632 psi | 88% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,908 psi | 90% | 2877 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,459 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,705 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,312 psi | 85% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,068 psi | 90% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,327 psi | 85% | 2943 fps | 96.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,661 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 96.7% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,298 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,169 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,705 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,617 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,443 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,705 psi | 90% | 2861 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,864 psi | 88% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,884 psi | 67% | 1864 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,269 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,618 psi | 89% | 2927 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,965 psi | 87% | 2930 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,197 psi | 87% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,951 psi | 88% | 2959 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,371 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,921 psi | 85% | 2887 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,111 psi | 89% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,015 psi | 69% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,009 psi | 88% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,908 psi | 88% | 2959 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,372 psi | 89% | 2864 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,067 psi | 89% | 2861 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,908 psi | 90% | 2838 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,386 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,618 psi | 89% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,907 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,328 psi | 89% | 2907 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,662 psi | 90% | 2963 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,372 psi | 89% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,140 psi | 89% | 2825 fps | 99.6% |
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% | 44,556 psi | 79% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,776 psi | 84% | 2887 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,324 psi | 80% | 2828 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,384 psi | 84% | 2818 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,757 psi | 76% | 2766 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,809 psi | 62% | 2575 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,166 psi | 83% | 2943 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2225 | 55.4 gr | 80% | 30,269 psi | 54% | 2497 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,805 psi | 85% | 2818 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,398 psi | 84% | 2815 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,758 psi | 77% | 2779 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,641 psi | 75% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,086 psi | 66% | 2661 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,281 psi | 80% | 2884 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,092 psi | 78% | 2730 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,930 psi | 72% | 2717 fps | 98.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,882 psi | 62% | 2602 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,758 psi | 77% | 2779 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 63% | 2592 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,426 psi | 80% | 2762 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,599 psi | 79% | 2746 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 55.4 gr | 80% | 36,274 psi | 64% | 2703 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,616 psi | 51% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,354 psi | 82% | 2749 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,756 psi | 74% | 2753 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,750 psi | 60% | 2592 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,899 psi | 69% | 2592 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,008 psi | 53% | 2507 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,267 psi | 82% | 2848 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,640 psi | 74% | 2762 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,942 psi | 67% | 2651 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 52% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 59.3 gr | 80% | 35,578 psi | 63% | 2684 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,652 psi | 67% | 2703 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,297 psi | 84% | 2808 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,934 psi | 83% | 2802 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,863 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,916 psi | 74% | 2664 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,500 psi | 84% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,847 psi | 81% | 2841 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,001 psi | 69% | 2674 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,336 psi | 73% | 2776 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,596 psi | 72% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,063 psi | 78% | 2717 fps | 98.9% |
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 44 powders for 6.5 x 68 R loaded with the .264 | 140gr | Barnes X S. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,012 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,864 fps to 3,012 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 44 of the 44 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (390 MPa), the top charges use 67–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 140.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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, ADI AR 2225, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 R with the .264 | 140gr | 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.