Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 with .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S bullet and 65 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>> | 90% | 57,537 psi | 90% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,737 psi | 86% | 3232 fps | 99% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,608 psi | 87% | 3235 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,157 psi | 85% | 3156 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,985 psi | 88% | 3228 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,288 psi | 85% | 3189 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,721 psi | 83% | 3219 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,694 psi | 86% | 3156 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,418 psi | 85% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,421 psi | 90% | 3205 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,695 psi | 89% | 3228 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,636 psi | 86% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,215 psi | 85% | 3209 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,288 psi | 87% | 3235 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,724 psi | 87% | 3281 fps | 96.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,782 psi | 89% | 3176 fps | 97% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,912 psi | 88% | 3212 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,317 psi | 85% | 3212 fps | 99.2% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,695 psi | 89% | 3228 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3215 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,463 psi | 87% | 3156 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,505 psi | 85% | 3136 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,940 psi | 86% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,724 psi | 89% | 3350 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,681 psi | 59% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,956 psi | 89% | 3136 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,433 psi | 85% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,246 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,331 psi | 85% | 3205 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,718 psi | 76% | 3130 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,043 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,593 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,447 psi | 85% | 3136 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,255 psi | 77% | 3159 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,724 psi | 89% | 3251 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,651 psi | 87% | 3136 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,955 psi | 86% | 3225 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,462 psi | 85% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,795 psi | 84% | 3156 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,696 psi | 61% | 2077 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,711 psi | 90% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,535 psi | 87% | 3202 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,824 psi | 84% | 3278 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,319 psi | 90% | 3297 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,216 psi | 87% | 3123 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,305 psi | 90% | 3199 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,043 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,637 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,884 psi | 89% | 3192 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,623 psi | 89% | 3114 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,913 psi | 89% | 3143 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,433 psi | 85% | 3110 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,217 psi | 90% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,479 psi | 90% | 3146 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,405 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,290 psi | 90% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,130 psi | 88% | 3241 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,014 psi | 89% | 3235 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,186 psi | 85% | 3232 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 3291 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,347 psi | 88% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,464 psi | 90% | 3291 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,682 psi | 90% | 3163 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% | 41,974 psi | 66% | 2858 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,788 psi | 70% | 3031 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,525 psi | 67% | 2966 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,788 psi | 70% | 2972 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,292 psi | 63% | 2904 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,421 psi | 62% | 2874 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,068 psi | 50% | 2723 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,266 psi | 71% | 2972 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,126 psi | 80% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,831 psi | 70% | 2966 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,046 psi | 64% | 2920 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 62% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 55% | 2795 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,643 psi | 70% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,822 psi | 81% | 3209 fps | 95.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,314 psi | 79% | 3051 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 60% | 2854 fps | 96.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,970 psi | 58% | 2844 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,046 psi | 64% | 2920 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,710 psi | 59% | 2835 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,873 psi | 67% | 2907 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,076 psi | 66% | 2887 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,573 psi | 76% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 58.5 gr | 80% | 33,982 psi | 53% | 2818 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,369 psi | 44% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,444 psi | 79% | 3022 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,097 psi | 80% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,135 psi | 69% | 2900 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,233 psi | 61% | 2887 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,782 psi | 59% | 2884 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,215 psi | 85% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,895 psi | 83% | 3064 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,535 psi | 57% | 2730 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,024 psi | 80% | 3074 fps | 99% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,518 psi | 53% | 2789 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,279 psi | 68% | 2995 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,388 psi | 82% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,957 psi | 61% | 2894 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,140 psi | 80% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,346 psi | 55% | 2772 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,153 psi | 46% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,085 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,924 psi | 81% | 3146 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 62.6 gr | 80% | 33,286 psi | 52% | 2792 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 71 gr | 90% | 43,004 psi | 67% | 3018 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,919 psi | 72% | 2946 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,657 psi | 70% | 2959 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,215 psi | 85% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,895 psi | 83% | 3064 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,098 psi | 83% | 3009 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,295 psi | 69% | 2956 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,891 psi | 73% | 2933 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,053 psi | 78% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,237 psi | 71% | 2940 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,664 psi | 84% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,552 psi | 62% | 2805 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,200 psi | 83% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,788 psi | 70% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 67% | 2979 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,539 psi | 65% | 2927 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,179 psi | 69% | 3035 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,300 psi | 80% | 3222 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,692 psi | 83% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,159 psi | 58% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 65% | 2858 fps | 97.3% |
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 65 powders for 6.5 x 68 loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Barnes X S. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,350 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,028 fps to 3,350 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 65 of the 65 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 59–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2225, Alliant Reloder-33, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 with the .264 | 120gr | 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.