Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 with .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-X bullet and 73 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 76, Hodgdon Retumbo and Vihtavuori N560.
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>> | 92% | 54,955 psi | 86% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,840 psi | 88% | 3150 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,637 psi | 89% | 3281 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,766 psi | 84% | 3215 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,130 psi | 90% | 3219 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,984 psi | 86% | 3225 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,098 psi | 83% | 3182 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,369 psi | 74% | 3133 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,145 psi | 90% | 3212 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,145 psi | 90% | 3212 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,072 psi | 89% | 3215 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,449 psi | 88% | 3205 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,100 psi | 86% | 3219 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,405 psi | 88% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,188 psi | 88% | 3255 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,232 psi | 90% | 3281 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,405 psi | 88% | 3179 fps | 96.9% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,302 psi | 85% | 3202 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3251 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,100 psi | 86% | 3219 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,624 psi | 90% | 3153 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,621 psi | 86% | 3212 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,362 psi | 88% | 3166 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,520 psi | 85% | 3153 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,377 psi | 90% | 3202 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,217 psi | 90% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,114 psi | 86% | 3337 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,433 psi | 85% | 3186 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,188 psi | 58% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,217 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,637 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,173 psi | 88% | 3143 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,593 psi | 87% | 3140 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,811 psi | 89% | 3264 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,873 psi | 67% | 3025 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,492 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,592 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,014 psi | 88% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,232 psi | 90% | 3199 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,004 psi | 67% | 3048 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 3235 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,244 psi | 85% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,722 psi | 84% | 3219 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,869 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,869 psi | 59% | 2067 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,115 psi | 88% | 3176 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,520 psi | 85% | 3202 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,057 psi | 88% | 3330 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,288 psi | 87% | 3278 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,375 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,970 psi | 88% | 3192 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,624 psi | 90% | 3153 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,492 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,592 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,506 psi | 87% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,550 psi | 87% | 3186 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3114 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,100 psi | 86% | 3136 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,362 psi | 88% | 3159 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,463 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,043 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,173 psi | 88% | 3143 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,187 psi | 86% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,636 psi | 86% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,636 psi | 86% | 3232 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,737 psi | 86% | 3209 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,999 psi | 88% | 3281 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,651 psi | 87% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,056 psi | 86% | 3271 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,579 psi | 89% | 3159 fps | 99.7% |
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% | 36,114 psi | 57% | 2746 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,530 psi | 76% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 62% | 2927 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,221 psi | 68% | 3002 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 63% | 2897 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,408 psi | 65% | 2946 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,030 psi | 63% | 2907 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,488 psi | 49% | 2723 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,901 psi | 64% | 2894 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,901 psi | 64% | 2894 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,702 psi | 73% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 64% | 2887 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 57% | 2818 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,882 psi | 55% | 2776 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,211 psi | 47% | 2677 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,740 psi | 61% | 2933 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,792 psi | 78% | 3054 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,143 psi | 57% | 2812 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,291 psi | 62% | 2920 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 57% | 2818 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,763 psi | 80% | 3035 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,276 psi | 60% | 2867 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,285 psi | 79% | 3087 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,692 psi | 83% | 3104 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,394 psi | 65% | 2890 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,439 psi | 68% | 2936 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,845 psi | 69% | 2907 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 62.6 gr | 86% | 36,289 psi | 57% | 2907 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,488 psi | 79% | 3117 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,775 psi | 44% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,340 psi | 73% | 2963 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,301 psi | 82% | 3064 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,035 psi | 72% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,859 psi | 67% | 2890 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,842 psi | 62% | 2920 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,972 psi | 63% | 2956 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,603 psi | 78% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,906 psi | 75% | 2992 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,821 psi | 48% | 2605 fps | 96% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,659 psi | 73% | 3005 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,358 psi | 51% | 2776 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,145 psi | 60% | 2894 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,369 psi | 74% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,726 psi | 62% | 2933 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,528 psi | 73% | 3015 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,302 psi | 55% | 2792 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 45% | 1854 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,573 psi | 76% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,166 psi | 74% | 3074 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 65.4 gr | 84% | 32,982 psi | 52% | 2802 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,569 psi | 68% | 3048 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,771 psi | 65% | 2874 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,697 psi | 62% | 2871 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,763 psi | 80% | 3035 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,603 psi | 78% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,906 psi | 75% | 2992 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,617 psi | 76% | 2949 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,378 psi | 62% | 2864 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,569 psi | 67% | 2861 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,773 psi | 70% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 63% | 2851 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,721 psi | 83% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,008 psi | 77% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,940 psi | 55% | 2713 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,211 psi | 76% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,943 psi | 61% | 2858 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | 61.9 gr | 82% | 41,104 psi | 64% | 2953 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,423 psi | 65% | 2943 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,730 psi | 70% | 3061 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,356 psi | 76% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,517 psi | 79% | 3091 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,386 psi | 49% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 58% | 2766 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 73 powders for 6.5 x 68 loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-X. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,337 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,024 fps to 3,337 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 73 of the 73 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, Bofors RP30 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. ReloadSwiss RS 76, Hodgdon Retumbo, Vihtavuori N560 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes TAC-X 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.